# Presentation: 031493

## AIRNow  Strategic PlanningA Year Later... 

**Chet Wayland, USEPA**
- _[wayland.richard@epa.gov](mailto:wayland.richard@epa.gov)_
**U.S. EPA’s 2005 National Air Quality Conference**
**February 16, 2005**
**San Francisco, California**

***“******You must be the change you wish to see in the world”***
***                                                                  ******-- Mahatma Gandhi***

## The Vision

***“******AIRNOW is the national resource for  real-time and forecasted  ***
***air quality data and health effects information.”***

**Notes:**
To evaluate where we are today, I wanted to take a brief minute or two to refresh everyone’s memory of what the Strategic Planning team recommended in December 2003.

They set a vision for the program to be “a national resource for real-time and forecasted air quality data and health effects information”

## Program Areas

**Operations**
- (Co-chairs: Bill Gillespie, MARAMA & Phil Dickerson, EPA)
**Forecasting **
- (Co-chairs: Bill Ryan, PSU & Pat Dolwick, EPA)
**Outreach**
- (Co-chairs: Kerry Shearer, SAQMD & Debbie Stackhouse, EPA)
**Communication **
- (Co-chairs: Jen Carfagno, Weather Channel & Alison Davis, EPA)
**Innovative Approaches**
- (Co-chairs: Mike Gilroy, Puget Sound CAA & Dave Conroy, EPA)

**Notes:**
We focused on 5 key areas of the program and had co-chairs for each area representing EPA and AIRnow partners.  In addition, each workgroup was made up of representatives from state/local agencies, media, and federal agencies.

## Workgroup Charge

- Help define & direct the future of _your_ AIRNOW program
- Where should EPA/NOAA priorities & resources be focused over the next 5 - 10 years?
- What do we want this program to be in 5 years? In 10 years?

**Notes:**
We charged each workgroup to define and direct the future of the AIRNow program and to look at priorities and resource needs for the next 5-10 years.

## Our Immediate Priorities(Beyond Base Operations)

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Toolkit for Broadcast Meteorologists
(for use in schools, speaking engagements, and on-air) |
| Short Course for AMS and Nat’l Weather Assoc.
(forecast training for meteorologists unable to attend Nat'l workshops) |
| Better emission reduction messages
(identify steps people can take to reduce air pollution) |
| Evaluate effectiveness of AQI outreach and build database of human activity patterns
(determine if people are taking actions to reduce pollution and reduce their exposure to air pollution) |
| Cost Benefit facts 
(what’s in it for me?) |

**Our Immediate Priorities**(Beyond Base Operations)

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Toolkit for Broadcast Meteorologists
(for use in schools, speaking engagements, and on-air) |
| Short Course for AMS and Nat’l Weather Assoc.
(forecast training for meteorologists unable to attend Nat'l workshops) |
| Better emission reduction messages
(identify steps people can take to reduce air pollution) |
| Evaluate effectiveness of AQI outreach and build database of human activity patterns
(determine if people are taking actions to reduce pollution and reduce their exposure to air pollution) |
| Cost Benefit facts 
(what’s in it for me?) |

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Toolkit for Broadcast Meteorologists
(for use in schools, speaking engagements, and on-air) |
| Short Course for AMS and Nat’l Weather Assoc.
(forecast training for meteorologists unable to attend Nat'l workshops) |
| Better emission reduction messages
(identify steps people can take to reduce air pollution) |
| Evaluate effectiveness of AQI outreach and build database of human activity patterns
(determine if people are taking actions to reduce pollution and reduce their exposure to air pollution) |
| Cost Benefit facts 
(what’s in it for me?) |

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Toolkit for Broadcast Meteorologists
(for use in schools, speaking engagements, and on-air) |
| Short Course for AMS and Nat’l Weather Assoc.
(forecast training for meteorologists unable to attend Nat'l workshops) |
| Better emission reduction messages
(identify steps people can take to reduce air pollution) |
| Evaluate effectiveness of AQI outreach and build database of human activity patterns
(determine if people are taking actions to reduce pollution and reduce their exposure to air pollution) |
| Cost Benefit facts 
(what’s in it for me?) |

