RMATION TO YOUR COMMUNITY THE PASO DEL NORTE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECT
Disclaimer: This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endor

or recommendation of their use. 
DELIVERING TIMELY AIR QUALITY,


TRAFFIC, AND WEATHER INFORMATION

TO YOUR COMMUNITY


THE PASO DEL NORTE ENVIRONMENTAL


MONITORING PROJECT


United States Environmental Protection Agency


Office of Research and Development


National Risk Management Research Laboratory


Cincinnati, OH 45268


250% Recycled/Recyclable 

Printed with vegetable-based 

paper that contains a minimum 

50% post-consumer fiber con

processed chlorine free 
• Robert W. Gray, P.E., University of Texas at El Paso 

• Chuck Koosian, City of El Paso, Texas 

• City of El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization, Transportation Policy Board 

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 

• El Paso City-County Health and Environment District 

• New Mexico Environment Department 

• Departmento de Ecologia de Cuidad Juárez 

• University of Texas at El Paso Center for Environmental Resource Management 

• Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juárez 

II
1.4 For More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

CHAPTER 2 HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

CHAPTER 3 COLLECTING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . 

3.1 Air Quality Monitoring: An Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3.1.1 Design Factors for Air Quality Monitoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3.1.2 Selecting Your Air Quality Monitoring Equipment and Locations . . . . . 

3.1.3 Installing, Operating, and Maintaining Air Quality


Monitoring Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3.2 Traffic Monitoring: An Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3.2.1 Design Factors for Traffic Monitoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3.2.2 Selecting Your Traffic Monitoring Equipment and Locations . . . . . . . . . 

3.2.3 Installing, Operating, and Maintaining Traffic Monitoring Equipment . 

3.3 Collecting Weather Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3.3.1 Weather Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3.3.2 Sources of Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3.4 Lessons-Learned From the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project 

CHAPTER 4 PROCESSING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . 

4.1 Processing Environmental Information: An Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.2 Transferring Environmental Data to Your Central Hub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.2.1 Data Transfer Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.2.2 Paso del Norte Project—Data Transfer Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.3 Managing Environmental Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.3.1 Formatting and Processing Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.3.2 Storing Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.3.3 Using Data in Models. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.4	 Lessons Learned From the Paso del Norte Environmental


Monitoring Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
g

CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION . . . . . 6-1

6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Near Real-Time Environmental Data . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

6.2	 Elements of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project


Outreach Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

6.3 Resources for Presenting Environmental Information to the Public . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

CHAPTER 7 COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION . . . . . 7-1

7.1 Building on Existing Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

7.2 Housing Your Database and Web Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

7.3 Public Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

7.4 What Data To Collect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

APPENDIX A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Case Study: Tucson, Arizona, Air Info Now Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Case Study: AirBeat Project of Roxbury, Massachusetts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5

APPENDIX B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

List of Useful Web Sites and References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

IV
in cities and surrounding areas means more cars, trucks, and industrial and commercial 

operations, and generally means more air pollution. Often, terrain and meteorological 

conditions complicate air quality issues in an area. 

Although the national trend is toward better outdoor air quality, there are some urban areas 

where improvement is not occurring. In those areas, the concentration of pollutants such as 

carbon monoxide (a product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels), ground-level ozone, 

(formed by the chemical reaction of pollutants in the emissions from vehicles and other 

sources), and particulate matter (dry particles and liquid droplets emitted by sources such as 

vehicles, factories, and construction activities) in the air is increasing. Concentrations of 

outdoor air pollutants vary from day-to-day and even during the course of a day. 

To protect their health, the public needs timely information on air quality and other factors 

(e.g., weather conditions) that affect air quality. Access to air quality forecasts allows residents 

to reduce their exposure when pollutant concentrations are high. This is important particularly to people who are sensitive to certain pollutants’ harmful effects. For example, people 

with asthma may be sensitive to ground-level ozone and people with heart disease may be 

sensitive to carbon monoxide. 

In 2000, a team of academic and government organizations launched a project to 

communicate timely environmental information to the public in the bi-national, tri-state 

metropolitan region that encompasses Ciudad (Cd.) Juárez, Mexico; El Paso County, Texas; 

and Doña County, New Mexico. This project, known as the Paso del Norte Environmental 

Monitoring Project, was funded with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency’s EMPACT Program. The project goals are to: 

• Develop standards for sharing and displaying environmental information. 

