&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Delivering Timely Air Quality,
Traffic, and Weather
Information to Your
Community
The Paso del Norte Environmental
Monitoring Project
E M P A C T
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access
& Community Tracking
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Disclaimer: This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement
or recommendation of their use.
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EPA/625/R-02/013
February 2003
DELIVERING TIMELY AIR QUALITY,
TRAFFIC, AND WEATHER INFORMATION
TO YOUR COMMUNITY
THE PASO DEL NORTE ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING PROJECT
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
50% Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with vegetable-based ink on
paper that contains a minimum of
50% post-consumer fiber content
processed chlorine free
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The development of this handbook was managed by Scott R. Hedges (U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory) with the
support of Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA contractor. EPA would like to thank the following people
and organizations for their substantial contributions to the contents of this handbook:
• Ricardo Dominguez, City of El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Salvador Gonzalez-Ayala, Institute Municipal de Investigation y Planeacion, Ciudad Juarez,
Chihuahua, Mexico
• Robert W. Gray, RE., University of Texas at El Paso
• Chuck Koosian, City of El Paso, Texas
• City of El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization, Transportation Policy Board
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• El Paso City-County Health and Environment District
• New Mexico Environment Department
• Departmento de Ecologia de Cuidad Juarez
• University of Texas at El Paso Center for Environmental Resource Management
• Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez
II
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CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1-1
1.1 About the EMPACT Program 1-2
1.2 About the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project 1-2
1.3 About This Handbook 1-5
1.4 For More Information 1-6
CHAPTER 2 HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK 2-1
CHAPTER 3 COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 3-1
3.1 Air Quality Monitoring: An Overview 3-1
3.1.1 Design Factors for Air Quality Monitoring 3-2
3.1.2 Selecting Your Air Quality Monitoring Equipment and Locations 3-8
3.1.3 Installing, Operating, and Maintaining Air Quality
Monitoring Equipment 3-10
3.2 Traffic Monitoring: An Overview 3-14
3.2.1 Design Factors for Traffic Monitoring 3-14
3.2.2 Selecting Your Traffic Monitoring Equipment and Locations 3-17
3.2.3 Installing, Operating, and Maintaining Traffic Monitoring Equipment . . . 3-19
3.3 Collecting Weather Information 3-21
3.3.1 Weather Parameters 3-21
3.3.2 Sources of Information 3-22
3.4 Lessons-Learned From the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project . . 3-23
CHAPTER 4 PROCESSING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 4-1
4.1 Processing Environmental Information: An Overview 4-1
4.2 Transferring Environmental Data to Your Central Hub 4-1
4.2.1 Data Transfer Components 4-2
4.2.2 Paso del Norte Project—Data Transfer Components 4-3
4.3 Managing Environmental Data 4-5
4.3.1 Formatting and Processing Data 4-6
4.3.2 Storing Data 4-7
4.3.3 Using Data in Models 4-7
4.4 Lessons Learned From the Paso del Norte Environmental
Monitoring Project 4-8
MI
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CHAPTER 5 DEPICTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 5-1
5.1 What Is Data Visualization? 5-1
5.2 Data Visualization Tools Employed In the Paso del Norte
Environmental Monitoring Project 5-2
5.2.1 Maps 5-2
5.2.2 Color Coding 5-3
5.2.3 Tables and Charts 5-4
5.2.4 Geographic Information System (GIS) 5-4
5.2.5 Live and Static Images 5-4
CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 6-1
6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Near Real-Time Environmental Data 6-1
6.2 Elements of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project
Outreach Program 6-5
6.3 Resources for Presenting Environmental Information to the Public 6-8
CHAPTER 7 COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 7-1
7.1 Building on Existing Programs 7-1
7.2 Housing Your Database and Web Server 7-2
7.3 Public Support 7-2
7.4 What Data To Collect 7-2
APPENDIX A A-l
Case Study: Tucson, Arizona, Air Info Now Project A-l
Case Study: AirBeat Project of Roxbury, Massachusetts A-5
APPENDIX B B-l
List of Useful Web Sites and References B-l
IV
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INTRODUCTION
A ir in many United States cities is polluted by emissions from sources such as cars
L\ and trucks, power plants, and manufacturing processes. Air pollution can even come
JL JLfrom everyday activities such as dry-cleaning clothes, filling your car with gas, and
painting. When gases and particles from theses activities accumulate in the air in high
enough concentrations, they can harm human health and the environment. More people
in cities and surrounding areas means more cars, trucks, and industrial and commercial
operations, and generally means more air pollution. Often, terrain and meteorological
conditions complicate air quality issues in an area.
Although the national trend is toward better outdoor air quality, there are some urban areas
where improvement is not occurring. In those areas, the concentration of pollutants such as
carbon monoxide (a product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels), ground-level ozone,
(formed by the chemical reaction of pollutants in the emissions from vehicles and other
sources), and particulate matter (dry particles and liquid droplets emitted by sources such as
vehicles, factories, and construction activities) in the air is increasing. Concentrations of
outdoor air pollutants vary from day-to-day and even during the course of a day.
To protect their health, the public needs timely information on air quality and other factors
(e.g., weather conditions) that affect air quality. Access to air quality forecasts allows residents
to reduce their exposure when pollutant concentrations are high. This is important particu-
larly to people who are sensitive to certain pollutants' harmful effects. For example, people
with asthma may be sensitive to ground-level ozone and people with heart disease may be
sensitive to carbon monoxide.
In 2000, a team of academic and government organizations launched a project to
communicate timely environmental information to the public in the bi-national, tri-state
metropolitan region that encompasses Ciudad (Cd.) Juarez, Mexico; El Paso County, Texas;
and Dona County, New Mexico. This project, known as the Paso del Norte Environmental
Monitoring Project, was funded with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's EMPACT Program. The project goals are to:
• Develop standards for sharing and displaying environmental information.
• Establish an infrastructure for communicating timely environmental information.
• Provide timely environmental information to the public and to the decision-makers
in the Paso del Norte region.
• Improve coordination of environmental projects between various agencies,
institutions, and organizations in the Paso del Norte region.
• Improve the public's understanding of individual actions that improve the
environment.
• Educate future generations by providing opportunities for students to conduct
research on and become involved in environmental issues.
• Share the project results with other regions in the country.
INTRODUCTION 1-1
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The Paso del Norte Project leveraged several existing efforts through which environmental
information is collected in the Paso del Norte region. The collected information is transmit-
ted to a central location, processed, and then communicated to the public through the Paso
del Norte Project. Information collected through the leveraged efforts includes:
• Air pollutant concentration data (ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter)
collected by various agencies in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
• Traffic volume data collected by the City of El Paso's Department of Traffic and
Transportation and by the Texas Department of Transportation.
• International bridge crossing wait times provided by the U.S. Customs and Immigration
Service. The Association of Maquilas also has developed an infrastructure to provide
timely information on the number of bridge crossings and observed wait times.
• Static and live images from a webcam and video images of current traffic conditions
at various locations in the Paso del Norte region.
• Weather data from the National Weather Service Web site.
This technology transfer handbook presents a case study on the Paso del Norte Project.
It describes how the Paso del Norte Project started, how near real-time air quality, traffic, and
weather data1 are collected in the Paso del Norte region, how those data are processed and then
communicated to the public, and presents lessons learned from the project. The handbook also
provides readers with information on how to develop similar air quality, traffic, and weather
monitoring, data processing, and outreach programs for their communities. The handbook is
written primarily for community organizers, non-profit groups, local government officials,
tribal officials, and other decision-makers who implement, or are considering implementing,
environmental monitoring and outreach programs.
1.1 ABOUT THE EMPACT PROGRAM
This handbook was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through
their Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT)
program. EPA created the EMPACT program to promote new and innovative approaches
to collecting, managing, and communicating environmental information to the public.
Working with communities across the country, the program takes advantage of new
technologies to provide community members with timely, accurate, and understandable
environmental information they can use to make informed, day-to-day decisions about their
lives. EMPACT projects cover a wide range of environmental issues, including water quality,
ground-water contamination, smog, ultraviolet radiation, and overall ecosystem quality.
Some projects were initiated by EPA, while others were initiated by EMPACT communities
themselves through EPA-funded Metro Grants.
1 .2 ABOUT THE PASO DEL NORTE
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECT
El Paso is the dominant city in a larger metropolitan region generally referred to as Paso del
Norte. This a bi-national, tri-state region that encompasses Cd. Juarez, Mexico; El Paso
County, Texas; and Dona Ana County, New Mexico (see Figure 1). Its name originated in
1581 during the first Spanish Expedition. When the Conquistadors saw the fertile oasis in
lln this handbook, "near real-time" describes data collected and communicated to the public in a time frame
that allows the public to use the data to make day-to-day decisions.
i-z CHAPTER 1
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the vast Chihuahuan Desert between the Sierra de Juarez and the Franklin Mountains,
they called it the "Pass of the North." The population includes a mix of Spanish, Mexican,
Indian, and American cultures. The Paso del Norte region is a major port of entry for north-
bound trade and travel from Mexico. Centrally located along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico
border, it also is a major center for east-west transportation.
V
oAlth°"Y.._DpJa>
El Paso
MEXICO
®
Figure 1. Location map of the Paso del Norte region.
The population of El Paso, which is located where the states of Texas, New Mexico, and
Chihuahua meet, is more than 600,000. Elsewhere in El Paso County are Fort Bliss, the city
of Socorro, and several other small cities and unincorporated communities. The total county
population exceeds 700,000. Immediately south of El Paso and separated only by the narrow
Rio Grande is Cd. Juarez, a city with an estimated population of 1,300,000. To the northwest
is Sunland Park, New Mexico, a town with a population of approximately 10,000. The com-
bined population of this region is projected to double within the next 25 years.
Cd. Juarez has led Mexico in industrial job growth over the past 10 years, and today Juarez is
Mexico's fourth largest city. The economies of Cd. Juarez and El Paso are interrelated, and
the industrial boom in Cd. Juarez has generated a surge in El Paso's population. The rapid
growth has strained community infrastructures, significantly stressed the region's natural
resources, and exacerbated a number of the region's environmental problems.
INTRODUCTION
1 -3
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One of these environmental problems is air pollution. Terrain and the sun play major roles
in concentrating air pollutants during stagnant conditions in the Paso del Norte region.
Emissions from vehicles, industry, and urban areas also impact the concentration of air
pollutants. Because the region contains multiple jurisdictions in two countries, making the
public aware of the region's air quality problems and getting them involved in solving those
problems is difficult. This is complicated by the need to communicate information to the
public in both English and Spanish. Regardless of these seemingly overwhelming challenges,
efforts of bi-national organizations (including the Paso del Norte Air Quality Task Force and
the Joint Advisory Board) are helping to reduce exposure to unhealthy air quality conditions
by reducing air emissions in the region. In fact, El Paso's air quality is showing signs of
improvement to the point where options are being considered for the region to become an
attainment area under the Clean Air Act.
International Cooperation
In the Paso del Norte region, environmental data are collected in three different states in two countries.
These include air quality data, traffic volume data, vehicle emissions data, international bridge crossing and
wait time data, and weather data. Through the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, these data
are transferred to one database and processed for communication to the public in both English and Spanish.
The Paso del Norte Project empowers the public in the bi-national, tri-state metropolitan region that
encompasses Cd. Juarez, Mexico; El Paso County, Texas; and Dona Ana County, New Mexico, by providing
information they can use to help reduce air pollution in the region. This project could not have been done
without the cooperation of many organizations, including the Institute Municipal de Investigation y
Planeacion in Juarez, Mexico; the City of El Paso, Texas, Metropolitan Planning Organization; the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality; the New Mexico Environment Department; the El Paso City-County
Health and Environment District; the Departamento de Ecologia de Cuidad Juarez, the University of Texas at
El Paso Center for Environmental Resource Management; and Universidad Autonoma de Cuidad Juarez.
The Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project communicates critical environmental information for
a region on the border between the United States and Mexico to the public in both countries. It serves as
a prototype of international involvement and cooperation.
The City of El Paso is the lead agency for the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring
Project. Partnering with the City of El Paso on this project are:
• University of Texas at El Paso.
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
• El Paso City-County Health and Environment District.
• New Mexico Environment Department.
• Departamento de Ecologia en Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
The support of these multiple agencies and institutions arose from official support for the
Joint Advisory Committee (JAC), a bi-national organization that meets quarterly to review
projects to improve regional air quality and make related recommendations. The JAC
contains representatives of federal, state, and local governments; educational institutions;
industry; and other groups. Its endorsement helps ensure cooperation and ongoing support
from the many entities that must implement the Paso del Norte Project.
1 -4
CHAPTER 1
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The scope of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, which began in January
2000, includes:
• Developing and implementing an automated system to transmit and process air qual-
ity data, traffic information (i.e., traffic counts and traffic conditions), border crossing
information, international bridge wait times, and weather information to the public.
• Establishing a communications link so that daily near real-time traffic volume data
can be input into existing transportation models for the region. The models can thus
generate vehicle emissions estimates that correspond to the observed traffic volumes.
• Updating a current Web site by adding air quality information for particulate matter,
traffic information, and weather information. The site now presents information on
carbon monoxide and ozone.
• Purchasing computers for use in the Community Scholars Program, a pre-existing
non-profit summer internship program for El Paso high school honor students.
Projects in which timely environmental information is transmitted and processed for
communication to the public also are conducted in other communities in the United States.
Two of those projects are the Air Info Now Project in Tucson, Arizona, and the AirBeat
Project in Roxbury, Massachusetts. You may find Appendix As information on these projects
useful as you design and implement your environmental monitoring project.
1.3 ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
Several communities throughout the United States have expressed interest in initiating
projects similar to the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. The purpose of
this handbook is to help interested communities and organizations learn more about the Paso
del Norte Project and to provide them with the technical information they can use to develop
their own programs. The Technology Transfer and Support Division of the EPA National Risk
Management Research Laboratory (part of EPAs Office of Research and Development, or
ORD) initiated the development of this handbook in collaboration with EPAs Office of
Environmental Information. ORD, working with the Paso del Norte Project's partners,
produced the handbook to leverage EMPACTs investment in the project and minimize
the resources needed to implement similar projects in other areas.
Both the print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct online order-
ing from ORD's Technology Transfer Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl. A PDF version
of the handbook also can be downloaded from that site. In addition, you can order the hand-
book (print or CD-ROM version) by contacting ORD Publications by mail or telephone at:
EPA ORD Publications
26 W Martin Luther King Dr.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268-001
EPA NSCEP toll free: 1-800-490-9198
EPA NSCEP local: 513-489-8190
Please make sure that you include the title of the handbook and the EPA document number
in your request. We hope you find the handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use.
INTRODUCTION 1-5
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1.4 FDR MORE INFORMATION
Try the following resources for more information on the issues and programs this
handbook discusses:
EMPACT Program
http-.llwww. epa.gov/empact/
Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project
http://www. ozonemap. org
Air Quality Monitoring
http://www.epa.gov/airnow/cdmanual.pdf
http://www. epa.gov/ttn/amtic
Traffic Monitoring
http://www.fhwa. dot.gov
1-6 CHAPTER 1
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HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
This handbook provides you with suggestions that may help you develop a program
to provide timely environmental information to your community in an easily under-
standable format. Using the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project as
a case study, the handbook contains information on how to:
Collect, transfer, and
manage near real-time
environmental data.
Develop data
visualization tools.
Develop a plan to
communicate environmental
information to your
community.
• Chapter 3 provides information on collecting timely environmental information.
The chapter includes discussions of what air quality, traffic, and weather information
to collect, and focuses on the environmental information collected in the Paso del
Norte Environmental Monitoring Project.
• Chapter 4 discusses how to transmit, store, retrieve, and analyze environmental infor-
mation using automated equipment. The chapter focuses on how this was done in the
Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project.
• Chapter 5 provides information on how to present environmental information in an
understandable manner. It focuses on the data visualization tools used in the Paso del
Norte Environmental Monitoring Project.
• Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan to communicate
environmental information to your community. It also provides information about the
Paso del Norte Project's outreach efforts. In addition, the chapter contains a list of
resources that can help you develop easily understandable materials to communicate
environmental information to a variety of audiences.
• Chapter 7 discusses how the collection of near real-time environmental data can
be sustained over time. It discusses how to build on existing programs, housing of
databases and Web servers, public support for environmental monitoring, and the
information that can be collected with respect to the availability of funds.
This handbook is designed for decision-makers considering whether to implement a near real-
time environmental monitoring program in their communities and for technicians responsible
for implementing these programs. Managers and decision-makers likely will find the initial
general discussions and sections of Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 most helpful. The discussions in
the latter sections of these chapters, which are targeted primarily for professionals and techni-
cians, provide detailed "how to" information. Chapter 7 is designed for managers.
The handbook also refers you to supplementary sources of information, such as Web sites and
guidance documents, where you can find additional guidance with a greater level of technical
detail. Appendix B includes a list of Web sites and resources you may find helpful in develop-
ing an environmental monitoring program. Interspersed throughout the handbook are text
boxes that describe some of the lessons learned by the Paso del Norte Project Team in develop-
ing and implementing its data transfer, data management, and outreach programs.
Haw Tn USE THIS HANDBOOK
2-1
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COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL
INFORMATION
This chapter provides information about collecting timely environmental
information—the first step in generating information about the environment and
making the information available to the public. Near real-time environmental data
are collected and communicated to the public in a time frame that allows the public to use
the data in making day-to-day decisions impacted by environmental conditions. They also
can be used to see changes over time in the values for the parameters measured.
This chapter begins with a general overview of air quality monitoring in Section 3.1,
including a discussion of factors to consider when selecting the parameters to monitor and
the monitoring frequency for those factors, as well as a discussion of the selection, installa-
tion, operation, and maintenance of air quality monitors. It concludes with a discussion of
air quality monitoring in the Paso del Norte Project. Section 3.2 provides a general overview
of collecting traffic data. It discusses locating traffic monitors, frequency of monitoring,
selecting monitoring equipment, and the installation, operation, and maintenance of traffic
monitoring equipment. Traffic monitoring conducted as part of the Paso del Norte Project
also is discussed in this section. Section 3.3 reviews collection of weather information.