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Toolkit for Broadcast Meteorologists
(for use in schools, speaking engagements, and on-air) |
| Short Course for AMS and Nat’l Weather Assoc.
(forecast training for meteorologists unable to attend Nat'l workshops) |
| Better emission reduction messages
(identify steps people can take to reduce air pollution) |
| Evaluate effectiveness of AQI outreach and build database of human activity patterns
(determine if people are taking actions to reduce pollution and reduce their exposure to air pollution) |
| Cost Benefit facts 
(what’s in it for me?) |

**Notes:**
You may remember, these were the immediate priorities.

In keeping with the AQI theme of the AIRNow program, I have reviewed these priorities for 2004 and here is where we stand.

The meteorologists toolkit is near completion and will be available for distribution this summer at the 2005 AMS Broadcast Meteorologists Conference

 On the short course, we did offer a short training course/presentation at the 2004 NWA conference that was well received and we are having discussions with NEETF and NOAA on developing an air quality module in COMET, which is a web-based training curriculum used by many meteorologists

 We need to work more on the better emission reduction messages and we have had some discussions on evaluating the effectiveness of the program, but do not have a plan in place yet.  This is an area where we really could use the help of our partners in gathering any of this type of information you might have collected at a local or state level.  We have several ideas, but are limited somewhat by our ability to do national surveys.

 We’re code red on this one... we need to accomplish this evaluation part and then apply the cost/benefit aspects to the data we get from that effort.

## Year 1 Priorities (April ’04 – April ’05)

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Base Operations |
| National AQ Conference |
| National E-Alert System
(build system and disseminate to concerned citizens) |
| Outreach to Public Health Professionals
 (focus on family practice physicians and cardiologists) |
| Web Portal for State/local forecasters |
| Develop Combined AQI map on AIRNOW
(combined ozone and particle AQI map) |
| Evaluate Quick Response Needs
(CA fires, mobile monitors, toxics, ability to get info to the public) |
| AIRNOW DMC and EPA file transfer upgrades |
| AIRNOW web content development
(haze cams, satellite images, news pegs, climatology) |

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Base Operations |
| 2006 National AQ Conference |
| National E-Alert System
(build system and disseminate to concerned citizens) |
| Outreach to Public Health Professionals
 (focus on family practice physicians and cardiologists) |
| Web Portal for State/local forecasters |
| Develop Combined AQI map on AIRNOW
(combined ozone and particle AQI map) |
| Evaluate Quick Response Needs
(CA fires, mobile monitors, toxics, ability to get info to the public) |
| AIRNOW DMC and EPA file transfer upgrades |
| AIRNOW web content development
(haze cams, satellite images, news pegs, climatology) |

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Base Operations |
| 2006 National AQ Conference |
| National E-Alert System
(build system and disseminate to concerned citizens) |
| Outreach to Public Health Professionals
 (focus on family practice physicians and cardiologists) |
| Web Portal for State/local forecasters |
| Develop Combined AQI map on AIRNOW
(combined ozone and particle AQI map) |
| Evaluate Quick Response Needs
(CA fires, mobile monitors, toxics, ability to get info to the public) |
| AIRNOW DMC and EPA file transfer upgrades |
| AIRNOW web content development
(haze cams, satellite images, news pegs, climatology) |

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Base Operations |
| 2006 National AQ Conference |
| National E-Alert System
(build system and disseminate to concerned citizens) |
| Outreach to Public Health Professionals
 (focus on family practice physicians and cardiologists) |
| Web Portal for State/local forecasters |
| Develop Combined AQI map on AIRNOW
(combined ozone and particle AQI map) |
| Evaluate Quick Response Needs
(CA fires, mobile monitors, toxics, ability to get info to the public) |
| AIRNOW DMC and EPA file transfer upgrades |
| AIRNOW web content development
(haze cams, satellite images, news pegs, climatology) |