• Establish an infrastructure for communicating timely environmental information. 

• Provide timely environmental information to the public and to the decision-makers 

in the Paso del Norte region. 

• Improve coordination of environmental projects between various agencies, 

institutions, and organizations in the Paso del Norte region. 

• Improve the public’s understanding of individual actions that improve the 

environment. 

• Educate future generations by providing opportunities for students to conduct 

research on and become involved in environmental issues. 

• Share the project results with other regions in the country. 

Introduction 
Service. The Association of Maquilas also has developed an infrastructure to provide 

timely information on the number of bridge crossings and observed wait times. 

• Static and live images from a webcam and video images of current traffic conditio

at various locations in the Paso del Norte region. 

• Weather data from the National Weather Service Web site. 

This technology transfer handbook presents a case study on the Paso del Norte Project. 

It describes how the Paso del Norte Project started, how near real-time air quality, traffic, an

weather data1 are collected in the Paso del Norte region, how those data are processed and th

communicated to the public, and presents lessons learned from the project. The handbook a

provides readers with information on how to develop similar air quality, traffic, and weather 

monitoring, data processing, and outreach programs for their communities. The handbook 

written primarily for community organizers, non-profit groups, local government officials, 

tribal officials, and other decision-makers who implement, or are considering implementing

environmental monitoring and outreach programs. 

1.1 ABOUT THE EMPACT PROGRAM 

This handbook was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) thro

their Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT

program. EPA created the EMPACT program to promote new and innovative approache

to collecting, managing, and communicating environmental information to the public. 

Working with communities across the country, the program takes advantage of new 

technologies to provide community members with timely, accurate, and understandable 

environmental information they can use to make informed, day-to-day decisions about t

lives. EMPACT projects cover a wide range of environmental issues, including water qua

ground-water contamination, smog, ultraviolet radiation, and overall ecosystem quality. 

Some projects were initiated by EPA, while others were initiated by EMPACT communi

themselves through EPA-funded Metro Grants. 

1.2 ABOUT THE PASO DEL NORTE 

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECT 

El Paso is the dominant city in a larger metropolitan region generally referred to as Paso 

Norte. This a bi-national, tri-state region that encompasses Cd. Juárez, Mexico; El Paso 

County, Texas; and Doña Ana County, New Mexico (see Figure 1). Its name originated i

1581 during the first Spanish Expedition. When the Conquistadors saw the fertile oasis 

1In this handbook, “near real-time” describes data collected and communicated to the public in a time fram

that allows the public to use the data to make day-to-day decisions. 

1-2 Cha
Figure 1. Location map of the Paso del Norte region. 

The population of El Paso, which is located where the states of Texas, New Mexico, and 

Chihuahua meet, is more than 600,000. Elsewhere in El Paso County are Fort Bliss, the city 

of Socorro, and several other small cities and unincorporated communities. The total county 

population exceeds 700,000. Immediately south of El Paso and separated only by the narrow 

Rio Grande is Cd. Juárez, a city with an estimated population of 1,300,000. To the northwest 

is Sunland Park, New Mexico, a town with a population of approximately 10,000. The combined population of this region is projected to double within the next 25 years. 

Cd. Juárez has led Mexico in industrial job growth over the past 10 years, and today Juárez is 

Mexico’s fourth largest city. The economies of Cd. Juárez and El Paso are interrelated, and 

the industrial boom in Cd. Juárez has generated a surge in El Paso’s population. The rapid 

growth has strained community infrastructures, significantly stressed the region’s natural 

resources, and exacerbated a number of the region’s environmental problems. 

Introduction 
attainment area under the Clean Air Act. 

International Cooperation 

In the Paso del Norte region, environmental data are collected in three different states in two countries. 

These include air quality data, traffic volume data, vehicle emissions data, international bridge crossing an

wait time data, and weather data. Through the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, these da

are transferred to one database and processed for communication to the public in both English and Spani

The Paso del Norte Project empowers the public in the bi-national, tri-state metropolitan region that 

encompasses Cd. Juárez, Mexico; El Paso County, Texas; and Doña Ana County, New Mexico, by providin

information they can use to help reduce air pollution in the region. This project could not have been done 

without the cooperation of many organizations, including the Instituto Municipal de Investigación y 

Planeación in Juárez, Mexico; the City of El Paso, Texas, Metropolitan Planning Organization; the Texas 

Commission on Environmental Quality; the New Mexico Environment Department; the El Paso City-Count

Health and Environment District; the Departamento de Ecologia de Cuidad Juárez, the University of Texas 

El Paso Center for Environmental Resource Management; and Universidad Autonoma de Cuidad Juárez. 

The Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project communicates critical environmental information 

a region on the border between the United States and Mexico to the public in both countries. It serves a

a prototype of international involvement and cooperation. 

The City of El Paso is the lead agency for the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring 

Project. Partnering with the City of El Paso on this project are: 

• University of Texas at El Paso. 

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 

• El Paso City-County Health and Environment District. 

• New Mexico Environment Department. 

• Departamento de Ecologia en Cuidad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. 

The support of these multiple agencies and institutions arose from official support for th

Joint Advisory Committee (JAC), a bi-national organization that meets quarterly to revie

projects to improve regional air quality and make related recommendations. The JAC 

contains representatives of federal, state, and local governments; educational institutions; 

industry; and other groups. Its endorsement helps ensure cooperation and ongoing supp

from the many entities that must implement the Paso del Norte Project. 

1-4 Cha
traffic information, and weather information. The site now presents information on 

carbon monoxide and ozone. 

• Purchasing computers for use in the Community Scholars Program, a pre-existing 

non-profit summer internship program for El Paso high school honor students. 

Projects in which timely environmental information is transmitted and processed for 

communication to the public also are conducted in other communities in the United States. 

Two of those projects are the Air Info Now Project in Tucson, Arizona, and the AirBeat 

Project in Roxbury, Massachusetts. You may find Appendix A’s information on these projects 

useful as you design and implement your environmental monitoring project. 

1.3 ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK 

Several communities throughout the United States have expressed interest in initiating 

projects similar to the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. The purpose of 

this handbook is to help interested communities and organizations learn more about the Paso 

del Norte Project and to provide them with the technical information they can use to develop 

their own programs. The Technology Transfer and Support Division of the EPA National Risk 

Management Research Laboratory (part of EPA’s Office of Research and Development, or 

ORD) initiated the development of this handbook in collaboration with EPA’s Office of 

Environmental Information. ORD, working with the Paso del Norte Project’s partners, 

produced the handbook to leverage EMPACT’s investment in the project and minimize 

the resources needed to implement similar projects in other areas. 

Both the print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct online ordering from ORD’s Technology Transfer Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl. A PDF version 

of the handbook also can be downloaded from that site. In addition, you can order the handbook (print or CD-ROM version) by contacting ORD Publications by mail or telephone at: 

EPA ORD Publications 

26 W. Martin Luther King Dr. 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45268-001 

EPA NSCEP toll free: 1-800-490-9198 

EPA NSCEP local: 513-489-8190 

Please make sure that you include the title of the handbook and the EPA document number 

in your request. We hope you find the handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use. 

Introduction 
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic 

Traffic Monitoring 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov 

1-6 Cha
Collect, transfer, and 

manage near real-time 

environmental data. 

Develop data 

visualization tools. 

Develop a plan to 

communicate environmental 

information to your 

community. 

• Chapter 3 provides information on collecting timely environmental information. 

The chapter includes discussions of what air quality, traffic, and weather information 

to collect, and focuses on the environmental information collected in the Paso del 

Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. 

• Chapter 4 discusses how to transmit, store, retrieve, and analyze environmental information using automated equipment. The chapter focuses on how this was done in the 

Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. 

• Chapter 5 provides information on how to present environmental information in an 

understandable manner. It focuses on the data visualization tools used in the Paso del 

Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. 

• Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan to communicate 

environmental information to your community. It also provides information about the 

Paso del Norte Project’s outreach efforts. In addition, the chapter contains a list of 

resources that can help you develop easily understandable materials to communicate 

environmental information to a variety of audiences. 

• Chapter 7 discusses how the collection of near real-time environmental data can 

be sustained over time. It discusses how to build on existing programs, housing of 

databases and Web servers, public support for environmental monitoring, and the 

information that can be collected with respect to the availability of funds. 

