Development of a NOx Chemistry Module for EDMS/AEDT to Predict NO2 Concentrations (2017)

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59  In addition to the pre-formatted evaluations discussed above on the questionnaire ballots, the independent reviewers also provided a number of comments and suggestions in free-form, separate from the ballots. All those comments were considered by the Research Team and, where appropriate, were included in the finalization of the research and in this Final Report. 8.4 Conclusion of the Independent Technical Review  Based upon the feedback from the Independent Technical Review, the reviewers agree that (i.) the Preferred Method developed in the Research will improve the predictions of airport-related NO2 using EDMS/AEDT and that (ii.) the overall consensus is that the Research meets the objectives ACRP 02-43. 9.0 Future Research Needs   During the accomplishment of this Research, a number of needs, or “gaps,” were identified. For the most part, the opportunity(ies) for future research are related to advancing how airport-related NOx is dispersed and the transition rates by which NO2 is formed. From this, it is expected that the accuracy of modeling the NO2/NOx reactions and resulting NO2 concentrations will be achieved beyond that which was accomplished under the ACRP 02-43 Research Project. The following criteria were used when identifying these potential problem statements:  Will the proposed research idea directly benefit the airport community?  Can the proposed research result in recommendations that airports can put into practice?  Can the research idea be implemented without changes to policies or regulations?  Does the proposed research idea seek to close existing knowledge gaps?  Is there a high likelihood that the research tasks can be carried out successfully?  Can the research be carried out within the funding and timing constraints of the program? From these expectations, the following additional research is recommended and described: Recommended Additional Research  Coordinate Airport Monitoring and Modeling Data - The monitored-to-modeling comparison of NO2/NOx data for ACRP 02-43 was based upon “opportunistic” conditions where both parameters either existed or where created. In other words, for those cases where monitoring data was available and was appropriate for this research, the modeling data was subsequently developed and not necessarily in coordination with, or concurrent to, the monitoring data. An advanced and more accurate approach would be to collect the monitored data at locations and over time periods that can be replicated using the models. In this way, spatial and temporal errors could be reduced or, at least, better accounted for. In addition, the computed results could be better compared to actual monitoring results. One possible advancement would be to test the model at an airport that is independent from this research. - Estimated Funding: $350,000 - Estimated Duration: 24 months  Quantify Background NO2/NOx Levels - During the course of this research, it was nearly-to- completely impossible to differentiate NO2/NOx airport-related emissions from those that were generated elsewhere and by other sources. Therefore, both the monitored and modeled concentrations were limited in their accuracy. Air quality monitoring that is strategically designed and conducted to distinguish the impacts from airport and background sources on the downwind concentrations would help to reduce the uncertainties associated with this current limitation. - Estimated Funding: $300,000

60  - Estimated Duration: 24 months  Improve EDMS/AEDT Emission Source Simulation - Under current conditions, the EDMS/AEDT-AERMOD software package simulates airport-related emission sources as either area or point sources with additional limitations on the distribution and release heights of these emissions. Consequently, the aircraft takeoff/landing, runway, taxiway, etc. emissions of NO2/NOx are improperly represented in the model. During the ACRP 02-43 research, it was observed that the impacts from these emission sources were either over- or under-estimated at the receptors. In addition, and in the event more sophisticated modeling is required, advanced methods to the Preferred Method could be developed and used. Continual advancement and improvement in the Preferred Method, through future ACRP research or research by others, can allow the method to be more accurate, more robust, and more compatible with AEDT. Limitations of the modeling software should be improved by enabling more realistic representation(s) of the source(s), location(s) and emission strength(s) associated with airport layouts and operations. - Estimated Funding: $200,000 - Estimated Duration: 15 months [End of Report]

61  ACRP 02‐43  Research Panel  ACRP Manager: Joe Navarrete Topic Panel: Maria Pope, (Chair), John Wayne Airport William Brewer, City of Dallas Aviation Department Phil DeVita, Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Eric More, Mecklenburg County Air Quality Thomas Ryerson, NOAA Panel Liaisons: Peggy Wade, Federal Aviation Administration Chris Owen, Environmental Protection Agency Research Team  Principal Investigator: Michael Kenney, KB Environmental Sciences (KBE)  Primary Staff: Carrol Fowler, Administrative Officer (KBE Justin Godin, Meteorologist (KBE) Dr. Rick Miake-Lye, Aerodyne Dr. Scott Herndon, Aerodyne Dr. Ezra Wood, University of Massachusetts Dr. Brian Kim, Wyle Dr. Roger Wayson, Wyle Independent Review Panel  Eric Lu, Ramboll Environ John Pehrson, CDM Smith Vincent Tino, Epsilon Associates Mohammed Majeed, FAA (TRB (SAE) A-21 Committee Member) Vince Mestre, Landrum & Brown (TRB (SAE) A-21 Committee Member)