Chart of Modeling Tools
Modeling Tools to Estimate Climate Change Emissions Impacts of Projects / Plans
| Tool | Availability | Scope Local / Regional |
Scope Transportation / Buildings |
Data Input Requirements | Data Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| URBEMIS |
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| Clean Air and Climate Protection (CACP) Software |
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| Sustainable Communities Model (SCM) |
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| I-PLACE3S |
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| EMFAC |
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| Climate Action Registry Reporting On-line Tool (CARROT) |
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- VMT = Vehicle miles traveled
- Criteria pollutants = Nitrogen oxides (NOx), reactive organic gases (ROG), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM)
- eCO2 = Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions
- GHG = Greenhouse gases
Note: This is not meant to be a definitive list of modeling tools to estimate climate change emission impacts. Other tools may be available.
Descriptions of Modeling Tools
URBEMIS. The Urban Emissions Model (URBEMIS) is currently being used extensively during the CEQA process by local air districts and consultants to determine criteria pollutant impacts of local projects. URBEMIS uses the ITE Trip Generation Rate Manual and the Air Resources Board’s (ARB) motor vehicle emissions model (EMFAC) for transportation calculations. Area source outputs include natural gas use, landscaping equipment, and fireplaces. It also estimates construction impacts and impacts of mitigation options. An updated version with CO2 outputs is now available. http://www.urbemis.com.
Clean Air and Climate Protection (CACP) Software. This tool is available to state and local governments and members of ICLEI, NACAA, NASEO and NARUCM to determine greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions from government operations and communities as a whole. The user must input aggregate information about energy (usage), waste (quantity and type generated, disposal method, and methane recovery rate) and transportation (VTM) for community analyses. More detailed, site-specific information is necessary to calculate emissions from governmental operations. CACP uses emission factors from EPA, DOE, and DOT to translate the energy, waste and transportation inputs into greenhouse gas (in carbon dioxide equivalents) and criteria air pollutant emissions. If associated energy, waste and transportation reduction are provided, the model can also calculate emission reductions and money saved from policy alternatives. http://cacpsoftware.org.
Sustainable Communities Model (SCM). This model quantifies total eCO2 emissions allowing communities the ability to optimize planning decisions that result in the greatest environmental benefit for the least cost. SCM has been used by a number of master planned communities, but it could also be used for neighborhoods and smaller developments. Total eCO2 emissions are based on emissions from energy usage, water consumption and transportation. SCM uses published data sets for data input such as ARB’s EMFAC for transportation calculations. The model provides a comparison of various scenarios to provide environmental performance, economic performance, and cost benefit analysis. http://www.ctg-net.com/energetics/resources/newsDetails.aspx?id=17.
I-PLACE3S is an internet-accessed land use and transportation model designed specifically for regional and local governments to help understand how their growth and development decisions can contribute to improved sustainability. It estimates CO2, criteria pollutant and energy impacts on a neighborhood or regional level for existing, long-term baseline and alternative land use plans. I-PLACE3S is currently being used in San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and the six county Sacramento region to assist both the public participation process and technical analyses efforts for regional planning. The data input requirements are extensive and require a fiscal commitment from local government. The benefits include a tool that can provide immediate outputs to compare various alternatives during public meetings, as well as provide access for local development project CEQA analyses. Possible future modifications could include a stand-alone tool that would allow project-level analyses of land uses (buildings) without extensive regional data input requirements. http://www.energy.ca.gov/places/; http://places.energy.ca.gov/places/.
EMFAC. The Air Resources Board’s EMission FACtors (EMFAC) model is used to calculate emission rates from all motor vehicles (passenger cars to heavyduty trucks) in California. The model includes emission factors for CO2, methane, and criteria pollutants. The emission factors are combined with data on vehicle activity (miles traveled and average speeds) to assess emission impacts. California local governments use EMFAC in concert with their travel demand models to assess impacts of transportation plans. The URBEMIS model described above uses EMFAC to calculate the transportation emission impacts of local projects. http://www.arb.ca.gov/msei/onroad/onroad.htm.
Climate Action Registry Reporting On-Line Tool (CARROT). The California Climate Action Registry uses the Climate Action Registry Reporting On-Line Tool (CARROT) for registry members to report their greenhouse gas emissions. It calculates GHG emissions from energy, fuel use, and travel estimates made by the user. While use of the tool is only available to members, the Registry makes its protocols available to the public. The general reporting protocol is available at http://www.climateregistry.org/tools/protocols/general-reporting-protocol.html. Specific reporting protocols are also available for reporting by the cement, forestry, and power/utility sectors and are being developed for additional sectors. http://www.climateregistry.org/tools/carrot.html.
(May 2007)