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The Stoplight metaphor in BenMAP-CE. When first launching the program you will notice a series
of yellow circles on the left-hand window pane that correspond to various program analytical steps.
These circles change colors based on the status of each step:
"Stoplight" color	Status
Operation not yet started. The user should complete this step before
moving to the next step in the sequence.
Operation completed and requires no further attention. The user can
proceed to the next step in the sequence.
. M	Operation completed, but the user may need to re-run this step.
Saving BenMAP-CE project files. At various stages of the Quick Start Guide you will be prompted to
save a BenMAP-CE project file (.projx], which will save the file names and locations of the air quality
(.aqgx], configuration (.cfgx] and aggregation, pooling and valuation (.apvx] that you have selected.
Note that the project file does not contain these other BenMAP -CE data, but rather records their
physical location on your computer.
Step 1: Add a New Setup
A "setup" is a collection of databases that work together when you conduct an analysis. In this Quick
Start Guide, we will perform an analysis using data from the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area:
•	Start BenMAP-CE
•	Click Modify Datasets at the top left. This will bring up the Modify Data sets window.
•	Click the Add button next to the Available Setups box.
•	Type Detroit into the New Setup Name box in the New Setup window and click the OK button.
•	Confirm that Detroit is listed in the New Available Setup Name drop down menu and all
other windows in the Modify Datasets window are blank when Detroit is selected.
•	Click the Oft'button at the bottom right to close the Modify Datasets window.
Step 2: Load Data into BenMAP-CE
Selecting your shapefile: BenMAP-CE uses shapefiles to define the geographic area in which the
program will allocate air quality data, calculate health impacts and aggregate results.
•	Make sure you have BenMAP-CE open and that Detroit is listed as the active setup. You can
confirm this by ensuring that Detroit is listed next to File in the menu bar. Select Modify
Datasets and click the Edit button under the Grid Definitions box. This will bring up the
Manage Grid Definitions window.
•	Click the Add button, which will bring up the Grid Definition window.
•	In the Grid ID box, type Detroit ZIP Codes. This will be the name of one of the three new Grid
Definitions you are going to add.
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Select the open folder icon	I, and open the "Detroit_ZIP.shp" file in the Quick start
data files.
Confirm that the Detroit ZIP codes map correctly in the preview window. Your screen should
now look like this:
Grid Definition

Grid Definition
Grid ID: Detroit ZIP Codes
Grid Type:
Shapefile Grid
Load Shapefile:
E:\Qu ick-sta rt gu i de\Qu ick-start fi 1 es\[ |
Current Shapefile Name: Detroit_ZIP
Columns:	1
Rows:	237
E§
~
Create crosswalk between this grid definition and -
all other grid definitions in this setup.
Selecting this option will substantially increase the
time required to import the shapefile.
Click the OK"button to return to the Manage Grid Definitions window.
Using the same steps as above, add Detroit_lkm and Detroit_Counties shapefiles and give
them the Grid ID Detroit 1km and Detroit Counties respectively.
When you are done, click the 0/^ button to return to the Modify Datasets window and the
three Grid IDs should appear in the Grid Definitions box.
Defining Your Pollutants: In this step you are specifying the key attributes of the pollutant for
which you will later estimate health impacts; these characteristics include the time period over
which the pollutant is measured or modeled. While BenMAP-CE can estimate health impacts for
conceivably any pollutant, here we focus on PMs®.
Define a pollutant
•	In the Modify Datasets window, click the Edit button under the Pollutants box. This will
bring up the Manage Pollutants window.
•	Click the Add button under the Available Pollutants box. This will bring up the Pollutant
Definition window.
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•	In the Pollutant ID box, type PM2.5. This will be the name of the new pollutant. (Note: It is
very important to spell the name of the pollutant correctly, as this name will serve as a
unique ID that the program links to Health Impact functions, Model Data, etc.].
Define metrics for a pollutant: Observation Type
•	Select Daily as the Observation Type in the drop down menu.
•	Click the Add button under the Metrics box. You will see Metric 0 shown in the Metrics box.
Click in the Metric Name box and change the name from Metric 0 to D24HourMean. Here you
are telling BenMAP-CE that PM2.5 is a pollutant averaged across 24 hours in each day. If we
were to specify a pollutant that was averaged over part of the day (e.g. ozone], then you
would change Hourly Metric from Fixed Window to Moving Window. For more on metrics,
you can refer to section 4.1.2 of the BenMAP Legacy User's Manual.
Define metrics for a pollutant: Seasonal Metric
•	Click the Edit button under the Seasonal Metrics box. This will bring up the Manage Seasonal
Metrics window.
•	Click the Add button under the Seasonal Metrics box. This will add a Seasonal Metric to the
Metric named Seasonal Metric 0. Rename this Seasonal Metric by clicking in the Seasonal
Metric Name box where it says Seasonal Metric 0 and typing QuarterlyMean.
•	Click the Edit Seasons button and then Add in the Define Seasons window. This will create a
new season for this Seasonal Metric. Change the End Date value to March 31. To change the
date, highlight either the month or the day and use the up and down arrows to increase or
decrease the highlighted value.
•	Click the Add button under the Seasons list again. This will add a second season to the
Seasonal Metric. Note that the Start Date value is automatically set to one day after the
previous seasons End Date value. Change the End Date value for this second season to June
30.
•	Click the Add button under the Seasonal Metric Seasons list again, and change the End Date
value for this third season to September 30. Add the 4th and final season. Note that there is
no need to modify date values for this season. Click the OK button in the Define Seasons
window to return to the Manage Seasonal Metrics window.
•	Now add the seasons you just defined to the QuarterlyMean seasonal metric. Click on Season
1 in the Pollutant Seasons list and then click the Add to Seasons button. You will see that
Season 1 now appears under Seasonal Metric Seasons. Repeat this process with Season 2,
Season 3, and Season 4. Then click the OK" button in the Manage Seasonal Metrics window to
return to the Pollutant Definition window. A seasonal metric tells BenMAP-CE that there is a
subset of the year during which the pollutant metric should be averaged—in this case, the
daily averages are then averaged within each of 4 seasons. For more on seasonal metrics,
you can refer to section 4.1.2.2 of the BenMAP Legacy User's Manual.
•	Click the OK button to return to the Manage Pollutants window.
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Your screen should now look like this:
! Pollutant Definition
I a Ugwf
Main
Pollutant ID:
PM2.5
Observation Type:
Detail
Metric Name:
Hourly Metric Generation:
D24HourMean
Fixed Window
.'er
Fixed window
D24hourMean
start Hour	10
End Hour