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Base Operations |
| 2006 National AQ Conference |
| National E-Alert System
(build system and disseminate to concerned citizens) |
| Outreach to Public Health Professionals
 (focus on family practice physicians and cardiologists) |
| Web Portal for State/local forecasters |
| Develop Combined AQI map on AIRNOW
(combined ozone and particle AQI map) |
| Evaluate Quick Response Needs
(CA fires, mobile monitors, toxics, ability to get info to the public) |
| AIRNOW DMC and EPA file transfer upgrades |
| AIRNOW web content development
(haze cams, satellite images, news pegs, climatology) |

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Base Operations |
| 2006 National AQ Conference |
| National E-Alert System
(build system and disseminate to concerned citizens) |
| Outreach to Public Health Professionals
 (focus on family practice physicians and cardiologists) |
| Web Portal for State/local forecasters |
| Develop Combined AQI map on AIRNOW
(combined ozone and particle AQI map) |
| Evaluate Quick Response Needs
(CA fires, mobile monitors, toxics, ability to get info to the public) |
| AIRNOW DMC and EPA file transfer upgrades |
| AIRNOW web content development
(haze cams, satellite images, news pegs, climatology) |

**Notes:**
On the Year 1 priorities, we have the following results:

Base operations have been funded throughout FY05 and we have secured funding for the 2006 conference.  We are working with STAPPA/ALAPCO to merge their annual communications conference with our National AQ conference in 2006 and are also having discussions with the monitoring community about a similar merger.  This is a good time to let us know through your evaluations what YOU would like to see at the 2006 conference.

 The #1 priority out of the strategic planning process beyond the base operations was to develop a national E-alert system.  We have accomplished a successful pilot of that program and I’ll talk more about that in a minute.

 We have done substantial outreach to public health professionals through several national conferences.  We have developed a specific exhibit booth for health conferences and most significantly completed the air quality health effects poster for use in doctors offices and elsewhere.  Susan Stone and others have worked very hard on this outreach and we’re starting to make headway,

 We’re code red on the web portal primarily due to a lack of resources... we continue to develop forecast tools, but have yet to develop a true portal specifically designed for forecasters.  We have made some headway with FX-Net as a new and emerging tool for forecasters, but there is much work to be done in that area to make it fully accessible to all forecasters and in an affordable long-term mode.

 We continue to look at the AQI map, but due to resource issues have not pushed that towards production.  It’s a continued work in progress.

 We have initiated work on updating AIRNow to work with quick response issues.  We have worked jointly with the monitoring folks through some Homeland Security resources to upgrade the DMC to handle additional pollutants such as some of the trace gas information... we are working with several states and EPA monitoring staff to implement a remote PM2.5 monitoring system for reporting data during wildfires, etc.

 We have made some significant progress in getting a more streamlined approach for transferring data from the DMC to EPA and are continuing to look at future enhancements such as XML for improved data transfer.

 If you look at the new AIRNOW.GOV website, you will see many new features and improvements.  We have the news pegs on a regular basis and have added new functionality to the website.  There is still some work to do on the historical aspects, climatology and haze cams, but we have made some significant strides.

-- Just a quick example of some of that type of information... here’s a brief look at the 2004 ozone season in review.  Obviously, the past 2 years have been pretty good for ozone, but these are again just examples of the types of things we can use the program for help keep people informed.

## Slide 7

## Program Budget Plan

**?**

**?**

**?**

**?**

**Notes:**
I mentioned some of the priorities were not accomplished due to budget constraints.  This chart shows how funding for the program has been impacted by budget reductions.  

The early years were funded through a EMPACT and other sources and now that its primarily OAQPS, we are competing against other programs for resources.

We are confident that the base operations will continue and we’ll have to take on new tasks and improvements as resources come available and not just when we want to do them.

## National E-Alert System

- February 2004, OAQPS and OEI formed a partnership to develop the E-alert concept
- March 26, 2004 email solicited volunteer state/local agencies
- 7 cities signed on to participate
- Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, St. Louis, Winston-Salem
- 4 months of design/prototyping
- 2 months of testing/debugging
- October 26, 2004 pilot went live for 5 of 7 cities
- EnviroFlash was born...

**Notes:**
I would like to highlight what is probably the most successful priority that we were given.  The national e-alert system.

Now , we had been promised by the IT folks building the system that EnviroFlash would be pretty amazing, but we had no idea of the personal nature of the tool...