This handbook is designed for decision-makers considering whether to implement a near realtime environmental monitoring program in their communities and for technicians responsible 

for implementing these programs. Managers and decision-makers likely will find the initial 

general discussions and sections of Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 most helpful. The discussions in 

the latter sections of these chapters, which are targeted primarily for professionals and technicians, provide detailed “how to” information. Chapter 7 is designed for managers. 

The handbook also refers you to supplementary sources of information, such as Web sites and 

guidance documents, where you can find additional guidance with a greater level of technical 

detail. Appendix B includes a list of Web sites and resources you may find helpful in developing an environmental monitoring program. Interspersed throughout the handbook are text 

boxes that describe some of the lessons learned by the Paso del Norte Project Team in developing and implementing its data transfer, data management, and outreach programs. 

How To Use This Handbook 
can be used to see changes over time in the values for the parameters measured. 

This chapter begins with a general overview of air quality monitoring in Section 3.1, 

including a discussion of factors to consider when selecting the parameters to monitor and 

the monitoring frequency for those factors, as well as a discussion of the selection, installation, operation, and maintenance of air quality monitors. It concludes with a discussion of 

air quality monitoring in the Paso del Norte Project. Section 3.2 provides a general overview 

of collecting traffic data. It discusses locating traffic monitors, frequency of monitoring, 

selecting monitoring equipment, and the installation, operation, and maintenance of traffic 

monitoring equipment. Traffic monitoring conducted as part of the Paso del Norte Project 

also is discussed in this section. Section 3.3 reviews collection of weather information. 

As mentioned previously, the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project leverages 

several existing programs. Air quality data are collected through existing continuous air 

monitoring stations, (CAMS), traffic monitoring data are collected using existing traffic 

sensors, and weather data are obtained from the National Weather Service. Collected data 

are processed and communicated to the public through the Paso del Norte Project. 

Readers primarily interested in an overview of environmental monitoring might want to 

focus on the introductory information in Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. If you are responsible 

for the actual design and implementation of a monitoring project, you should review all 

of the information in those sections. They introduce the specific steps involved in 

developing and operating a remote near real-time environmental monitoring project and 

explain where to find additional guidance. Throughout the chapter, decisions made for the 

Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project are discussed. 

3.1 AIR QUALITY MONITORING: AN OVERVIEW 

The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions in 

the United States. Among other things, the CAA requires EPA to set standards for “criteria 

pollutants”—six commonly occurring air pollutants, including ground-level ozone, carbon 

monoxide, and particulate matter. These standards, known as the National Ambient Air 

Quality Standards (NAAQS), are national targets for acceptable air concentrations of each 

of the criteria pollutants. For each pollutant, EPA develops two NAAQS: 

• The “primary standard,” which protects public health. 

• The “secondary standard,” which prevents damage to the environment and property. 

A geographic area that meets the primary health-based NAAQS is called an attainment area. 

Areas that do not meet the primary standard are non-attainment areas. More information 

about the CAA (including the full text of the Act and a Plain English Guide to the Act) 

can be found at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/laws.htm. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
monitoring (e.g., information on air quality monitoring methods and technical articles o

air quality monitoring), access the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) Web site of EPA

Office of Air and Radiation (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/). 

One of the tools that EPA uses to evaluate air quality is an Air Quality Index (AQI). Th

index tells you how clean or polluted the air is based on a scale of 0 to 500, and is based 

health effects that can happen within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. EP

uses the AQI to gauge air quality with respect to five of the six air pollutants regulated b

the CAA: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and 

nitrogen dioxide (see the box on page 3-3). More information on the AQI is available in 

Chapter 6 of this manual and on EPA’s AirNow Web site (http://www.epa.gov/airnow/). 

3.1.1 DESIGN FACTORS FOR AIR QUALITY MONITORI

To design your air monitoring program, you must first identify the purpose of the 

monitoring. Your reasons may be one or more of the following: 

• To improve public awareness of air pollution, reduce health risks from air pollution

or develop ways to reduce air pollution. 

• To identify current and potential air pollution problems. 

• To monitor trends or changes in air quality. 

• To gather information for the design of pollution prevention or restoration projects

• To monitor pollution reduction activities and determine if the goals of specific 

programs are being met. 

• To develop emergency response plans for accidental emission releases. 

The main purpose of air quality monitoring in the Paso del Norte region is to collect 

ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter data. 

After you identify the purpose of your air quality monitoring program, consider the 

following factors in designing the program: 

• What area do you want to include in the program? 

