Title: MOVES-Based NOx Analyses for Urban Case Studies in Texas

Institution(s) Represented: Sonoma Technology, Inc. - Stephen B. Reid

Lead PI: Stephen B. Reid

AQRP Project Manager: Gary McGaughey

TCEQ Project Liaison: Chris Kite

Awarded Amount: $69,075.00

Abstract

Emissions inventories are an important component of air quality planning and a key input to photochemical grid models that support air quality assessments. Findings from recent studies suggest that nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions may be overestimated in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Emissions Inventory (NEI), perhaps by as much as a factor of two. This overestimate has generally been attributed to the mobile source sector (e.g., on-road motor vehicles), for which emission estimates are prepared using EPA's MOVES model. A number of potential issues have been identified with MOVES, including reliance on the model's default input data rather than more representative local inputs.

The overall goals of this project are to examine MOVES emission estimates at the local scale and identify which input parameters have the greatest influence on NOx emission estimates. Specifically, we will use a well-established emissions reconciliation technique to quantitatively compare MOVES emission results with ambient near-road monitoring data. These analyses will be performed for case studies in three Texas metropolitan areas: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and El Paso. In addition, we will perform sensitivity analyses comparing MOVES emission results using default vs. local data to identify key parameters that have substantial influence on NOx emissions. The results of this work will support emissions inventory development and air quality management efforts in Texas by providing information on the accuracy of current MOVES emission estimates and MOVES input parameters, for which local data are critical.

Work Plan: projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 Scope.pdf

Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Oct 2016.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Nov 2016.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Dec 2016.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Jan 2017.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Feb 2017.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Mar 2017.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Apr 2017.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR May 2017.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Jun 2017.pdf
Technical Report(s): projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 MTR Jul 2017.pdf

QAPP: projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 QAPP.pdf

Final Report: projectinfoFY16_17\16-010\16-010 Final Report.pdf