Grantee Research Project Results
2000 Progress Report: Paso del Norte Environmental Monitor
EPA Grant Number: R827964Title: Paso del Norte Environmental Monitor
Investigators: Kooshian, Charles , Gray, Robert W , Gonzalez-Ayala, Salvador
Institution: City of El Paso, TX , Instituto Municipal de Investigación y Planeación , The University of Texas at El Paso
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period:
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001
Project Amount: $494,935
RFA: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Statistics , Water , Aquatic Ecosystems , Air , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Objective:
The objectives of the research project are to: (1) promote coordination among the agencies, institutions, organizations, and broadcasters within the Paso del Norte region that are involved in collecting or disseminating information regarding pollutant emissions and air quality within this international and interstate region; (2) develop standards for both sharing and displaying information to ensure understandability to the general public and decision-makers of the region; (3) establish a communications infrastructure that provides for relevant time exchange or access to information and allows for appropriate quality assurance of the data and information; (4) develop and implement public outreach programs to facilitate individual actions that can be taken to improve the quality of the environment; (5) promote education of the future generations by developing opportunities for elementary and high school students to conduct research and other activities that facilitate involvement in air and water quality or resource management issues; and (6) ensure transferability of final products to other regions and applications.Progress Summary:
Agency Collaboration and Project Coordination. The MPO, UTEP, and/or IMIP met frequently with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), City of El Paso Traffic Division, El Paso City?County Health and Environmental District, Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Ciudad Juarez Direccion General de Ecologia y Proteccion Civil, Sun Metro Transit, and Universidad Autonomo de Ciudad Juarez. These meetings established lines of communication and cooperative relationships for data sharing and highlighted areas needing further attention.The collaboration and coordination activities have developed a framework for regional data sharing beyond initial expectations. The EMPACT project has become the focal point of a regional geographic information system (GIS) consolidation effort funded by local sources. Leading edge technologies under development through EMPACT may be extended to provide for improved emergency response, resource management, pollution prevention, and other applications.
Procurement of IT Equipment and Communication Infrastructure. The grant was used to purchase computers, modems, and video cameras for IMIP and set up a pilot project traffic management center in Juarez to complement the TxDOT and City of El Paso traffic management data. Initially, IMIP will concentrate on monitoring the traffic at the international bridges and providing estimated wait times to the public. This will reduce emissions caused by idling vehicles.
Information Dissemination Prototype Development. The ozonemap.org Web Site has been updated to provide daily visualizations of ozone levels throughout the ozone season. A similar CO map also has been developed and was made available on the same Web Site during the winter carbon monoxide season. The carbon monoxide map includes data from only El Paso and Cd. Juarez, as New Mexico does not monitor for CO. The CO map is very localized, covering the populated areas of El Paso and Cd. Juarez.
Live Web cams and current images of particulate haze have been added to show the effects of temperature inversions on visibility and air quality. Steps are underway to relate the height of the inversion layer with current air quality, atmospheric stability, and other factors affecting ambient conditions. These data will provide a basis for developing improved forecasting of ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate levels within the region.
Preparation is nearly complete for the next phase of the project to implement real-time access to all regional CAMS data and deploy the EMPACT Internet server. This includes design and specification of data loggers, calibration units, and communication equipment to provide real-time access to the Juarez CAMS. Software and communication protocol procedures for accessing the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) CAMS are still in the planning phase.
Video cameras in Juarez are being deployed, and the communication system to transmit the images back to the EMPACT server is under design. Work is ongoing to access speed and volume data from TxDOT Freeway Management Center sensors. TxDOT's software contractor has been working to standardize data transfer protocols within the organization. Video-captured images from freeway cameras are ready to display on the EMPACT server when it is installed.
Transit mapping efforts are underway in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso to integrate the transit system's route maps into the Web pages.
Public Outreach Coordination. The EMPACT project worked closely with the local Ozone Action Day organization to ensure that EMPACT products were made available to the media. A number of activities were initiated specifically to address the needs of media support. These include expansion of the 3D time-lapse mapping to include carbon monoxide, development of standard graphics for providing consistent Air Quality Index to the various news papers within the region, and establishing a forecasting task force.
The Internet sites focusing on regional air quality have been enhanced to include background information. This includes publication of the JAC Strategic Plan, a regional Air Pollution Primer, and implementation of a dynamic calendar for posting events and current issues potentially affecting regional air quality. The Internet sites?ozonemap.org, bordercleanair.org, and air.utep.edu?target the general public, regional workgroups and researchers, respectively. Each of these sites receives ongoing enhancements to provide current information and background information on the complex conditions affecting air quality and its local impacts.
Based on the initial air quality symposium held in October, an enhanced program for school age education and activities was developed to promote the EMPACT project during the spring sessions of 2001. The end products will include Internet pages focusing on target K-12 audiences, workshops to provide hands-on access to environmental information, and educational materials suitable for use in the classroom.
Predictive Model Development. Travel demand model development has been ongoing at the MPO and IMIP. A regional multi-modal model is nearing completion and will soon be available for predicting mobile source emissions throughout the bi-national air basin. When the TxDOT real time speed and volume data becomes available, it will be used to calibrate an hourly model. EMPACT project members are involved in model development and are ensuring that it can be successfully integrated into the EMPACT project and serve as a basis for other regional projects.
Future Activities:
The goals for the next phase of the project include delivering real-time access to all regional CAMS data through implementation of the EMPACT Internet server. This includes purchase and deployment of data loggers, calibration units, and communication equipment to provide real-time access to the Juarez CAMS. Software and communication protocol procedures for accessing NMED CAMS will be purchased and implemented. The Internet server is planned for purchase and placement at the City of El Paso within the Department of Traffic and Transportation. This will provide direct access to the Texas Department of Transportation fiber backbone. Through this connection, real-time traffic conditions and live Web cams along the freeway will be posted on the EMPACT server.Finally, the EMPACT Internet server will be equipped with Internet Mapping Software to allow interaction with dynamic maps to combine traffic conditions and other data with observed environmental conditions. During this phase, the project will become the foundation for real-time sharing of all environmental information within the international air basin.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 5 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
air, ambient air, atmosphere, mobile sources, exposure, risk, effects, health effects, human health, sensitive populations, children, elderly, particulates, VOC, nitrogen oxides, decision making, community-based, environmental chemistry, modeling, monitoring, measurement methods, remote sensing, southwest, EPA Region 6, Texas, TX, New Mexico, NM, Mexico, Ciudad Juarez, Sunland Park, Socorro, Horizon City, El Paso, business, transportation., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, particulate matter, air toxics, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Ecology and Ecosystems, tropospheric ozone, Ecological Risk Assessment, EMPACT, monitoring, vehicle emissions, air pollutants, stratospheric ozone, PM 2.5, monitoring stations, public information, ambient air, web site development, carbon monoxide, community outreach, community tracking, PM, atmospheric monitoring, outreach and education, public health alerts, public outreach, real time monitoring, air quality, atmospheric chemistry, multi-language outreach materialsRelevant Websites:
http://www.ozonemap.org/
http://www.bordercleanair.org/
http://www.air.utep.edu/
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.