• Are there already air monitors in place? 

• What air pollution sources are in your area? 

• Which parameters should you measure? 

• How often should you measure the parameters? 

3-2 Cha
can be inhaled into and accumulate in the respiratory system. Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in 

diameter (PM2.5) are referred to as “fine” particles. Sources of fine particles include all types of 

combustion processes (e.g., power plants) and some industrial processes. Particles with diameters 

between 2.5 and 10 micrometers are referred to as “coarse.” Sources of course particles include 

grinding operations and dust from paved or unpaved roads. 

Carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas. It forms when the carbon in 

fuels does not completely burn. Vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60 percent of all carbon monoxide 

emissions nationwide, and up to 95 percent in cities. Carbon monoxide concentrations typically are 

highest during cold weather because combustion is less complete in cold temperatures. 

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). Sulfur dioxide is a colorless, reactive gas produced during the burning of 

sulfur-containing fuels such as coal and oil. Major sources include power plants and industrial boilers. 

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish brown, highly reactive gas formed when nitric 

oxide combines with oxygen in the atmosphere. Once it forms, nitrogen dioxide reacts with other 

pollutants (volatile organic compounds). Eventually these reactions result in the formation of 

ground-level ozone. Major sources of NO2 include automobiles and power plants. 

Lead. Lead is a metal found naturally in the environment as well as in manufactured products. The major 

sources of lead emissions historically are motor vehicles and industrial sources. Because of the phase-out 

of leaded gasoline, metal processing is now the major source of lead emissions. The highest air 

concentrations of lead generally are found near lead smelters. Other stationary sources include waste 

incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid battery manufacturers. Exposure to lead can adversely effect humans 

(e.g., cause damage to kidneys and the liver) as well as animals and fish. 

What Area Do You Want To Include in the Program? 

You might determine the area you wish to cover according to your organization’s jurisdiction. 

You also may decide to collect air quality data in multiple jurisdictions to ensure that an 

entire region is covered. 

In the Paso del Norte region, several communities in two countries form a single metropolitan 

area, sharing an “air basin” in the valley created by the Rio Grande between the Franklin 

Mountains and the Sierra de Juárez. This common air basin is subject to inversions that trap 

pollutants in the cooler air along the valley floor during the morning hours (see Figure 2). 

Air quality data are collected in each jurisdiction and used to inform the public about air 

quality in the region. 

Are There Already Air Monitors in Place? 

Many agencies and organizations conduct air quality monitoring, including state pollution 

control agencies, Indian tribes, city and county environmental offices, EPA and other federal 

agencies, and private entities, such as universities, environmental organizations, and industries. By working with organizations currently collecting air quality data, you might be able 

to cover a larger area with less funds when you develop your near real-time air quality 

monitoring program. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
Figure 2. Inversion in the Paso del Norte region. 

The Paso del Norte Project gets air quality data from 25 existing CAMS in El Paso Coun

Texas; Doña Ana County, New Mexico; and Cd Juárez, Mexico. Figure 3 below shows th

locations of the monitoring stations. Some of these monitors had to be upgraded to colle

near real-time carbon monoxide and particulate matter data. 

What Air Pollution Sources Are in Your Area? 

You may determine your air monitoring needs based on the sources of air emissions. In a

urban setting, vehicle emissions may contribute most of the air pollution. In a more rura

setting, emissions from local industries may contribute significantly to the air pollution. 

If you are limited in the number of pollutants that you can monitor, monitor the polluta

that have the greatest effect on air quality in your area. 

Figure 3. Location of continuous air monitoring stations. 

3-4 Cha
inhibited core of Cd. Juárez is impacted by ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and 

particulate matter. For these reasons, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate 

matter are the air pollutants of concern in the region. Pollutants for which data are collected 

at each of the CAMS in the Paso del Norte Region are listed below. 