Mean
Seasonal Metrics
QuarterlvMean
Advanced Pollutant Option
• Click the OK button one final time to return to the Modify Datasets window. You will see
PM2.5 shown in the Pollutants box.
Optional: You can go through the similar steps as above to add other pollutants as needed (you may
find it helpful to check the pollutants defined in the United States Setup, which covers a wide range
of pollutants). Note that you can use other observation types (e.g., hourly] and metrics (e.g.,
DIHourMax, DSHourMax, seasonal metrics].
Monitor Data: Ifyou neither have nor use monitoring air quality data for your analysis (i.e., you
only use modeling data), you can skip this step. Monitor data may be formatted as an Excel or CSV
(comma-separated values) file.
Note: Air pollution data that can be used in BenMAP-CE are of two types - point source
monitoring data and grid-definition-based model ing data. Whichever data you use, they must
be associated with a particular pollutant that you have defined. Only the point source
monitoring data are stored in the setup database. The modeling data are loaded into
BenMAP-CE whenyouconductthe analysis.
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In the data files you downloaded, locate Detroit Monitors PM25.csv and open it in Excel or a text
editor. You will see eight variables in the file: Monitor Name, Monitor Description, Latitude,
Longitude, Metric, Seasonal Metric, Statistic, and Values. Four variables (i.e., Monitor Name,
Latitude, Longitude and Values] are required to be filled in. The "Values" variable contains a string
of comma separated values with missing values signified with a period ('.'], with the entire string
of values enclosed by quotation marks.
Nowyou can close the Detroit Monitors PM25.csv file and begin adding it to BenMAP-CE. Make sure
you are in the Modify Datasets window and Detroit is selected in the Available Setups drop down.
•	Click the Edit button under the Monitor Datasets box. This will bring up the Manage Monitor
Datasets window.
•	Click the Add button under the Available Datasets box. This will bring up the Monitor
Dataset Definition window.
•	In the Dataset Name box, type Detroit PM Monitors.
•	In the Pollutant box (on the right hand side of the Dataset Name box], click the drop down
arrow and select PM2.5 (the pollutant you defined in the previous stage],
•	In the Year box, type 2007 to indicate thatyour PM data are for the year 2007.
•	Click on the folder icon I r I, select Detroit Monitors PM25.csv file. Click Open.
•	Click the Import to Database button. Click Yes in the confirmation window that opens.
•	Confirm that PM2.5 is listed in the Dataset Contents box.
Your Manage Monitor Datasets screen should look like the following:
Available Datasets
Detroit PM Monitors
Dataset Contents (Number of Monitors by Pollutant by Year)
Delete 1
Add I [ Edit 1

