BenMAP Quick Start Guide Designed for v1.0.2 December 2013


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Quick Start Guide

December 3, 2013

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Contents

Introduction	3

BenMAP-CE Main Window	7

Step 1: Add a New Setup	8

Step 2: Load Data into BenMAP-CE	8

Selecting Your Shapefile	8

D efining Y our P ollutants	9

Monitor Data	11

Incidence Data	12

Population Data	13

Health Impact Functions	14

Valuation Functions	16

Step 3: Create Air Quality Grids	18

Step 4: Estimate Health Impacts	19

Step 5. Aggregate and Pool Incidence Results	21

Step 6. Estimating Economic Values	23

Step 7. Generate Reports	24

Generate Tabular Reports from Configuration Results (.CFGRX]	24

Generate Tabular Reports from Aggregation, Pooling and Valuation Results (.APVRX]	25

Generate Audit Trail Reports	26

Appendix A. H ealth Impact Function Editor.	27

Likely Questions about BenMAP-CE	29

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Introduction

I.	What is Air Pollution Benefits Analysis, and How Can BenMAP-CE Help ?

Air pollution benefits assessment is the art and science of applying findings from the
epidemiological and economics literature to estimate the health impacts and economic value of
air pollution changes. The environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program—Community
Edition (BenMAP-CE] software simplifies this practice by applying the algorithms and data that
users need to calculate the quantity, and dollar value, of premature deaths and illnesses
associated with changes in air pollution. For example, the program includes a subset of air quality
monitoring data, recent and projected demographic and baseline health data, concentration-
response relationships drawn from the published epidemiological literature, and economic value
estimates based on the published economics literature. Linking these data together in this way
allows users to more easily answer an array of policy questions (see Highlight Box 1],

Figure 1 is a conceptual overview of how
information in the epidemiological literature
provides the data needed to create the health
impact functions BenMAP-CE uses to calculate
the incidence of health outcomes.

II.	Quick Start Guide

We designed this Quick Start Guide to get you up
and running with a basic benefits assessment.

Because you may want to perform a more
complicated analysis, the EPA is also working on a
comprehensive and free online training guide.

Look for this in early 2014. The examples we
describe in this Quick Start Guide rely upon
assumptions and input data that EPA has
historically used in its analyses (see Highlight Box
2]—butyou should feel free to use your own
parameters instead.

Before you start using this Quick Start Guide, you
need to have:

•	BenMAP-CE installed on your computer
(The BenMAP-CE installer is available at http: //www.epa.gov/air/benmap/ce.html 1.

Other literature that you may find helpful include:

•	This paper by Hubbell, Fann and Levy (2009] that describes the best practices for
performing a local-scale health impact assessment.

•	This article by Fann, Bell, Walker and Hubbell (2012] that considers the type of data

Highlight Box I: What Kinds of
Questions Can you Answer?

You can use BenMAP-CE to answer a variety of
questions regarding air pollution exposure and risks
that are relevant to your community or research
interests. For instance:

•	What levels of pollution are people exposed to?

>	Use BenMAP-CE to generate maps of
pollutants)

•	How would health or economic benefits change
with different regulatory programs?

>	Use BenMAP-CE to compare benefits
associated with regulatory programs;

•	What are the health impacts and costs of
current air pollution concentrations?

>	Use BenMAP-CE to estimate health
impacts and costs of existing air
pollution concentrations.

•	What would be the health benefits of alternative
ambient air quality standards?

>	Use BenMAP to estimate health
impacts and costs of existing air
pollution concentrations.

>	Use BenMAP-CE to perform sensitivity
analyses of health or valuation
functions, or of other inputs

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reported in epidemiological studies that would be most useful for risk assessments.

•	This article by Wesson, Fann, Morris, Fox and Hubbell (2010] that considers approaches for
developing city-scale air quality management plans.

•	BenMAP Legacy User's Manual (available at http: //www.epa.gov/air/benmap/docs.htmD.
While this manual was designed for the previous version of the program, you may still find
it to be a useful reference.

As you use this Quick Start Guide, keep in mind that the list of Likely Questions at the end may be
useful in answering your questions and helping you with troubleshooting.

After you finish the Quick Start Guide, you should be able to:

•	run BenMAP-CE to conduct a simple benefit analyses

•	understand datasets and data formats required by BenMAP-CE.

