What’s Happening Now
EPA News
Nothing new to note on the EPA modeling front.
Conferences and Workshops
There are a significant number of upcoming technical conferences, meetings, and workshops in 2025/2026. So, without any further ado….
Southern Section Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA) – The annual conference of the Southern Section of AWMA will be held August 27-29, 2025 at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS. More conference information can be found at https://www.ss-awma.org/2025-annual-conference.html.
Rocky Mountain States AWMA – The Rocky Mountain States Section – Air & Waste Management Association (RMSS-A&WMA) is hosting a one-day Air Quality Technical Conference on September 25, 2025. This will be held at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, located at 430 Cherry Creek South Drive in Denver. Click here for more information.
PNWIS AWMA Annual Conference – The annual conference of the Pacific Northwest International Section (PNWIS) of AWMA will be held October 15-17, 2025 in Boise, ID. For more information on this conference, go here.
CAPCA Fall Meeting – The annual Fall Meeting of the Carolinas Air Pollution Control Association (CAPCA) will be held October 22-24, 2025 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Click here for details.
Louisiana Section AWMA Fall Conference – The 2025 annual fall conference of the Louisiana section of AWMA will be held October 29-30, 2025 at the L’Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge, LA. Check here for more details as they become available.
AWMA New Source Review Workshop – The next stop on AWMA’s New Source Review (NSR) Workshop tour will be November 12-13, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. Providence’s own Robynn Andracsek will be one of the presenters. You can find out more about the conference by going here.
106th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) – The 106th Annual Meeting of the AMS will be in Houston, Texas at the George R. Brown Convention Center January 25-29, 2026. This meeting will include the 24th Joint Conference on the Applications of Air Pollution Meteorology with AWMA. For more information on the annual meeting, click here.
If your company, organization, agency, State, etc. has an upcoming modeling or air quality-related event (virtual or otherwise) and you’d like it publicized in Providence/Oris Notes, please send that information to us at info@providenceoris.com, and we’ll be happy to include it.
Providence Products
Simply the best!
BEEST Suite
*HOT* BEEST 12.13 is out! This new version fixes bugs that were found in BEEST 12.12.
*Also, if you downloaded BEEST 12.13 before Monday May 5th – you have an early release version and need to update. Please download the latest BEEST 12.13 from our website now.*
As always, users in maintenance can download the most recent version of BEEST from https://www.providenceoris.com/software-downloads/.
“Go BEEST Mode !” We still have plenty of Go BEEST Mode t-shirts! You can request one of those by emailing us at info@providenceoris.com.
AerScreen for Windows
AerScreen for Windows 4.05 is now here! The update has these new features/enhancements:
- Runs AERMOD 24142
- Runs AERMAP 24142
Users in maintenance can download the most recent version of AerScreen for Windows from https://www.providenceoris.com/software-downloads/.
AERMOD Wizard
AERMOD Wizard 1.09 is out and includes these updates:
- Updated AERMET version to 23132
- Ability to download all of the EPA 2023 ambient monitoring data
- Ability to export Class I areas and Class I area receptors to Google Earth
- Ability to download ASOS data from the new NCEI website
- Inclusion of the 2020 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) data set (and ability to export them to Google Earth)
New features that will be in AERMOD Wizard 1.10 include:
- AERMET 24142 and AERSURFACE 24142 now supported
- Ability to export circles (e.g., 10km radius circle about a monitor) to Google Earth
- New download routine for Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) upper air data
- Updated ambient air data (EPA data through November 2024)
- Added an option for specifying thresholds for NEI sources on the Options form
- PM2.5 annual SIL updated in MERPs Analysis form
* Expect to see AERMOD Wizard 1.10 come out very soon! *
Users in maintenance can download AERMOD Wizard from https://www.providenceoris.com/software-downloads/.
We’re off to use the Wizard!
If you have suggestions for an enhancement to any of our modeling software products, please let us know and we’ll do our best to incorporate it into the software ASAP!
Modeling Tip of the Month
Our users have enjoyed having the ability to export objects from BEEST’s Show Current Data Graphically to Google Earth. It’s a very useful way to see how well your sources, fencelines, etc match up with reality. Did you know, though, that you can have your objects exported to Google Earth as either 2-dimensional (2-D) or 3-dimensional (3-D)? If you’re in Show Current Data Graphically, click the Options button on the left-hand side, and go to the Google Earth Options tab:
Something else that’s interesting when exporting to Google Earth is that you can get an idea of how the terrain changes around your site of interest. For example, you can set your Google Earth export option to 3D Export, and then add a tank around your facility/domain. When you add a height to the “tank” and then export to Google Earth, Google Earth shades all area less than the tank height. You could also set the tank height to your stack height to see if you are dealing with complex terrain. Here’s an example from our BEEST Test Case, where a tank was drawn about the source, was given a base elevation equal to the source base elevation, and a tank height of 100 feet.
Providence Training
Modeling skills ready for an upgrade? We can help!
We want to note that many folks use our classes as credit toward professional engineer continuing education requirements. Check with your state’s licensing board or the National Society of Professional Engineers (see here or here) for more information on what is required.
**NSR Essentials**
Providence’s next NSR Essentials air permitting class will be August 18, 2025, and it will be online. This class is tailored to those folks who are new to air permitting or perhaps new environmental managers who need a good overview of the basic issues related to air permitting. Topics such as statutes, applicability, netting, emission calculations, and Title V are just some of the areas that are covered. To register for this NSR Essentials class, click here.
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
Our next AERMOD Modeling for Permits class will be August 19-20, 2025, and it will be online. If you are wanting to get started in air modeling, then this class is for you! If you want to register, please click here.