## Slide 10

**Notes:**
So sign up today....

Now in all seriousness... we took a lot of grief over the name of the system, so we thought we’d poke some fun at it ourselves...  However, it has been extremely successful in the pilot phase and we are very happy with the initial testing of the system.

Some of you have heard talks about this in the outreach session, so I won’t go into a lot of detail, but here are some of the highlights...

## Slide 11

**Notes:**
It’s easy to use... all the user has to provide is an email address and pick the area they are interested in getting e-alerts from.

## Slide 12

**Notes:**
Once the register, they get a simple screen for them to pick the levels they are interested in getting AQI forecasts for... do they want action day alerts as well

## Air Quality Forecast:

**Air Quality Forecast:**
**Thursday, October 7, 2004**
**     ****Particulate matter(2.5 microns) – Moderate (60 AQI)**
**     ****Ozone – Good (32 AQI)**
**Friday, October 8, 2004**
**     ****Particulate matter(2.5 microns) – Moderate (66 AQI)**
**     ****Ozone – Good (35 AQI)**
**Saturday, October 9, 2004**
**     ****Particulate matter(2.5 microns) – Moderate (70 AQI)**
**     ****Ozone – Good (33 AQI)**
**Sunday, October 10, 2004**
**     ****Particulate matter(2.5 microns) – Moderate (70 AQI)**
**     ****Ozone – Good (30 AQI)**
**High pressure continues to dominate weather patterns across much of the state Thursday with good surface inversions limiting mixing and producing higher particle pollution levels. Stagnant air will remain in place through the weekend as moderate daytime temperatures and cool overnight lows continue to generate a low level cap across the region. PM levels will gradually increase though Saturday with some leveling off expected by Sunday as winds become more easterly. Ozone levels will remain in the GREEN as shorter daylight hours limit photochemical activity. Expect YELLOW AQI readings through the weekend. (REAGAN)**
**For additional information concerning the air quality forecast, http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/**
**Triad Forecast Team 336-727-8060**
**This information is provided via a partnership of the Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Dept. and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).**

**Notes:**
Once you register, you get a confirmation email and then you’ll start receiving the e-alerts.  They look something like this... the top part is standardized, but the text below is fully customizable by the local agency.  This example is from Winston-Salem.

## EnviroFlash Next Steps

- Evaluate feedback from conference
- Develop list of cities interested
- Target National Launch by May 2005
- Explore future options for real-time data reporting

**Notes:**
So what are the next steps...

We want to get feedback from folks here at the conference

Develop a list of interested cities... IF you are interested in this for your community, please make sure you have filled out one of the forms at the AIRNow table.  We’ll be looking over the requests and figuring out who and when we can add new cities.

Begin the process to roll this out in the next month for additional cities.

We’d like to explore options in the future to incorporate real-time monitored data and we’ll be looking at that.

## Other Highlights...

- Geographic Coverage Continues to Expand
- Data now being delivered from all 50 United States
- Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska added
- Alaska sending data periodically, NPS sending data from site in Wyoming
- 4 new Tribal organizations
- Wampanoag Tribe, Quapaw Tribe, Ponca Tribe Office of Environmental Management, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
- 8 Canadian provinces
- 12 new forecast cities for a total of 308 nationwide

**Notes:**
7 years ago when we started this program, we had a goal of making this a national program where people could get air quality information for all 50 states. Today, we have data coming in from all 50 states at some point in time

We continue to add new tribal organizations

We now have 8 Canadian Provinces sending data to AIRNow

And we have added 12 new forecast cities in 2004 to get our total up to 308.