Even before you begin using the BenMAP-CE
software and following the Quick Start Guide,
you may want to give some thought to the
attributes of the community, region or nation in
which you are performing the benefits
assessment—including the types and levels of
air pollutants, the demographic profile of the
population, the health effect(s] that interest
you, and the associated economic value of
those health effects. If you are performing your
analysis in the U.S., there's an excellent chance
that BenMAP-CE contains most of the data you
need for your analysis. If you decide to add
your own data to BenMAP-CE to carry out
different types of analyses, the articles
referenced above can help you think through the types of considerations you might include in
selecting studies from the epidemiological and economics literature. The BenMAP Flow Diagram
shown in Figure 2 provides an overview of a BenMAP-CE analysis. This figure shows the types of
choices that you will make regarding the modeling of population exposure, the types of health
effects to model, and how to place an economic value on these health effects. Please note that
BenMAP-CE does not have air quality modeling capabilities, and instead relies on externally created
air quality modeling and monitoring data.

Highlight Box 2: How Have EPA and
Others Used BenMAP?

EPA and others have generally used BenMAP to
answer two types of questions:

•	What are the benefits of a new air quality policy
that will be implemented in the future?

>	The Clean Air Interstate Rule analysis

>	The Non-Road Diesel Analysis

•	What is the burden of recent or future levels of
air pollution on human health?

>	For recent air quality levels

>	For recent and future air quality levels and
according to the source of emissions.

	

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Figure 1: Use of Epidemiological Literature to Calculate Incidence of
Health Outcomes with BenMAP-CE

The air pollution epidemiology literature provides information needed to calculate
the risk coefficient, or beta, that is an input to the health impact function...

Epidemiology Study

Incidence
(log scale)

J • •

Ln(y) = Ln(B) + B(PM)

Ln(B)

PM concentration

Health impact function

AY =Yo (I -e

Yo — Baseline Incidence

0 ~ Effect estimate

APM — Air quality change

Pop

Pop ~ Exposed population

...and BenMAP-CE uses a combination of built-in and user-provided data to
calculate this health impact function

Baseline Air Quality

Post-Pol icy Scenario Air Quality

f

Incremental Air Quality
Improvement



Population
Ages 18-65

r v



w

Background
Incidence
Rate

f Effect
Estimate

r<

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Figure 2: BenMAP-CE Flow Diagram

Incidence &/or
Prevalence Rate:

Health Impact
Functions

Y H -e -ba PM\

laseline Air Qualii

Post-Policy Scenario
Air Quality

BenMAP Analysis: Inputs & Outputs

Air Quality Surface

Change in air quality

(difference between baseline and
control air pollution conditions)

Change in population-level
exposure to air pollution

Change in healtnSf
incidence

(deaths and disease cases)

Aggregation, Pooling & Valuation

Monetary value (benefits) of
health effects incidence change

Health Impact Configuration

Audit Trail Report





Results in tabular formats,
maps, audit trails

BenMAP Outputs

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BenMAP-CE Main Window

These screenshots will help orientyou to the BenMAP-CE user interface, and describe how the
steps in the Quick Start Guide relate to the program components.

This is the BenMAP-CE main window...

File •* United States -
B©[

Air Quality Surfaces

Modify Datasets Tools " Help -

^Health Impact Results

Pollutant
B -0 Source of Air Quality Data
! - 0 Baseline
Control

B0 Estimate Health Impacts
i-(0 Population Dataset

Health Impact Functions
a-© Aggregate, Pool & Value
|--0i Aggregation

Pooling Method
:|-0 Valuation Method

Current Setup: United States

Pooled Incidence Results | Q Pooled Valuation Results | Audit Trail ReDort ]

Endpoint Group

Endpoint

Author Start Age End Age Dataset Na... Race

After results are generated here, double-click the selected study to display map/data/chart below. "j
I^Ctrl- or shift-click to select multiple studies and then click "Show result" to display data for multiple studies.J

(<§) Create map,data and chart (double-click the selected study)
© Create data (table) for multiple studies

Aggregation for raw data:

Column headers

; GISMap \ Data ) Chart j •_ '• Audit Trail Report]

M
B
c
+

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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 in the upper right corner of the window.

• 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 Available Setups drop down menu and all other windows
in the Modify Datasets window are blank when Detroit is selected.