As mentioned previously, the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project leverages
several existing programs. Air quality data are collected through existing continuous air
monitoring stations, (CAMS), traffic monitoring data are collected using existing traffic
sensors, and weather data are obtained from the National Weather Service. Collected data
are processed and communicated to the public through the Paso del Norte Project.
Readers primarily interested in an overview of environmental monitoring might want to
focus on the introductory information in Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. If you are responsible
for the actual design and implementation of a monitoring project, you should review all
of the information in those sections. They introduce the specific steps involved in
developing and operating a remote near real-time environmental monitoring project and
explain where to find additional guidance. Throughout the chapter, decisions made for the
Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project are discussed.
3.1 AIR QUALITY MONITORING: AN OVERVIEW
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions in
the United States. Among other things, the CAA requires EPA to set standards for "criteria
pollutants"—six commonly occurring air pollutants, including ground-level ozone, carbon
monoxide, and particulate matter. These standards, known as the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS), are national targets for acceptable air concentrations of each
of the criteria pollutants. For each pollutant, EPA develops two NAAQS:
• The "primary standard," which protects public health.
• The "secondary standard," which prevents damage to the environment and property.
A geographic area that meets the primary health-based NAAQS is called an attainment area.
Areas that do not meet the primary standard are non-attainment areas. More information
about the CAA (including the full text of the Act and a Plain English Guide to the Act)
can be found at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/laws.htm.
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 3-1
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The CAA requires each state to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP). A SIP describes
the programs a state uses to maintain good air quality in attainment areas and meet the
NAAQS in non-attainment areas. For example, if a city or region is a non-attainment area
for carbon monoxide, the SIP describes the programs used to meet the NAAQS for carbon
monoxide. In the Paso del Norte Region, El Paso County, Texas, is a non-attainment area
for ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter, and two areas in southern Dona Ana
County, New Mexico, are non-attainment areas for ozone and particulate matter.
An air monitoring network is an air surveillance system consisting of monitoring stations
that measure ambient air concentrations of pollutants. Data from these stations are used to
determine whether the NAAQS for a pollutant is met. For more information on air quality
monitoring (e.g., information on air quality monitoring methods and technical articles on
air quality monitoring), access the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Web site of EPA's
Office of Air and Radiation (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/).
One of the tools that EPA uses to evaluate air quality is an Air Quality Index (AQI). This
index tells you how clean or polluted the air is based on a scale of 0 to 500, and is based on
health effects that can happen within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. EPA
uses the AQI to gauge air quality with respect to five of the six air pollutants regulated by
the CAA: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and
nitrogen dioxide (see the box on page 3-3). More information on the AQI is available in
Chapter 6 of this manual and on EPA's AirNow Web site (http://www.epa.gov/airnow/).
3.1.1 DESIGN FACTORS FDR AIR QUALITY MONITORING
To design your air monitoring program, you must first identify the purpose of the
monitoring. Your reasons may be one or more of the following:
• To improve public awareness of air pollution, reduce health risks from air pollution,
or develop ways to reduce air pollution.
• To identify current and potential air pollution problems.
• To monitor trends or changes in air quality.
• To gather information for the design of pollution prevention or restoration projects.
• To monitor pollution reduction activities and determine if the goals of specific
programs are being met.
• To develop emergency response plans for accidental emission releases.
The main purpose of air quality monitoring in the Paso del Norte region is to collect
ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter data.
After you identify the purpose of your air quality monitoring program, consider the
following factors in designing the program:
• What area do you want to include in the program?
• Are there already air monitors in place?
• What air pollution sources are in your area?
• Which parameters should you measure?
• How often should you measure the parameters?
3-2 CHAPTER 3
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Criteria Air Pollutants
Ozone. Ozone is a secondary pollutant formed in the atmosphere by reactions between oxides of
nitrogen (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Depending on the area, ozone generation
may be limited by the concentration of either NOX or VOCs in the atmosphere. Warm, dry, and
cloudless days with low wind speeds are most conducive to ozone formation; these conditions
most often occur during high-pressure weather systems.
Paniculate Matter (PM). The term "particulate matter" includes both solid particles and liquid droplets
found in air. Many man-made and natural sources emit PM directly or emit other pollutants that react in
the atmosphere to form PM. These solid and liquid particles come in a wide range of sizes. Particles
less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) tend to pose the greatest health concern because they
can be inhaled into and accumulate in the respiratory system. Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in
diameter (PM2 5) are referred to as "fine" particles. Sources of fine particles include all types of
combustion processes (e.g., power plants) and some industrial processes. Particles with diameters
between 2.5 and 10 micrometers are referred to as "coarse." Sources of course particles include
grinding operations and dust from paved or unpaved roads.
Carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas. It forms when the carbon in
fuels does not completely burn. Vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60 percent of all carbon monoxide
emissions nationwide, and up to 95 percent in cities. Carbon monoxide concentrations typically are
highest during cold weather because combustion is less complete in cold temperatures.
Sulfur Dioxide (S02). Sulfur dioxide is a colorless, reactive gas produced during the burning of
sulfur-containing fuels such as coal and oil. Major sources include power plants and industrial boilers.
Nitrogen Dioxide (N02J. Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish brown, highly reactive gas formed when nitric
oxide combines with oxygen in the atmosphere. Once it forms, nitrogen dioxide reacts with other
pollutants (volatile organic compounds). Eventually these reactions result in the formation of
ground-level ozone. Major sources of N02 include automobiles and power plants.
Lead. Lead is a metal found naturally in the environment as well as in manufactured products. The major
sources of lead emissions historically are motor vehicles and industrial sources. Because of the phase-out
of leaded gasoline, metal processing is now the major source of lead emissions. The highest air
concentrations of lead generally are found near lead smelters. Other stationary sources include waste
incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid battery manufacturers. Exposure to lead can adversely effect humans
(e.g., cause damage to kidneys and the liver) as well as animals and fish.
i AtiJ-
f,M i Yrtu «','<» i'i i in
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You might determine the area you wish to cover according to your organization's jurisdiction.
You also may decide to collect air quality data in multiple jurisdictions to ensure that an
entire region is covered.
In the Paso del Norte region, several communities in two countries form a single metropolitan
area, sharing an "air basin" in the valley created by the Rio Grande between the Franklin
Mountains and the Sierra de Juarez. This common air basin is subject to inversions that trap
pollutants in the cooler air along the valley floor during the morning hours (see Figure 2).
Air quality data are collected in each jurisdiction and used to inform the public about air
quality in the region.
Aii'i, I in m. Ai.m. ,
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Figure 2. Inversion in the Paso del Norte region.
The Paso del Norte Project gets air quality data from 25 existing CAMS in El Paso County,
Texas; Dona Ana County, New Mexico; and Cd Juarez, Mexico. Figure 3 below shows the
locations of the monitoring stations. Some of these monitors had to be upgraded to collect
near real-time carbon monoxide and particulate matter data.
WHAT AIR POLLUTION SOURCES ARE IN YOUR AREA?
You may determine your air monitoring needs based on the sources of air emissions. In an
urban setting, vehicle emissions may contribute most of the air pollution. In a more rural
setting, emissions from local industries may contribute significantly to the air pollution.
If you are limited in the number of pollutants that you can monitor, monitor the pollutants
that have the greatest effect on air quality in your area.
\V
Figure 3. Location of continuous air monitoring stations.
3-4
CHAPTER 3
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While brick kilns, unpaved streets, automobile paint shops, and scrap materials used for
home heating and cooking are significant contributors to air pollution in the Paso del Norte
region, the major source of air pollution is vehicle emissions. The impact of vehicle emissions
on air quality is made worse by the fact that vehicle emission inspections are not required in
Mexico. Thus, vehicles in Cd. Juarez with high emissions are not identified and repaired.
\M
Parameters that you measure in your air quality monitoring program may depend on the
air quality situation in your area. For example, EPA has designated portions of the Paso del
Norte region as non-attainment area for ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and particu-
late matter. In addition, based on U.S. air quality standards,2 a large portion of the densely
inhibited core of Cd. Juarez is impacted by ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and
particulate matter. For these reasons, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate
matter are the air pollutants of concern in the region. Pollutants for which data are collected
at each of the CAMS in the Paso del Norte Region are listed below.
Monitoring Station
Texas Monitoring Stations
Air Parameters
Meteorological Parameters
El Paso Downtown C6
(EPA Site #48-141-0027)
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Wind speed
Resultant wind speed
Resultant wind direction
Maximum wind gust
Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction
Outdoor temperature
EIPasoUTEPC12/C125/C151
(EPA Site #48-141-0037)
CO
Nitric oxide (NO)
Nitric dioxide (N02)
Oxides of nitrogen (NOX)
Ozone
PM10 (standard conditions)
PM25 (local conditions)
Sulfur dioxide (S02)
Wind speed
Resultant wind speed
Resultant wind direction
Maximum wind gust
Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction
Outdoor temperature
Dew point temperature
Relative humidity
Solar radiation
Ultraviolet radiation
Ascarate Park Southeast
C37/C159/C172
(EPA Site #48-141-0055)
CO
NO
N02
NOX
Ozone
PM10 (standard conditions)
Wind speed
Resultant wind speed
Resultant wind direction
Maximum wind gust
Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction
Outdoor temperature
Dew point temperature
Relative humidity
Visibility
Solar radiation
Barometric pressure
El Paso Sun Metro C40/C116
(EPA Site #48-141-0053)
CO
PM25 (local conditions)
S02
Wind speed
Resultant wind speed
Resultant wind direction
Maximum wind gust
Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction
Outdoor temperature
...continued on next page.
2 Except for Mexico City, Mexico does not have air quality standards for ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide,
and particulate matter.
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
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Monitoring Station
ChamizalC41/C126
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0044)
Socorro C49
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0057)
Skyline Park C72
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0058)
TillmanC413
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0002)
Ivanhoe C414
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0029)
Northeast Clinic
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0010)
Riverside High School
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0038)
Vilas School
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0041)
Escontrias School
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0043)
Lindberg School
(EPA Site #48-1 41 -0045)
Air Parameters
CO
NO
N02
NOX
Ozone
NO
N02
NOX
Ozone
CO
NO
N02
NOX
Ozone
S02
CO
CO
Ozone
3&
PM10
PM2.5
PM10
PM10
PMio
Wind speed
Resultant wind speed
Resultant wind direction
Maximum wind gust
Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction
Outdoor temperature
Wind speed
Resultant wind speed
Resultant wind direction
Maximum wind gust
Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction
Outdoor temperature
Wind speed
Resultant wind speed
Resultant wind direction
Maximum wind gust
Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction
Wind speed
Resultant wind speed
Resultant wind direction
Maximum wind gust
Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction
Outdoor temperature
Relative humidity
None
None
None
None
None
New Mexico Monitoring Stations
Sunland(NM12)
(EPA Site #35-01 3-001 7)
La Union (NM13)
Ozone
S02
Ozone
S02
2-meter aspirated temperature
10-meter aspirated temperature
Total solar radiation
Wind speed
Wind direction
Standard deviation of wind direction
2-meter aspirated temperature
10-meter aspirated temperature
Total solar radiation
Wind speed
Wind direction
Standard deviation of wind direction
...continued on next page.
3-6
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Monitoring Station
Anthony (NM1 4)
(EPA Site #35-01 3-001 9)
Chaparral (NM51)
(EPA Site #35-01 3-0020)
Desert View (NM52)
(EPA Site #35-01 3-0021)
Santa Teresa (NM53)
(EPA Site #35-01 3-0022)
Air Parameters
PM10
NOX
Ozone
NOX
Ozone
NOX
Ozone
Meteorological Parameters
2-meter aspirated temperature
10-meter aspirated temperature
Total solar radiation
Wind speed
Wind direction
Standard deviation of wind direction
2-meter aspirated temperature
10-meter aspirated temperature
Total solar radiation
Wind speed
Wind direction
Standard deviation of wind direction
2-meter aspirated temperature
10-meter aspirated temperature
Total solar radiation
Wind speed
Wind direction
Standard deviation of wind direction
2-meter aspirated temperature
10-meter aspirated temperature
Total solar radiation
Wind speed
Wind direction
Standard deviation of wind direction
Cd . Juarez, (Mexico, Monitoring Stations
Tec de Monterrey
(AIRS ID 80-0060-001)
Pestalozzi
(AIRS ID 80-0060-002)
Zenco Plant
(AIRS ID 80-0060-001)
Advance Transformer
(AIRS ID 80-0070-004)
20/30 Club
(AIRS ID 80-0060-006)
CO
Ozone
PM10
PMio
PM10
CO
Ozone
PMio
CO
Ozone
PMio
None
None
None
None
None
After you have selected your air quality parameters,
you need to determine the method used to analyze a
sample for those parameters. EPA provides technical
guidance on analytical methods for air pollutants.
You can find information on air analytical methods on
the Office of Air and Radiation's TTN Web site
(http://www. epa.gov/ttn/amtic/).
Air quality data for carbon monoxide,
ground-level ozone, and particulate
matter are collected in the Paso del
Norte region because certain areas in
the region are non-attainment areas
for those pollutants.
Because the public uses near real-time air quality data to help select their daily activities, you
need to collect enough data to report daily trends. Your frequency of monitoring depends on
the kind of air monitoring you do. You can conduct several kinds of air quality monitoring:
• At fixed locations on a continuous basis.
• At selected locations on an as-needed basis or to answer specific questions.
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
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• On a temporary or seasonal basis (such as during the summer).
• On an emergency basis.
For the Paso del Norte Project, air quality data are collected every 5 minutes at 25 fixed
locations around the region (see Figure 3). Fourteen of the monitoring locations are in
El Paso, six are in New Mexico, and five are in Cd. Juarez, Mexico.
3.1.2 SELECTING YD U R AIR QUALITY MONITORING
EQUIPMENT AND LOCATIONS
The type of air quality monitoring that you do, the monitoring equipment you select, and
the locations of the monitors depend on your project's objectives. Monitoring either can be
done continuously or for a discrete period. When the operator retrieves and analyzes data
collected at a location different from the monitoring site itself, the monitoring is called
remote. This section discusses the equipment needed for continuous air monitoring and
the location of the air monitoring equipment.
Equipment needed to perform continuous air monitoring includes a sampler, an analyzer,
a calibration unit, and a data logger. Data can be downloaded from the data loggers to an
offsite computer through a modem connection. To do this, data acquisition and processing
software and a data storage module are needed. For information on selecting monitoring
equipment, go to http://www.epa.gov/airnow/cdmanual.pdf.
Of the 14 CAMS in the Paso del Norte region that are located in Texas, 8 have a
CO monitor, 6 have an ozone monitor, and 8 have a participate matter monitor.
The manufacturers and model numbers for the monitors are:
• CO monitor—TECO Model 48 (monitors operated by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality) and Dasibi Model 3008 (monitors operated by the El Paso
City-County Health Management District).
• Ozone monitor—Dasibi Models 1003-AH/1008-AH.
• PM10/PM2 5—TEOM Model I400a.
All of the CAMS in Texas have Dasibi 5008 calibration units and Zeno 3200 data loggers.
The three CAMS in Mexico that measure CO and ozone have Dasibi Model 3008 CO
monitors and Dasibi 1003-AH ozone monitors. Wedding PM10 monitors, Dasibi 5008
calibration units, and Zeno 3200 data loggers are used in all five of the Mexico CAMS.
oo
Four of the CAMS in New Mexico have the Thermo 49 ozone monitor and one has a
Dasibi Model 1003-PC ozone monitor. Three of the CAMS have TEOM PM10 monitors
and four have TEOM PM2 5 monitors. CO is not monitored at the New Mexico CAMS.
Three of the CAMS have Thermo 146 gas calibrators, and the Columbia Scientific
Instruments Model 1700 gas calibrator and Dasibi 1008 ozone transfer standards are used
for manual calibration at the other two CAMS where ozone is monitored. Five of the CAMS
have Campbell Scientific, Inc., Model 2IX data loggers, and one has a Campbell Scientific,
Inc., Model 23X data logger.
3-s CHAPTER 3
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Air Monitoring Equipment
Sampler. The probe used to extract a sample of a pollutant from the atmosphere must be made of
suitable material. Initially, it is inert. With use, reactive particulate matter may be deposited on the
probe walls. This may affect the probe residence time (i.e., the time it takes for the sample gas to
transfer from the inlet of the probe to the analyzer). For this reason, the condition of the probe
should be checked frequently.
Analyzers. An air quality analyzer measures the concentration of a pollutant in a sample of ambient air.
An analyzer should meet the reference method or equivalent method requirements specified by EPA to
help ensure that air quality measurements are accurate. EPA maintains a current list of all designated
reference and equivalent methods at the Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center (AMTIC)
Bulletin Board located online at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/.
Before you purchase an analyzer, you should verify that it meets the reference method or equivalent
method requirements. Because manufacturers change or modify analyzers without changing their
model numbers, the model number alone does not necessarily indicate that an analyzer meets the
method requirements.
Calibration units. Calibration determines the relationship between the observed and the true values
of a measured parameter. Accuracy is the extent to which measurements represent their corresponding
actual values, and precision is a measurement of the variability observed over repeated analyses. The
accuracy and precision of data derived from air monitoring instruments depend on sound instrument
calibration procedures.
Data loggers. The analyzers at your monitoring site generate data that must be recorded and reported.
A data logger is a computerized system used to control and record data.
With a data logger, you can interact with software using either a keyboard or an interactive, command-
oriented interface. Data loggers perform the following functions:
• Review collected data.
j Produce printed reports.
• Control the analyzer and other instruments.
• Set up instrument operating parameters.
• Perform diagnostic checks.
• Set up external events and alarms.
• Define external storage.
MONITOR) LOCATIONS
You should select monitoring locations that best fulfill the objectives of your remote near
real-time air quality monitoring project. Consider the questions below when choosing your
monitoring location.