## Other Highlights...

- Communications
- “Air Aware” 30-min video airs on The Weather Channel in October/November
- Local on the 8’s expands coverage of local AQI forecasts
- AQI data and forecasts delivered to unprecedented number of media sources
- NOAA Partnerships
- NOAA/EPA AQ Forecast Guidance Product goes operational
- “Air Quality Awareness” week planned in June
- FX-Net Pilot project initiated for state/local forecasters
- Fires, Smoke & Air Quality
- Mobile monitoring/reporting pilot project begins
- AIRNow link to Forest Fires/Smoke established

**Notes:**
Some other highlights from 2004 that are worthy of mentioning are...

## So... what’s next?

- Reexamine/Reevaluate priorities not done in ’04

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Better emission reduction messages
(identify steps people can take to reduce air pollution) |
| Evaluate effectiveness of AQI outreach and build database of human activity patterns
(determine if people are taking actions to reduce pollution and reduce their exposure to air pollution) |
| Cost Benefit facts 
(what’s in it for me?) |
| Web Portal for State/local forecasters |
| Develop Combined AQI map on AIRNOW
(combined ozone and particle AQI map) |

**Notes:**
We need to reexamine / reevaluate those priorities not accomplished in 2004 to make sure 1) we still think these are priorities and 2) if so, what items here should be done first given limited resources.

## So... what’s next?

- Work with the print media, air agencies and weather providers to make sure the AQI is consistent and accurate
- Need to examine the consistency of PM2.5 reporting
- Evaluate/Expand forecasting tools such as FX-Net
- Continue education/outreach on the Forecast Guidance product
- Continue to expand the outreach/communications of the health information
- Examine/Revaluate the Strategic Planning priorities  for future years

**Notes:**
In addition, there are other issues that we cannot ignore, but need to continue to pursue...

We would also like to solicit any ideas from YOU as our partners as to what you think are critical needs for the program.  I would encourage you to fill out the conference input questionnaires from each session that are geared towards the program as much as the conference.  YOUR INPUT IS CRITICAL.

Finally, I want to thank all of you for your tremendous efforts in making 2004 another outstanding year for the AIRNow program and for providing this essential information on air quality to the public.  As I always say, YOU are the program and YOU are the people that make this happen.

While we are making great progress and are providing a very useful service to the public, especially those impacted by air quality problems, we can’t just maintain the status quo...  As Will Rogers said...

## “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”     

***                              ******-- Will Rogers  ***

**Notes:**
I look forward to 2005 being another great year and look forward to working closely with all of you as we move forward.  At this point, I’d like to open up the floor for questions about the state of the program, things we’re doing right, things we’re doing wrong, suggestions, etc.

You have heard for 3 days what type of work is going on across the country and internationally... are we making progress?  What should we being doing different?

## Feedback? Questions?

- What’s working?
- What’s not working?
- Where should we focus efforts given limited resources?
- How can we better evaluate the overall success of what we do?
- What are the biggest concerns you have?

**Notes:**
I look forward to 2005 being another great year and look forward to working closely with all of you as we move forward.  At this point, I’d like to open up the floor for questions about the state of the program, things we’re doing right, things we’re doing wrong, suggestions, etc.

You have heard for 3 days what type of work is going on across the country and internationally... are we making progress?  What should we being doing different?

## Original Future Year Priorities

**(Optional)**

## Year 2 Priorities (April ’05 – April ’06)

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Base Operations |
| National AQ Conference |
| Complete National E-Alert (expand reporting system) |
| Continue outreach to Health Professionals |
| Complete Web Portal for Forecasters |
| Initiate Quick Response Capability
(system development, remote transmission, communications plan) |
| Evaluate mapping/forecasting options
(particle surrogates – ASOS, NASA satellite tools, mapping software) |
| Begin AIRNOW/AQS Data Exchange
(link AQS and AIRNOW through XML standard) |

- Examine/Revaluate Strategic Planning goals for future years

## Year 3-5 Priorities (Apr. ’06 – Apr. ’09)

| Tasks |
| --- |
| Base Operations |
| Base Outreach & National AQ Conference |
| Complete Quick Response Initiative |
| Improve forecaster training tools
(specific curriculum for forecasters, web course development) |
| Initiate development of education curricula
(develop university-level curricula, educate weathercasters, reporters, teachers) |
| Develop broader visibility component
(webcam purchase, distribution, management) |
| Data archive and clearinghouse
(expand DMC for meteorology data, climatological AQ data, enhanced forecast tools) |
| NOAA model support
(develop guidance on the use of numerical AQ models for forecasting) |
| Incorporate air toxics into data delivery system |