• Click the OK 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. Select Modify Datasets in the upper left corner of the
main BenMAP window. This will bring up the Modify Datasets window. Select Detroit from
the drop down Available Setups menu 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.

• Confirm that the Grid Type is Shapefile Grid.

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Select the open folder icon

and open the "Detroit_ZIP.shp" file in the Quick start

data files. The Quick Start Guide files can be downloaded from

http://www.epa.gov/air/benmap/models/Ouick Start Data Files.zip.

Confirm that the Detroit ZIP codes map correctly in the preview window. Your screen should

now look like this (the map color may vary]:

CJ Grid Definition

Grid Definition

Grid ID: Detroit ZIP Codes

Grid Type: I shapefile Grid

Load Shapefile:

E:\Quick-start guide\Quick-startfiles\[ |

Current Shapefile Name: Detroit_ZiP
Columns: 1

Rows:

237

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 OK button in the Manage Grid Definitions window to return to
the Modify Datasets window. 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
whichyouwill 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 onPMz.5.

Define a pollutant

• In the Modify Datasets window for the Detroit setup, 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.

• In the Pollutant ID box, type PM2.5. This will be the name of the new pollutant. (Note: It is

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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
and also in the Metric Name 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 Add under the Seasonal Metric 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 Seasonal Metric Seasons box 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 box again, and change the End Date
value for this third season to September 30. Click the Add button under the Seasonal Metric
Seasons a fourth time to 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 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:

Manage Pollutants

Available Pollutants

Pollutant Metrics

D24HourMean

• Click the OK button one final time to return to the Modify Datasets window. You will now see
PM2.5 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, D8HourMax, 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. Monitoring 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 - ambient air
monitoring data and grid-definition-based modeling data. Whichever data you use, they must
be associated with a particular pollutant that you have defined. Only the ambient air
monitoring data are stored in the setup database. Modeling data are loaded into BenMAP-CE
when you conductyour analysis.

In the sample 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 pollutant concentrations separated by commas 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

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arrow and select PM2.5 (the pollutant you defined in the previous stage]. If PM2.5 is the only
pollutant you have defined, there will be only one pollutant in the drop down menu.

• In the Year box, type 2007 to indicate thatyour PM data are for the year 2007.

• Click on the Monitor Data File folder icon I 1 ), select Detroit Monitors PM25.csv file.

Click Open.

• Click the Import to Database button. Click Yes in the Confirm Edit window that opens.

• Confirm that PM2.5 is now listed in the Dataset Contents box on the left side of the Monitor
Dataset Definition window.

• Click OK to return to Manage Monitor Datasets screen.

Your Manage Monitor Datasets screen should look like the following:

Manage Monitor Datasets

Available Datasets

Dataset Contents (Number of Monitors by Pollutant by Year)

Detroit PM Monitors

Pollutant
PM2.5

Year
2007

Monitor Count
26

• Click the Oft'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.

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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 menu.

• 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. This will
bring up the Load Incidence/Prevalence window. Click Browse to locate the incidence
dataset, entitled Detroit Incidence Rates.csv. Click Open.

• Click the OK button. Click Yes in the Confirm window to load the incidence dataset (this
may take some time].

When BenMAP-CE finishes loading the data, your Incidence Dataset Definition window should

look like the following:

5 ji Incidence Dataset Definition

Dataset Name: Detroit Incidence Rates

Column Row

Grid Definition:

Detroit Zip Codes

Dataset Incidence Rates
Filter Endpoint Group

[H Group

Endpoint Group Endpoint Tvpe Race

Hospital Admi... HA, Asthma Incidence
Hospital Admi... HA, Chronic... Incidence

Mortality Mortality,A... Incidence

Hospital Admi... HA, All Res... Incidence

Ethnicity Gender Start Age End Age

Output Sample File

Load From Database

Value

0.00000262

0.00000773

0.00000168

0.00000545

0.00000102

0.00000272

0.00000505

0.00000303

0.00000589

0.00000311

0.00000330

0.00000236

0.00000229

0.00000598

0.00000274

0.00000452

0.00000271

0.00000545

0.00G0Q293

0.00000382

0.00000460

0.00000232

0.00000335

0.00000303

0.00000371

n i ~ M

• 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

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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. Select
the population configuration United States Census from the drop down list of Population
Configuration. This tells BenMAP-CE how the demographic characteristics of your
population are categorized.