Pollutant
PM2.5
Year
2007
Monitor Count
26
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• Click the OK button to return to the Modify Datasets window and you will see Detroit PM
Monitors appearing in the Monitor DataSets box.
Note: If the purpose of your analysis is to examine air quality data, you can directly go to Step
3 now to create and map air quality grids. If you want to estimate health benefits, you will
need to continue adding a few more datasets.
Incidence Data: The incidence rate is the number of health outcomes (e.g., number of hospital
visits) per person, per unit of time (generally a day or a year]—from air pollution as well as all
other causes. Locate and open Detroit Incidence Rates.csv from the Quick Start Data Files you
downloaded. Note the configuration of the file in terms of column names and rows for future
evaluations when you might be interested in incident rates for other endpoints or populations.
Now you can close the CSV file and begin adding it to BenMAP-CE. Make sure you are at the Modify
Datasets window and Detroit is selected in the Available Setups drop-down.
•	Click the Edit button under the Incidence/Prevalence Rates box. This will bring up the
Manage Incidence Datasets window.
•	Click the Add button under the Available Datasets box. This will bring up the Incidence
Dataset Definition window.
•	In the Dataset Name box, type Detroit Incidence Rates This will be the name of the new
incidence dataset.
•	Set the Grid Definition to Detroit ZIP Codes. Click the Load from Database button. Locate the
incidence dataset, entitled Detroit Incidence Rates.csv.
•	Click the OK button to load the incidence dataset (this may take some time).
When BenMAP-CE finishes loading the data, your Incidence Dataset Definition screen should
look like the following:
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•	Click OK in the Incidence Dataset Definition window to return to the Manage Incidence
Datasets window.
•	Click Ok once more to return to the Modify Datasets window.
Population Data: You will be adding population data from a CSV file. First view the population
dataset entitled Detroit Population.csv in your Quick Start Data Files. The BenMAP-CE database
includes U.S. population data gridded to a 12km domain that covers the Continental U.S., as well as
county-level population data. These data will suffice for most people—but if you are performing an
analysis outside the U.S., or need more finely resolved population data, you will need to import your
own data into the program.
Close Detroit Population.csv and begin adding it to BenMAP-CE. Make sure you are in the Modify
Datasets window and Detroit is selected in the Available Setups drop-down.
•	Click the Edit button under the Population Datasets box. This will bring up the Manage
Population Datasets window.
•	Click the Add button under the Available Datasets box. This will bring up the Load
Population Datasets window.
•	In the Population Dataset Name box, type Detroit Population. This will be the name of the
new population dataset.
•	In the Grid Definition drop-down window, select Detroit 1 km.
•	Next, you need to define the population data that you are loading into BenMAP-CE by
selecting the population configuration of United States Census; this tells BenMAP-CE how
the demographic characteristics of your population are categorized.
•	Finally, click the Browse button next to the Database box. Select the Detroit Population.csv
file.
•	Click OK to load the file and close the Load Population Dataset window. Note that this
could take several minutes as BenMAP-CE loads the data.
Your Manage Population Datasets window should now look like the following:
Available Datasets
Dataset Detail
Grid Definition:
Population Configuration:
Values
United States Census
Race
Ethnicity
Gender
Age Ra..
Column
Row
Value *
WHITE
HISPANIC
MALE
55T059
3
22
i 9
WHITE
NON-HI...
MALE
5T09
3
22
1.01706
BLACK
NON-HI...
MALE
5T09
3
22
0.00483
NATAMER
NON-HI...
MALE
5T09
3
22
0.00842
ASIAN
NON-HI...
MALE
5T09
3
22
0.01032
WHITE
NON-HI...
MALE
25TO29
3
22
1
BLACK
NON-HI...
MALE
25T029
3
22
0.01562
NATAMER
NON-HI...
MALE
25TO29
3
22
0.01562
WHITE
NON-HI...
MALE
35T039
3
22
1.00673
BLACK
NON-HI...
MALE
35TO39
3
22
0.00157
NATAMER
NON-HI...
MALE
35T039
3
22
8.47516
ASIAN
NON-HI...
MALE
35TQ39
3	
22
	0.01862 '
4 \ iir 1 ~
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Click OK in the Manage Population Datasets window to return to the Modify Datasets
window.
Health Impact Functions: BenMAP-CE contains a large library of health impact functions
developed using risk estimates reported in peer-reviewed epidemiology studies. Here you will be
adding new health impact functions from a CSV file. First view the data format using Detroit Health
Impact Functions.csv in your Quick StartData Files.
Close Detroit Health Impact Functions.csv and begin adding it to BenMAP-CE. Make sure you are at
the Modify Datasets window and Detroit is selected in the Available Setups drop-down.
•	Click the Edit button under the Health Impact Functions box. This will bring up the Manage
Health Impact Function Datasets window.
•	Click the Add button under the Available Datasets box. This will bring up the Health Impact
Function Dataset Definition window.
•	In the Health Impact Function Dataset Name box, type Detroit Health Impact Functions. This
will be the name of the new health impact function dataset.
•	Click the Load From Database button. Locate the Detroit Health Impact Functions.csv file.
After locating the file, click Open. Click OK. This will load the file and return you to the
Manage Health Impact Function Datasets window.
•	Use the scrollbar to view the entries for individual health impact function. You can also sort
columns by author, endpoint or other variables.
Your screen should now look like this:
(fjtl Manage Health Impact Function Datasets

Available Datasets
Health Impact Functions In DataSet
Endpoint Group Endpoint	Pollutant	Metric
Hospital Admissio... HA, All Respira...	PM2.5	D24Hour...
Hospital Admissio... HA, All Respira...	PM2.5	D24Hour...
Hospital Admissio... HA, All Respira...	PM2.5	D24Hour...
Hospital Admissio... HA, All Respira...	PM2.5	D24Hour...
Mortality Mortality, All C...	PM2.5	D24Hour...
Season Metric
NULL
NULL
NULL
NULL
NULL
Metric Statistic
None
None
None
None
None
Filter Endpoint Group
Filter Pollutants
IT] Group
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Click the OK button to return to the Modify Datasets window.
Note: If the purpose of your analysis is to generate incidence results only (i.e., you don't want
to attach dollar values to the incidence results], you can go to Step 3 directly now. If you do
want to estimate the economic value of the health impacts, you will need to continue adding a
valuation function dataset.
Valuation Functions: BenMAP-CE contains a library of valuation functions to translate the
reduction in risk of adverse health outcomes, which usually accompanies improvements in air
quality, to quantifiable economic values. Valuation functions in BenMAP-CE rely on unit values for
reductions in risk of a particular health effect that are reported in peer-reviewed literature. More
information is available in the BenMAP Legacy User's Manual about valuation functions and
important considerations for importing new data into BenMAP-CE for these analyses. Here you
will be adding value functions from an Excel file. First view the data format using DetroitValuation
Functions.csv in your Quick Start Data Files.
Close Detroit Valuation Functions.csv and begin adding it to BenMAP-CE. Make sure you are at the
Modify Datasets window and Detroit is selected in the Available Setups drop-down.
•	Click the Edit button under the Valuation Datasets box in the Modify Datasets screen. This
will bring up the Manage Valuation Function Datasets window.
•	Click the Add button under the Available Datasets box. This will bring up the Valuation
Function Dataset Definition window.
•	In the Valuation Function Dataset Name box, type Detroit Valuation Functions. This will be
the name of the new valuation function dataset.
•	Click the Load From Database button, locate the Detroit Valuation Functions.csv file, and
click Open.
•	Click the Oft'button and this will load the file and return you to the Manage Valuation
Function Datasets window.
Your screen should now look like this:
Endpoint Group
Hospital Admissio... HA, All Respira... COI: med costs...
Mortality, All C... VSL, based on 2...
Mortality
Endpoint
Start Age
End Age
Filter Endpoint Group
Filter Endpoint
|Tl Group
$j.%j Manage Valuation Function Datasets
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• Click the OK button to return to the Modijy Datasets window.
Congratulations! You have completed adding all datasets you will need for this training course,
screen should look like this:
%-jj} Modify Datasets
Available Setups | Detroit
Grid Definitions
Detroit 1km