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
3-9
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Monitoring Location Checklist
a Are the data you collect at these locations likely to fulfill your project's objectives? Specifically, what
questions can you answer with your data, and how will the answers help you to fulfill your objectives?
a Do people in your community support equipment installation and remote near real-time monitoring
at your locations?
a Does the monitoring equipment at your location pose a potential danger to the people in your
community? For example, are your monitoring locations near a heavily trafficked area?
a Is the monitoring equipment safe at your locations? For example, is the equipment susceptible to
vandalism or tampering?
a What local, state, or federal regulations do you need to consider when choosing your locations?
a Is flexibility important to your project? Would you like the option to move your monitoring
equipment to different locations, or would you like to monitor at several locations concurrently?
Q Do you foresee any site-specific problems with installing, operating, and maintaining your monitoring
equipment at these locations? Do these locations pose any safety hazards to your personnel?
a Can you adequately survey and access your locations? What equipment-specific considerations will
you need to make?
3.1.3 INSTALLING, OPERATING, AND MAINTAINING
AIR QUALITY MONITORING EQUIPMENT
After you have completed the planning activities for your air quality monitoring program
(i.e., selecting monitoring equipment and monitoring locations), the next step is to install
the monitoring equipment. When you install your equipment, always consider how you will
operate and maintain the equipment (e.g., is it easily accessible for maintenance?).
When you install your air monitoring equipment, always consult the equipment manufac-
turer's manual for any special installation instructions. You also need to control any physical
influences that might affect sample stability, chemical reactions within the sampler, and the
function of sampler components when you install the equipment. This helps ensure that you
receive accurate data from your monitoring station. The table below summarizes physical
influences and the ways in which you can control them.
Variable
Instrument vibration
Method of Control
Design instrument housings and benches according to manufacturer's specifica-
tions. Use shock-absorbing feet for the sampler and a foam pad under the analyzer.
Attempt to find and isolate the source of the vibration. The pumps themselves can
be fitted with foam or rubber feet to reduce vibration. If the pumps are downstream
of the instruments, connect the pumps using tubing that prevents the transfer of
vibrations back to the instruments and instrument rack.
Light
Shield instrumentation from natural or artificial light.
Electrical voltage
Ensure constant voltage to transformers or regulators. Separate power lines. Isolate
high-current equipment such as heating baths and pumps on their circuits. Check
the total amps drawn should be checked before adding another instrument.
Temperature
Regulate the air-conditioning system. Use a 24-hour temperature recorder. Use
electrical heating/cooling only.
Humidity
Regulate the air-conditioning system. Use a 24-hour recorder.
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Your monitoring equipment needs to operate unattended for prolonged periods. Standard secu-
rity measures such as enclosures, fences, and lighting help safeguard the equipment and prevent
interference with equipment operation. To enclose monitoring equipment, you might construct
a shelter or use a trailer with appropriate power, telephone, and air conditioning systems.
Before operating new equipment, you need to assemble the system and perform testing. An
initial calibration also must be performed.
As previously mentioned, air quality data for the Paso del Norte region are collected in 25
CAMS. These existed when the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project was initi-
ated. The locations of the CAMS and the pollutants monitored at each CAMS are listed above.
, '* " < '<• B ** " .u ! " '-•'->•<•. i " j
After you install your air quality monitors, you should develop written standard operating
procedures (SOPs) that describe the operation of each part of the monitoring station. Be sure
to develop written SOPs for a repetitive or routine procedure that significantly affects data
quality. Information about developing, documenting, and improving SOPs can be found in
Guidance for the Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures for Quality-Related Documents
(EPA/600/R-96/027). To locate this document, search EPA's Web site for documents by
publication number (http://www. epa.gov/clariton/clhtml/pubtitle. html).
You should also conduct quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) checks on your monitoring
equipment to ensure that it functions properly. See the box below for a discussion of these checks.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Data validation entails accepting or rejecting monitoring data based on routine periodic analyzer checks.
For example, you need to check the analyzer span for excessive drift. If the span drift is equal to or
greater than 25 percent, data are invalid. If this is the case and you only perform span checks at the
minimum recommended frequency of once every 2 weeks, up to 2 weeks of monitoring data may be
invalid. To avoid this situation, you might want to perform span checks more often.
You should analyze the hard copy output from the data logger to detect signs of malfunctions, including:
A straight trace (other than the minimum detectable) for several hours.
Excessive noise (noisy outputs may occur when analyzers are exposed to vibrations).
• A long, steady increase or decrease in deflection.
A cyclic trace pattern with a definite time period, indicating a sensitivity to changes in
temperature or other parameters.
- A trace below the zero baseline that may indicate a larger than normal drop in ambient room
temperature or power line voltage.
- Span drift equal to or greater than 25 percent.
Data must be voided for any time interval during which the analyzer malfunctions.
In addition, the integrity of air samples may be compromised by faulty delivery systems such as the
sampling interface. For information about QA/QC protocols set forth by EPA, refer to AMTIC's QA/QC
Web site (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qaqc.html).
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
3-1 1
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A typical ambient air quality monitoring station is shown in Figure 4. A constant-speed
vacuum pump draws air into a glass manifold inside the monitoring station. As the air flows
through the manifold, a portion goes through a sample line filter and then through Teflon
tubing to the carbon monoxide monitor. A different portion goes through another sample
line filter and Teflon tubing to the ozone monitor, and the remainder of the air sample is
drawn out of the manifold by the vacuum pump. Heavy particulate matter collects in a trap
at the bottom of the glass manifold. Meteorological data (i.e., wind speed, wind direction,
and temperature) are collected at or close to the top of a tower. Those data and data from
the monitors are sent to a data logger and then retrieved via a modem.
Wind Speed & Direction
Meteorological
Tower
Enclosure
Figure 4. Block diagram of an ambient air monitoring station
CAMS in the Paso del Norte region are operated by four separate government agencies,
serving three states in two countries. Even though there are slight variations in the layout of
the CAMS operated by each agency, the basic layout at each station is the layout in Figure 4.
You will likely focus most of your scheduled equipment maintenance on cleaning and
calibrating your monitoring analyzers to meet your project's QA/QC protocols. The required
effort and frequency for this maintenance depends on the conditions at your monitoring
locations. In addition to cleaning and calibrating your analyzers, you might need to perform
maintenance that depends on factors specific to your project, your community, and your
monitoring locations.
To ensure accuracy and precision of data derived from your air monitoring instruments, you
need to develop reliable instrument calibration procedures. The EPA document Ozone
Monitoring, Mapping, and Public Outreach: Delivering Real- Time Ozone Information to Your
Community (EPA/625/R-99/007) provides two alternative calibration methods: primary
calibration procedures and calibration using a transfer standard. You can find the document
online at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/cdmanual.pdf.
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You also should develop a preventive maintenance plan to ensure that the equipment
monitoring and maintenance procedures are followed consistently. Your preventive
maintenance plan should include:
• A short description of each maintenance procedure.
• The schedule and frequency for each procedure.
• A supply list of critical parts on hand.
• A list of maintenance contracts for instruments.
• Documentation showing that maintenance has been performed as required by
maintenance contracts, the QA/QC plan, or the test plan.
Each component of your monitoring equipment has its own maintenance routine. In many
cases, the equipment manual provided by the manufacturer offers detailed maintenance
procedures. The table below describes the essential equipment maintenance activities.
Maintenance Item
Shelter temperature
Sample introduction
system
Recorder
Data logger
Analyzer operational
settings
Analyzer operational check
Precision check
Acceptance Limits
Mean temperature
between 220° and 280° C
(72° and 82° F), with daily
fluctuation ±2° C(4° F).
No moisture, foreign
material, leaks, or
obstructions; sample line
connected to manifold.
Adequate ink supply and
chart paper. Legible ink
traces. Correct settings of
chart speed and range
switches. Correct time.
Complete data logger
storage or hard copy.
Flow and regulator
indicators at proper
settings. Analyzer set in
sample mode. Zero and
span controls locked.
Zero and span within
tolerance limits as
specified.
Assess precision by
repeated measurements.
Measurement and
Frequency
Check thermograph chart
daily for excessive
fluctuations.
Make weekly visual
inspections.
Make weekly visual
inspections.
Make weekly visual
inspections.
Make weekly visual
inspection.
Check every 2 weeks.
Corrective Action,
if Needed
Mark chart for the affected
period. Repair or adjust
temperature control
system.
Clean, repair, or replace as
needed.
Replenish ink and chart
paper supply. Adjust
recorder time to agree
with the clock; note on
chart.
Perform maintenance
according to manufac-
turer's specifications.
Adjust or repair as needed.
Isolate source of error and
repair. After corrective
action, recalibrate analyzer.
Calculate and report
results of precision check.
Checks performed as part of maintenance activities and the recommended frequency for each
check are listed below.
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
3-1 3
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Type of Check
Sample flow check
Span check
Recorder span check
Zero check
Control frequency check
Sample frequency check
Temperature check
Pressure check
System leak check
Solenoid valve leak check
Every 24 hours, or on each day when an operator is in
attendance
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 720 hours of instrument operation
Every 720 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 720 hours of instrument operation
For the Paso del Norte Project, calibration occurs every 28 days during CO season. Span
checks are performed once a week.
3.2 TRAFFIC MONITORING: AN OVERVIEW
Information obtained through monitoring of traffic is used to inform the public about
traffic delays, road construction delays, accidents, and other impedances. Traffic monitoring
includes using traffic sensors to collect traffic volume and speed information and video
cameras to visualize delays caused by traffic. Other sources of traffic-related information
include county engineering or transportation departments (e.g., for schedules of road
construction) and police and fire departments.
Traffic monitoring information is used to:
• Determine current traffic volumes and show any trends or changes.
• Identify current and potential traffic congestion areas.
• Identify alternative routes.
• Alert the public about traffic impedances.
• Educate the public about the relationship between traffic and air pollution.
• Encourage the use of other modes of transportation (e.g., buses).
• Design transit improvement projects.
Additional information on traffic monitoring is available from the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/. The U.S. Department of Transportation's
Travel Model Improvement Program also provides information on traffic monitoring,
including research on transit modeling and data collection (http://tmip.tamu.edu/).
3.2.1 DESIGN FACTORS FDR TRAFFIC MONITORING
To design your traffic monitoring program, you must first identify the purpose(s) of the
monitoring. In addition to linking traffic data and air quality data, your purpose (s) may be to:
• Enhance public safety.
• Reduce congestion and travel delays.
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• Improve access to traffic information.
• Increase awareness of alternative transit modes.
• Generate cost savings to travelers, transit operators, toll and border crossing authorities,
and government agencies.
• Reduce negative environmental impacts.
Consider the following questions in designing your traffic monitoring project:
• What area do you want to include in the program?
• Are there already traffic monitors or cameras in place?
• Where are the traffic congestion areas in your region?
• What traffic parameters should you monitor?
• How often should you monitor traffic?
For the Paso del Norte Project, the main purpose of collecting traffic information is to
inform the public about daily traffic conditions. The public can use the information to make
decisions about what routes to take and when to travel. Another purpose of collecting traffic
information is to provide information needed to estimate vehicle emissions in the region.
Traffic data are input into transportation models to generate an estimate of the emissions
from vehicle exhausts. This estimate is then used along with other information to educate the
public about air pollution in the region and what they can do to improve air quality (e.g.,
reduce the number of vehicle trips on days when the temperature is high). Less time on the
road results in reduced emissions from vehicle exhausts.
As with air quality monitoring, the area in which you wish to conduct traffic monitoring
may depend on the jurisdiction of your organization. You may decide to focus on areas with
the highest traffic volume (e.g., metropolitan areas).
In the Paso del Norte region, sensors and cameras are used on arterials in the city of El Paso
and on certain highways in the region to collect traffic data. Data also are collected at inter-
national bridge crossings using cameras. Traffic monitoring in the region was initiated before
the start of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project.
State and local transit agencies and organizations conduct traffic monitoring. By working
with these organizations, you can share data collected using existing traffic sensors and
cameras and decide whether additional sensors and cameras are needed. When existing
traffic sensors are used, they may have to be upgraded to provide near real-time traffic data.
In the El Paso metropolitan area, 600 intrusive traffic sensors (i.e., loop detectors using 12 or
14 AWG wire) collect speed and volume data. Traffic information is also collected through a
Video Vehicle Detector System (VIVIDS) loop detector manufactured by Trafficon. A VIVIDS
detector is a camera located on the mast arm of a traffic signal. VIVIDS detectors are used at
several locations in El Paso (e.g., at the intersection of Montana and Airway Streets and along
the Gateway East and West Boulevard). Forty cameras provide video images of traffic condi-
tions in the Paso del Norte region. The Paso del Norte project team installed 16 cameras on
the Mexico side of the international bridges.
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 3-1 5
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Your traffic monitoring needs are based on the number of possible congestion areas in your
region, usually major roads, bridges, and intersections. If your resources are limited, you
should monitor those areas that have the greatest affect on traffic in your region.
In the Paso del Norte region, the El Paso City Department of Traffic and Transportation
operates traffic loop counters on major arterials as part of the City's Transportation
Improvement Program. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) collects traffic
volume data on instrumented roadways for portions of 1-10 and U.S. 54, sharing those data
with the City through an ongoing contract with the El Paso Metropolitan Planning
Organization. In addition, traffic information at international bridge crossings (including
wait times) is provided by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service on an hourly basis.
These efforts address the number one need identified in the El Paso Intelligent
Transportation System Early Development Plan: current and reliable traffic information.
Near real-time traffic data are not available for Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Cd. Juarez,
Chihuahua.
The following traffic parameters may be included in your monitoring program.
• Traffic volume—vehicle count.
• Vehicle presence—whether there is a vehicle in the detection zone of a sensor.
• Vehicle passage—vehicle movement through the detection zone of a sensor.
• Vehicle speed.
• Vehicle classification—by gross vehicle weight.
• Vehicle weight.
• Gap and headway—distance and time intervals between vehicles passing a specified
location.
• Travel time.
• Vehicle and lane occupancy—the number of persons, including driver and passenger (s),
in a vehicle and the number of vehicles in a lane.
The traffic parameters that you monitor are based on your project's objectives and on the
funds available. Different types of traffic monitoring sensor have different applications.
Depending on the number of monitors needed, your budget may dictate the type of
monitors you can install.
Traffic parameters measured in the Paso del Norte region are listed below.
Traffic Monitoring Locations in
the Paso del Norte Region
lnterstate-10
Traffic volume
Vehicle speed
U.S. Route 54
Traffic volume
Vehicle speed
Various locations in city of El Paso
Traffic volume
Vehicle speed
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H n w .< MM »• i i: • • • i ' i " , • • < •» MII i"» I ]•» v it J
Gathering near real-time traffic data requires frequent monitoring—multiple samples per
hour. The public uses traffic data to plan their activities and you need enough data to report
current information, including delays. You can conduct several kinds of traffic monitoring
projects, such as those:
• At fixed locations on a continuous basis.
• At fixed locations during rush-hour times.
• At selected locations on an as-needed basis or to answer specific questions.
Traffic volume and speed information and traffic video images communicated through the
Paso del Norte Environmental Project are collected at 5-minute intervals at fixed locations in
El Paso and at fixed locations on some of the highways in the area. Volume and speed meas-
urements are summarized on an hourly basis, and data sets and displays are refreshed on the
Internet every 60 minutes. Information on international bridge crossings and wait times
collected by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service is also refreshed on the Internet
every 60 minutes.
3.2.2 SELECTING YD U R TRAFFIC MONITORING
EQUIPMENT AND LOCATIONS
A traffic sensor, one type of traffic monitoring equipment, includes three components:
1) the transducer, 2) the signal processing device, and 3) the data processing device.
Traffic Monitoring Equipment—Sensors
Transducer. Detects the presence or passage of a vehicle or its axles.
Signal processing device. Converts the transducer output to an electrical signal.
Data processing device. Converts the electrical signal from the signal processing device to traffic data.
This device includes computer hardware and firmware.
Reference: Federal Highway Administration 2000. A Summary of Vehicle Detection and Surveillance Technologies Used in
Intelligent Transportation Systems, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/vdstits.htm
You can also monitor traffic using still cameras or video cameras to capture traffic volume,
delays, and other obstructions. The video image system includes cameras, computers to
digitize and send the image, and software to interpret the image.
M
i * 1 I
Your selection of remote near real-time traffic monitoring equipment depends on your
project's objectives. When selecting monitoring equipment, you should consider equipment
life, reliability, and maintenance requirements.
To decide which traffic monitoring equipment to use in your near real-time environmental
monitoring program, you can consult the Federal Highway Administration's A Summary
of Vehicle Detection and Surveillance Technologies Used in Intelligent Transportation Systems,
located on the FHWA's Web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/vdstits.htm.
The summary includes principles of operation, applications and uses, advantages and
disadvantages, and other relevant information for the following technologies:
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
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• Intrusive technologies. Sensors installed directly on or under the pavement surface.
These sensors provide reliable traffic information. One drawback to this type of sensor
is traffic disruption caused for installing and repairing equipment. Intrusive sensors
include:
- Pneumatic road tubes. Monitoring parameters include traffic count (short-term)
and vehicle classification.
- Inductive loop detectors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle pres-
ence, passage, speed (using a two-loop speed trap or one loop with algorithms),
and classification; and lane occupancy.
- Piezoelectric sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count, vehicle spacing,
vehicle weight, and vehicle speed (using multiple sensors).
- Magnetic sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count, vehicle presence
(depending on model), vehicle speed, and lane occupancy.
- Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) sensors. Monitoring parameters include vehicle weight,
traffic count (volume), vehicle speed, and vehicle classification.
• Non-intrusive technologies. Sensors installed above ground (above traffic lanes or on
the side of the road). These sensors provide traffic data with less traffic disruption than
do intrusive technologies. Many of these sensors have multiple lane applications.
Non-intrusive sensors include:
- Video image processors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle
presence, occupancy, speed, and classification; and lane occupancy.
- Microwave radars. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle presence,
speed, and classification; and lane occupancy.
- Passive infrared sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle
presence, passage, speed, and classification; and lane occupancy.
- Active infrared sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle
presence, speed, and classification; and lane occupancy.
- Ultrasonic sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count, vehicle presence,
vehicle speed (two sensors) and lane occupancy.
- Passive acoustic array sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count,
vehicle presence, vehicle speed (with assumed car length), and lane occupancy.