• Click the Browse button next to the Database box. Select the Detroit Population.csv file.

Click Open.

• Click OK in the Load Population Dataset window to load the file. Note that this could take
several minutes as BenMAP-CE loads the data. When the data are finished loading, you
will be returned to the Manage Population Datasets window.

Your Manage Population Datasets window should now look like the following:

Manage Population Datasets

I a Ua«r

Available Datasets

Dataset Detail
Grid Definition:

Population Configuration:
Values

United States Census

Race

Ethnicity

Gender

AgeRa..

Column

Row

Value

WHITE

HISPANIC

MALE

55T059

1.0000

WHITE

NON-HI...

MALE

5T09

1.0171

BLACK

NON-HI...

MALE

5T09

0.0048

NATAMER

NON-HI...

MALE

5T09

0.0084

ASIAN

NON-HI...

MALE

5T09

0.0103

WHITE

NON-HI...

MALE

25T029

1.0000

BLACK

NON-HI...

MALE

25T029

0.0156

NATAMER

NON-HI...

MALE

25T029

0.0156

WHITE

NON-HI...

MALE

35T039

1.0067

BLACK

NON-HI...

MALE

35T039

0.0016

• Click OK to return to the Modify Datasets window. You will now see Detroit Population in the
Population Datasets box.

Health Impact Functions: BenMAP-CE contains a large library of health impact functions
developed using risk estimates reported in peer-reviewed epidemiological studies. Here you will be
adding new health impact functions from a *.csv file. You can use a spreadsheet program if you
wish to view the data format of the file Detroit Health Impact Functions.csv in your Quick Start Data
Files.

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Once you have seen the format of health functions, close the file 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 in the Health Impact Function Dataset Definition
window. This will load the file and return you to the Manage Health Impact Function

D a tase ts 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:

Manage Health Impact Function Datasets

a i-a~n

Available Datasets

Health Impact Functions In DataSet

Endpoint Group
Hospital Admissio...
Hospital Admissio...
Hospital Admissio...
Hospital Admissio...
Mortality

Endpoint
HA, All Respira...
HA, All Respira...
HA, All Respira...
HA, All Respira...
Mortality, All C...

Pollutant

PM2.5

Metric

D24Hour...

Season Metric

NULL

Metric Statistic
None
None
None
None
None

| Delete ]

Add ]

Edit |

Filter Endpoint Group

Filter Pollutants Filter

[F] Group

Click the OK"button to return to the Modify Datasets window. You will now see Detroit Health
Impact Functions in the Health Impact Functions box.

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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. You can use a spreadsheet program to view the
data format of Detroit Valuation 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 Functions box on the right side of 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 in the Valuation Function Dataset Definition window and this will load
the file and return you to the Manage Valuation Function Datasets window.

Your screen should now look like this:

j Manage Valuation Function Datasets

I=4b toJ'

Available Datasets

Valuation Function In Dataset

Endpoint Group Endpoint Qualifier

Hospital Admissio... HA, All Respira... COI: med costs...

Mortality Mortality, All C... VSL, based on 2...

Filter Endpoint Group

IH Group

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
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• Click the OK button to return to the Modify Data sets window. Y ou will now see Detroit
Valuation Functions in the Valuation Functions box.

Congratulations! You have completed adding all the data sets you will need for this training course.
Your Modify Datasets screen should look like this:

fyl Modify Datasets

Available Setups | Detroit
Grid Definitions

Add

Delete

Pollutants

Monitor Datasets

Detroit 1km

Detroit Counties

Detroit ZIP Codes

Edit

Detroit PM Monitors

Edit

Incidence/Prevalence Rates

Population Datasets

Health Impact Functions

Detroit Incidence Rates

Edit

Detroit Population

Edit

Detroit Health Impact Functions

Edit

Variable Datasets

inflation Datasets

Valuation Functions

Edit

Detroit Valuation Functions

Edit

Income Growth Adjustments

Click the OK button at the bottom of the Modify Datasets window to return to BenMAP-CE main
window. You can now conduct BenMAP-CE analyses.

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
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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 to the right of the File menu (the default value
is United States and select Detroit. Verify that the Current Setup listed in the status bar at the
bottom left corner of the window now says Detroit.

