What’s Happening Now
EPA News
*HOT* EPA has released 2026 updates to several components of the AERMOD modeling system. These include AERMOD, AERMET, AERMINUTE, and AERSURFACE. The new version number for all of these programs is 26135. Aside from bug fixes, these are new enhancements to each of the component programs:
AERMOD
• Added capability to use multiple hourly emission rate files
• Added ALPHA options for RLINEXT sources to model solid continuous barriers, solid barrier edge effects (account for influence zone at end of barrier), and vegetative barriers
• Plume rise formulation updated for aircraft sources. (Characterization as an aircraft source is an ALPHA option.)
AERMET
• Modified subroutine HEADER in mod_upperair.f90 to correct a format overflow of the upper air station elevation (when ≥ 1,000 m) when writing to the upper air EXTRACT or QAOUT file.
• Modified subroutine WRITE_FILES in mod_pbl.f90 to write 4-digit years for surface and profile files.
• Modified several subroutines to read in a second upper air station and allow substitution of missing upper air data either from the primary upper air station and/or secondary station.
• Added subroutine READ_GHCN in mod_surface.f90 to read GHCN hourly data. Updated other variables and subroutines as needed to accommodate new data type/format.
AERMINUTE
• Modified subroutine READSURF to read in Global Historical Climatology Network Hourly files (GHCNh) for standard observations
• Added subroutine RDGHCN to read GHCNh data
AERSURFACE
• Increased path/filename character limit from 200 to 300.
• Added option to subdivide surface roughness wind sectors with annular rings/bands as a refinement to further delineate land cover/land use as HIGHZ0 or LOWZ0 within each band rather than categorizing the entire sector as either HIGHZ0 or LOWZ0.
• Corrected bug that resulted in unsuccessful completion when Albers projection parameters were missing from the GeoTIFF file and were supplied by the user.
WOW, that’s a lot of changes!
2026 Regional/State/Local Modelers (RSL) Workshop – If you were not able to catch the 2026 RSL Modelers Workshop back on July 14, 2026, EPA has posted the slides from it here.
Also, if you go to the presentation by Meta under Forum on data center modeling, slide 2 (here), you’ll see a very familiar logo! (Spoiler alert – it’s BEEST!)
EPA has already begun planning for its next Conference on Air Quality Models. This triennial conference is mandated by the Clean Air Act. This upcoming 14th Conference on Air Quality Models is tentatively scheduled for late summer/early fall of 2027 and will be held at the EPA’s Research Triangle Park, NC offices. Keep watching SCRAM for updates.
Conferences and Workshops
TCEQ Advanced Air Permitting Seminar – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will be hosting an Advanced Air Permitting Seminar on October 6, 2026 at the University of Texas J.J. Pickle Research Campus in Austin, TX. Registration and agenda information can be found here.
AWMA Specialty Conference – Guideline on Air Quality Models Modeling: From Guidance to Practice – It’s back! The latest in a series of dispersion modeling conferences sponsored by AWMA is coming to the Hilton Durham near Duke University in Durham, NC October 13-15, 2026. For more information on the conference, go here.
CAPCA Fall Meeting – The fall meeting of the Carolinas Air Pollution Control Association (CAPCA) will be October 21-23, 2026 in Myrtle Beach, SC. For more information on the conference, including lodging, registration, and exhibiting, go to https://www.capca-carolinas.org/fall-2026
AWMA Louisiana Section Fall Conference – It’s back! The annual fall conference of the Louisiana Section of AWMA will be held October 28-29, 2026 at the L’Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge, LA. For more information, check it out 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 12.14 is now out!
This long-awaited update includes:
• BEEST can now run AERMOD 26135
• BEEST can now run AERMET 26135 (including using GHCN surface data)
• BEEST can run AERMINUTE 26135
• BEEST can run AERSURFACE 26135
As well as these enhancements:
• Ability to find a receptor network in Show Current Data Graphically
• Ability to generate special grid receptors based on a selected fenceline
• Ability to assign all sources inside a selected fenceline to a source group
• Ability to create a line of point sources
• Ability to create a line of area sources
• An updated version of MAXDCONT Viewer
• An updated version of WINDROSE
• Updated File -> Import and File -> Export menus
• Plus, several bug fixes
WOW, that’s a lot of new features!
With all these new features, we will be conducting a webinar about BEEST 12.14 on Monday, September 21, 2026 at 3 pm CDT. Click here to register for it.
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.
These stylish shirts seem to be very popular among the modeling community: Go BEEST Mode
AerScreen for Windows
*HOT*AerScreen for Windows 5.03 is now out!
This version includes the AERMOD 26135 executable.
Users in maintenance can download the most recent version of AerScreen for Windows from https://www.providenceoris.com/software-downloads/.
AERMOD Wizard
AERMOD Wizard 1.10 is out! New features in it include:
• AERMET 24142 and AERSURFACE 24142 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 24, 2025)
• Added an option for specifying thresholds for NEI sources on the Options form
• PM2.5 annual NAAQS and SIL updated in MERPs Analysis form
We presented a webinar on AERMOD Wizard 1.10 and its new features on April 8, 2026. If you missed it, you can click here to view it.
We are currently working on AERMOD Wizard 1.11, which will include, among other things, a new download routine for GHCN surface meteorological data.
Users in maintenance can download the most recent version of 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!
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.
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
Our last AERMOD Modeling for Permits class for 2026 will be December 8-9, 2026 and it will be online. If you want to get started in air modeling, then this class is for you! If you want to register, please click here.
Advanced AERMOD
Our next Advanced AERMOD class is slated for December 10-11, 2026 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 and
• AERMOD Wizard and its uses
To register for Advanced AERMOD, please click here.
*NEW* 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 Modeling for Non-Modelers class has been set for Thursday September 17, 2026 and will be presented online. 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).
2027 Class Dates
*HOT* Here are our training class dates for 2027:
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 runs AERMOD 26135**
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.
*HOT* BeestXpress has now processed over 800,000 AERMOD runs. WOW!!
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
Modeling for Non-Modelers
September 17, 2026
Online
TCEQ Advanced Air Permitting Seminar
October 6, 2026
Austin, TX
AWMA Specialty Conference – Guideline on Air Quality Models; From Guidance to Practice
October 13-15, 2026
Durham, NC
CAPCA Fall Meeting
October 21-23, 2026
Myrtle Beach, SC
AWMA Louisiana Section Annual Fall Conference
October 28, 2026
Baton Rouge, LA
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
December 8-9, 2026
Online
Advanced AERMOD
December 10-11, 2026
Online
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)