- Combinations of sensor technologies.
When selecting your traffic monitoring equipment, you need to consider outside factors that
might affect the operation of the sensor or camera. Outside factors and the sensitivity of
monitoring equipment to the factors are listed below.
Installation, operation, and maintenance procedures and requirements for traffic sensors
might be a big factor in your choice of monitoring equipment for your project. See Section
3.2.3 for more details on installing, operating, and maintaining traffic monitoring equipment.
A camera used to monitor traffic can be equipped with an automatic zoom lens or a manual
zoom lens. Cameras also have varying magnification capabilities. Depending on the location
and view to cover, you should choose the camera that best fits your location.
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Outside Factors Affecting
Traffic Monitors
Temperature (high or low and
rapid changes)
Heavy usage (wear and tear)
Vehicle speed variation
High vehicle speed
Low vehicle speed
Inclement weather
Headlights/sunlight
Air turbulence
Monitoring Equipment Less
Sensitive to Factors
Quartz sensors (WIM)
Magnetic sensor
Piezoelectric sensor
Microwave radar
Passive acoustic array sensor
(precipitation)
Monitoring Equipment More
Sensitive to Factors
Pneumatic road tube
Inductive loop detector
Piezoelectric sensor
Ultrasonic sensor
Passive acoustic array sensor
Pneumatic road tube
Inductive loop detector
Ultrasonic sensor
Piezoelectric sensor
Passive acoustic array sensor
Video image processor
Infrared sensor
Video image processor
Infrared sensor
Ultrasonic sensor
Reference: Federal Highway Administration 2000. A Summary of Vehicle Detection and Surveillance Technologies Used in
Intelligent Transportation Systems, http://www.jhwa.dot/gov/ohim/tutw/velstits.htm.
Traffic monitoring equipment used in the El Paso area includes 600 intrusive traffic sensors
and 40 video image cameras (an additional 32 cameras are expected to be installed by the end
of 2003). Sensors collect volume and speed data on the El Paso arterials and on Interstate 10
and U.S. 54. Video images show delays on highways and at international brides. Every camera
has a manual zoom lens with a magnification factor of 4, and is manufactured by COHU.
Data from the traffic sensors on Interstate 10 and U.S. 54 are logged into an automated
traffic management system operated by the TxDOT in Austin. Traffic data collected in the
city of El Paso are logged into a system called QuickNET (from Bytrans) by the City. These
data are then processed for communication to the public.
You should select monitoring locations that best fulfill the objectives of your remote near
real-time traffic monitoring project. Consider the monitoring location checklist in Section
3.1.2 when choosing your monitoring locations.
3.2.3 INSTALLING, OPERATING, AND MAINTAINING
TRAFFIC MONITORING EQUIPMENT
Planning and coordination are necessary for installing any type of traffic monitoring equip-
ment — sensors or cameras. The installation and maintenance of the equipment may result in
traffic disruption including lane closures. You need to set a schedule and inform the public
before beginning work.
As indicated in the section above, traffic sensors fall into two major categories — intrusive
technologies and non-intrusive technologies. Intrusive sensor installation results in more traffic
disruption than does installation of non-intrusive sensors. Consult the equipment manufac-
turer's manual for detailed instructions on how to install the traffic monitoring equipment.
COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
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When installing video cameras for traffic monitoring, you need to consider various factors.
You need to ensure that the camera is not blocked by large vehicles or other obstructions,
and you need to consider elevation changes, road curves, and overpass and underpass
structures in your line of sight. The camera should be mounted to maximize stability and
image quality in all conditions (e.g., when winds are strong or traffic causes vibrations).
As mentioned previously, existing traffic monitoring equipment is used to collect the traffic
volume data communicated to the public through the Paso del Norte Environmental
Monitoring Project. The City of El Paso's Traffic and Transportation Department operates
loop counters and road traffic cameras on city arterials, and the Institute Municipal de
Investigation y Planeacion operates border crossing cameras at the international bridges in
the Paso del Norte region. In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation operates
loop counters at locations on 1-10 and U.S. 54.
I N B
Automated traffic monitoring equipment collects traffic data and automatically sends the
information to your database. With non-automated equipment, you must call the monitoring
equipment to download the data. The box below briefly explains how the technologies listed
in Section 3.2.2 work (reference: Federal Highway Administration's A Summary of Vehicle
Detection and Surveillance Technologies Used in Intelligent Transportation Systems, fall 2000).
Operation of Traffic Monitoring Equipment—Brief Overview
Pneumatic road tube. A portable unit that senses vehicle as their tires pass over the tube. The tire causes a pulse
of air pressure to close an air switch. This switch produces an electrical signal that is then sent to the counter.
Inductive loop detector. The inductive loop of the sensor (signals with frequencies between 10 and 50 KHz)
decreases when a vehicle stops or passes over the loop. The oscillation frequency increases, causing the
electronic unit to send a signal to the controller.
Piezoelectric sensor. The sensors create a voltage signal proportional to the force or weight of the vehicle.
Magnetic sensor. Detects the presence of a metallic vehicle based on perturbation of Earth's magnetic field.
WIM sensors.
Bending plate—a unit consisting of plates with strain gauges. The strain value is used to estimate static
weight based on various calibration parameters (e.g., vehicle speed).
1 Piezoelectric—see "piezoelectric sensors" above.
Load cell—weight scales that use a pressure transducer to transmit weight information to data collection
equipment.
1 Capacitance mat—a unit consisting of steel sheets and dielectric material. The mat senses vehicles when
the space between the steel sheets decreases (and the capacitance increases).
Video image processor. A system including cameras, a microprocessor-based computer, and image software.
Vehicles are detected by changes between successive frames.
Microwave radar. Detects vehicle presence when transmitted radar energy is reflected back to the antenna.
A receiver can then calculate various traffic monitoring parameters.
Passive infrared sensor. Detects energy (graybody emission due to non-zero surface temperature) emitted
from vehicles, roads, etc.
Active infrared sensor. Detects vehicle presence when transmitted infrared energy is reflected back.
Ultrasonic sensor. Detects vehicle presence when transmitted pressure waves of sound energy are
reflected back.
Passive acoustic array sensor. Detects approaching vehicles using audible sounds. The unit includes an upper
and lower microphone.
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After you install your traffic monitoring equipment, you should develop written SOPs
that describe the operation of each part of the monitoring equipment. Guidance for the
Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures for Quality-Related Documents (EPA/600/R-
96/027) provides information about developing, documenting, and improving SOPs. You
can find it by searching the EPA Web sites for documents by publication number
(http://www. epa.gov/clariton/clhtml/pubtitle. html).
You should also conduct QA/QC checks on your monitoring equipment to ensure that it
functions properly.
ivi 3 >!!!'?'a R I i:, 3 i?X2b-":T
You will likely focus most of your scheduled equipment maintenance on calibrating your
traffic monitoring sensors to meet your project's QA/QC protocols. The required effort and
frequency of maintenance depends on the types of sensors you use and the conditions at your
monitoring locations. In addition to sensor calibration, you might need to perform scheduled
maintenance. Maintenance requirements depend on factors specific to your project and your
monitoring locations.
You also should develop a preventive maintenance plan to ensure that the sensor and
camera operations and maintenance procedures are followed consistently. Your preventive
maintenance plan should include:
• A short description of each maintenance procedure.
• The schedule and frequency for each procedure.
• A list of critical parts on hand.
• A list of maintenance contracts for instruments.
• Documentation that shows maintenance is performed as required by maintenance
contracts, the QA/QC plan, or the test plan.
Each component of your traffic monitoring equipment has its own maintenance routine.
In many cases, the equipment manual provided by the manufacturer offers detailed
maintenance procedures.
Cameras and multiplexers (modems) used in the Paso del Norte region are maintained
once per week. The zoom and focus of the cameras, the condition of the wiring, and all con-
nections are checked, and the equipment is cleaned.
3.3 COLLECTING WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather information is important to the public. They want to know the current weather
conditions as well as the weather forecast. This information also is important with respect to
the air quality of an area. For example, the current temperature is an indicator of the poten-
tial for high ground-level ozone levels, particularly during the summer. The weather forecast
also can be used to help predict future air quality conditions in an area.
3.3.1 WEATHER PARAMETERS
You may want to collect information for some of the weather parameters described below
through your environmental monitoring program.
• Ambient air temperature. The hotness or coldness in the atmosphere.
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• Dew point (or dew point temperature). A measure of atmospheric moisture. It is the
temperature to which air must be cooled to reach saturation (assuming air pressure and
moisture content are constant).
• Depth of inversion layer. The depth of a layer of air where temperature rises with height.
• Mixing height. The height below which relatively vigorous mixing (or vertical mixing)
occurs in the atmosphere.
• Precipitation. Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls to the
earth's surface or the amount of rainfall (or other precipitation) that has fallen in a
specific area within a specific time period.
• Pressure. Atmospheric pressure is caused by the weight of the atmosphere. At sea level,
pressure has a mean value of one atmosphere; pressure decreases with increasing altitude.
• Relative humidity—A measure of the water vapor content of the air, usually as a percentage.
• Solar radiation. Radiation from the sun.
• UVforecast. Recommends whether the level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the
atmosphere can cause overexposure to various groups of people.
• Visibility. The farthest distance that atmospheric conditions allow one to see without
instruments.
• Wind speed and direction. Usually miles per hour that wind is traveling and the source
direction.
3.3.2 SOURCES DF INFORMATION
The Web site for the U.S. National Weather Service (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/) displays basic
weather information collected through the Automated Surface Observation System. These
data include temperature, wind speed, wind direction, UV radiation intensity, dew point,
and precipitation. The National Weather Service (NWS) updates its weather data hourly,
except for precipitation data, which it updates every 6 hours. This information is available
to the public through a file server at the NWS gateway using file transfer protocol (FTP).
Another source of information on UV radiation is EPA's Sun Wise School Program
(http://www. epa.gov/sunwise/uvindexcontour. html).
Temperature, wind speed, and wind direction data can also be collected at air quality
monitoring stations. The frequency of collection for weather data should be the same as the
frequency of collection for air quality data.
For the Paso del Norte Project, wind speed, wind direction, and temperature data are
collected at the CAMS in the region. These data are then transferred and processed with air
quality data.
As part of the Paso del Norte Project, weather data from the NWS in Santa Teresa, New
Mexico, are retrieved by a server at the University of Texas at El Paso by means of a FTP
connection. These data are processed through a series of algorithms and redisplayed. Current
temperature, UV intensity, relative humidity, wind speed, and heat index readings appear in
digital form on the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project Web site. Graphs
showing changes in various weather parameters also are on the Web site. The UV radiation
information on the Project's Web site comes from EPA's Sun Wise School Program.
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3.4 LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PASO DEL
NDRTE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
PROJECT
TO L'UGGCSS
The key to the success of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project is the
endorsement and support of an international organization overseeing air quality in the region.
The Paso del Norte Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) was established through an annex of the
bi-national La Paz Agreement to oversee activities within the regional air basin. The JAC
includes representatives from federal, state, and local governments; utilities; industry; and
educational institutions from both the United States and Mexico. As a result, JAC approval
represents full bi-national cooperation and support from its member organizations.
Equally important, the JAC provides a forum to assign responsibilities and authority for
collecting and processing information. It also is a non-partisan organization through which
all members can take credit for regional accomplishments such as the Paso del Norte
Environmental Monitoring Project.
The JAC developed a strategic plan that includes a work plan to improve air quality in the
Paso del Norte region. Many of the tasks in the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring
Project came directly from the strategic plan. As a result, the Paso del Norte Project is an
integral part of a comprehensive plan developed by a sanctioned bi-national organization.
This helps ensure the success of the current project as well as support to continue the project
beyond the limits of the EMPACT grant. This type of support is very important for projects
that involve multiple jurisdictions.
After many years of research, vehicles were identified as the most significant source of air
pollution in the Paso del Norte region. To assess the impact of vehicles on air pollution,
the Project collects near real-time information on traffic conditions in the region and at the
international ports of entry. That information, along with near real-time ambient air quality
and meteorological data, is input into various transportation models to develop vehicle
emission estimates. Outputs from the transportation models are then input into the
photochemical modeling being conducted for the region by EPA Region 6 and the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality. A system is needed to integrate all of the near
real-time information that is collected. Geographic information systems (CIS) serve this
role in the Paso del Norte Project.
CIS combine geographic features (described as lines, points, and polygons) with information
stored in tabular or database format. In the Paso Del Norte Project, CAMS are input as
points and contain associated air quality and meteorology information. Roadway segments
are input as lines or polylines, and contain traffic volumes, speeds, and limited vehicle mix
characteristics. Land use is summarized by polygons and equated to general area emissions.
Two CIS programs are used in the Paso del Norte Project: ArcView by Environmental
Science Research Institute and TransCAD by Caliper Corporation. ArcView is used to store
core data along with spatial analysis and to visualize multiple layers or themes such as roads,
terrain, and monitor locations. TransCAD is used for transportation modeling and to
develop emissions estimates. Both of these programs support industry-standard file formats,
which allows data to be shared and exchanged. The role played by these two CIS programs is
critical to the success of the Paso del Norte Project.
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An important component of the program to inform the public about air quality in the Paso
del Norte region is the transportation model used to develop vehicle emission estimates for
the region. The input variables for the Paso del Norte transportation model (i.e., the
TransCAD model developed by Caliper Corporation) differ dramatically between El Paso
and Cd. Juarez. For example, peak travel times are different for the two cities and also are
unique for border crossings. In addition, inspection times at bridges differ which affects both
the number of crossings and the routes taken by those who commute daily between the two
cities. Emission factors for vehicles housed in El Paso and Cd. Juarez are also different:
vehicles housed in Cd. Juarez are on average 7 years older than the vehicles housed in El
Paso, and are not subject to the same inspection and maintenance programs as are vehicles
housed in El Paso. These differences in the input variables illustrate how transportation
modeling can be complicated in a bi-national region such as Paso del Norte. To ensure
that the results of the transportation modeling are accurate, all jurisdictions in an area
must support the modeling efforts by providing accurate inputs for the model.
The Paso del Norte Project's near real-time traffic data can be used for purposes other than
public communication. For example, emergency personnel can use traffic volume informa-
tion and current images of traffic conditions to respond to accidents. In addition, near
real-time border crossing information and associated wait times are important to federal
agencies responsible for overseeing the international ports of entry in the region. Because of
the Paso del Norte Project, the infrastructure needed to communicate those data is in place.
The multiple uses of the data demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive approach to
data collection and management in a large, bi-national metropolitan area.
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PROCESSING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL
INFORMATION
A fter you collect your timely environmental information,you must process it and
L\ communicate it to the public. This chapter discusses how to transfer data from auto-
JL JLmatic monitoring equipment to a central location and how to manage the data so
they can be communicated to the public. (Chapter 5 addresses the related issue of how best
to present data to the public using data visualization tools.)
Using the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project as a model, this chapter provides
you and your community with suggestions on how to process timely environmental informa-
tion. Section 4.1 contains an overview of processing environmental information. Sections 4.2
and 4.3 contain information on transferring data and managing data, respectively.
4.1 PROCESSING ENVIRONMENTAL
INFORMATION: AN OVERVIEW
To process near real-time environmental data, you need to develop a data transfer and man-
agement system. This system can benefit your community by enabling you to control data
collected using automatic monitoring equipment. By using the system's software, you can
program your system to collect data from remote sampling locations at specified intervals
and store them. With little or no need for human intervention, the information can be
exported to a database, set in a standard format, and merged with manually collected data.
Once the data are available in a database, they can be used in a wide variety of applications.
They can be:
• Manually inspected for quality control purposes.
• Plotted using graphing software.
• Mapped using a geographic information system (GIS).
• Processed and combined with other data.
• Made available to the public via a Web server.
Timely processing of environmental data is key to creating a useful tool that can affect daily
activities of the public. There are two major steps to processing the data: 1) transferring the
data from data loggers at remote monitoring locations to your central hub; and 2) manag-
ing the data in preparation for dissemination to the public.
4.2 TRANSFERRING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
TO YOUR CENTRAL HUB
Data can be transferred from one location to another either automatically or manually.
Automated data transfer systems are easier to operate than are manual systems. Automated
systems, after collecting data using a data logger, send the data automatically to your computer
and data acquisition system. The data are typically put into a comma-delimited ASCII file
(a standard format). From this file, data can be converted to HTML tables. Non-automated
data transfer systems require an additional step—the monitoring station has to be called
manually to download the data.
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Processing Data—Definition of Terms
ASCII. American Standard Code for Information Interchange is a built-in binary code for text and com-
munications. ASCII text files can be used between applications that do not import each other's format.
Daemon. A UNIX program that executes (usually at startup) and remains ready to operate when
needed. This program can automatically start another process at a designated time.
FTP. File Transfer Protocol transfers files over a TCP/IP (see below) network (e.g., the Internet).
The protocol includes functions to log onto the network, list directories, and copy files.
HTML. Hyper Text Markup Language is the document format used on the Internet. World Wide Web
pages are built using HTML codes embedded in the text.
Intranet. An in-house LAN (Local Area Network) or client/server system not accessible by the general
public. The communications protocol and hypertext links operate the same as on the Internet.
TCP/IP. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is the Internet protocol that allows
communications between dissimilar systems. The TCP part provides transport protocol functions
to ensure that all the information sent is received correctly. The IP part provides the routing mechanism.
Reference: Alan Freedman and Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner. 1998. The Internet Glossary and Quick Reference Guide. New York:
American Management Association.
4.2.1 DATA TRANSFER COMPONENTS
To receive data collected automatically, you can use a modem (or other) connection from each
monitoring station to your central hub computer. This allows data logging from more than one
monitor to occur on a single computer. You typically need data acquisition and processing soft-
ware and a data storage module to collect and manage the data. Once data are delivered to the
central hub computer, they are filtered and stored in a file in the data acquisition system where
further processing and reporting occurs.
In addition to transferring the data from remote monitoring locations to your central hub com-
puter, you also may collect data from other sources. These data might or might not need to be
processed further for public use. For example, weather data can be collected from the National
Weather Service. These data, which already have been processed; you can place them on your
Web site after formatting them, and they can then be accessed via an Internet connection.