Monitoring Station

Texas Monitoring Stations

Air Parameters Meteorological Parameters

El Paso Downtown C6 

(EPA Site #48-141-0027) 

Carbon monoxide (CO) Wind speed

Resultant wind speed

Resultant wind direction 

Maximum wind gust

Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction 

Outdoor temperature 

El Paso UTEP C12/C125/C151

(EPA Site #48-141-0037) 

CO 

Nitric oxide (NO)

Nitric dioxide (NO2)

Oxides of nitrogen (NOX)

Ozone 

PM10 (standard conditions)

PM2.5 (local conditions)

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) 

Wind speed

Resultant wind speed

Resultant wind direction 

Maximum wind gust

Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction 

Outdoor temperature

Dew point temperature

Relative humidity

Solar radiation 

Ultraviolet radiation 

Ascarate Park Southeast 

C37/C159/C172

(EPA Site #48-141-0055) 

CO 

NO 

NO2 NOX Ozone 

PM10 (standard conditions) 

Wind speed

Resultant wind speed

Resultant wind direction 

Maximum wind gust

Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction 

Outdoor temperature

Dew point temperature

Relative humidity

Visibility

Solar radiation 

Barometric pressure 

El Paso Sun Metro C40/C116

(EPA Site #48-141-0053) 

CO 

PM2.5 (local conditions)

SO2 

Wind speed

Resultant wind speed

Resultant wind direction 

Maximum wind gust

Standard deviation of horizontal wind direction 

Outdoor temperature 

...continued on next page. 

2 Except for Mexico City, Mexico does not have air quality standards for ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, 

and particulate matter. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
Ozone 

Maximum wind gust

Standard deviation of horizontal wind direct

Outdoor temperature 

Skyline Park C72 

(EPA Site #48-141-0058) 

CO 

NO 

NO

2 NOX Ozone 

SO2 

Wind speed

Resultant wind speed

Resultant wind direction 

Maximum wind gust

Standard deviation of horizontal wind direct

Outdoor temperature 

Tillman C413 

(EPA Site #48-141-0002) 

CO Wind speed

Resultant wind speed

Resultant wind direction 

Maximum wind gust

Standard deviation of horizontal wind direct

Ivanhoe C414 

(EPA Site #48-141-0029) 

CO 

Ozone 

Wind speed

Resultant wind speed

Resultant wind direction 

Maximum wind gust

Standard deviation of horizontal wind direct

Outdoor temperature

Relative humidity 

Northeast Clinic 

(EPA Site #48-141-0010) 

PM10 PM2.5 

None 

Riverside High School 

(EPA Site #48-141-0038) 

PM10 PM2.5 

None 

Vilas School 

(EPA Site #48-141-0041) 

PM10 None 

Escontrias School 

(EPA Site #48-141-0043) 

PM10 None 

Lindberg School 

(EPA Site #48-141-0045) 

Sunland (NM12)

(EPA Site #35-013-0017)

New Mexico Monitoring Stations 

PM10 

Ozone 

SO2 

None 

2-meter aspirated temperature

10-meter aspirated temperature Total solar radiation 

Wind speed

Wind direction 

Standard deviation of wind direction 

La Union (NM13) Ozone 

SO2 

2-meter aspirated temperature

10-meter aspirated temperature Total solar radiation 

Wind speed

Wind direction 

Standard deviation of wind direction 

...continued on next p

3-6 Cha
Desert View (NM52)

(EPA Site #35-013-0021) 

NOX Ozone 

2-meter aspirated temperature

10-meter aspirated temperature

Total solar radiation 

Wind speed

Wind direction 

Standard deviation of wind direction 

Santa Teresa (NM53)

(EPA Site #35-013-0022) 

Tec de Monterrey

(AIRS ID 80-0060-001)

Cd. Juárez, Mexico, Monitoring Stations

NOX Ozone 

CO 

Ozone 

PM10 

2-meter aspirated temperature

10-meter aspirated temperature

Total solar radiation 

Wind speed

Wind direction 

Standard deviation of wind direction 

None 

Pestalozzi 

(AIRS ID 80-0060-002) 

PM10 None 

Zenco Plant 

(AIRS ID 80-0060-001) 

PM10 None 

Advance Transformer 

(AIRS ID 80-0070-004) 

CO 

Ozone 

PM10 

None 

20/30 Club 

(AIRS ID 80-0060-006) 

CO 

Ozone 

PM10 

None 

After you have selected your air quality parameters, 

you need to determine the method used to analyze a 

sample for those parameters. EPA provides technical 

guidance on analytical methods for air pollutants. 

You can find information on air analytical methods on 

the Office of Air and Radiation’s TTN Web site 

(http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/). 

Air quality data for carbon monoxide, 

ground-level ozone, and particulate 

matter are collected in the Paso del 

Norte region because certain areas in 

the region are non-attainment areas 

for those pollutants. 

