What’s Happening Now
EPA News
2023 Region/State/Local (RSL) Modelers Workshop – As we mentioned in the last two newsletters, EPA has released the presentations from this year’s RSL workshop. You can find them You can find them here.
Speaking of things discussed at the RSL workshop….
*HOT* New version of AERMOD coming soon! – US EPA has announced that the next version of AERMOD will be designated 23132. This palindromic designation will be in honor of Roger Brode, former Mr. AERMOD at EPA, who recently passed away after retiring from the agency in 2021. (Julian Day 132 is May 12, which was Roger’s birthday). EPA has indicated that the release will definitely occur before the 13th Conference on Air Quality Models – hopefully, well before then. As always, as soon as EPA releases a version of AERMOD, we will incorporate it into BEEST ASAP!
13th Conference on Air Quality Models – Save the date! EPA’s triennial Conference on Air Quality Models will be held November 14-15, 2023. This will be a public conference and EPA will be soliciting comments on proposed changes to modeling guidance and tools. As in previous conferences, this one will be held at EPA offices in Research Triangle Park, NC. Keep watching here and on SCRAM for details as they emerge.
Model Clearinghouse Memorandum – The EPA Model Clearinghouse has released another concurrence memorandum regarding the use of the AERCOARE-AERMOD alternative model application. This approach has been proposed for an offshore wind farm to be located ten (10) miles off the coast of Maryland. If you want to read the complete memorandum, click Here
Conferences and Workshops
Many thanks to all of you who helped make AWMA’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) in Orlando a resounding success. We hope to see you all again June 24-27 at the TELLUS Convention Centre in Calgary for ACE 2024! In the meantime, here’s a list of other upcoming local AWMA meetings:
- Arrowhead Environmental Conference (Upper Midwest Section and SWANA MN Chapter) (https://www.awma-ums.org/calendar/2023-arrowhead-environmental-conference)
October 3, 2023 • Proctor, MN - Pacific Northwest International Section Annual Conference (https://pnwis.org/pnwis-annual-conference/ )
October 25-27, 2023 • Suquamish, WA - Louisiana Section Annual Conference (https://la-awma.org/conference/)
October 25-26, 2023 • Baton Rouge, LA - Rocky Mountain States Section Air Quality Conference (https://awma-rmss.org/2023conference/)
November 2, 2023 • Golden, CO
CAPCA Fall Meeting: The fall meeting/conference of the Carolinas Air Pollution Control Association (CAPCA) will be held October 18-20, 2023, at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. For more information on registration, agenda/topics, or exhibiting at the conference, 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
BEEST 12.09 is out and includes the following:
- Incorporates AERMOD 22112 executable; and
- AERMET user interface has been updated to use AERMET 22112
*BEEST 12.10* will be out later this month will include these new features:
- Support for new AERMOD 22112 alpha keywords SWPOINT, RLINEXT, and PLATFORM;
- Ability to export new SWPOINT and RLINEXT source types to Google Earth;
- The AERMINUTE GUI will include download access to the new 1-minute ASOS data site (National Center for Environmental Information or NCEI web site — as was discussed in in October 2022 Providence/Oris Notes);
- We’ve added the ability to add receptors along an Other line (like a road or railroad!);
- Reads the ArcGIS world file when the user opens a background map;
- Updated Terrain File Converted to read the latest version of GDAL library files.
- Added a warning in Receptor Options when the number of partitions is greater than the total number of receptors;
- Added confirmation prompt when the user clicks the “Remove last day from output files” button in AERMET;
- Added a list of ASOS station anemometer heights to guidance documents;
- An updated WindRose utility;
- And more!
And, as we mentioned above, we’ll be updating BEEST to incorporate AERMOD 23132 after it is released by EPA
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 4.03 is out! The update has these new features/enhancements:
- Runs AERMOD 22112
- Updated installer to include the latest version of Terrain Files Converter
*When EPA releases AERMOD 23132, we will incorporate it into AerScreen for Windows.*
Users in maintenance can download the most recent version of AerScreen for Windows from https://www.providenceoris.com/software-downloads/.
AERMOD Wizard
AERMOD Wizard 1.08 is out! This update has the following enhancements:
- Ability to download ambient monitoring data posted through May 2022;
- New label display option for NEI sources;
- Incorporation of AERMET 22112;
- Download raw meteorological and ambient data from Alaska and Hawaii; and
- Export on-screen NEI sources, meteorological stations, and ambient monitoring stations to Google Earth!
AERMOD Wizard 1.09 will also be out soon and will include these updates:
- 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 more!
Users in maintenance can download version 1.08 of AERMOD Wizard from https://www.providenceoris.com/software-downloads/.