Environmental Data Transfer Components
Central hub computer(s). One or more computers can be used to retrieve the data from various
sources (e.g., remote monitoring locations and other Web sites).
Computer connection (e.g., modem connection). This connects the computer at the remote
monitoring locations to the central hub computer. It also can connect your central hub computer to
other computers on your network or to data on Web sites. Data may be transferred via modem, intranet
FTP, or microwave link.
Data acquisition software. You can purchase software (or develop your own computer routine)
to automatically collect the data from remote locations in a standard format (e.g., ASCII text).
Validation software and other processing software. You can purchase software (or develop your own
computer routine) to perform quality control analysis on the collected data. Once the data are validated
(i.e., pass quality control criteria), you can further process the data for public use.
Database/archive storage system. This system stores all your data by date and time of collection.
The system will be most useful if you can use it to perform queries of the data.
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Another example of data from other sources is the ozone data (from 1,300 monitoring sta-
tions) that EPA retrieves, manages, and distributes through its Data Management Center
(DMC). The EPA document Ozone Monitoring, Mapping, and Public Outreach: Delivering
Real-Time Ozone Information to Your Community (EPA/625/R-99/007) provides details on
the DMC computer system and the equipment needed to connect to the system. You can
find the document online at http://www. epa.gov/airnow/cdmanual.pdf.
When collecting data from various sources, you may designate certain project partners to
transfer and validate certain types of information. Assignments may be based on geographical
or jurisdiction factors, experience factors, or resources available by each entity. The Paso del
Norte Project Team used various agencies to transfer data to one central hub computer.
4.2.2 PASD DEL NDRTE PROJECT— DATA TRANSFER
COMPONENTS
In the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, air quality data, traffic volume data,
traffic video images, weather data, and static and live images from Webcams, hubs, and Web
sites are transferred to a central hub location. Components of the data transfer system are:
• Air quality data and meteorological data collected at continuous air monitoring
stations (CAMS).
For CAMS in El Paso operated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ):
- Data transferred from CAMS to TCEQ for validation using the IPS Meteostar system.
- Validated data transferred from TCEQ to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
via secure intranet FTP.
For CAMS in El Paso operated by the El Paso City-County Health and Environment
District:
- Data transferred from CAMS to TCEQ via modem for validation using the IPS
Meteostar system.
- Validated data transferred from TCEQ to UTEP via secure intranet FTP.
For CAMS in Cd. Juarez, Mexico:
- Data transferred from CAMS to Universidad Autonoma de Cd. Juarez (UACJ)
via dial-up connection.
- Data transferred from UACJ to UTEP via Internet2 for validation.
(Note: CAMS in Cd. Juarez are scheduled to be incorporated into the IPS Meteostar
system. Radios will be used to transmit data from Cd. Juarez to TCEQ.)
For CAMS in Sunland Park, New Mexico:
- Data transferred from CAMS to UTEP via dial-up connection for validation.
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Accessing Your Data
You might want to use a dedicated hard-wired Internet connection to access data from your monitoring
stations. This type of connection costs more than dial-up and modem connections. Dial-up and modem
connections are less reliable: you may be unable to connect to the monitoring station when the telephone
line is busy or the modem does not work. They are also much less efficient. For example, suppose you
have 1 hour to collect data from 40 monitoring stations for a 1:00 p.m. poll. Using the dial-up method, it
takes you approximately 1 minute to connect to each monitor— 40 minutes total. You then have only 20
minutes left to process all of the data files, which is not enough time to meet your deadline.
• Traffic volume data.
You can transfer traffic volume data and video camera images from your monitoring
stations to your central hub using fiber optic lines, phone line connections, or wireless
connections. Components of the traffic volume data transfer system for the Paso del
Norte Environmental Monitoring Project include:
- Traffic volume data from loop counters in El Paso and on 1-10 and U.S. 54
transferred to the El Paso Traffic and Transportation (T&T) Department via fiber
optic lines.
- Data from El Paso T&T transferred to UTEP via dial-up modem.
Traffic volume data are automatically placed on the Paso del Norte Environmental
Monitoring Project's Internet server using a Unix CRON (clock daemon). Traffic vol-
ume data and border wait times are stored on a secure intranet site integrated with an
industry-standard relational database (using a ColdFusion application server, manufac-
tured by Macromedia) and Internet CIS applications (ArcView Internet, manufactured
by ESRI) to allow police, fire service, and EMS to register current incidents.
• Traffic video images.
Traffic video images are transferred in the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring
Project using the following components:
- El Paso traffic images transferred to El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO) via a fiber optic system.
- Traffic images from MPO transferred to UTEP via secure intranet FTP.
- Traffic images for international bridges transferred to the Institute Municipal de
Investigation y Planeacion (IMIP) via multiplexer wire modem and then to the City
of El Paso via a microwave connection. The images are then transmitted to UTEP
via a dedicated Tl line.
• Bridge crossing and wait times.
Data from U.S. Customs and Immigration Service transferred to UTEP via Internet.
• Weather data.
Weather data are collected from the CAMS and from the NWS. Transfer
components for the weather data collection system are:
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- Weather from NWS transferred to UTEP via Internet.
- Weather information from CAMS transferred to UTEP (see above air quality data
transfer components).
- NWS satellite links (visibility images) transferred to UTEP via Internet.
- UV index forecast from EPA's Sun Wise School Program Web site transferred to
UTEP via Internet.
To maintain near real-time data on a Web site, data must be updated on a continuous basis.
Air quality data are collected at the CAMS in the Paso del Norte region every 5 minutes.
Each afternoon around 3:00 p.m., the 5-minute data sets for the past 24 hours are submitted
to UTEP, where they are processed and communicated to the public.
Traffic volume data are summarized by MPO every hour. These data are then sent to UTEP
via a secure intranet FTP, where the data sets and displays on the Web site are refreshed every
60 minutes. Border crossing information and bridge wait times also are updated every hour.
The Paso del Norte project team updates the traffic video images on the Web site every 15
minutes using an automated modem system. The site also offers visibility images from UTEP
Southern View, Ranger Peak, and downtown (looking west from Chelsea Retirement Center);
these are live images, updated every 10 minutes with the system used to update traffic video
images.
Data from the NWS Web site are updated hourly for all parameters except precipitation.
NWS updates precipitation data every 6 hours. UTEP refreshes the data on the Web site
every hour.
4.3 MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Once you have collected your data from monitoring stations, hubs, and Web sites, you need
to format and process the data using standard formats and computer routines, then store the
data in a database. You also may perform quality assurance/quality control checks at this
point. Data stored in the databases can be used to update your Web site automatically, and in
models (e.g., emission models or transit models).
System Components—Managing Data
Computer(s). You might use one or more computers to format the retrieved environmental monitoring
data. You need to ensure that your computer has the appropriate features and software necessary to
format and manage the data.
Computer routines. Software that formats, performs quality control analyses on, modifies, or converts
the collected data for dissemination to the public.
Database/archive storage system. This system stores all your data by date and time of collection.
You should be able to perform queries of the data. These queries can help you to develop transit
models and other environmental data tools.
Models. Computer models analyze your raw data for various purposes. For example, you can use a
model to extrapolate the data (e.g., if you have transit data for a major road, you can use set parame-
ters to determine traffic volume on connecting roads) and analyze different scenarios (e.g., the effect
that a lane closure would have on border wait times).
PROCESSING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
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4.3.1 FORMATTING AND PROCESSING DATA
Environmental data need to be in a standard format. This is particularly true if the data have
come from several sources. To achieve standard formats, you may need to create computer
routines to multiply or divide the data by the appropriate factors.
At this point, the data may undergo quality control. Any data not passing the selected
quality control criteria should be flagged and not used. You will still want to store such
data in your databases; you may notice trends when data are out of specification—trends
you can use when you perform corrective action.
For the Paso del Norte Project, relational database technology is integrated with dynamic
Web pages. Graphics on Web pages that change with the change in conditions (e.g., the Air
Quality Index) are built using Adobe Image Ready. The resulting code is then modified to a
ColdFusion Markup (*.cfm) language, and the variables are linked to a database. As the
database is updated, the Web page loads new images and text based on its contents. As a
result, there is flexibility in designing pages. Original data can be validated and imported into
the database through standard scripts, or interactive forms can be designed to allow partner
institutions to update the information through a secure intranet site.
The Paso del Norte project team transfers the environmental data as comma-delimited
ASCII text. The Team uses the following standard units for the air quality pollutants:
• Ozone: parts per billion (ppb).
• Carbon monoxide: parts per million (ppm).
• PM2 5: micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3).
• PM10: micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3).
• Sulfur dioxide: parts per billion (ppb).
Air quality data from the Cd. Juarez CAMS is received in a proprietary report format (EDAS
Version 3.0). The ASCII report is processed via a script to output a fixed-format data file.
Air quality data from the New Mexico CAMS also is received in a proprietary report format
(i.e., PC208W). Java scripts are used to extract the data from the report format and output
the fixed-format data file.
The format for the air quality data includes AIRID, year, month, day, hour, minute, type,
value, and averaging time. Java scripts are used to validate the data and reprocess them into
the directory structure used by the visualization software. Custom visualization applications
are written in C run within Iris Explorer, a commercial mathematical modeling application,
to generate time sequence TIFF images. Adobe Premier is used to sequence the images into
animated movies, GIFs, and other digital formats.
Traffic data are retrieved every 10 minutes and processed to extract average speeds, traffic
counts, and truck counts. The resulting data are imported into a relational database and
linked to the road network using the Environmental Systems Research Institute's ArcIMS
GIS to allow visualization of near real-time speeds and traffic volumes. Transportation data
are also imported into Caliper's TransCad transportation model, which is used to develop
improved routing and emergency response applications and near real-time vehicle emissions
estimates.
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Images from the TransVista Intelligent Transportation System are collected via a video card
from a computer connected directly to the fiber optic system at the City of El Paso municipal
building. Once every 10 minutes, four consecutive frames are captured and merged into an
animated GIS image and sent via a dedicated Tl line to UTEP for hosting on the Web site.
Border crossing wait times are based on the length of the vehicle wait lines at the interna-
tional bridges. They are entered manually into a relational database by staff at Radio 1490, a
Spanish radio talk station, through a secure intranet site. Wait times are validated manually
once a week by students who cross into El Paso to attend classes at UTEP.
Images of border crossings are collected using a remote security camera system. They are then
transmitted via telephone lines to a central computer at IMIP. A microwave communication
system is used to transmit the images from IMIP to the El Paso Municipal building. The
images are then transmitted to UTEP via a dedicated Tl line. Information from IMIP can also
be sent to UACJ, where there is a backup system for transmitting data across the Mexico/U.S.
border. Border crossing images are updated every 30 seconds. Telephones used to transmit
border crossing images to IMIP are scheduled to be replaced with a radio communication
system to reduce cost and to reduce the potential for vandalism.
Weather data and the UV index are downloaded to a central hub computer as ASCII text.
Temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and the UV index are placed directly into a
relational database and retrieved via the Web site using ColdFusion by Macromedia.
4.3.2 STORING DATA
After you transfer and format the data, you can store them in databases with a name that
reflects the time and date when they were obtained and identifies their source. When practi-
cal, images have times and dates embedded. Because time for transferring and validating data
varies, the time on stored files typically does not reflect the exact collection time. However,
the original images and raw data should contain this critical information. From the data-
bases, stored data can be converted or modified for use on your Web site (e.g., converted to
HTML tables), with other community outreach materials, or in models (e.g., emissions and
transit models). You also can query the data for analysis and case studies.
For the Paso del Norte Project, images and raw data are archived and backed up on a daily
basis. ASCII data are imported into a relational database as needed to support the various
applications and Web pages. Queries can be performed in the database to identify data sets
of interest and download them using anonymous FTP file transfer. Archived data are com-
pressed using gzip (*.gz) to insure compatibility across operating systems. Raw data, images,
and databases are transferred to a CD for permanent storage once per month. TransVista
images of freeway conditions are not stored because of restrictions on the use of the images.
4.3.3 USING DATA IN MODELS
Computer modeling simulates a set of conditions by performing a series of equations or
computer routines on set and inputted parameters (e.g., air quality or traffic monitoring
data). You can purchase software to perform the modeling or create your own computer
routine to model the data.
PROCESSING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 4-7
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In the Paso del Norte Region, Caliper's TransCAD is used to generate traffic assignments
and mode split analyses for city roadway networks. Traffic assignments are set model choices
used to develop traffic flows based on cost models. Mode split analyses address transportation
mode choices based on changing factors (e.g., if you increase fares, transit riders may choose
other modes of transportation). Information obtained using this model helps the public
identify:
• The quickest routes to minimize time in cars.
• Alternative routes.
• Alternative modes of transportation (e.g., bus routes).
The TransCAD model also is used to generate estimates of vehicle emissions.
4.4 LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE
PASO DEL NDRTE ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING PROJECT
For the Paso del Norte Project, communicating timely environmental information is a
technical challenge that requires multiple organizations and systems to share data and
applications. Effective communication between systems is possible when data management
applications support industry standards. Using industry standards for processing and managing
data also makes it easier to address database problems and expands the potential for packaging
information.
For the Paso del Norte Project, applications that support Open Database Connectivity
(ODBC), traditional FTP, and Java (cross platform) programming languages were the easiest
to design and implement. Parsing data into an ODBC relational database is relatively
straightforward, and developing customized applications for presenting information in a
database provides a robust solution that can grow with new ideas and opportunities. More
important is the understanding that organizations that use industry standards can quickly
provide ongoing support of developed applications. Finally, using industry standards estab-
lishes a foundation for collaborative development among other institutions and organizations
that support the resulting information system.
Currently, environmental data collection and management systems inherently are propri-
etary, and limit collection and processing to the features requested by the client agency. The
ability to capture data and process them so that they can be used by decision-makers such as
elected officials is difficult without the use of industry standards. If industry standards are
not used, the number and complexity of the steps required to collect and process data
increases dramatically. As a result, the initial investment of time and resources is greater.
More important is the loss of reliability due to increased chances for things to go wrong.
For the Paso del Norte Project, every effort was made to use industry standards with regional
database technologies as the warehouse for data so that Java, Internet programs, and custom
applications could be used to access the data. Having the data accessible via the Internet
provides the foundation for an "enterprise" approach to processing and communicating
environmental data collected in the Paso del Norte international region.
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Complex environmental information must be processed into simple and easy-to-understand
formats. Maps, graphics, charts, and tables must be designed carefully so they can be
understood quickly, and the information they contain must be current and accurate. This is
particularly true when the information is provided to broadcast media and to newspapers.
Broadcast companies have to meet rigid schedules for their daily news and weather broadcasts.
For this reason, the ease with which they can obtain accurate and easy-to-understand environ-
mental information dictates whether they will use the information. Level of technical expertise
also plays a role in whether the broadcast media will use information: if they can use their exist-
ing technology, they are more likely to report the information. Because operating systems and
communication capabilities vary among the broadcast companies, the approach used to provide
a company with environmental information might have to be customized. You can do this by
visiting each company to learn about its capabilities and then designing your communication
system to be compatible.
C t t .'»'!', ^ ' " • t *' V > , , I." , V t
In a complex, multi-task project such as the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring
Project, close coordination among the project partners is essential. This is even more impor-
tant when several jurisdictions in different countries are involved. The project team should
include at least one member with expertise in each field, and a team leader has to be assigned
for each task. The team leader must assign tasks and follow up to ensure that they are com-
pleted. In addition, the entire project team must meet periodically, and follow-up is needed to
ensure that actions discussed at the meetings are completed. As issues arise, the project team
must meet to discuss and resolve them. It is also important that project members work
together to share information, to brainstorm solutions to issues, and to complete the project
tasks. A collaborative relationship between the project team and the responsible organizations
is extremely important for the successful completion of a project.
Costs of international telecommunications are prohibitive. Public Internet access also poses a
problem because the quality of service for Internet access varies significantly. For these rea-
sons, radio and microwave communications are the best infrastructure for transmitting data
between countries. However, the ability to integrate radio and microwave communications
with local area networks varies among agencies. In the Paso del Norte Project, the City of El
Paso and the universities were able to establish communications. Other partners were not,
and had to depend on outside professional services for communication. This delayed the
project. The project team had to use its technical expertise to address the communications
issues of all of the project partners.
By focusing on collabaration, leveraging, and automation, the Paso del Norte Project can be
sustained after the EMPACT grant period has ended.
PROCESSING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 4-9
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Federal, state, and local agencies that provide environmental, health, and transportation
information to the public have supported the Paso del Norte Project since the project was
initiated. This support is expected to continue because many of the tools (e.g., relational
database technologies and GIS) developed in the Paso del Norte Project can be transferred
directly to information systems managed by these agencies, including the TransVista Traffic
Management Center, TCEQ's Meteostar environmental monitoring network, and regional
GIS mapping initiatives. As a result, regional cooperation is expected to continue, and
application of the Paso del Norte tools is expected to increase. Probably the most significant
accomplishment of the Paso del Norte Project is the establishment of a comprehensive
regional approach to regional challenges, facilitated through sharing of technology and
improved communications.
Leveraging of the Paso del Norte Project is resulting in unexpected investments that will
help ensure the continuation of the project. Future plans include integration of the Paso
del Norte Mapping for Public Access Initiative into the project. This regional GIS initiative,
which will give the public Internet access to live maps of El Paso, Cd. Juarez, and Dona Ana
County, has added approximately $2 million to the project's local funds. The Paso del Norte
Project also is being expanded to include emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
One reason these other programs are leveraging the Paso del Norte Project is that the
logistics of complex working relationships, information security, and other challenges
have already been addressed in the project.
Automation of information collection and data processing, including quality assurance, also
is critical to the continuation of the Paso del Norte Project. During the project, data collec-
tion and processing was simplified so that they can be continued with a minimal investment.