How Often Should You Measure for Certain Parameters? 

Because the public uses near real-time air quality data to help select their daily activities, you 

need to collect enough data to report daily trends. Your frequency of monitoring depends on 

the kind of air monitoring you do. You can conduct several kinds of air quality monitoring: 

• At fixed locations on a continuous basis. 

• At selected locations on an as-needed basis or to answer specific questions. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
done continuously or for a discrete period. When the operator retrieves and analyzes dat

collected at a location different from the monitoring site itself, the monitoring is called 

remote. This section discusses the equipment needed for continuous air monitoring and 

the location of the air monitoring equipment. 

Continuous Air Monitoring Equipment 

Equipment needed to perform continuous air monitoring includes a sampler, an analyze

a calibration unit, and a data logger. Data can be downloaded from the data loggers to a

offsite computer through a modem connection. To do this, data acquisition and processi

software and a data storage module are needed. For information on selecting monitoring 

equipment, go to http://www.epa.gov/airnow/cdmanual.pdf. 

Of the 14 CAMS in the Paso del Norte region that are located in Texas, 8 have a 

CO monitor, 6 have an ozone monitor, and 8 have a particulate matter monitor. 

The manufacturers and model numbers for the monitors are: 

• CO monitor—TECO Model 48 (monitors operated by the Texas Commission on 

Environmental Quality) and Dasibi Model 3008 (monitors operated by the El Paso 

City-County Health Management District). 

• Ozone monitor—Dasibi Models 1003-AH/1008-AH. 

• PM10/PM2.5—TEOM Model 1400a. 

All of the CAMS in Texas have Dasibi 5008 calibration units and Zeno 3200 data logge

The three CAMS in Mexico that measure CO and ozone have Dasibi Model 3008 CO 

monitors and Dasibi 1003-AH ozone monitors. Wedding PM10 monitors, Dasibi 5008 

calibration units, and Zeno 3200 data loggers are used in all five of the Mexico CAMS. 

Four of the CAMS in New Mexico have the Thermo 49 ozone monitor and one has a 

Dasibi Model 1003-PC ozone monitor. Three of the CAMS have TEOM PM10 monito

and four have TEOM PM2.5 monitors. CO is not monitored at the New Mexico CAMS

Three of the CAMS have Thermo 146 gas calibrators, and the Columbia Scientific 

Instruments Model 1700 gas calibrator and Dasibi 1008 ozone transfer standards are use

for manual calibration at the other two CAMS where ozone is monitored. Five of the CA

have Campbell Scientific, Inc., Model 21X data loggers, and one has a Campbell Scienti

Inc., Model 23X data logger. 

3-8 Cha
reference and equivalent methods at the Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center (AMTIC) 

Bulletin Board located online at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/. 

Before you purchase an analyzer, you should verify that it meets the reference method or equivalent 

method requirements. Because manufacturers change or modify analyzers without changing their 

model numbers, the model number alone does not necessarily indicate that an analyzer meets the 

method requirements. 

Calibration units. Calibration determines the relationship between the observed and the true values 

of a measured parameter. Accuracy is the extent to which measurements represent their corresponding 

actual values, and precision is a measurement of the variability observed over repeated analyses. The 

accuracy and precision of data derived from air monitoring instruments depend on sound instrument 

calibration procedures. 

Data loggers. The analyzers at your monitoring site generate data that must be recorded and reported. 

A data logger is a computerized system used to control and record data. 

With a data logger, you can interact with software using either a keyboard or an interactive, commandoriented interface. Data loggers perform the following functions: 

• Review collected data. 

• Produce printed reports. 

• Control the analyzer and other instruments. 

• Set up instrument operating parameters. 

• Perform diagnostic checks. 

• Set up external events and alarms. 

• Define external storage. 

Monitoring Locations 

You should select monitoring locations that best fulfill the objectives of your remote near 

real-time air quality monitoring project. Consider the questions below when choosing your 

monitoring location. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
vandalism or tampering? 

❑ What local, state, or federal regulations do you need to consider when choosing your locations? 

❑ Is flexibility important to your project? Would you like the option to move your monitoring 

equipment to different locations, or would you like to monitor at several locations concurrently? 

