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NCHRP 25-48 [Final]
Combined Interface for Project Level Air Quality Analysis
| Project Data |
| Funds: |
$500,000 |
| Research Agency: |
Resource Systems Group, Inc. |
| Principal Investigator: |
Mr. Robert Chamberlin |
| Effective Date: |
4/24/2014 |
| Completion Date: |
7/23/2016 |
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STATUS: Research is complete. The TRansportation Air Quality System (TRAQS) software and User Guide are available HERE.
Note: TRAQS functions with versions of air quality models current as of December 2016: MOVES2014a and EMFAC2014.
A report documenting the development of TRAQS is available HERE.
The source code for TRAQS is written in Python, an open-source programming language. Users and developers who wish to customize or extend TRAQS can download the source code HERE.
Learn more about Python here: https://www.python.org/about/
This software is offered as is, without warranty or promise of support of any kind either expressed or implied. Under no circumstance will the National Academy of Sciences or the Transportation Research Board (collectively "TRB") be liable for any loss or damage caused by the installation or operation of this product. TRB makes no representation or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, including without limitation, the warranty of merchantability or the warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, and shall not in any case be liable for any consequential or special damages.
BACKGROUNDThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the computer program, Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES), to model carbon monoxide (CO), coarse particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and mobile source air toxics (MSATs) emissions. The model can also perform greenhouse gas emissions analyses. Forty-nine states use MOVES while California uses EMission FACtors (EMFAC) model to estimate vehicle emissions. Project level analyses may also require the use of dispersion models such as CAL3QHC, CAL3QHCR, or AERMOD. Running these dispersion and emissions models require a high level of technical expertise. With the complexity of the models, the associated requirements/guidance, and the computer programs developed, many state DOTs are finding it technically challenging to perform air quality analysis or review analyses completed by consultants. Practitioners need a combined interface to input data on a step-by-step basis, select dispersion or emission models, run the models, and process the outputs.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this project is to develop a combined user-friendly interface for air quality practitioners to run: (a) EPA approved public domain emission and dispersion models for carbon monoxide and particulate matter, and (b) public domain emission models for mobile source air toxics and greenhouse gases. The interface will be applied by practitioners to conduct and review project level transportation air quality analyses.
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