Minimizing the number of steps in a process increases it's reliability and reduces the project's
maintenance requirements. For example, transferring data needed to calculate the AQI from
multiple sources to a centralized database eliminates redundancy and provides an efficient
means to process the data, calculate the AQI, and disseminate the AQI to the public. The
end result is an increase in capacities and lower overall costs for the daily routine tasks.
in I I „ , " 1 " I ' t, I „ , K , I I I I III
Through UTEP, the Paso del Norte Project leveraged the Community Scholars Program to
get students involved in air quality issues in the Paso del Norte region. This makes future
generations aware of the regional air quality issues and helps increase the resources that will
be available when long-term environmental challenges in the region must be addressed.
Universities also are an important base of knowledge—knowledge they can use in further
research to understand and solve required environmental problems. In addition, universities
have experience collaborating on projects, can quickly establish systems for information
exchange, and can develop approaches for accomplishing multi-disciplinary tasks or objec-
tives. In the Paso del Norte Project, local universities have become hubs for data warehousing
and for developing approaches to address the environmental issues of the region. For example,
UTEP participation in Internet2, a high-bandwidth dedicated intranet among partnering
institutions, provides critical infrastructure for the transfer of information across international
boundaries.
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M IE ' i IE in I IE i • "" IE r' IE :• . I t>
There were several unexpected benefits from the Paso del Norte Project.
In one case, a student completed a thesis for a masters degree in environmental engineering
that addressed the use of GIS as a base for a comprehensive emission inventory within an
international region.
In another case, the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) at the White Sands Missile Range
partnered with UTEP to use the expanded real-time meteorological information and GIS
base to develop a microscale diffusion model that improves the accuracy of plume models of
accidental or intentional hazardous materials spilled in an international, urban setting. As a
result, ARL donated a radiometer along with computers and software that will be used to
collect real-time vertical temperature and moisture profiles of the atmosphere. Future
research with the radiometer will help define critical conditions during temperature
inversions that cause episodic air quality issues.
Access to near real-time environmental and meteorological information has peaked the interest
of emergency response agencies including EMS 911 and police and fire departments. This has
provided an opportunity to establish a secure intranet site to expand information access to
remote offices and to other agencies currently not connected directly to the 911 system.
Animations of ozone and carbon monoxide have spurred new health research that considers
the spatial distribution of air quality impacts. The Center for Border Health Research, a
subsidiary of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (sponsor of the Paso del Norte Mapping
for Public Access Initiative) has made available the Texas public hospital discharge database,
which documents demographic and diagnostic information from individual hospital encoun-
ters by ZIP code for the period 1999 to 2000. These data, in conjunction with the air quality
information from the Paso del Norte Project, are being used in several epidemiological
studies, and serve as the core information for collaborative research grant proposals to
the National Institutes of Health and other entities.
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DEPICTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL
INFORMATION
Now that you have collected, transferred, and managed your timely environmental
information, you can turn to the next step in providing your community with the
information: using data visualization tools to graphically depict the information.
By using the data visualization tools described in this chapter, you can create graphic repre-
sentations of environmental data that can be used on Web sites, in reports
and educational materials, and in other outreach and communication initiatives.
Section 5.1 provides an overview of data visualization. Section 5.2 introduces the data
visualization tools used by the Paso del Norte project team. If you are interested in a basic
introduction to data visualization, you may want to read only Section 5.1. If you are
responsible for choosing and using data visualization software to model and analyze data,
you also should read Section 5.2.
5.1 WHAT IS DATA VISUALIZATION?
In this handbook, "data visualization" is graphic representation of data. Presenting data in a
visual format can enhance your audience's understanding of and interest in the information.
Data visualization tools discussed below include maps, color coding, icons, graphs, and
geographic information systems (GIS).
• Maps. Maps are one of the most basic and familiar data visualization tools that can be
used to communicate timely environmental information. If kept simple (e.g., clutter-
free) and accompanied by a good key that explains the different map symbols, a map
can be one of the easiest data interpretation and visualization tools to develop and use.
• Color coding. Like maps, color coding is already familiar to many people. Thus its
message can be easily understood. Colors to indicate "good" or "poor" environmental
conditions (and ranges between those extremes) have been used successfully in maps,
graphs, indexes, icons, and other tools for risk communication. Make sure to choose
appropriate colors (and color ranges): use well-known color coding schemes, such as
green to represent "go" (e.g., "it's OK to go hiking based on air quality conditions")
and red to represent "stop" (e.g., "stay indoors particularly if you have a respiratory
problem").
• Icons. The term "icon" is used here in a very general sense to describe any visual cue
or image used to communicate information—anything from a physical placard (e.g., a
beach closure symbol or sign) to a symbol on a computer screen. Although words can
be added, an icon ideally should be able to convey at least its basic meaning without
relying on verbal language.
• Graphs. Graphs are another commonly used and relatively easy-to-understand data
visualization tool. They often convey information about how several variables are
related or compare to each other. Some projects allow users to generate graphs as
needed by specifying which variables they want plotted and how they would like
them plotted.
DEPICTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 5-1
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• GIS. A GIS is an effective data visualization tool for displaying, analyzing, and
modeling spatial or geographic information. GIS maps, animations, and two- and three-
dimensional models can be generated after detailed data are input into the system. This is
usually done by skilled staff in a process that can be labor-intensive and fairly expensive.
Two key advantages of GIS are the ability to quickly overlay and view several different
data layers simultaneously (such as open lands, water resources, and population) and the
ability to view and compare different future scenarios (such as future land uses) and their
possible impacts (e.g., on environmental resources).
By applying these tools to environmental information, you can help your community's
residents gain a better understanding of the information. Once you begin using data
visualization tools, you will immediately be impressed with their ability to model and
analyze your data for a variety of purposes, from making resource management decisions
to supporting public outreach and education efforts.
5.2 DATA VISUALIZATION TDDLS EMPLOYED
IN THE PASO DEL NDRTE
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECT
The Paso del Norte Project uses several data visualization tools to communicate environmental
information to the public. Examples include maps, color-coding, tables and charts, GIS, and
live and static images of the Paso del Norte region.
5.2.1 MAPS
Animated maps are used on the Paso del Norte Web site to depict air quality with respect to
both carbon monoxide and ozone (see Figures 5 and 6). They emulate a three-dimensional
perspective, as though the Paso del Norte region were being viewed at an oblique angle from
an airplane flying south of Cd. Juarez, Mexico. The maps provide an animated movie for-
mat, which local television stations can download for rebroadcast and which the public
can view on the Internet. Text on the maps can be viewed in both English and Spanish.
ozonemap.org
Monoxide Peak - Dec 5. 2001
Good
Moderate
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
Unhealthy
Very Unhealthy
Link lo AQI
Click Here for Map Animation!!
Map is updated every weekday a! 4:30 p.m.
Figure 5. Paso del Norte animated carbon monoxide map.
5-2
CHAPTER B
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ozonemap.org
Ozone Penk July 18. 2000
Good
Moderate
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
Unhealthy
Very Unhealthy
Link to AQ!
Click Here for Map Animation!!
Map is updated every weekday a! 4:30 p.m.
Figure 6. Paso del Norte animated ozone map.
Another map on the Web site for the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project is a
map of the United States that shows the current UV Index for the country. Colors are used
to show how the value for the index varies. The Web site also contains information about the
UV Index and what the values for the index mean.
5.2.2 COLOR CODING
Color coding is used on the Project Web site's U.S. map to indicate the value for the UV
Index, on the animated maps of the Paso del Norte region to indicate air quality with respect
to ozone and carbon monoxide, and on the Web page that presents the Air Quality Index for
the region. The Web site also describes the condition represented by each color on the ani-
mated maps and the Air Quality Index (see the table below). This is particularly important
because some people may not know what a color means. The colors used in the Paso del
Norte Project are the same as the colors used to for the Air Quality Index nationally. This
makes it easier for people who are not from the Paso del Norte region to understand the
information communicated through the Paso del Norte Project.
Green
Yellow
Orange
Good
Moderate
Unhealthy to sensitive
groups
No limitations on outdoor exertion.
Unusually sensitive people should consider
limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
Active children, adults, and people with
respiratory disease (such as asthma) should
limit prolonged outdoor activity.
Unhealthy
Very unhealthy
Active children, adults, and people with
respiratory disease, such as asthma, should
avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else,
especially children, should limit prolonged
outdoor exertion.
Active children, adults, and people with
respiratory disease, such as asthma, should
avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else,
especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.
DEPICTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
5-3
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In addition, the Project Web site discusses the relationship between the color codes and the
numerical values used in conjunction with those codes. For example, on the Web site for the
Air Quality Index, the reader is directed to "click here" for more information on the numeri-
cal value for the index. The Web site also discusses the numerical values for the ground-level
ozone and CO levels.
5.2.3 TABLES AND CHARTS
Tables and charts are used on the Paso del Norte Project Web site to report various informa-
tion. Examples include weather conditions, the latest wait times at the international bridges
(see Figure 7), trends in weather data, and the relationship between the value for the Air
Quality Index for a pollutant and the color codes.
Bridge Hours 1 IVMnutes Lanes Onen ^LasUlndated at:
Americas-Lincoln
Americas-Perez Serna
DCL-Stanton
Paso del Norte
Ysleta
Sta. Teresa
Fabens
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
50
50
10
20
3
0
0
1 1 of 1 1 total
11 of 11 total
1 of 1 total
10 of 10 total
13 of 13 total
2 of 2 total
2 of 2 total
01 -May-02 7:22:42 a.m.
01 -May-02 7:22:55 a.m.
01 -May-02 7:23:04 a.m.
01 -May-02 7:23:1 3 a.m.
01 -May-02 8:02:21 a.m.
26-Mar-02 6:37:02 a.m.
21 -Mar-02 7:34:37 a.m.
Figure 7. International bridge crossing wait times.
5.2.4 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM
An industry standard GIS-based transportation model, TransCAD, is used to visualize traffic
volumes in the Paso del Norte region. The model predicts and displays the impact on traffic
volumes and levels of service from construction activities, accidents, and other roadway
impedances. This information helps commuters and emergency response personnel avoid
congested areas. It also estimates vehicle emissions in the area based on traffic volume data.
5.2.5 LIVE AND STATIC IMAGES
Live and static images are provided by the Paso del Norte webcam system (see Figure 8).
These images allow researchers, community leaders, and the citizens of the Region to see
how air quality affects visibility. By actually seeing the impact of air pollution, those groups
are encouraged to learn more about what they can do to improve air quality.
FI Fa«, mine Hit Spoil MliltMlilfj C4*!tr»i to F»ittirUi| WHO rjl MM* Hunan **4 TsMJT'
5-4
Figure 8. Visibility webcam images.
CHAPTER B
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COMMUNICATING TIMELY
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
A s your community develops its near real-time environmental monitoring and report-
L\ ing systems, you need to think about the best ways to communicate the information
JL JLchese systems yield. This chapter is designed to help you do that. It outlines the steps
involved in developing an outreach plan (Section 6.1), and it profiles the outreach initiatives
impl mented by the Paso del Norte project team (Section 6.2). It also provides guidelines for
effe tively communicating information, and contains examples of text that you can incorpo-
rate into your own communication and outreach materials (Section 6.3).
6.1 CREATING AN OUTREACH PLAN FDR
NEAR REAL-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
Outreach is most effective if you plan it carefully: Whom do you want to reach? What
information do you want to disseminate? What are the most effective mechanisms to reach
people? Developing a plan ensures that you consider all important elements of an outreach
project before you begin. The plan itself provides a blueprint for action.
An outreach plan is most effective if you involve a variety of people in its development.
Where possible, consider involving:
• A communications specialist or someone who has experience developing and
implementing an outreach plan.
• Technical experts in the subject matter (both scientific and policy).
• Someone who represents the target audience (i.e., the people or groups you want to
reach).
• Key individuals who will be involved in implementing the outreach plan.
As you develop your outreach plan, consider whether you would like to invite any organiza-
tions to partner with you in planning or implementing the outreach effort. Partners might
include local businesses, environmental organizations, schools, local health departments,
local planning and zoning authorities, and other local or state agencies. Partners can partici-
pate in planning, product development and review, and distribution. Partnerships can be
valuable mechanisms for leveraging resources while enhancing the quality, credibility, and
success of outreach efforts.
Developing an outreach plan is a creative and iterative process involving a number of inter-
related steps, as described below. As you move through each of these steps, you might want
to revisit and refine the decisions you made in earlier steps until you have an integrated,
comprehensive, and achievable plan.
An outreach plan does not have to be lengthy or complicated. You can develop a plan
simply by documenting your answers to each of the questions discussed below.
This will provide you with a solid foundation for an outreach effort.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION s-i
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- ::; < ••»! " -, ""
Identifying Your Audience(s)
The first step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify your target audience or
audiences. The goals of your outreach program often define their target audiences. You
might want to refine and add to your goals after you have specifically considered which
audiences you want to reach.
Target audiences for an outreach program for environmental information might include the
general public, local decision-makers, land management agencies, educators and students
(high school and college), and special interest groups (e.g., homeowner associations). Some
audiences, such as educators and special interest groups, might serve as conduits to help
disseminate information to other audiences you have identified, such as the general public.
Consider whether you should divide the public into two or more audience categories. For
example: Will you be providing different information to certain groups, such as citizens and
businesses? Does a significant portion of the public you are trying to reach have a different
cultural or linguistic background from other members? If so, it likely will be most effective
to consider these groups as separate audience categories.
Profiling Your Audience(s)
Outreach is most effective if the type, content, and distribution of outreach products are
tailored specifically to the characteristics of target audiences. Once you have identified your
audiences, the next step is to develop a profile of their situations, interests, and concerns.
This profile helps you identify the most effective ways of reaching the audience. For each
target audience, consider:
• What is their current level of knowledge?
• What do you want them to know?
• What information is likely to be of interest to the audience? What will they likely
want to know once they develop some awareness of environmental issues?
• How much time are they likely to give to receiving and assimilating the information?
• How does this group generally receive information?
• What professional, recreational, and domestic activities does this group typically
engage in that might provide avenues for distributing outreach products? Are there any
organizations or centers that represent or serve the audience and might be avenues for
disseminating your outreach products?
Profiling an audience essentially involves putting yourself "in your audience's shoes." Ways to
do this include consulting individuals or organizations who represent or are members of the
audience, consulting other agencies or individuals who have successfully developed other
outreach products for the audience, and using your imagination.
Defining your outreach goals is the next step in developing an outreach plan. Outreach goals
should be clear, simple, action-oriented statements about what you hope to accomplish
through outreach. Once you have established your goals, every other element of the plan
should relate to them.
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W:-:,;-.T :DIE Y3
With your audience and goals identified, you should think about what you want to commu-
nicate. In particular, think about the key points, or "messages," you want to communicate.
Messages are the "bottom line" information you want your audience to walk away with, even
if they forget the details.
A message usually is phrased as a brief (often one-sentence) statement. For example:
• The Air Quality Index allows you to track daily changes in air quality.
• The Air Quality Index helps you decide whether to participate in outdoor activities.
Outreach products often have multiple related messages. Consider what messages you want
to send to each target audience group. You might have different messages for different
audiences.
The next step in developing an outreach plan is to consider what types of outreach products
are the most effective for reaching each target audience. There are many different types of
outreach product: print, audiovisual, electronic, events, and novelty items. Some examples
are provided below.
Type of Outreach Product
Print
Audiovisual
Electronic
Events
Novelty Items
Examples of Outreach Products
Brochures
Educational curricula
Question-and-answer
Press releases
Book covers
Cable television
Videos
E-mail messages
Web pages
Briefings
Fairs and festivals
One-on-one meetings
Public meetings
Banners
Buttons
Floating key chains
Magnets
Editorials
Fact sheets
sheets Posters
Utility bill inserts
Newspaper and magazine articles
Public service announcements
Exhibits and kiosks
Subscriber list servers
Community days
Media interviews
Press conferences
Speeches
Bumper stickers
Coloring books
Frisbee discs
Mouse pads
(radio)
The audience profile information you assembled earlier will help you select appropriate
products. A communications professional can provide valuable guidance in choosing the
most appropriate products to meet your goals within your resource and time constraints.
Questions to consider when selecting products include:
• How much information does your audience really need to have? How much does
your audience need to know now? The simplest, most effective, most straightforward
product generally is most effective.
• Is the product likely to appeal to the target audience? How much time does it take to
interact with the product? Is the audience likely to make that time?
• How easy and cost-effective is the product to distribute or, in the case of an event,
organize?
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
6-3
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How many people is this product likely to reach? For an event, how many people are
likely to attend?
What time frame is needed to develop and distribute the product?
How much does it cost to develop the product? Do you have access to the talent and
resources needed for development?
What other related products are already available? Can you build on existing products?
When will the material be out of date? (You probably will want to spend fewer
resources on products with short lifetimes.)
Is it effective to have distinct phases of products over time? For example, a first phase
of products designed to raise awareness, followed at a later date by a second phase of
products to encourage changes in behavior.
How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent news value is more
likely to be rapidly and widely disseminated by the media.
Effective distribution is essential to the success of an outreach strategy. There are many
avenues for distribution. Some examples are listed below.
Examples of Distribution Avenues
Your mailing list
Partner's mailing list
Phone/Fax
E-mail
Internet
Journals or newsletters of partner organizations
TV
Radio
Print media
Hotline that distributes products on request
Meetings, events, or locations (e.g., libraries, schools,
marinas, and public beaches) where products are
made available
You need to consider how each product is distributed and determine who is responsible for
distribution. For some products, your organization might manage distribution. For others,
you might rely on intermediaries (such as the media or educators) or organizational partners
who are willing to participate in the outreach effort. Consult with an experienced communi-
cations professional to obtain information about the resources and time required for the
various distribution options. Some points to consider in selecting distribution channels
include:
• How does the audience typically receive information?
• What distribution mechanisms has your organization used in the past for this
audience? Were these mechanisms effective?
• Can you identify any partner organizations that might be willing to assist in the
distribution?
• Can the media play a role in the distribution?
• Will the mechanism you are considering reach the intended audience? For example, the
Internet can be an effective distribution mechanism, but certain groups might have
limited access to it.
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CHAPTER 6
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• How many people is the product likely to reach through the distribution mechanism
you are considering?