• On the left side of the main BenMAP window, double-click Pollutant to open the Pollutant
Definition 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 on the left side of the main BenMAP window. You will see the
Choose a Grid Creation Method window appear. Note that the Grid Type is set to Detroit 1km
and that Model Data is selected as the Grid Type. Click Next.

• In the Model Data window, click the open folder icon and select Detroit Baseline.csv
in your Quick Start Data Files. Click Open. Click OK in the Model Data window.

• In the Save As window, give the baseline air quality grid a name: Detroit Baseline. Click Save.
This will save the grid as a "*.aqgx" (air quality grid] type file.

• Repeat the steps above after double-clicking Control on the left side of the main BenMAP
window, 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 delta (baseline - control) and verily that the check box next to Delta
(in the GIS Map tab map area of the window] is selected to view the difference between the
baseline and control PM2.5 levels in each grid cell in the GIS Map window.

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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Confirm that the domain is Detroit ZIP Codes. If the domain is Detroit Counties, change the
domain to Detroit ZIP Codes. The CIS Map section of your screen should look something like
this:

i' _: GIS Map \f"\ Data | ?./ 'i Chart | (;?'¦ Audit Trail Report]

Domain:

Detroit ZIP Codes

¦f?
©
a

i
-------
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 menu in the upper left corner of the
BenMAP-CE main window next to File.

• Double-click the Population Dataset button on the left side of the window, where you will
find that the Population Dataset window is preconfigured to Detroit Population and the
Population Year is set to 2010. Click OK.

• Next, double-click Health Impact Functions. You will see the Health Impact Functions
window appear. 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 the 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 - one mortality function and four hospital admission functions}:

Health Impact Functions

® ¦

Selected Health Impact Functions
Filter Dataset

Filter End point Group

Detroit Health Impact Functions

[^J Groups Add Selected

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..

Normal

D24HourM..

Detroit

Hospital Admissions,

HA, All Respirat...

PM2.5

Levy et .

Normal

D24HourM

Detroit.

Hospital Admissions,.

HA, All Respirat

PM2 5

Kim et

Normal

D24HourM

Detroit...

Hospital Admissions,...

HA, All Respirat...

PM2.5

Kloog...

Normal

D24HourM...

Mortality [1 item]

Detroit...

Mortality

Mortality, All Ca...

PM2.5

Zanob...

Normal

D24HourM...

'!_

—i

Selected Health Impact Functions (5)

Endpoint Group

Dataset Name

Endpoint

Pollutant

Author

Starts

tge End Age Race

Ethnicity

Gender incidence Dataset Previ

Mortality

Detroit Health...

Mortali...

PM2.5

Zanob...

Detro

t Incidence Rates

Hospital Admi...

Detroit Health-

HA, All _

PM25

Kim et...

Detro

t Incidence Rates

Hospital Admi...

Detroit Health-

HA, All

PM2.5

Kloog...

Detro

t Incidence Rates

Hospital Admi...

Detroit Health...

HA, All

PM2.5

Grines...

Detro

t Incidence Rates

Hospital Admi...

Detroit Health...

HA, All

PM2.5

Levy et...

Detro

t Incidence Rates

ill

Delete Selected

J Advanced j j Cancel J 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. The defaultfolder for saving the configuration results is My
Documents/My BenMAP-CE Files/Result/CFGR. This step may require a few minutes to run.

• When BenMAP-CE finishes generating results, you will be returned to the BenMAP-CE main
window.

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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Note: U sing the CFGRX ("configuration results") 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.

If you would like to conduct either of the above two analyses, continue on to the next step.

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-analysis! 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 anAPVX ("aggregation, pooling, valuation"] 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
lkm 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
on the left side of the main window. This will open the Aggregation window. Aggregate the
incidence and valuation results to the Detroit Counties level in the drop down menus. Click
OK.

• Pool results. Double-click the Pooling Method button on the left side of the main window.
This will open the Incidence Pooling and Aggregation window.

• Change the name of the Pooling Window Name in the lower half of the window to Short-
Term Mortality and click on the tab. The pooling window tab now displays

Short-Term Mortality

• Click, hold and drag the Mortality, All-Cause box from the top window to the bottom
window.

• Click Add in the Select Pooling Methods section in the lower half of the window to insert a
new pooling window. Change the name of the new pooling window to Respiratory Hospital
Admissions and click on the tab to assign this new pooling to the tab.

