Grantee Research Project Results
2006 Progress Report: Texas Joint Center for Air Quality
EPA Grant Number: X832317Center: UT Center for Infrastructure Modeling and Management
Center Director: Hodges, Ben R.
Title: Texas Joint Center for Air Quality
Investigators: Hitchcock, David , Allen, David T.
Institution: Houston Advanced Research Center , The University of Texas at Austin
Current Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2008
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2006
Project Amount: $969,300
RFA: Targeted Research Center (2004) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
The Joint Center’s objective is to further the understanding of air quality phenomena in Texas urban areas through analysis of transportation options and through field studies. The project includes testing a place-based assessment of transportation options and field study research in support of the 2005-2006 Texas Air Quality Study II (TexAQS II).
Progress Summary:
Joint Center
Major components of the Joint Center are the Transportation and Air Quality Forum (TAQF) and TexAQS II field studies. An Advisory Committee was formed to review and advise on Joint Center concepts and strategies. The committee reviews included four Joint Center subawards from participating research entities and the second year proposal.
TAQF. The first phase (input) of this work was an extensive review of transportation/air quality measures proposed as part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) processes within target regions (Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth). These were used to create a database structure for characterizing the decision variables that could be used to evaluate and select options. Alternative database structures were examined that might simplify this review and analysis. Most data categories had no associated values, thus providing limited use for decision-making. The aim of TAQF on-going work has been to develop and evaluate an alternative for rating hundreds of such transportation measures and options (a method called “regional translation”). TAQF also launched three research projects: MOBILE 6 high-speed model emissions rates development, biodiesel use in marine engines, and photocatalytic paving surface treatments for NOx reductions.
TexAQS II Field Research. The Joint Center supported work on three TexAQS II tasks: seasonal modeling to assess pollutant transport, improved particulate matter and precursors inventories, and assimilation of satellite data for air modeling. Seasonal modeling has been completed with additional sensitivity analysis on-going. Emissions inventories are complete and available. Satellite data were used for land use/land cover analysis being used to estimate biogenic emissions. Dry deposition decreases from land cover change were found to increase ozone concentrations. Also, satellite data derived from MODIS were found to be a possible method for periodic land cover updates for air quality modeling.
Future Activities:
Future activities include: continued database development of TAQF transportation options, development of the regional translation method, and a workshop on selected options. The TexAQS II tasks will be compiled into a final report. The subaward projects will be completed by May 2007. The current project schedule is to complete work under this award by June 30, 2007.
Journal Articles: 3 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other center views: | All 11 publications | 3 publications in selected types | All 3 journal articles |
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Feldman MS, Howard T, McDonald-Buller E, Mullins G, Allen DT, Webb A, Kimura Y. Applications of satellite remote sensing data for estimating dry deposition in eastern Texas. Atmospheric Environment 2007;41(35):7562-7576. |
X832317 (Final) |
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Simon H, Allen DT, Wittig AE. Fine particulate matter emissions inventories: comparisons of emissions estimates with observations from recent field programs. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 2008;58(2):320-343. |
X832317 (Final) |
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Webster M, Nam J, Kimura Y, Jeffries H, Vizuete W, Allen DT. The effect of variability in industrial emissions on ozone formation in Houston, Texas. Atmospheric Environment 2007;41(40):9580-9593. |
X832317 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
air quality, transportation, state implementation plan, SIP, regional air quality, field studies, control measures, transportation planning, modeling, air quality study, Texas, Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, regional, land use, land cover, Region 6, east Texas, TexAQS, TexAQS II, MOBILE 6, particulate matter, photocatalytic, decision making, biodiesel, emission rates, regional translation, NOx,, RFA, Air, Atmosphere, Air Pollution Effects, climate changeRelevant Websites:
http://www.harc.edu/jointcenter Exit
http://www.utexas.edu/research/ceer/texaqsII/ Exit
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.