W H .•-..":" >' 3 :„„ C •<& - F Wl E P H A :-Jl i S >; 3 * ¥ ] _ Y (r nj :..•: :l: r/V 3 _ ] 3 >I ;r
With a successful outreach program, the targeted audience may request further information.
Consider whether and how you will handle this interest. The following questions can help
you develop this part of your strategy:
• What types of reactions or concerns are audience members likely to have in response to
the outreach information?
• Who will handle requests for additional information?
• Do you want to indicate on the outreach product where people can go for further
information (e.g., provide a contact name, number, mailing or office address, e-mail
address, or Web address)?
Once you have decided on your goals, audiences, messages, products, and distribution
channels, you need to develop an implementation schedule. For each product, consider how
much time is needed for development and distribution. Be sure to factor in sufficient time
for product review. Wherever possible, build in time for testing and evaluation by members
or representatives of the target audience in focus groups or individual sessions so that you can
get feedback on whether you have effectively targeted your material for your audience.
Section 6.3 contains suggestions for presenting technical information to the public. It also
provides information about online resources that provide easy-to-understand background
information you can use in developing your own outreach projects.
6.2 ELEMENTS OF THE PASO DEL NDRTE
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECT
OUTREACH PROGRAM
The Paso del Norte project team uses a variety of mechanisms to communicate timely envi-
ronmental information to the public. Elements of the Project's outreach program are
highlighted below.
Web site. The Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project Web site
(http://www.ozonemap.org) is the main vehicle through which timely environmental informa-
tion is conveyed to the public. The site contains the current conditions in the region with
respect to several air pollutants (e.g., ground-level ozone and carbon monoxide), traffic, and
weather. It also contains health facts on air pollutants, animated ozone and carbon monoxide
maps of the region, the current Air Quality Index for the region, and current traffic images
from cameras located throughout the region. In addition, it contains live and static images
that allow the public to see how air quality affects visibility in the Paso del Norte region.
The Web site also encourages people to report smoking vehicles and identifies a person to
contact to obtain information. Information on the Web site is presented in both English
and Spanish. Figure 9 shows the site's home page.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION &-&
-------
Ozone Action
Current Conditions
Health Fa
Animated Ozone Maps
Air Quality Ind
Who to Con
Last Updated:
July 2, 2002
Home I Archive | Search | Site Map | Contacts | Webmaster
Figure 9. Home page for Paso del Norte Web site.
Community Scholars Program. The Community Scholars Program is a non-profit summer
internship program funded primarily by grants from local businesses and individual contribu-
tors. It is designed to foster leadership skills by involving El Paso high school honor students
directly in researching solutions to the City's social and civic problems. Through a competitive
process, the program hires junior and senior honor students from 14 local high schools.
Student interns undergo 40 hours of after-school training in May, then begin full-time
research at the University of Texas at El Paso during the summer months. This program
allows the students to focus on key environmental issues and develop materials appropriate
for educating the public about those issues. One such issue is air pollution.
As part of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, 15 laptop computers were
purchased and placed in the home schools of the students. The computers are equipped with
Web development software, geographic information systems, standard office applications,
and Internet access. This allows the Community Scholars Program to extend research on
air pollution initiated by the summer interns throughout the school year. It also allows
the interns to encourage other students to become involved in educational activities that
promote a better understanding of air pollution and the effects of meteorology, terrain,
and emission sources in the bi-national Paso del Norte region.
The home page for the Community Scholars Program is shown in Figure 10.
6-6
CHAPTER 6
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r^!!!i
Community Scholars
QUALIFICATIONS
* Ba a junior in high school
• Rank 8ni0n0lt>9 top 15 paioert of you' class
* Have a reccfd d ccnirnumlj-
REQUIREMENTS
* Must make Comrnunrtjf Sch.oUira yo\j puonty in Summer 2CCD
* Must sflwd 4*1 Iraining 5ess»
-------
Mirrnsiill liiierni'l [>pta
Ed* 'An* tffatm.
_J«a
Call dad del Aire Regional
Cortaniina'i' Principal:
AHQRAI
Ttempo fclax de Eipeco: 1 hr. ID min,
Pu e nt«: Americas • Avt. Pe-rez Serna
Nora d«l dig:
Indice UV
Figure 11. "Bump" used by Spanish television.
Digital readouts. Digital readouts are used in the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring
Project to provide information on traffic conditions. The information, including bridge wait
times, is presented on billboards located in strategic areas of the region.
6.3 RESOURCES FDR PRESENTING
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC
As you begin to implement your outreach plan and develop the products selected in the
plan, make sure that these products present your messages and information as clearly and
accurately as possible. You might want to review the available resources on the Internet—see
if any can help you develop your outreach products or serve as additional resource materials
(e.g., fact sheets).
Haw Da Yau PRESENT TECHNICAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature, and air quality is no exception.
Nevertheless, this information can be conveyed in simple, clear terms to nonspecialists, such
as the public. Principles of effective writing for the public include avoiding jargon, translat-
ing technical terms into everyday language the public can understand, using the active voice,
keeping sentences short, and using headings and other format devices to provide a very clear,
well-organized structure. You can refer to the following Web sites for more ideas about how
to write clearly and effectively for a general audience:
e-s
CHAPTER 6
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• The National Partnership for Reinventing Government has developed a guidance
document, Writing User-Friendly Documents, that can be found on the Web at
http://www.plainlanguage.gov/.
• The Web site of the American Bar Association (http://www.abanet.org/) has links to
important online style manuals, dictionaries, and grammar primers.
As you develop communication materials for a specific audience, remember to consider what
the audience members are already likely to know, what you want them to know, and what
they are likely to understand. Then tailor your information accordingly. Provide only infor-
mation that is valuable and interesting to the target audience. For example, environmentalists
in your community might be interested in the details of the Air Quality Index. But it's not
likely that school children will be interested in this level of detail.
When developing outreach products, be sure to consider special needs of the target audience.
For example, if your community has a substantial number of people who speak little or no
English, you may need to prepare communication materials in their native language. This is
particularly true for the Paso del Norte region because both English and Spanish are spoken
there.
The rest of this section contains examples of text about ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate
matter, and the air quality index. These examples are written in a plain-English style designed
to be easily understandable by the public. You can use this text as a model to stimulate ideas
for your own outreach language or you can incorporate components of this text directly into
your products.
C 11. i t J ! ' i. i. p 1
* | fe^fiirt I Saa? nft 1 JMSp Waft \: fcdajja
Figure 12. Ozone Action Days page.
,1JI i,JI I,;" , l"i" I, I III III T
• What is ozone?
Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas composed of three atoms of oxygen.
Is ozone good or bad for people's health and the environment?
Ozone occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ozone can
be good or bad depending on where it is found.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
6-9
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- Good ozone. Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere—10 to 30 miles
above the Earth's surface—where it forms a protective barrier that shields people from
the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. This barrier is sometimes called the "ozone layer."
- Bad ozone. Because of pollution, ozone also is found in the Earth's lower
atmosphere, at ground level. Ground-level ozone is a major ingredient of smog and it
can harm people's health by damaging their lungs. It also can damage crops and
many common man-made materials, such as rubber, plastic, and paint.
EPA's booklet Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby (found on the Web at
http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/gooduphigh] contains additional information about both
good and bad ozone.
How is ground-level ozone formed?
Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air but forms when two kinds
of pollutants—volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides—mix in the air and
react chemically in the presence of sunlight. Common sources of volatile organic
compounds (often referred to as VOCs) include motor vehicles, gas stations, chemical
plants, and other industrial facilities. Solvents such as dry-cleaning fluid and chemicals
used to clean industrial equipment are also sources of VOCs. Common sources of
nitrogen oxides include motor vehicles, power plants, and other fuel-burning sources.
1 Are there times of the day and year when ozone pollution is of particular concern?
Yes. Ozone levels vary during the day. They are highest in the late afternoon and
decrease rapidly at sunset.
In most parts of the United States, ozone pollution is likely to be a concern during the
summer months, when the weather conditions needed to form ground-level ozone—lots
of sun, hot temperatures—occur. Ozone pollution is usually at its worst during the
summer heat waves when air masses are stagnant.
1 In what way can ozone affect people's health?
Ozone can affect people's health in many ways:
- Ozone can irritate the respiratory system. When this happens, you might start cough-
ing, feel an irritation in your throat, or experience an uncomfortable sensation in
your chest. These symptoms can last for a few hours after exposure to ozone and may
even become painful.
- Ozone can reduce lung function. When scientists refer to "lung function," they
mean the volume of air that you draw in when you take a full breath and the speed
at which you are able to blow out the air. Ozone can make it more difficult for you
to breathe as deeply and vigorously as you normally would.
- Ozone can aggravate asthma. When ozone levels are high, more asthmatics have asthma
attacks that require a doctor's attention or the use of additional asthma medication.
- Ozone can aggravate chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema and bronchitis.
- Ozone can inflame and temporarily damage the lining of the lung. Ozone damages the
cells that line the air spaces in the lung. Within a few days, the damaged cells are
replaced and the old cells are shed. If this kind of damage occurs repeatedly, the lung
can change permanently in a way that could cause long-term health effects.
6-1 D CHAPTER 6
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• Who is sensitive to ozone?
- Children. Active children are the group at highest risk from ozone exposure. Such
children often spend a large part of their summer vacation outdoors, engaged in
vigorous activities. Children also are more likely to have asthma or other respiratory
illnesses, which can be aggravated by exposure to ozone.
- Adults who are active outdoors. Healthy adults who exercise or work outdoors are
considered a "sensitive group" because they have a higher level of exposure to ozone
than people who are less active outdoors.
- People with respiratory diseases, such as asthma. There is no evidence that ozone causes
asthma or other chronic respiratory disease, but these diseases do make the lungs
more vulnerable to the effects of ozone.
- People with unusual susceptibility to ozone. Scientists don't yet know why, but some
healthy people are simply more sensitive to ozone than are others. These individuals may
experience more health effects from exposure to ozone than does the average person.
- Are the elderly sensitive to ozone? Scientists have found little evidence to suggest that
either the elderly or people with heart disease have heightened sensitivity to ozone.
For additional information about the health effects of ozone you can read EPA's booklet
Smog: Who Does It Hurt? (found on the Web at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/health).
C A K: 3 C [I- [iVl 3 -i] 3 - [ ir, E
• What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a odorless, colorless gas.
• How is carbon monoxide formed?
Carbon monoxide forms when the carbon in fuels does not burn completely.
• How does carbon monoxide affect people's health?
Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream and reduces oxygen delivery to the body's
organs and tissues. The health threat from carbon monoxide is most serious for those
who suffer from cardiovascular disease. Healthy individuals are also affected, but only
at higher levels of exposure. Exposure to elevated carbon monoxide levels is associated
with visual impairment, reduced work capacity, reduced manual dexterity, poor learning
ability, and difficulty in performing complex tasks.
• What are the sources of carbon monoxide?
Vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60 percent of all carbon monoxide emissions
nationwide, and up to 95 percent in cities. Carbon monoxide concentrations typically
are highest during cold weather because combustion is less complete in cold tempera-
tures.
For additional information about carbon monoxide, refer to the EPA Web site at
http:llwww. epa.gov/airloaqpsl.
What is paniculate matter?
Particulate matter includes both solid particles and liquid droplets found in air.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION s-i i
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• How is paniculate matter formed?
Many man-made and natural sources emit particulate matter directly to the air or emit
pollutants that react in the atmosphere to form particulate matter.
• What is the size of particulate matter?
Solid and liquid particles come in a wide range of sizes. Particles less than 10 microme-
ters in diameter (PM10) tend to pose the greatest health concern. Particles less than 2.5
micrometers in diameter (PM2 5) are referred to as "fine" particles. Sources of fine par-
ticles include all types of combustion process (e.g., power plants) and some industrial
processes. Particles with a diameter between 2.5 and 10 micrometers are referred to as
"coarse." Sources of coarse particles include grinding operations and dust from paved
or unpaved roads.
• What are the health effects from exposure to particulate matter?
When exposed to particulate matter, people with heart or lung disease (e.g., congestive
heart disease, coronary artery disease, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease) are at increased health risk. People with heart disease may experience symp-
toms such as chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Symptoms for
people with lung disease include coughing, phlegm, chest discomfort, wheezing, and
shortness of breath. Even healthy people may experience some respiratory systems from
exposure to particulate matter. Children are at increased risk of experiencing respiratory
symptoms from exposure to particulate matter because they are more active outdoors
and are more likely to have asthma. Particles with a diameter less than 10 micrometers
tend to pose the greatest health risk because they can be inhaled into and accumulate
in the respiratory system.
For additional information about particulate matter you can refer to the EPA's Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards Web site at http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/.
What is the Air Quality Index?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool developed by EPA to provide people with timely
and easy-to-understand information on local air quality and whether it poses a health
concern. It provides a simple, uniform system that is used throughout the country for
reporting levels of major pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Pollutants include ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate
matter, and nitrogen oxide. You may sometimes hear the AQI referred to as the
Pollutant Standards Index.
The AQI converts a measured air concentration for a pollutant to a number on a scale
of 0 to 500. An AQI value of 100 corresponds to the National Ambient Air Quality
Standard established for the pollutant under the CAA. This is the level or concentra-
tion that EPA has determined to be protective of human health. The higher the index
value, the greater the health concern.
What do the Air Quality Index descriptors mean?
As shown below, the Air Quality Index scale is divided into six categories, each correspon-
ding to a different level of health concern. Each category also is associated with a color.
6-1 z CHAPTER 6
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AQI Color-Coding Systei
Green
Health Risk
Oto50
Description
Good
Yellow
51to100
Moderate
Orange
101to150
Unhealthy for sensitive groups
The level of health concern associated with each AQI category is summarized by a
descriptor:
Good. When the AQI value for your community is between 0 and 50, air quality is
considered satisfactory in your area.
Moderate. When the index value for your community is between 51 and 100, air qual-
ity is acceptable in your area. For ozone and fine particles, people who are extremely
sensitive may experience respiratory symptoms.
Unhealthy for sensitive groups. When AQI values are between 101 and 150, members of
sensitive groups may experience health effects. Some people are particularly sensitive to
the harmful effects of certain pollutants. For example, people with asthma may be sen-
sitive to sulfur dioxide and ozone, while people with heart disease may be sensitive to
carbon monoxide. Some groups of people may be sensitive to more than one pollutant.
Members of the general public are not likely to be affected when the AQI is in this
range.
Unhealthy. When AQI values are between 151 and 200, everyone may begin to experi-
ence health effects. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health
effects.
Very unhealthy. AQI values between 201 and 300 trigger a health effect for everyone.
Hazardous. AQI values over 300 trigger health warnings of emergency conditions.
AQI values over 300 rarely occur in the United States.
How is the Air Quality Index calculated?
State and local air quality monitoring networks measure the concentration of ground-
level ozone, fine and coarse particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and
sulfur dioxide several times a day. These raw measurements are then converted into
corresponding AQI values using standard conversion scales developed by EPA. For
example, an ozone measurement of 0.08 parts per million, which is the National
Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone, translates to an AQI of 100.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
6-1 3
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After the AQI values for the individual pollutants are calculated, they are used to
calculate an overall single index value for the local area. One determines the single AQI
value simply by taking the highest index value calculated for the individual pollutants.
This value becomes the reported AQI for a community for the day. For example, say that
on August 10, your community has an AQI of 115 for ozone and 72 for carbon monox-
ide. The AQI reported that day for your community is 115. On days when the AQI for
two or more pollutants is greater than 100, the pollutant with the highest index level is
reported, but information on any other pollutant above 100 also may be reported.
When and how is the Air Quality Index reported to the public?
In metropolitan areas of the United States with populations over 350,000, state and
local agencies are required to notify the public on days when the AQI for a pollutant
exceeds 100. They also may report the AQI for all pollutants for which the index
exceeds 100. Even in areas where reporting is not required, EPA, state, and local offi-
cials may use the AQI as a public information tool to advise the public about how local
air quality might affect their health, and what actions they can take to protect their
health. You may see the AQI reported in the newspaper or on the Internet, or it may
be broadcast on your local television or radio station. In some areas, AQI information
is available on a recorded telephone message.
More information about the AQI is available at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/aqibroch/.
s-14 CHAPTER 6
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T
SUSTAINING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING INFORMATION
his chapter discusses how environmental monitoring can be sustained over time.
This is necessary to insure that the public and interested groups continue to have
the information.
The chapter begins with a discussion on using existing programs to collect timely environ-
mental information (Section 7.1). It then discusses where to house the database and Web
server for an environmental monitoring project (Section 7.2). Section 7.3 addresses public
support for environmental monitoring, and Section 7.4 discusses the environmental infor-
mation that can be collected given a certain level of funding.
7.1 BUILDING ON EXISTING PROGRAMS
A key aspect of an environmental monitoring program is the ability to sustain the program
over the long term. You can do this by building on existing programs whenever possible,
by using existing infrastructure, and by using low-maintenance automated equipment to
collect data. This approach reduces the funding needed to continue an environmental
monitoring program and at the same time helps ensure full use of existing facilities.
As discussed in the previous sections, the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project
leveraged several existing efforts. Information collected through these efforts includes:
• Air quality data (ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter) collected by various
agencies in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
• Traffic volume data collected by the City of El Paso's Department of Traffic and
Transportation and by the Texas Department of Transportation.
• International bridge crossing information provided by the U.S. Customs and
Immigration Service. The Association of Maquilas also developed an infrastructure to
provide timely information on the number of bridge crossings and observed wait times.
• Static and live images from a webcam and video images of current traffic conditions at
various locations in the Paso del Norte region.
• Weather data obtained from the National Weather Service Web site.
Data from these existing programs are transferred to a database, managed, and displayed on
the Web site for the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project.
As discussed in Chapter 6, the Paso del Norte Project also leverages the Community
Scholars Program as part of its outreach efforts. Students enrolled in the program develop
educational materials to promote the involvement of other high school students in the
region's air pollution issues.
Another leveraged program is the Ozone Map Initiative. Austin College and the University
of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) developed an animated ozone map of the region using data
from the continuous air monitoring stations (CAMS) in the region. This map is displayed
on the Paso del Norte Project Web site. As part of the Paso del Norte Environmental
Monitoring Project, an animated map for carbon dioxide was prepared using the framework
developed for the ozone animated map and carbon monoxide data collected at the CAMS.