• Click, hold and drag the four HA, All Respiratory Hospital Admission boxes from the top

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Designed for vl.0.2

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window to the bottom window.

The lower half ofyour screen should now look like this:

Select Pooling Methods

Pooling Window Name: Respiratory Hospital At

Add

Delete

Show Tile

Pooling Window Number: 2 Target Grid Type:! Detroit lkm

Short-Term Mortal ity Respiratory Hospital Admissions

Tree Nodes Pooling Method

Endpoi..

Author Qualifier

Location

Start Age

End Age

Year

Other Pollutan... Race Ethr

S-tk Hospital Admissions, Respi... None

HA, All ...

Kim et a...

-CKim

HA, All .„

Kimetal. Single C...

Denver,...

2012

-n Kioog

HA, All ...

Kloog et... Single C...

New En-

2012

-^Grineski

HA, All ...

Grinesk... Single C...

El Paso

2011

L(^Levy

HA, All ...

Levy et al. 2-stage ...

119 U.S...

2012

< 1

rrr

__l

Delete Selected Condensed View Advanced Cancel Next

• Next, click hold and drag the Qualifier column in the bottom window to between the Endpoint
and Author. This will group the single-city studies together.

• I n the Pooling Method column of the bottom window, click on the word None in the row of
the Single City Study Tree Node. This opens a drop down box. Select Random or Fixed Effects
to pool the single-city studies.

• Click on the word None in the Hospital Admissions, Respiratory row, in the Pooling Method
column. This opens a drop down box. Select User Defined Weights. This will pool the results
of the single-city studies with the results of the two-stage meta-analysis. Y our screen should
now look like this:

Select Pooling Methods

Pooling Window Name: Respiratory Hospital Ai

Pooling Window Number: 2 Target Grid Type: Detroit lkm

Short-Term Mortality Respiratory Hospital Admissions

Tree Nodes Pooling Method Endpoi.
B-lj. Hospital Admissions, Respi... User Defined Weights HA, All..
1^1- IjL Single City Study Random Or Fixed Effects HA, All-
's Kim HA, All..
-OKIoog HA, All..
-£"|Grineski HA, All..
-dLe^ HA, All..

Qualifier Author Location Start Age End Age Year

Levy et .„ 0 99 0

Kim et a... 0 99 0

Single C... Kim et al. Denver,... 0 99 2012

Single C... Kloog et... New En... 0 99 2012

Single C... Grinesk... El Paso ... 0 99 2011

2-5tage ... Levy et al. 119 U.S.... 0 99 2012

Other Pollutan..

Delete Selected

Condensed View Advanced Cancel Next

Condensed View

Select
single estimate.

to see a preview of how the pooling options you selected will result in a

BenM AP-CE Quick Start Guide
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Your screen should now look like this:

Select Pooling Methods

Pooling Window Name: Respiratory Hospital At | Add j | Delete j | Show Tile | 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

El-Cfci Hospital Admissions, Respi... User Defined Weights HA, All... Levyet... 0 99 0

L-Q Hospital Admissions, R... HA, All R... Levyet... 0 99 0

Delete Selected Detailed View

Click Next. The next window (Select User Defined Weight) 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 (Select Valuation Methods, Pooling and Aggregation] will prompt you to
select economic valuation functions.

Note: If you want to monetize the health benefits, proceed to Step 6. If you do not want to

Run As (*.apvrx)

monetize the health benefits,, click to generate pooled incidence results. When

prompted to save the APV results file (*.apvrx], click Yes. Save the file as Detroit Aggregated
and Pooled Results. The default folder for saving the configuration results is My
Documents/My BenMAP-CE Files/Result/APVR folder (in Windows XP], Once the file is
saved, you will see a File saved confirmation window. Click OK. Then go directly to Step 7 to
generate reports for the incidence results from the APVRX file you just created.

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.

• Select the Valuation Method. Note that the pooling windows you created in the previous
step are now shown as tabs 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 (you may have to expand the left-hand

side of the window]. Click, hold and drag this function directly below the " Mortal lty icon
on the right side of the window to assign the valuation function to this endpoint. When a
purple line appears below the Mortality Tree Node, your drag is successful.

