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Evaluation of Air Quality Models with Near-Road Monitoring Data

What Was the Need?

Federal transportation air quality regulations have increased the emphasis on near-road exposure to mobile source pollutants in recent years. Air dispersion models (air quality models), used for assessing near-field impacts of mobile source emissions, are therefore very important in ensuring that federally funded transportation projects can move forward in air quality nonattainment and attainment-maintenance areas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposed updates to its Guideline on Air Quality Models include replacing the CALINE3 air quality model with the AERMOD model in specific air quality analyses. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and its partner agencies need to establish best practices and technical guidelines on model selection and appropriate use of the models in different contexts.

Project Summary

Under this study, researchers will perform a comprehensive model evaluation that includes a detailed comparative assessment of AERMOD and CALINE3 (specifically CAL3QHCR) with real-world data. The data will include near-road air quality monitoring data collected in response to EPA’s near-road monitoring mandate and other non-traditional traffic data sources. This study will result in the establishment of best practices and technical guidelines on model selection and appropriate use of the dispersion models. It will also enable TxDOT to incorporate the near-road ambient air quality and other datasets into the quality control of air quality analyses.

Project Number

0-6943

Status

Completed

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Project Details

Start Date

11/15/2016

End Date

8/31/2019

Performing Institution(s)

Texas A & M Transportation Institute (TTI); The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Research Team

RS: Reza Farzaneh

Sponsor

Project Manager

Wade Odell

Contract Specialist

Patti Dathe

TxDOT Advisor

Jackie Ploch, ENV

Amount Funded

FY17: $162,811
FY18: $168,910
FY19: $104,550

Source

TxDOT RTI

Publications from this Project

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Functional Area

Planning and Environmental

Index Terms

Air quality
Environmental impacts
Nonattainment areas
Pollution
Mobile sources

Lead University

TTI

Researcher

Farzaneh, Mohamadreza

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Record Added:

2/14/2017

Record Updated:

7/22/2023 5:36 AM EDT

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