SUSTAINING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING INFORMATION 7-1
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In addition, the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project leveraged the resources
of the Paso del Norte Air Quality Task Force, the Clean Air Partnership, the Paso del Norte
Health Foundation, and members of the Joint Advisory Committee. The Joint Advisory
Committee, which was established in 1997 by an amendment to Annex Five of the La Paz
Agreement between the United States and Mexico, is an advisory body that addresses the
binational air pollution problems in the region.
7.2 HOUSING YOUR DATABASE AND WEB SERVER
The database and Web server for an environmental monitoring project can be located at
several locations or at a single location. In deciding where to house your database and Web
server, consider the advantages of one location. These include having to secure only one loca-
tion, better administrative control, easier management, and less expense. In addition, fewer
software and licensing agreements are needed when the database and Web server are housed at
one location. One disadvantage is that redundancy has to be included at the single location.
Housing the database and Web server at multiple locations provides this redundancy.
During the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, the El Paso Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) housed a new Internet server to handle the bulk of public
Internet access. UTEP housed a new Internet server to provide for time-lapse visualization
of air quality on a three-dimensional CIS map and terrain model of the Paso del Norte air
basin. UTEP also housed a new database management server.
At the completion of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, all of UTEP's
equipment will be transferred to the City of El Paso and the El Paso City-County Health
and Environment District (EPCCH) for ongoing implementation and maintenance. UTEP
also will train City and EPCCH personnel on the use of the equipment.
7.3 PUBLIC SUPPORT
Public support is needed to sustain an environmental monitoring program because it
makes decision-makers aware of the desire to have such a program. This is important when
decisions are made on funding for a project. Without public support, there is little to no
impetus to either initiate or continue an environmental monitoring program.
Several organizations support the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. These
include EPCCH, El Paso MPO, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the New
Mexico Environmental Department, and the Institute of Municipal Planning and Research
(Cd. Juarez). Other organizations that support the project include Austin College, UTEP,
the KFOX television station, the Joint Advisory Committee, the Paso del Norte Air Quality
Task Force, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, and the Clean Air Partnership.
7.4 WHAT DATA TO COLLECT
Data collected in a near real-time environmental monitoring program depend on the
available funding. When funds are limited, determine the critical environmental parameters
for an area and focus the monitoring effort on collecting data for those parameters. Consider
any seasonal variation in the critical parameters when designing the monitoring program.
The critical air quality parameters for the Paso del Norte region are ground-level ozone,
carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. For this reason, near real-time data are collected
for these parameters. Data also are collected that have an impact on the air concentration of
those parameters. These include traffic volume data, bridge crossing and wait time data, and
weather data. All of these data are used to inform the public about air quality in the Paso del
Norte region and to encourage them to take actions (e.g., don't drive on days when the
ozone level is high) to improve air quality in the region.
v-z CHAPTER V
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APPENDIX A
CASE STUDY: TUCSON, ARIZONA, AIR INFO NOW PROJECT
A -;MI iiu ' ii IK P^- ,i., i>:u • •
The Air Info Now program works to produce media and public communication programs
about air quality, health concerns related to air pollution, and local solutions to improve air
quality in the Tucson, Arizona, community. Tucson is located in Pima County, and the Pima
County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) leads the program. The program
began in 1999 to address community concerns about air pollution and its effects on public
health and the environment. The program goals are:
• To collect timely air quality information.
• To disseminate timely air quality information to the public.
• To expand the community's awareness of health and environmental effects that air
pollution may cause.
• To address local air pollution problems.
Under this program, air quality samples are taken from 18 locations around the Tucson area.
Monitored air parameters include ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate
matter. The Tucson area is an attainment area for all the criteria air pollutants. The area has
been designated as a maintenance area for carbon monoxide.
P ,', 5: T :-/J - 5: IIJ 3£ 3 .•*>, ?l I Z A T 3 C K S
PDEQ developed its Air Info Now Web site under a grant from EPA. The program also
receives assistance from the University of Arizona, the American Lung Association, and the
Pima Association of Governments.
PDEQ maintains 18 monitoring locations throughout the Tucson area. Ground-level ozone is
monitored at eight locations. Other monitored parameters include carbon monoxide and partic-
ulate matter. In addition to air quality, the monitors measure wind speed, wind direction, and
ambient air temperature. The Web site provides further details on each monitoring location.
Like the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, the Air Info Now Program needed
to standardize the format of the data collected. The University of Arizona and PDEQ estab-
lished a standard format that allows data to be used in near real-time mapping applications.
PDEQ performs quality assurance/quality control on the air monitoring data using the stan-
dard practices defined in 40 CFR Part 58, Ambient Air Quality Surveillance (available online
at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html#pagel}. They include standard oper-
ating procedures for data collection, sample analysis, and data processing. They also include
defined calibration and performance test schedules, and tolerances not to be exceeded.
PDEQ uses a Microsoft (MS) NT Server to display the air quality monitoring data on the
program's Web site. To convert the air quality monitoring data to a Web-compatible format,
PDEQ wrote computer macros for MS-DOS batch files and MS Excel, Access, and Visual
Basic programs to convert the hourly air quality monitoring data from the proprietary Data
Management System file structure to MS Access database tables. The data then can be
accessed via Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), which pulls data out for Web page
displays. PDEQ also developed computer routines to create HTML tables.
APPENDIX A A-I
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PDEQ creates data graphs using a package of Java applets, Object Planets' Line Charting
application. PDEQ staff wrote routines using this application to display air quality informa-
tion on the Web site.
For the telephone hotline, PDEQ purchased Enview2000 software from Envitech and their
U.S. affiliate, DR DAS. This software uses the data from MS Access and stores the data in a
SQL Server 7 database. PDEQ staff recorded the "voices of air quality" in English and
Spanish for use on the hotline.
The ozone air pollution maps shown on the Air Info Now Web site are based on near real-
time measurements of ground-level ozone in the Tucson metropolitan area. Several ozone
monitors within the Tucson metropolitan area provide continuous measurements of hourly
averaged ground-level ozone. The program then promptly transfers the hourly averages to a
central computer hub where the ground-level ozone maps are generated.
With only eight ozone monitors to work with, the Air Info Now Program team developed a
regression-based spatial modeling approach to map ozone levels in the region. The geography
of Tucson allows the model to estimate ozone concentrations at locations where measure-
ments are not taken regularly. The model relates near real-time ozone measurements to the
local geography of the monitors in Tucson's monitoring network. The program team used
several years (1995-1998) of hourly averaged ozone data to "train" the model and to develop
statistical relationships between local geography and measured ozone concentrations. The
model provides a continuous surface map of estimated ground-level ozone concentrations
across the Tucson metropolitan area.
As with any environmental monitoring program, successful communication with
the community is key to achieving the program goals. The Air Info Now program's
outreach activities include the development and operation of its Air Info Now Web site
(http://www.airinfonow.org/). Because the Tucson community includes English- and Spanish-
speaking residents, the Web site can be viewed in either English or Spanish. The Web site
provides air quality information to the community, including the Air Quality Index for
ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter and a ground-level ozone map for the area.
The public can use these data to plan their daily activities.
The Web site includes tools to educate the public about air pollution. The "Activities" page,
for example, includes:
• Online games to teach users about ozone and carbon monoxide, and the effect air
pollutants have on your lungs.
• Experiments to teach users about particulate matter, smog, and greenhouse gases.
• List of 50 things you can do to reduce air pollution.
The Web site also includes air pollution information specifically geared toward teachers for
incorporation into lesson plans for various age groups and details on the health effects of
ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
A-Z APPENDIX A
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In addition to the Web site, the Air Info Now Program operates a hotline for accessing
regional air quality information. The hotline number is 520-882-4AIR.
To inform the community about the Web site and hotline, the Air Info Now Program
performed an extensive public and media outreach process to educate the targeted audience
about these tools. PDEQ staff developed promotional literature and artwork for the following
outreach tools:
• The Air Info Now logo.
• Fact sheets (for the media, educators, and healthcare providers).
• Bookmarks (in English and Spanish).
• Flingers.
• Pens.
• Mirage boards.
• Magnets.
The Air Info Now partners provided information about the availability of these new air
pollution resources to a variety of groups in the targeted audience, including teachers,
students, local health department staff, school nurses, home health care practitioners,
pharmacists, physicians, and the media. In addition, the Web site was linked to several
relevant Web sites to increase the number of visits to the site.
= I,' i ' • I,' Ill I , I It-,' I .. !,""
E-mail the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality at webmail@deq.co.pima.az.us.
APPENDIX A A-S
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CASE STUDY: AIRBEAT PROJECT DF
RDXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS
,'\ „- * %i 8 8
Over the past 15 years, an epidemic of asthma has been occurring in the United States.
American children in particular have been severely affected. EPA's Office of Children's Health
Protection estimates that 4.8 million children under 18 years of age—one out of every 15
children—have asthma. Asthma rates have increased 160 percent in the past 15 years in
children under 5 years of age.
The problem is even worse among some inner-city populations. In certain neighborhoods of
New York City, for example, one out of every five children has asthma. In Roxbury an urban
neighborhood in the heart of Boston, the asthma hospitalization rate is annually among the
highest in Massachusetts (in 1992 it was five times the state average). Although Americans of
all ages, races, and ethnic groups have been affected by asthma, nationwide data show that
the epidemic is most severe among lower-income and minority children.
These data have led to heightened concern about the quality of air that inner-city children
are breathing—both indoors and out. In recent years, scientists have developed a better
understanding of the role that air pollutants can play in exacerbating asthma symptoms and
triggering asthma attacks. Much work has been done to reduce children's exposures to indoor
air pollutants and allergens such as cigarette smoke, cockroach particles, dust mites, and
animal hair, because these are considered among the most common asthma triggers. At the
same time, there is growing recognition of a need for better information on children's
exposures to outdoor air pollutants.
Throughout most of the United States, levels of outdoor air pollutants are much lower today
than they were in the past. However, in some parts of the country (particularly urban areas),
outdoor air is getting worse, not better. Pollutants of concern include ground-level ozone
(formed by the chemical reaction of pollutants in emissions from vehicles, power plants, and
other sources) and particulate matter (dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets emitted
into the air by sources such as cars, trucks, buses, factories, and construction activities). Both
of these pollutants have been linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and both tend
to be in the highest concentration in urban areas.
To protect their health, inner-city residents need timely access to air quality data. Levels
of outdoor air pollutants such as ground-level ozone and particulate matter vary from day to
day and even during the course of a single day. Access to air quality forecasts and real-time
data allow residents to reduce their exposures when pollutant levels are high. For children
and others with asthma, reducing exposures to asthma triggers can be part of a multi-faceted
approach to managing symptoms that also includes behavior changes, drug therapy, and
frequent medical follow-ups. Patient education is also key to this approach.
In 1999, a team of academic, community, and government organizations launched a pilot proj-
ect to collect and communicate real-time data on air pollution in Roxbury, Massachusetts. This
pilot project, which became known as AirBeat, was funded with a grant from EPA's EMPACT
Program. The AirBeat Project had two main goals: 1) to collect near real-time ambient air
quality data for ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2 5),and other pollutants, and to
develop data techniques for managing those data and 2) to communicate near real-time air
quality data to the public in a way that can be easily understood and used by community
residents to reduce human exposure.
APPENDIX A A-B
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Roxbury, Massachusetts, was chosen as the site for the pilot program for three reasons:
• Historically, Roxbury has documented high rates of asthma and other respiratory
illnesses, raising widespread concern about the local air quality.
• Diesel-powered vehicles have been shown to be major contributors to PM2 5
emissions, and there are more than 15 bus and truck depots housing more than
1,150 diesel-powered vehicles within the Dudley Square area of Roxbury.
• Roxbury is home to a number of strong community organizations that have been
working for years on a variety of environmental health and justice issues.
Local organizations involved in the AirBeat Project include the Suffolk County Conservation
District, Alternatives for Community and Environment, Harvard School of Public Health,
the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP), and Northeast
States of Coordinated Air Management.
AirBeat's near real-time pollution data come from a single monitoring station located in
Dudley Square, a major commercial hub in the center of Roxbury. This monitoring station
is part of a statewide network of 42 monitoring sites operated by MA DEP to gather data on
ambient air concentrations of criteria pollutants.
In 1997, MA DEP began investigating the possibility of siting a PM2 5 monitor in Roxbury
to comply with new PM2 5 monitoring requirements set by EPA earlier that year. In siting
the monitor, MA DEP invited the input of several local community organizations, including
Alternatives for Community and Environment, an environmental justice organization that
advocated the need for air quality monitoring in Roxbury. Together, they agreed on the
Dudley Square location. Out of this cooperative effort, the AirBeat project was born. The
driving motivation behind the project was a desire to leverage the air quality information
from the new monitoring site by making the data accessible to Roxbury residents in real
time. The project partners also hoped to use the air quality data to address community con-
cerns that elevated concentrations of certain air pollutants, such as ozone and particulate
matter, might be contributing to Roxbury's high asthma hospitalization rate and the inci-
dence of other respiratory illnesses.
To address these concerns, the AirBeat team arranged to include the following monitoring
capabilities at the Dudley Square site:
• Continuous monitoring for PM2 5.
• Continuous monitoring for black carbon soot (BC), which is a strong indicator of
diesel emissions. Although BC is a component of PM2 5 (typically about 10 percent
by mass), its temporal variation can be very different—BC concentrations often peak
during morning rush hour.
• Continuous monitoring for ozone.
• Meteorological monitoring to track weather conditions.
The AirBeat team also made arrangements with MA DEP to download the raw monitoring
data directly from the Dudley Square station via a modem-to-modem connection, so that
AirBeat could process the data and deliver it to the public in real time.
A-s APPENDIX A
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The AirBeat project uses two innovative methods for air pollution monitoring, both ideal for
highly urbanized centers with large diesel fuel emissions. The first of these, the Continuous
Ambient Mass Monitor, is a new tool for measuring PM2 5 concentrations in ambient air.
The AirBeat team also tested an innovative method for monitoring BC concentrations: the
Aethalometer, which provides a surrogate measurement of diesel emissions. Both of these
methods have proved reliable.
The ozone air pollution maps shown on the AirBeat Web site are based on near real-time
measurements of ground-level ozone in the northeastern United States. The map uses color
codes to display the recent ozone levels.
The AirBeat team planned an extensive outreach program to communicate the air quality
monitoring results in an understandable manner to local citizens and to educate them about
the connections between air pollution and health effects.
Starting in 2000, the AirBeat team began presenting the data collected by the ambient air
quality monitoring station in near real-time for public access on the AirBeat Web site
(http://www.airbeat.org/) and via a telephone hotline system.
Consult the following resources for more information about the AirBeat Project:
• Alternatives for Community and Environment
http://www. ace-ej. orgl
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
http://www. state, ma. us/dep/dephome. htm
• Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management
http://www. nescaum. org
C 3 fc T ,••• • C " :3 7- C R, T X E £• I R, H E «. T 1= 7i 3 a,; E C "
George Allen
Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management
Phone: 617-367-8540
E-mail: gallen@nescaum.org
Jodi Sugerman-Brozan
Alternatives for Community and Environment
Phone: 617-442-3343 x23
E-mail: jodi@ace-ej. org
Matthew Goode
Suffolk County Conservation District
Phone: 617-451-9141
Jerry Sheehan
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Phone: 617-292-5500
E-mail: jerry.sheehan@state. ma. us
APPENDIX A A-V
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APPENDIX B
LIST DF USEFUL WEB SITES AND REFERENCES
J W ( 1 i> i U I M r I*1 I < i t' \ ? ' I J> 1 I i 5 i* I f I I ' P i> • • , t r I" I V ' I , 'Jt I » 1 <
• Office of Research and Development Technology Transfer Web Site:
http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl — provides information on EMPACT projects,
environmental topics (e.g., air, drinking water, watersheds), and pollution prevention.
• Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project Web Site:
http://www.ozonemap.org — provides information on air quality, traffic and transit, and
weather for the El Paso, Texas, metropolitan and surrounding area.
• Air Info Now Environmental Monitoring Project Web Site:
http://www.airinfonow.org — provides information about air quality, health concerns related
to air pollution, and local solutions to improve air quality in the Tucson, Arizona, area.
Mr > • • • <• 1 1 i t "i I •* • i w i t • ¥ r i ».'-.>* f o • ' • 5 • i . • o '
• EPA's Ozone Monitoring, Mapping, and Public Outreach (EPA/625/R-99/007) docu-
ment helps users identify monitoring locations and equipment for ground-level ozone.
Available online at: http://www.epa.gov/airnow/cdmanual.pdf.
• Clean Air Act information: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/laws.htm — includes the full
Clean Air Act law and a plain English Guide to the Act.
• Office of Air and Radiation's Technology Transfer Network: http://www. epa.gov/ttn/amtic —
provides links to information on air quality monitoring, including methods and standards.
• EPA's AirNow Web Site: http://www.epa.gov/airnow/ — lists information on the Air
Quality Index.
TRAFFIC
• Federal Highway Administration: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ — search this Web site for
additional information on traffic monitoring and transit planning.
• The Federal Highway Administration's A Summary of Vehicle Detection and Surveillance
Technologies Used in Intelligent Transportation Systems document describes the various
traffic monitoring equipment and applications. Available online at:
http://www.fhwa. dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/vdstits. htm.
• U.S. Department of Transportation's Travel Model Improvement Program:
http://tmip.tamu.edu/ — provides information on traffic monitoring, transit modeling,
and data collection.
EPA's Guidance for the Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Quality-
Related Documents (EPA/600/R-96/027) helps users develop standard operating
procedures. Available online by searching the EPA Web site by publication number
(http://www. epa.gov/clhtml/pubtitle. html).
The EPA Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center's quality assurance/quality
control page: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qaqc.html.
' « «
• EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality Web site: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/ —
provides details on the vehicle exhaust emissions model MOBILE 6 (most recent version).
APPENDIX B B-I
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8-EPA
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National Risk Management
Research Laboratory
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