• Click the Respiratory Hospital Admissions pooling window tab. Find Detroit Valuation
Functions in Dataset Name. Click, hold and drag this function directly below the

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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Hospital Admissions, Respi icon to assign the value function to this endpoint. Your screen
should now look something like this:

4 j Select Valuation Methods, Pooling and Aggregation

Valuation Methods

EndPoint Endpoint Group Start A...
HA, All Re... Hospital Ad mis... 0

End ...
99

Function Datasi
A+B*((C)... Detroit

Show Selections

Short-Term Mortality Inspiratory Hospital Admissions

Tree node Pooling Method

EJ-I. Hospital Admissions, Respi... None
I—i COI: med costs + wage...

Aut
Levv
Levv

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 Conflkl

Save As (".apvx) Run As (".apvrx)

Run As (-.apvrx)

Click the —-—^ button. When prompted to save the APV results file (*. apvrx), click

Yes and title the file Detroit Incidence and Valuation Results. The default folder for saving
the aggregation, pooling and valuation results is My Documents/My BenMAP-CE
Files/Result/APVR folder. Click Save. Click OK when the File saved confirmation window
appears. You will be returned to the main window.

Step 7. Generate Reports

Generate Tabular Reports from Configuration Results (.CFGRX): Recall that the configuration
results files (*.cfgrx) 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.

• Click the 0 Health impact Results in the upper portion of the screen,

• Double click on the Hospital Admissions, All Respiratory result for the Kloog study.

• Making sure that the b s Map tab is active, you should now see the results of the Kloog

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

-------
study at each grid cell in the Detroit 1km grid. Select ¦ ¦ to export your shapefile. Give it an
appropriate file name, and save it in a location easy to remember. Click OK when the File
saved confirmation window appears.

• 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 in the middle of the window, and
select Detroit Counties to aggregate these data to the county level.

• Click Column Headers in the middle of the window. The window Configuration Results
Report appears. Click on the Field Name Population Weighted Delta, which will add a column
to your table that reports the population-weighted air quality change for the air quality
scenario. Click OK.

Your screen should now look something like this:

^iGlSMap 0 Data t.p) Chart Audit Trail Report

Column

Row

Endpoint

Author

Start Age

End Age

Point Estimate

Population

Delta

Population...

Kloog e...

0.5085

0.0000

HA, All Res...

Kloog e...

0.3630

747,871.1000

0.5594

125

HA, All Res...

Kloog e...

0.3342

1,165,088.0000

0.3496

163

HA, All Res...

Kloog e...

2.6116

1,835,904.0000

0.6478

HA, All Res...

Kloog e...

0.0012

14,612.3200

0.1318

161

HA, All Res...

Kloog e...

0.0504

267,604.4000

0.2442

115

HA, All Res...

Kloog e...

0.0165

104,704.5000

0.2042

HA, All Res...

Kloog e...

0.0002

1,810.4630

0.1446

Select Output if you would like to save your tabular data in *.csv (comma-separated values]
format.

Generate Tabular Reports from Aggregation, Pooling and Valuation Results (.APVRX). These
results reflect the choices you made about how to aggregate, pool and value your results.

• Click the 0 Poo|ed 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 5Data 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 valuator 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 in the lower left corner of the window. Type 2.5,97.5 into this box. Click OK.

BenM AP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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Your screen should now look something like this:

i*_; GISMap '.J: Data ; Chart Audit ra Report

Column

Row

Endpoint

Author

Start Age

End Age

Version

Point Estimate

Mean

Standard Deviation

Variance

Percentile 2.5

Percentile 97.5

126

Mortality,

Zanobe

61.508.800 0000

6105

57.504,140 0000

3,306,726,0

368.3866000

215,394,400 0000

125

Mortality,

Zanobe

58,197,7600000

57.77

54,410,760 0000

2,960.531,0

348,534 3000

203,8053000000

163

Mortality,...

Zanobe...

184,331,100.0000

182,9...

172,318,600.0000

29,693,720,...

1,104,112.0000

645,469,100.0000

Mortality,...

Zanobe...

291,760.9000

289,6...

272,789.3000

74,414,020,...

1,747.1490

1,021,767.0000

161

Mortality,...

Zanobe...

9,217,186.0000

9,149...

8,617,628.0000

74,263,510,...

55,197.5000

32,278,650.0000

115

Mortality,...

Zanobe...

3,217,669.0000

3,194...

3,008,391.0000

9,050,414,0...

19,268.8700

11,268,350.0000

Mortality,...

Zanobe...

40,527.8200

40,23...

