What’s Happening Now
EPA News
13th Conference on Air Quality Models – 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 with 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.
AWMA Webinar
The latest in webinars from the Air & Waste Management Association is one that modelers are definitely interested in. It’s called Monte Carlo Statistical Analysis for Short‑term NAAQS Compliance and Intermittent Emission Units. For those of us who have had to deal with the probabilistic 1-hour NO2 and 1-hour SO2 National Ambient Air Quality Standards, we know that certain sources (such as standby and emergency engines) tend to drive results, but these sources don’t generally operate 24/7. This webinar will describe a way to characterize the emitting profile of these types of sources using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The webinar is set for July 12, 2023 at 1 pm EDT. Click here for more information about the webinar and click here to register for the webinar.
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 next June in Calgary for ACE 2024! In the meantime, here’s a list of upcoming local AWMA meetings.
RTP Chapter August Lunch Presentation: Compliance
https://rtpawma.org/events/2023/8/15/topic-on-compliance
August 15, 2023 • Raleigh, NC / online
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
Rocky Mountain States Section Air Quality Conference
https://awma-rmss.org/2023conference/
November 2, 2023 • Golden, CO
If your company, organization, agency, state, etc. has an upcoming modeling or air quality-related event 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 now out and includes the following:
- Incorporates AERMOD 22112 executable
- AerMet GUI has been updated to run AERMET 22112
BEEST 12.10 will be out soon and will include these new features:
- Support for new AERMOD 22112 alpha keywords SWPOINT, RLINEXT and PLATFORM
- AerMinute GUI will include download access to the new 1-minute ASOS data site (National Center for Environmental Information or NCEI website – as was discussed in October 2022 Providence/Oris Notes)
- We’ve added the ability to add receptors along an Other line (like a road or railroad)
- We’ve also included an updated WindRose utility
As always, users in maintenance can download the most recent version of BEEST from Support → Software Updates.
BEEST is best!
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 now out. This update has the following enhancements:
- Runs AERMOD 22112
- Includes the latest version of Terrain Files Converter
Users in maintenance can download the most recent version of AerScreen for Windows from Support → Software Updates.
AERMOD Wizard
AERMOD Wizard 1.08 is now out. This update has the following enhancements:
- Download EPA monitoring data published in June 2022
- Download raw meteorological data for Alaska and Hawaii
- Export NEI sources, meteorological stations and monitors to Google Earth
- New label display option for NEI sources
- AerMet GUI has been updated to run AERMET 22112
AERMOD Wizard 1.09 will 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 NCEI website
- Includes the 2020 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) data set
Users in maintenance can download the most recent version of AERMOD Wizard from Support → Software Updates.
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 enhancements to any of our modeling software products, please let us know and we’ll do our best to incorporate them into the software.
Modeling Tip of the Month
Long-time users of BEEST know about its ability to split or partition an AERMOD run or AERMAP run, but did you also know that the same can be done for building wake effects processing via BPIP-Prime? Within BEEST, this is called BPIP Tool.
BPIP Tool allows you to split a BPIP-Prime run similar to the way BEEST splits or partitions AERMOD runs, except that BPIP Tool splits the number of sources rather than the number of receptors. The process is straightforward.
1. Enter your point sources, buildings and tanks into BEEST.
2. Run BPIP-Prime within BEEST to generate the input (.PRW) file.
3. Click the “Run BPIPTool program” button on the toolbar to open BPIP Tool.
4. Click the Browse button on the Setup tab. Locate the folder with the input file and click the OK button.
5. Select the input (.PRW) file and click the “Add >>” button.
6. Click File → “Save As…” on the menu bar to create a batch file. Enter a name for the batch file and click the Save button.
7. Highlight the file under “Batch file contents” and click the Split button.
8. Enter the number of new input files and click the OK button. In this example, we have a total of 250 sources that will be split among two files (125 point sources per file).
9. Click File → Save on the menu bar.
10. Go to the Schedule tab and run the batch file.
11. Close BPIP Tool.
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 next AERMOD Modeling for Permits class will be August 22-23, 2023 and will be online. If you want to get started in modeling, then this class is for you!
To register for AERMOD Modeling for Permits, click here.
Advanced AERMOD
Our next Advanced AERMOD class will be August 24-25, 2023 and 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”.
On-demand AERSCREEN webinar
We will be releasing an on-demand training webinar for AERSCREEN.
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.
2023 Class Dates
The remainder of our 2023 class dates are:
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
August 22-23, 2023
December 12-13, 2023
Advanced AERMOD
August 24-25, 2023
December 14-15, 2023
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
July 12, 2023
AWMA Webinar
Online
August 15, 2023
RTP Chapter August Lunch Presentation: Compliance
Raleigh, NC / online
August 22-23, 2023
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
Online
August 24-25, 2023
Advanced AERMOD
Online
October 3, 2023
Arrowhead Environmental Conference
Proctor, MN
October 25-27, 2023
Pacific Northwest International Section Annual Conference
Suquamish, WA
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 12-13, 2023
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
Online
December 14-15, 2023
Advanced AERMOD
Online