Detroit Counties

Detroit ZIP Codes

| Edit
Incidence/Prevalence Rates
Detroit Incidence Rates
Variable Datasets
Edit
Income Growth Adjustments
Edit
PM2.5
Population Datasets
Detroit Population
Inflation Datasets
Edit
0
Monitor Datasets
Detroit PM Monitors
Health Impact Functions
Detroit Health Impact Functions
Valuation Functions
Detroit Valuation Functions
Edit
Click the OK button at the bottom of the M o d ijy D a tase tsw i n d ow to return to BenMAP-CE main
window. You can now conduct BenMAP-CE analyses.
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Step 3: Create Air Quality Grids
BenMAP-CE estimates health impacts with user-supplied air quality data; the program is not an air
quality model. BenMAP-CE provides three options for creating air quality grids: Model Direct,
Monitor Direct, and Monitor Rollback. Here you will be inputting Detroit PM2 5 air quality modeling
data and using the Model Direct method to generate a baseline air quality grid and a control-
scenario air quality grid.
Open Detroit Baseline.csv to view the format of modeling air quality data. Now close Detroit
Baseline.csv and begin using it to create an air quality grid.
•	Start BenMAP-CE. Click the drop-down menu next to the File menu (the default value is
United States and select Detroit. Verily that the Current Setup listed in the status bar at the
bottom of the window now says Detroit
•	Double-click Pollutant to open the selection window. Click, hold and drag the PM2.5 pollutant
from the left-hand window to the right-hand window. Click OK.
•	Next, Double-click Baseline. Note that the Grid Type is set to Detroit 1 km and that Model Data
is selected. Click Next.
Click the open folder icon	and select the Detroit Baseline.csv file in your Quick Start
Data Files. Click OK.
In the Save As window, give the baseline air quality grid a name: Detroit Baseline.
Repeat the steps above, this time creating a control air quality grid using the Detroit
Control.csv file and saving the new air quality grid with the name Detroit Control.
Double-click/4/r quality data (baseline-control') and verify that the check box next to Delta is
selected to view the difference between the baseline and control PM2.5 levels in each grid
cell in the BenMAP-CE GAS window.
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Your screen should look something like this:
i" ; GIS Map I J: Data j • Chart Audit Trail Report
Domain:
Detroit ZIP Codes
«>
H
IS
u
B
C
+
B ^ Map Layers
B G9 DetroitZIPCodes
~
B SI Delta
El D24HourMean
Double click the legend to
change the value range and
custom colors.
•	Determine the air quality change in one of the grid cells by using the Identify tool I This
will bring up the Identify window.
•	Change the color values in the 1 egend double-clicking the color ramp.
[U
•	Save the .shp file by selecting the Save shapefile button
Note; If the purpose of your analysis is to examine air quality data only, you are done! You
can then save the maps you generated and create an audit trail report for your analysis (Go to
Step 7 to generate an audit trail report]. For most BenMAP-CE users, however, the goal may
be to estimate health benefits and/or value them. If so, go to the next step now.
Step 4: Estimate Health Impacts
To estimate health benefits, you will need to create and run a BenMAP-CE configuration file (*.cfgx),
A configuration is a reusable file that specifies the air quality grids, health impact functions,
population data, and other parameters necessary for an analysis. The results obtained from
running a configuration are the estimated health impacts associated within each air quality grid cell
for a given scenario. In this Detroit example, we are estimating the number of avoided health impacts
associated with an air quality management plan Here you will create a configuration for an analysis
of the effect of PM2 5 on premature deaths and respiratory hospital admissions.
•	Make sure Detroit is selected in the drop down next to file in the BenMAP-CE main window.
•	Double-click the Population Dataset button, where you will find that the Population Dataset
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is preconfigured to Detroit Population and the Population Year is set to 2010. Click OK.
• Next, double-click Health Impact Functions. Click inside the top window and hold down the
"Ctrl" and "A" button to highlight all of the health impact functions. Click hold and drag
these functions to the bottom window. Or, drag them from the top to bottom window one-
by-one.
Your screen should now look like this (there should be a total of five functions in your Selected
Health Impact Functions panel):
Health Impact Functions
BMui "a" "
Selected Health Impact Functions
Filter Dataset
Filter Endpoint Group
Detroit Health Impact Functions
Dataset
Endpoint Group
Endpoint
Pollutant
Author
Start Age
End Age
Beta Distribution
Metric Seasonal Metric
-
Hospital Admissions, Respiratory [4 items]













Detroit...
Hospital Admissions,...
HA, All Respirat...
PM2.5
Grines...
0
99
Normal
D24HourM...

Detroit...
Hospital Admissions,...
HA, All Respirat...
PM2.5
Levy et _
0
99
Normal
D24HourM...

Detroit...
Hospital Admissions,—
HA, All Respirat...
PM2.5
Kim et...
0
99
Normal
D24HourM...
~
Detroit...
Hospital Admissions,...
HA, All Respirat...
PM2.5
Kloog ...
0
99
Normal
D24HourM...

Mortality
Detroit...








-
[1 item]








Mortality
Mortality, All Ca...
PM2.5
Zanob...
0
99
Normal
D24HourM...










' 1	
w
	!





