When conducting an air dispersion modeling analysis, the ability to present high-quality graphical depictions of the output is extremely important. Such images provide context to modeled results, and they provide a valuable tool to modelers in understanding and explaining the model’s calculations.
With the latest release of the AERMOD model dated 22112, the U.S. EPA has continued to expand the formulated capabilities of the model. Most of these updates have been added as ALPHA non-default options, a concept we covered in a previous modeling tip.
Air dispersion models are only capable of calculating concentration at specific locations. These locations are called receptors. In the U.S. EPA’s AERMOD air dispersion model, concentration calculations at each receptor are done at the ground level as opposed to some height above ground.
A key feature of Lakes Software’s commercial products is the ability to easily import base maps in a wide variety of file formats. Supported formats include raster images (e.g., JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF, etc.), AutoCAD DXF, Digital Line Graphs (DLG), Shapefiles, and more.
One feature of the CALPUFF model is the ability to depict coastal interaction effects. Since the land surface can heat more rapidly than adjoining water, a Thermal Internal Boundary Layer (TIBL) can form and bring elevated source plumes close to the ground.
Previous Modeling Tips have covered different aspects of identifying plant boundaries in an AERMOD View project. This modeling tip describes plant boundary visualization capabilities and the ability to separate onsite and offsite impacts.