What’s Happening Now
New Surface Meteorological Data Format
As we mentioned in January, the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) stopped uploading Integrated Surface Hourly Dataset (ISHD) surface meteorological data as of August 29, 2025. The new surface meteorological data format is referred to as Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) and can be found at https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/global-historical-climatology-network-hourly. For those of you who process meteorological data via the AERMET system, it is important to note that the current version of AERMET (v24142) is NOT able to read/incorporate GHCN data. EPA is currently working to add this capability to AERMET. As of this writing, this update will not happen until EPA releases its 2026 AERMOD system update – possibly late spring/early summer of this year. When EPA does release it, we will incorporate it into our AERMET graphical user interface (GUI).
*HOT* To help with AERMET processing with the new GHCN surface data, we have released a new utility that will convert GHCN-formatted surface data into the former ISHD format. This Surface Files Converter is now out and is freely available to all BEEST users in current maintenance. Users can download it from https://www.providenceoris.com/product/surface-files-converter/.
EPA News
Nothing officially released yet, but it’s sounding like the 2026 Regional/State/Local (RSL) Modelers Workshop will be held in mid-July. There will be a stakeholder/public day, but it will be virtual/on-line only. Watch SCRAM for details as they are announced.
Conferences and Workshops
CAPCA Spring Meeting – The spring meeting of the Carolinas Air Pollution Control Association (CAPCA) will be held April 15-17, 2026 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. For more information on the conference (including registration), browse to https://www.capca-carolinas.org/2026-spring.
2026 TCEQ Environmental Trade Fair – This year’s edition of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ’s) Environmental Trade Fair and Conference will be held in San Antonio, TX at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on May 19-20, 2026. Registration has already opened up, so if you want to register or find out more information, check out https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/events/etfc/etf.html . We’ll be at booth 554 on the Exhibit Floor and hope to see you there, too!
2026 AWMA Annual Conference and Exhibition – The 119th Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) of the Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA) will be held June 21-24, 2026 in Austin, TX at the J W Marriott Hotel. This is the premier conference for those of us in the air quality field, with a plethora of technical papers and presentations related to air quality modeling and new source review. For more information on the conference, including registration and lodging, go to https://www.awma.org/ace2026.
2026 AWMA Guideline on Air Quality Models Modeling Specialty Conference – It’s back! The latest in a series of dispersion modeling conferences sponsored by AWMA is coming to the Research Triangle Park, NC area on October 13-15, 2026. We have no additional details at this time, so check back here or at A&WMA Specialty Conferences for more information as it’s released.
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 12.13b is out! This new version fixes bugs that were found in BEEST 12.13.
BEEST 12.14 will be out soon. This update will include:
• 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
• Updated File -> Import and File -> Export menus
• Plus, several bug fixes
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
AerScreen for Windows 5.01 is now out! This version includes these features:
- Adjusted values written to the AerScreen input file. Values are formatted to stay within accepted length.
- Added validation for source height before running model. When invalid values are found, an error message is displayed.
- Added keyboard shortcuts to File menu
- Fixed other bugs
AerScreen for Windows 5.02 will be out by the end of April. This version will include a couple of bug fixes related to flare sources.
Users in maintenance can download the most recent version of AerScreen for Windows from https://www.providenceoris.com/software-downloads/.
AERMOD Wizard
*HOT* AERMOD Wizard 1.10 is now out! New features in it 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 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.
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!
Modeling Tip of the Month
With our release of AERMOD Wizard 1.10, it would be instructive to review one of the new features found in it. As we mentioned in this newsletter back in December 2024, the upper data format for meteorological data processing changed from Forecast Systems Lab (FSL) to Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA). Since one of the features of AERMOD Wizard is that it allows the user to mark and quickly download upper air data, we updated AERMOD Wizard to be able to download data in the IGRA format. It is even easier to do than the former FSL download approach! After launching AERMOD Wizard, turn on the Upper Air / Names display on the left-hand side and go to where your upper air station of interest is. In this example, we’ve identified the Peachtree City, GA station located south of Atlanta, GA.
Next, left-click the upper air station “U” icon to mark the site:
On the drop-down menu, click Met and select Download Upper Air Data:
A check box screen then pop-up, with the name of the station, and a list of years that you can select to download. All you have to do is (1) select the station, (2) select the year(s) you wish to download, and (3) click Download.
If you’ve had to download IGRA data before, you’ll recall that the data are organized by station only, with all years of data for a station found in a single zipped file – which can be quite large. With AERMOD Wizard, it not only finds and downloads the raw, zipped file of all years of data for the station, but it automatically culls out just the year(s) that you requested. However, after downloading the data, you will still need to process that file through our IGRA Files Extractor utility in order to fill in any instances of a missing station elevation:
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 May 4, 2026 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 of 2026 will be May 5-6, 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 May 7-8, 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.
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).
2026 Class Dates
Here are all of our training class dates for 2026:
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 700,000 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
CAPCA Spring Meeting
April 15-17, 2026
Asheville, NC
NSR Essentials
May 4, 2026
Online
AERMOD Modeling for Permits
May 5-6, 2026
Online
Advanced AERMOD
May 7-8, 2026
Online
TCEQ Environmental Trade Fair and Conference
May 19-20, 2026
San Antonio, TX
Air & Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition
June 21-24, 2026
Austin, 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)