>
Selected Health Impact Functions (5)
Endpoint Group
Hospital Admi...
Hospital Admi
Hospital Admi .
Hospital Admi
Mortality
Dataset Name
Detroit Health-
Detroit Health...
Detroit Health...
Detroit Health.
Detroit Health...
Endpoint
HA, All ...
HA, All .
HA, All
HA, All ..
Mortaii
PM2.5
PM2.5
PM2.5
PM2.5
PM2.5
Author
Kim et...
Kloog ...
Grines..
Levy et
Zanob .
Start Age End Age Race
Gender Incidence Dataset
Detroit Incidence
Detroit Incidence
Detroit Incidence
Detroit Incidence
Detroit Incidence
Delete Selected
| Cancel j [ Save As (*.cfgx) j | Run
•	Click the Run button.
•	When prompted to Run and save the CFG results file, click Yes. Save the file as Detroit
configuration results.
•	When BenMAP-CE finishes generating results, you will be returned to the BenMAP-CE main
window.
Note; Using the CFGRX file you just created, you could now go to Step 7 to generate tabular
reports to show the endpoint-specific health benefits due to air pollution reduction if:
—You don't want to pool your incidence results — for many of the health endpoints
(e.g., mortality), BenMAP-CE contains several different health impact functions from
different studies that you could choose to include in your configuration. Pooling
refers to combining the results of two or more health impact functions into single
results, and
—You don't want to monetize the health benefits.
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If you would like to conduct either of the above two analyses, go to the next step now.
Step 5. Aggregate and Pool Incidence Results
In this step, you will create a file that aggregates, pools and values (APV] your health impact
estimates; this file will save your preferences, and can generally be used for other analyses.
Aggregating refers to the process of summing values from a smaller to a larger space—for example,
from 1km grid cells to counties. Pooling (a type of quantitative meta-analvsisi is the practice of
combining the results of two or more health impact functions into a single result. Finally, valuing
incidence estimates is the process of applying economic values to incidence results to get monetized
benefits (You will value impacts in Step 6].
To create an APVX file, BenMAP-CE works by first aggregating results to the level that you have
specified. It then pools the aggregated incidence results. Finally it values the aggregated and pooled
incidence. Here you will change the aggregation level from the 1km grid-level to the county level,
and then generate a single estimate of outpatient visits for individuals of all ages by pooling two
health impact functions.
•	Aggregate Results from thelkm to the County Level. Double-click the Aggregation button
and aggregate the incidence and value results to the Detroit Counties level. Click OK.
•	Pool results. Double-click the Pooling Method button. This will open the Incidence Pooling
and Aggregation window.
•	Change the name of the Pooling Window Name to Short-Term Mortality and press tab. The
pooling window tab should now be named ShortTe'm Mortalitv
•	Click, hold and drag the Mortality, All-Cause box from the top window to the bottom
window.
•	Click Add to insert a new pooling window. Change the name of the new pooling window to
Respiratory Hospital Admissions.
•	Click, hold and drag the four HA, All Respiratory Hospital Admission boxes from the top
window to the bottom window.
Your screen should now look like this:
Select Pooling Methods
Pooling Window Name: -y Hospital Admissions Add	Delete Show Tile Pooling Window Number: 2 Target Grid Type: Detroit lkm
Short-Term Mortality Respiratory Hospital Admissions
Tree Nodes Pooling Method
Endpoi..
Author
Qualifier Location
Start Age
End Age
Year
Other Pollutan... Race
El-^ Hospital Admissions, Respi... None
HA, All...
Kim et a...

0
99
0


-CKim
HA, All...
Kim et al.
Single C... Denver,...
0
99
2012


-^Kloog
HA, All...
Kloog et...
Single C... New En-
0
99
2012


-^Grineski
HA, All...
Grinesk...
Single C... El Paso ...
0
99
2011


L^Levy
HA, All...
Levy et al.
2-stage ... 119 U.S...
0
99
2012


rrr















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Next, click hold and drag the Qualifier column to between the Endpoint and Author. This will
group the single-city studies together.
Click in the Pooling Method column of the bottom window to pool the single-city studies
using
Random Or Fixed Effect'
Now, pool the results of the single-city studies with the results of the two-stage meta-
analysis using	^ Tl. Your screen should now look like this:
Select Pooling Methods
Pooling Window Name: "y Hospital Admissions | Add j j Delete | j Show Tile j Pooling Window Number: 2 Target Grid Type:] Detroit lkm
Short-Term Mortal ity Respiratory Hospital Admissions
Tree Nodes
Q-Ui Hospital Admissions, Respi..
Single City Study
Uf^Kim
-^Kloog
-^Grineski
-CLevv
Pooling Method
. User Defined Weights
Random Or Fixed Effects
Endpoi...	Qualifier	Author	Location	Start Age End Age Year
HA, AllLevy et0	99	0
HA,AllKim eta...	0	99	0
HA,All...	SingleC...	Kimetal.	Denver,...	0	99	2012
HA, All...	Single C...	Klooget...	New En...	0	99	2012
HA, All...	Single C...	Grinesk...	El Paso ...	0	99	2011
HA, All...	2-stage ...	Levyetal.	119 U.S.... 0	99	2012
Other Pollutan... Race
Select c°ndef150dVie*J to see a preview of how the pooling options you selected will result in a
single estimate.
Your screen should now look like this:
Select Pooling Methods
Pooling Window Name: -y Hospital Admissions j Add j [ Delete j j Show Tile j Pooling Window Number: 2 Target Grid Type:| Detroit lkm
Short-Term Mortal ity Respiratory Hospital Admissions
Tree Nodes Pooling Method
Endpoi...
Qualifier Author
Location Start Age End Age Year
Other Pollutan... Race
EJ-tii Hospital Admissions, Respi... User Defined Weights
HA, All ...
Levy et
0 99 0