* We’re off to use the Wizard! *
HOT: Don’t forget – our *FREE* KMZ file for monitoring stations and 2019-2021 pollutant design values is still available at https://www.providenceoris.com/epa-aqs-monitors-2019-2021-2
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
If you routinely process meteorological data for use in AERMOD, you know that the AERSURFACE processor must be used to determine spatially- and temporally- varying values of surface roughness length, albedo, and Bowen ratio. EPA last updated AERSURFACE in 2020, and the current version (v20060) can process National Land Cover Database (NLCD) land cover, impervious cover, and tree canopy data for 1992, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 data sets. However, 2 newer years of data sets, 2019 and 2021, are now available from the NLCD (https://www.mrlc.gov/viewer/). If you are processing a meteorological data set that occurred after 2016, you can still process 2019 and 2021 data sets using AERSURFACE. It turns out that the formats of the 2019 and 2021 data sets are exactly the same as the 2016 data sets. In addition, there’s no year check in AERSURFACE, so you can process the more recent data sets in AERSURFACE by just setting the year to 2016.
First, in the AS1 tab in AERMET, click Input Files:
Then, just set the year to 2016 and select your 2019 or 2021 land cover, impervious, and canopy data files and run AERSURFACE like you normally would:
Please note that although the 2019 and 2021 data sets are available through MRLC, they are not yet available on EPA’s land cover website https://gaftp.epa.gov/Air/aqmg/nlcd/.
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.
Essential Air Permitting
Providence’s next Essential Air Permitting class will be held Monday, December 11, 2023, and will be online. This class it 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 Essential Air Permitting class, click here.
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
Our last AERMOD Modeling for Permits class for 2023 will be December 12-13, 2023 and it will be online. If you are wanting to get started in air modeling, then this class is for you!
To register for AERMOD Modeling for Permits, click here.
Advanced AERMOD
Similarly, our last Advanced AERMOD class of 2023 is going to be December 14-15, 2023, and it will also be online.
Advanced AERMOD covers 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 MaxDCont Viewer)
- 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.
Just as a reminder, if you register more than 30 days before your AERMOD class(es), you will receive a $100 discount on the course fee (per class, per registrant).
On-demand Meteorological Data Processing webinar
We are planning to launch a new training option – on-demand webinars. The first of these to be released will be “Meteorological Data Processing for AERMOD”. Look for it at www.providenceoris.com coming soon.
On-demand AERSCREEN webinar
We will be releasing an on-demand training webinar for AERSCREEN. Watch this space for details!
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.
**2024 Class Dates** As promised, here are our training dates for 2024.
| Date | Class | Location |
| February 19 | Essentials of Air Permitting | TBD |
| February 20-21 | AERMOD Modeling for Permits | TBD |
| February 22-23 | Advanced AERMOD | TBD |
| May 13 | Essentials of Air Permitting | TBD |
| May 14-15 | AERMOD Modeling for Permits | TBD |
| May 16-17 | Advanced AERMOD | TBD |
| August 19 | Essentials of Air Permitting | TBD |
| August 20-21 | AERMOD Modeling for Permits | TBD |
| August 22-23 | Advanced AERMOD | TBD |
| December 9 | Essentials of Air Permitting | TBD |
| December 10-11 | AERMOD Modeling for Permits | TBD |
| December 12-13 | Advanced AERMOD | TBD |
Although class locations are currently noted as To Be Determined, most will be on-line. However, there will be one set of classes that will be in-person, just like they were pre-pandemic (date and location TBD 😊).
Providence Services
BeestXpress
Our BeestXpress modeling server was replaced in 2022 and now runs faster than ever before!
If you’ve never used our super-fast BeestXpress before, now is the time. Feel free to use our on-demand webinar that steps you through the process of setting up an account and sending off your first BeestXpress run. You can view the webinar here. New BeestXpress users can complete their first run 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.
BeestXpress users have some great system enhancements to work with:
- The “Job Details” webpage now displays the pollutant being modeled
- The “Job Details” webpage now displays run progress for MAXDCONT calculations
- Modeling runs with multiple partitions now include a combined AERMOD input file (*.DTA) in the output .ZIP file
- Added an option to the “Submit Job” webpage that affects modeling runs with multiple partitions: the intermediate output files created by each partition can be omitted from the output .ZIP file
- The “Job Search” webpage now includes the option to search by project number
- Users have access to up to 99 partitions per AERMOD run
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.
Calendar
October 3, 2023
Arrowhead Environmental Conference
Proctor, MN
October 25-27, 2023
Pacific Northwest International Section Annual Conference
Suquamish, WA
October 25-24, 2023
AWMA Louisiana Section Annual Conference
Baton Rouge, LA
November 2, 2023
Rocky Mountain States Section Air Quality Conference
Golden, CO
November 14-15, 2023
EPA 13th Conference on Air Quality Models
Research Triangle Park, NC
December 11, 2023
Essential Air Permitting
Online
December 12-13, 2023
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
Online
December 14-15, 2023
Advanced AERMOD
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)
