Getting Started: Instructions to Participants

You are being given a "real-life" problem to solve that will require the use of a modeling approach based on a specific modeling tool. Teams of participants will work on this project. Within each group or team, there is a role for

one or two computer modelers
an environmental chemist
an emissions inventory specialist
a meteorologist
an environmental engineer (policy/economics specialist).

It is recommended, therefore, that no fewer than four or five people form a team. The modeler will probably direct the rest of the team members. While teams are free to distribute the workload as they see fit, it may be helpful to have the meteorologist serve as the "deputy" or assistant modeler. The engineer will probably prepare the final product (a letter/report on conclusions of the modeling). Any extra or underutilized team members should support the modeling effort, since much of the work will center on understanding and running the model correctly. Just like the "real world", one of the tasks of this scenario is to work together so that no one person is doing the brunt of the labor.

It is of significant importance for everyone, not just the chief modeler, to spend some time looking at the model interface and at least skimming through most of the online reading materials. The single most useful advice for ensuring your success may sound cynical, but it's the truth: When all else fails, read the instructions and manuals!

Alternatively, an individual could complete the exercise, essentially filling all of the roles. To be successful, it is important that the individual have some level of comfort with environmental modeling.

The scenario set-up is as follows:

The scenario participants work for a (fictitious) environmental consulting firm called Air Quality Services, Inc. (AQS).
A private industrial firm, Lotsonox, Inc., also fictitious, has hired AQS to accomplish a specific task.
EPA recently proposed a change in the ground-level ozone standard and the particulate standard (not fictitious). This exercise will deal only with the ozone standard.
Lotsonox is located in a valley in Colorado, and is the primary source of ozone precursors in their town, Lamar. Therefore, any change in the ozone standard may drastically affect the operations at Lotsonox. Local agencies that are responsible for planning how the area will remain in compliance will look immediately to Lotsonox, since they are essentially the sole industrial source of ozone precursors in the immediate area.
Of course, there are other alternatives city planners will examine to reduce ozone precursors in the area. These options may include offering more mass transit, using a public outreach campaign to change driving habits and other activities that affect ozone levels, changing over to reformulated gasolines, etc. Regardless of these other possibilities, however, Lotsonox knows that its operations will be intensely scrutinized.
Lotsonox has hired AQS to conduct a study, using the Empirical Kinetics Modeling Approach (EKMA), to determine the consequences of enacting a stricter ozone standard (i.e., what kind of emission reductions will be necessary to achieve the new ozone standard, and the associated costs.) Lotsonox will use the modeling results from AQS to prepare a comment to EPA on the proposed rule while the public comment period is still open.

Documents and Resources

The remainder of this page lists several items you will need to complete the task for which AQS is being hired:

A Scope of Work from Lotsonox, outlining the basic tasks to be accomplished
A more detailed Plan of Action from AQS managers that provides a suggested outline for accomplishing those tasks listed in the Scope of Work
An EPA Press Release concerning the proposed standards.
A Contextual Policy Statement about EPA's proposed rule
A memo from the EPA Model Clearinghouse to AQS management regarding the choice of one of the model parameters (the design ratio)
An Emissions Inventory from the Lotsonox plant
Useful Datasets that provide local environmental information
EKMA and OZIP Model Materials

You should understand that there is no "linear" progression through the Web materials. Each team member will need different parts. Part of your task is to be able to decide which materials are of use and which are not. A basic recommendation is that everything in the "Scenario" column from the main scenario page is required reading for every member of the team. Material in the modeling section can be read more selectively, depending on your role.

You are also encouraged to send email to ekma@shodor.org for specific questions or problems. Keep in mind that there may still be bugs in the model! If you discover them, please point them out, we will repair them as quickly as possible.

You may also request "office hours" with the scenario developers using Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Contact Bob Gotwals for an appointment. If you are unsure of this technology, contact us through email.

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