Hospital Admissions, R...
HA, All R...
Levy et...
0 99 0

< rtr








•	Click Next. The next window prompts you to select weights to assign to the pooled single
city studies and the 2-stage meta-analysis. Click OK to accept the default weights.
•	The next window will prompt you to select economic valuation functions.
Run As (*.apvrx)
Note: Ifyou don'twantto monetize the health benefits,, click	 to generate
pooled incidence results and go to Step 7 now to generate reports for the incidence results
from the APVRX file you just created. Ifyou would like to estimate economic values, proceed.
Step 6. Estimating Economic Values
As described above, the APV Configuration (.apvx] is a reusable file that records your aggregating
pooling and valuing choices. In this section, you will learn how to select and apply economic
valuation functions, which assign a dollar value to the pooled and aggregated health impacts you
estimated in the step above.
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•	Selectthe Valuation Method. Note that the pooling windows you created in the previous
step are now located in the upper right-hand corner of the window. The left-hand side of the
window lists the available valuation functions for the Short-Term Mortality pooling window,
•	Find Detroit Valuation Functions in Dataset Name. Click, hold and drag this function directly
below the Mortality jcon to assjgn valuation function to this endpoint.
•	Click the Respiratory Hospital Admissions pooling window tab. Find Detroit Valuation
Functions in Dataset Name. Click, hold and drag this function directly below the
Hospital Admissions, Respi jcon j-0 assjgn the value function to this endpoint.
Your screen should now look something like this:
Select Valuation Methods, Pooling and Aggregation

Valuation Methods
EndPoint Endpoint Group Start A... End... Function Datasi
HA, All Re... Hospital Admis... 0	99	A+B*((C)... Detroit
« !
Show Selections
Short-Term Mortality Respiratory Hospital Admissions
Tree node	Pooling Method
B- J Hospital Admissions, Respi... None
Li COI: med costs + wage...
Aut
Levv
Lev,
« L
Click and select the valuation methods on the left panel,
and then drag them to the right panel under the desired Endpoint
Delete Selected
Resolve Pooling Conflict
Advanced Cancel Save As (-.apvx) Run As f.apvrx)
Click the
Run As (-.apvnx)
button. When prompted to save the .apvrx file, click Yes and title the
file Detroit Incidence and Valuation Results.
Step 7. Generate Reports
Generate Tabular Reports from Configuration Results (.CFGRX): Recall that the configuration
results files contain "raw" health impact estimates that you have not yet aggregated, pooled or
valued. BenMAP-CE can generate tables, maps and bar charts of your data.
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•	Click the £?Health lmpact Results tab in the upper portion of the screen.
•	Double click on the Hospital Admissions, All Respiratory result for the Kloog study.
•	Making sure that the G I5MaP tab is active, you should now see the results of the Kloog
study at each grid cell in the Detroit 1km grid. Select ¦ ~k to export your shapefile.
•	Next click on the © Data tab to view the health impact estimates at each 1km grid cell.
•	Click on the Aggregation for raw data drop-down menu, and select Detroit Counties to
aggregate these data to the county level.
•	Click Column Headers and then Population Weighted Delta, which will add a column to your
table that reports the population-weighted air quality change for the air quality scenario.
Your screen should now look something like this:
GISMap
lirj Data
C?) Chart | @ Audit Trail Report

Delta
0.0000
0.5594
0.3496
0.6478
0.1318
0.2442
0.2042
0.1446
• Select Output if you would like to save your tabular data in .csv format.
Column
Row
Endpoint
Author
Start Age
End Age
Point Estimate
Population
0
0
Population...
Kloog e„„
0
99
0.5085
0.0000
26
99
HA, All Res...
Kloog e„„
0
99
0.3630
747,871.1000
26
125
HA, All Res...
Kloog e„„
0
99
0.3342
1,165,088.0000
26
163
HA, All Res...
Kloog e„„
0
99
2.6116
1,835,904.0000
26
93
HA, All Res...
Kloog e„„
0
99
0.0012
14,612.3200
26
161
HA, All Res...
Kloog e„„
0
99
0.0504
267,604.4000
26
115
HA, All Res...
Kloog e„„
0
99
0.0165
104,704.5000
26
91
HA, All Res...
Kloog e„„
0
99
0.0002
1,810.4630
Generate Tabular Reports from Aggregation, Pooling and Valuation (.APVRX): These results
reflect the choices you made about how to aggregate, pool and value your results.
•	Click the © Pooled incidence Results tab in the upper portion of the screen.
•	The Short-Term Mortality and Respiratory Hospital Admissions results should appear in the
window at the bottom of the screen. If not, shift-click the Short-Term Mortality and
Respiratory Hospital Admissions results, and then click Show results.
•	Making sure that the '¦ -¦¦ Data tab is active, you should now see the summarized health
impact estimates in each county. Notice that you cannot re-aggregate the results in this
stage, because you have already defined how to aggregate the results in Step 6 above.
•	Next, click the ©Pooled valuation Results tab in the upper portion of the screen.
•	Click Column Headers and then select the check box next to Only show user-assigned
percentiles. Type 2.5,97.5 into this box. Click OK.
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Your screen should now look something like this:
&
GIS Map | 0
Data | f. ¦! Chart | :[ Audit Trail Report