37,892.4300

1,435,836,0...

242.6933

141,931.0000

HA, All Res...

Levy et...

3,051.7010

2,824...

2,759.5880

7,615,324.0...

-1,605.5770

8,074.0690

125

HA, All Res...

Levy et...

2,809.3900

2,600...

2,540.5430

6,454,357.0...

-1,477.9750

7,433.3490

163

HA, All Res...

Levy et...

21,957.7400

20,32...

19,855.0600

394,223,50...

-11,553.9300

58,090.4200

HA, All Res...

Levy et...

10.0725

9.3233

9.1089

82.9724

-5.2984

26.6525

161

HA, All Res...

Levy et...

423.5392

392.0...

383.0159

146,701.2000

-222.8037

1,120.6820

115

HA, All Res...

Levy et...

138.4551

128.1...

125.2089

15,677.2600

-72.8334

366.3554

HA, All Res...

Levy et...

1.7041

1.5774

1.5411

2.3750

-0.8964

4.5093

• Select Output if you would like to save your tabular data in *.csv format.

Generate Audit Trail Reports: Audit Trail 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 1ALjdit Trail 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. The default location for saving *.ctlx files will be the
location you chose earlier for savingyour shape files.

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

-------
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 Functions box. This will bring up the Manage
Health Impact Function Datasets window.

• Click the Edit button under the Available Datasets box. 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

Annual Statistic: None

Seasonal Metric: Blank

Race: ALL

Ethnicity: ALL

Gender: ALL

Start Age: 0

End Age: 99

Author: Zanobetti et al

Year of Publication: 2009

Qualifier: Bayesian Shrunken Estimate

Location: Detroit

• Under the Function tab in the lower half of the window, 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. Click OK.

• 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.

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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• Your screen should now look like this:

Health Impact Function Definition

Endpoint Group:

Mortality

Endpoint:

Mortality, All Cause

Pollutant:

PM2.5

Metric:

D24HourMean

Annual Statistic:

Seasonal Metric:

|all

Zanobetti et al.

Ethnicity:

Year of Publication:

|all

2009

Gender:

Qualifier:

|all

Bayesian Shrunken

Location Name:

Location:

Detroit

Start Age:

End Age:

Co-Pollutants Specified in Regression Model:

Reference:

Beta Distribution:
[Normal ~[

Beta Parameterl:
0.000406

Constant Description:
A: Sea I ar to convert an nu

Incidence Dataset:

Beta:

0.000678

Beta Parameter2:

Constant Value:

0.0027397

Variable DataSet:

Prevalence DataSet:

Function Baseline Incidence Function

Commonly Used Functional Forms:

Operators:

Available Variables:

Population Variables(optional):

(l-( l/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- (l/( (1-A) * EXP( Beta - De ltaQ)+A))) • A* POP* Preva I

« L

ABS(x)

EXP(x)

L0G(x)

POW(x,y)

SQR(x)

ACOS(x)

ASIN(x)

Beta

DELTAQ

POP

Incidence
Prevalence
Q0
Q1

Function:

(l-(l/EXP(Beta"DELTAQ)))* Incidence* POP* A

• Click OK, This will take you back to the Health Impact Function Dataset Definition window.
Click OK.

• You should now see your health impact function in the Manage Health Impact Function
Datasets window. Your function is now ready to use in an analysis.

• Click OK to return to the Modify Datasets window. Click OK to return to the main B enMAP
screen.

BenM AP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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Incidence &/or
Prevalence Rates

Health Impact
Functions

Y !\ -a -BAPMX

Change in health
incidence

(deaths and disease cases)

Aggregation, Pooling & Valuation

Valuation njT
Functions

.-1 • AUGoodsIudex

apvx

Monetary value (benefits) of
health effects incidence change

Audit Trail Report

.apvrx

Results ii
map

i tabula
s, audit

formats,
trails

*.csv

User
Inputs

BenMAP Outputs

Change in air quality

(difference between baseline and
control air pollution conditions!

Health Impact Configuration

Change in population-level
exposure to air pollution

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.

BenMAP Analysis: Inputs & Outputs

Air Quality Surface

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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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".

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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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 *.apvrx file that you generated.

8. Who should I contact if I have other questions?

You can send email to benmap@epa.gov.

BenMAP-CE Quick Start Guide
Designed for vl.0.2

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