Advanced AERMOD
Similarly, our next Advanced AERMOD class will be August 21-22, 2025, and it will also be online.
Advanced AERMOD covers those topics that are near and dear to modelers, such as:
- NAAQS modeling for 1-hour NO2, 1-hour SO2, and 24-hour PM2.5 (including the new MaxDCont Viewer)
- Meteorological data processing with AERMET/AERMINUTE/AERSURFACE
- Culpability Determination
- Background Concentrations
- Emission scalars and Hourly Emission Rate files
- Changes in Terrain Data Processing
- AERMOD Wizard and its uses
To register for Advanced AERMOD, click here.
*HOT* Modeling for Non-Modelers – Given the importance that modeling plays in demonstrating compliance, we think that all stakeholders of the air quality permitting team (client/applicant, permit application preparer, modeler, attorney, etc) need to have a basic understanding of air quality modeling. Do you know a manager, an attorney, or a client who knows just enough about dispersion modeling to be dangerous? Wouldn’t it be better if that person knew enough about dispersion modeling to understand the basic modeling process and regulatory drivers, knew how to interpret modeling results, and knew when it was necessary to bring a modeling expert into the decision-making process? If so, our Modeling for Non-Modelers class is for them. This 1-day class doesn’t get into the nitty gritty of setting up and running the model, but it does familiarize students with enough of the process so that they can make informed decisions when it comes to dispersion modeling.
This year’s edition of our popular Modeling for Non-Modelers class has been set for Thursday September 18, 2025, and will be presented on-line. Click here to register.
Just as a reminder, if you register more than 30 days before your training class(es), you will receive a $100 discount on the course fee (per class, per registrant).
Here are our class dates for 2025:
Don’t forget, if our schedule of classes doesn’t mesh with your schedule, or if you have several people that need to be trained at once, contact us about setting up your own onsite or online class. Have laptop, will travel! (including virtually)
Providence Services
BeestXpress
**BeestXpress now runs AERMOD 24142**
If you’ve never used our super-fast cloud-based BeestXpress before, now is the time. We have an on-demand webinar that steps you through the process of setting up an BeestXpress account and sending off your first BeestXpress run. You can view the webinar here. New BeestXpress users can complete their first run with up to 50 partitions absolutely FREE. Instructions about receiving the free run are given at the end of the webinar. Beyond the starter run BeestXpress will give you a per-run cost estimate before you begin. If you need help budgeting for BeestXpress, contact us for additional daily rate pricing options.
To date, BeestXpress has processed over 500,000 AERMOD runs.
BeestXpress users can log on at www.beestxpress.com to take advantage of our AERMOD “force multiplier”. That AERMOD run that might have taken a day or two to process on your desktop computer can finish in an hour or less on BeestXpress. When time is money, BeestXpress is the best modeling return on investment there is!
Meteorological Data Processing Services
Do you need AERMOD-ready meteorological data? If so, we can help! Whether it’s running national weather service data or onsite monitor met data through the AERMET/AERMINUTE system, Providence has the background, know-how, and experience to have your data processed and ready for you ASAP. If you’d like more information, contact us at info@providenceoris.com or jamesred@providenceeng.com.
Consulting Solutions
One thing that we’re very proud of is the depth and range of our modeling experience and expertise. The kinds of air quality models we’ve used include all types, ranging from simple screening tools like SCREEN and AERSCREEN to plume models like ISC and AERMOD. The types of analyses include basic Significant Impact Level, NAAQS, PSD increment consumption, Class I analyses, air toxics and SIP attainment demonstrations. So, we’ve seen it all. To that end, should you or your clients need additional modeling assistance or just a second set of eyes to QA or peer review your modeling (ranging from initial protocol up to final submission), we stand ready to help. Feel free to contact us at 512‑258‑8855, 828‑628‑0634 or info@providenceoris.com.
OR . . . maybe you just need advice about a particular project OR you need someone to do a QA review, OR you have a very small modeling task to complete. It would be too much of a hassle to set up a contract for just a few hours of work. What to do?
Easy! Now you can purchase individual air modeling consulting hours with a credit card online through our website! Just contact us first so we’re on the same page about the scope and schedule. Go to https://www.providenceoris.com/product/1-hour-of-expert-air-modeling-consulting/
For clarity, this small-job purchasing option is for air modeling consulting only. Software customers may receive help from us at any time for software-related issues at no cost (this is included in the maintenance fees). Recent trainees may also call to ask us training-related questions at no cost.
Calendar
NSR Essentials
August 18, 2025
Online
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
August 19-20, 2025
Online
Advanced AERMOD
August 21-22, 2025
Online
Southern Section of AWMA Annual Conference
August 27-29, 2025
Biloxi, MS
Modeling for Non-Modelers
September 18, 2025
Online
Rocky Mountain States Section of AWMA Air Quality Technical Conference
September 25, 2025
Denver, CO
PNWI Section of AWMA Annual Conference
October 15-17, 2025
Boise, ID
Carolinas Air Pollution Control Association Fall Meeting
October 22-24, 2025
Myrtle Beach, SC
Louisiana Section AWMA Fall Conference
October 29-30, 2025
Baton Rouge, LA
AWMA New Source Review Workshop
November 12-13, 2025
Pittsburgh, PA
NSR Essentials
December 8, 2025
Online
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
December 9-10, 2025
Online
Advanced AERMOD
December 11-12, 2025
Online
106th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS)
January 25-29, 2026
Houston, TX
Our complete class schedule can always be found at https://www.providenceoris.com/training/
For More Information:
Phone: (512) 258-8855
Email: info@providenceoris.com
Visit our websites:
www.providenceoris.com (software, support, and training)
www.beestxpress.com (cloud-based high speed AERMOD)