Column Row
Endpoint
Author
Start Age
End Age
Version
Point Estimate
Mean
Standard Deviation
Variance
Percentile 2.5
Percentile 97.5
26
99
Mortality,...
Zanobe...
0
99
1
61,508,800.0000
19.34...
6,120,353.0000
37,458,710,...
0.2757
38.3824
26
125
Mortality,...
Zanobe...
0
99
1
58,197,760.0000
18.30...
5,790,892.0000
33,534,430,...
0.2609
36.3186
26
163
Mortality,...
Zanobe...
0
99
1
184,331,100.0000
57.96...
18,341,620.0000
336,415,00...
0.8264
115.0129
26
93
Mortality,...
Zanobe...
0
99
1
291,760.9000
0.0918
29,031.2800
842,815,40...
0.0013
0.1821
26
161
Mortality,...
Zanobe...
0
99
1
9,217,186.0000
2.8988
917,144.0000
841,153,10...
0.0413
5.7523
26
115
Mortality,...
Zanobe...
0
99
1
3,217,669.0000
1.0120
320,169.9000
102,508,80...
0.0144
2.0081
26
91
Mortality,...
Zanobe...
0
99
1
40,527.8200
0.0127
4,032.6670
16,262,410....
0.0002
0.0253
26
99
HA, All Res...
Levy et...
0
99

3,051.9990
2,833...
2,763.8460
7,638,847.0...
-1,601.2390
8,094.0470
26
125
HA, All Res...
Levy et...
0
99

2,809.6640
2,608...
2,544.4640
6,474,298.0...
-1,473.9830
7,451.7440
26
163
HA, All Res...
Levy et...
0
99

21,959.8800
20,38...
19,885.6700
395,439,90...
-11,522.7100
58,234.0500
26
93
HA, All Res...
Levy et...
0
99

10.0735
9.3512
9.1230
83.2288
-5.2841
26.7185
26
161
HA, All Res...
Levy et...
0
99

423.5804
393.2...
383.6071
147,154.4000
-222.2019
1,123.4540
26
115
HA, All Res...
Levy et...
0
99

138.4686
128.5...
125.4022
15,725.7000
-72.6366
367.2621
26
91
HA, All Res -
Levy et...
0
99

1.7043
1.5821
1.5435
2.3824
-0.8940
4.5204
• Select Output if you would like to save your tabular data in .csv format.
Generate Audit Trail Reports: Audit T rail Reports facilitate transparency and reproducibility by
reporting a summary of your assumptions underlying each of five types of files generated by
BenMAP-CE: Air Quality Grids (with the ".aqgx" extension], Incidence Configurations (with the
".cfgx" extension], Configuration Results (with the ".cfgrx" extension], Aggregation, Pooling and
Valuation Configurations (with the ".apvx" extension], and Aggregation, Pooling and Valuation
Results (with the ".apvrx" extension]. We encourage you strongly to generate an audit trail for each
BenMAP-CE analysis you perform, and to save the resulting file with the rest of the program outputs.
•	Click the 1Audit Trai'Re°°rt I in the upper portion of the window. Select Current Audit Trail Report.
Click OK
•	Carefully review the report, ensuring that the air quality grids, population data, health
incidence data, health impact functions and economic value estimates appear as you expected.
•	Click Output to save the audit trail report.
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Appendix A. Health Impact Function Editor
In Step 2, you learned to add a health impact function dataset to BenMAP-CE. While the database of
existing health impact functions is quite large, you may want to add your own; this guide will
walk you through the steps.
•	Start BenMAP-CE
•	Choose the Detroit setup.
•	Click Modify Datasets. This will bring up the Modify Datasets window.
•	Click the Edit button under the Health Impact Datasets box. This will bring up the Manage
Health Impact Function Datasets window.
•	Click the Edit button. This will bring up the Health Impact Function Dataset Definition
window.
•	Click the Add button. This will bring up the Health Impact Function Definition window.
•	Fill in the lists and boxes on the left-hand side of the window (you can use the drop-down
menu]:
Endpoint Group: Mortality
Endpoint: Mortality, All Cause
Pollutant: PM2.5
Metric: D24HourMean
Seasonal Metric: Blank
Annual Statistic: None
Race: ALL Ethnicity: ALL Gender: ALL Start Age: 0
End Age: 99
Author: Zanobetti et al
Year: 2009
Location: Detroit
Qualifier: Bayesian Shrunken Estimate
•	Under the Function tab, double-click the following function:
(l-(l/EXP(Beta*DELTAQ]]]*Incidence*POP*A". The function will then appear in the
Function box.
•	Choose Normal from the Beta Distribution list. The Edit Distribution Values window will
appear.
•	Enter the value 0.000678 in the Mean Value box. Also, enter the value 0.000406 for the Beta
Standard Error in the sigma box.
•	In the Constant Description box for A, enter "Scalar to convert annual mortality rate to daily
rate". In the Constant Value box for A, enter 0.0027397. The mortality incidence rates in
BenMAP-CE are specified as annual rates, and this conversion factor (1/365] is used to
convert the rate to a daily rate for use in this function.
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Click OK. This will bring you back to the Health Impact Function Definition window. Your
screen should now look like this:
Health Impact Function Definition

Endpoint Group:
Mortality
Endpoint:
Mortality, All Cause
Pollutant:
Metric:
D24HourMean
Annual Statistic:
Seasonal Metric:
Race:
Author:
|all

Zanobetti et al.
Ethnicity:
Year of Publication:
|all

2009
Gender:
Qualifier:
K

Bayesian Shrunken
Location Name:

Location:
1

Detroit
Start Age:

End Age:


"S
Co-Pollutants Specified in Regression Model:

Reference:
Beta Distribution:
[Normal	~[
Beta Parameterl:
0.000406
Constant Description:
A: Scalar to convert annu
B:
C:
Incidence Dataset:
Beta:
0.000678
Beta Parameter2:
0
Constant Value:
Variable DataSet:
Prevalence DataSet:
Function j Baseline Incidence Function
Commonly Used Functional Forms:
Operators:
Available Variables:
Population Variables(optional):
(1- (1/EXP( Beta " DELTAQ))) • I nci dence* POP
(l-( 1/EXP( Beta * DELTAQ))) * I nci d ence* POP* A
(1-EXP(-B eta * DELTAQ))" I nci denee* POP
(l-(l/((l-lncidence)*EXP(Beta*DeltaQ)+lncidence
(!-(!/((1-A) *EXP( Beta * De ltaQ)+A))) * A* POP* Preva I
< L
D
ABS(x)
*

Beta
>
EXP(x)
~

DELTAQ
n
L0G(x)

POP
=
POW(x,y)


Incidence

SQR(x)


Prevalence

ACOS(x)


QO

ASIN(x)
*

Q1

Function:
(l-(l/EXP(Beta*DELTAQ)))*lncidence*POP*A
Cancel
•	Click OK, This will take you back to the Health Impact Function Dataset Definition window.
•	You should now see your health impact function in the Health Impact Function Dataset
window. Your function is now ready to use in an analysis.
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Incidence &/or
Prevalence Rates
Health Impact
Functions
Y (\ -a -Ba PM\
laseline Air Quali'
Post-Policy Scenario
	Air Quality
aqgx
Incidence &/or
Population Data
Change in health
incidence
(deaths and disease cases)
Aggregation, Pooling & Valuation
Valuation njT
Functions
.-1 • AllCiood.-iliklex
apvx
Monetary value (benefits) of
health effects incidence change
Audit Trail Report
.apvrx
~r
Results in tabular formats,
maps, audit trails
*.csv
User
Inputs
BenMAP Outputs
Change in population-level
exposure to air pollution
*.shp
Likely Questions about BenMAP-CE
1. What are the file types commonly used in BenMAP-CE?
The following figure depicts BenMAP-CE file types. See the table on the following page for a more
detailed description of each file type and its default folder location.
Outputs
BenMAP Analysis: Inputs &
Air Quality Surface
Change in air quality
(difference between baseline and
control air pollution conditions^
Health Impact Configuration
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File Extension Description
Default Folder Location
*.aqgx
Air quality grid
Result\AQG
*.cfgx
Configuration specifying the health impact functions
and other options used to generate incidence estimates.
Result\CFG
*.cfgrx
Configuration results, containing incidence results at
the grid cell level.
Result\CFGR
*.apvx
Aggregation, Pooling, and Valuation configuration
specifying the aggregation level, pooling options, and
valuation methods used to generate pooled incidence
and pooled valuation results.
Result\APV
*.apvrx
Aggregation, Pooling and Valuation results, containing
pooled incidence and pooled valuation results.
Result\APVR
*.shp
Shapefiles generated by BenMAP-CE's mapping
capabilities. These files can be viewed within BenMAP-
CE or within a GIS program, such as ArcGIS.
Result\AQG
*.csv
Reports are exported as *.csv files, which may be
viewed in a text editor or in programs such as Excel.
Result\CFGR
Result\APVR
2.	What should I do when encountering error messages in BenMAP-CE?
There are generally two types of error messages BenMAP-CE could generate: user's error and
system error. The user's error can be solved if the user operates BenMAP-CE correctly. When you
encounter an error message, try to take a step back (e.g., remove the dataset you just added] and
then re-do that step. Sometimes it is helpful to exit BenMAP-CE and re-start it. If you think it is a
system error, you can report it at http: //www.epa.gov/air/benmap/beta.html or send an email to
benmap@epa.gov.
3.	I added one or more datasets to BenMAP-CE and then exited BenMAP-CE to do something
else. When I came back to continue my training, the datasets I added were gone.
You probably didn't save your work properly before you exited BenMAP-CE. Make sure you click
the OK" button in the Modify Datasets window (in the lower-right corner of the window] to save the
datasets you added before you exit BenMAP-CE.
4.	I've loaded new baseline incidence data, but BenMAP-CE won't let me select it in the
configuration stage.
When formatting these data for importation to BenMAP-CE, take special care to ensure that you
have specified the health endpoints correctly. The baseline incidence rate must be associated with a
specific health endpoint and endpoint group in BenMAP-CE. Be sure thatyou have recorded the
endpoint group and endpoint exactly as it is recorded in BenMAP-CE. For example, if the baseline
incidence rate is for asthma-related hospital admissions, be sure you have recorded the endpoint
group as "Hospital Admissions, Asthma" and the endpoint as "HA, Asthma".
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5.	Can I use air quality grids based on different grid definitions in the baseline and control
scenarios?
No. In any given analysis, you need to use the same grid definition in the baseline and control
scenarios.
6.	How do I know which health impact functions to use? Which functions does EPA use?
One option regarding the choice of health impact functions is to work with someone, for example
another BenMAP-CE user, who is familiar with the epidemiological literature and develop your own
set of health impact functions. Reviewing the epidemiological literature can be time- consuming
though in some situations this might be the best option, such as if you want to estimate the health
impacts of carbon monoxide exposure, for which BenMAP-CE does not have pre-installed health
impact functions.
Another option is to use the ozone and PM2 5 configurations used by EPA. You can download
BenMAP-CE versions of these configurations from http://www.epa. gov /air /benmap /beta.html. If
desired you can edit this configuration and then save it under a different file name — it is always a
good idea to keep the original version, so you can go back to it if needed!
7.	How do I know what year dollars were used?
You can find the answer in the Audit trail for the AP VRX file that you generated.
8.	Who should I contact if I have other questions?
You can send email to benmap(5)epa.gov.
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