❑ Do you foresee any site-specific problems with installing, operating, and maintaining your monitori

equipment at these locations? Do these locations pose any safety hazards to your personnel? 

❑ Can you adequately survey and access your locations? What equipment-specific considerations w

you need to make? 

3.1.3 INSTALLING, OPERATING, AND MAINTAINING

AIR QUALITY MONITORING EQUIPMENT 

After you have completed the planning activities for your air quality monitoring program 

(i.e., selecting monitoring equipment and monitoring locations), the next step is to insta

the monitoring equipment. When you install your equipment, always consider how you 

operate and maintain the equipment (e.g., is it easily accessible for maintenance?). 

Installing Air Quality Monitors 

When you install your air monitoring equipment, always consult the equipment manufa

turer’s manual for any special installation instructions. You also need to control any phys

influences that might affect sample stability, chemical reactions within the sampler, and t

function of sampler components when you install the equipment. This helps ensure that 

receive accurate data from your monitoring station. The table below summarizes physica

influences and the ways in which you can control them. 

Variable 

Instrument vibration 

Method of Control 

Design instrument housings and benches according to manufacturer’s specifica

tions. Use shock-absorbing feet for the sampler and a foam pad under the anal

Attempt to find and isolate the source of the vibration. The pumps themselves c

be fitted with foam or rubber feet to reduce vibration. If the pumps are downstr

of the instruments, connect the pumps using tubing that prevents the transfer o

vibrations back to the instruments and instrument rack. 

Light Shield instrumentation from natural or artificial light. 

Electrical voltage Ensure constant voltage to transformers or regulators. Separate power lines. Is

high-current equipment such as heating baths and pumps on their circuits. Che

the total amps drawn should be checked before adding another instrument. 

Temperature Regulate the air-conditioning system. Use a 24-hour temperature recorder. Use 

electrical heating/cooling only. 

Humidity Regulate the air-conditioning system. Use a 24-hour recorder. 

3-10 Cha
Operating Air Quality Monitors 

After you install your air quality monitors, you should develop written standard operating 

procedures (SOPs) that describe the operation of each part of the monitoring station. Be sure 

to develop written SOPs for a repetitive or routine procedure that significantly affects data 

quality. Information about developing, documenting, and improving SOPs can be found in 

Guidance for the Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures for Quality-Related Documents 

(EPA/600/R-96/027). To locate this document, search EPA’s Web site for documents by 

publication number (http://www.epa.gov/clariton/clhtml/pubtitle.html). 

You should also conduct quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) checks on your monitoring 

equipment to ensure that it functions properly. See the box below for a discussion of these checks. 

Quality Assurance and Quality Control 

Data validation entails accepting or rejecting monitoring data based on routine periodic analyzer checks. 

For example, you need to check the analyzer span for excessive drift. If the span drift is equal to or 

greater than 25 percent, data are invalid. If this is the case and you only perform span checks at the 

minimum recommended frequency of once every 2 weeks, up to 2 weeks of monitoring data may be 

invalid. To avoid this situation, you might want to perform span checks more often. 

You should analyze the hard copy output from the data logger to detect signs of malfunctions, including: 

• A straight trace (other than the minimum detectable) for several hours. 

• Excessive noise (noisy outputs may occur when analyzers are exposed to vibrations). 

.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qaqc.html

• A long, steady increase or decrease in deflection. 

• A cyclic trace pattern with a definite time period, indicating a sensitivity to changes in 

temperature or other parameters. 

• A trace below the zero baseline that may indicate a larger than normal drop in ambient room 

temperature or power line voltage. 

• Span drift equal to or greater than 25 percent. 

Data must be voided for any time 

). 

interval during which the analyzer malfunctions. 

In addition, the integrity of air samples may be compromised by faulty delivery systems such as the 

sampling interface. For information about QA/QC protocols set forth by EPA, refer to AMTIC’s QA/QC 

Web site (http://www

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
CAMS in the Paso del Norte region are operated by four separate government agencies, 

serving three states in two countries. Even though there are slight variations in the layou

the CAMS operated by each agency, the basic layout at each station is the layout in Figu

Maintaining Air Quality Monitors 

You will likely focus most of your scheduled equipment maintenance on cleaning and 

calibrating your monitoring analyzers to meet your project’s QA/QC protocols. The requ

effort and frequency for this maintenance depends on the conditions at your monitoring 

locations. In addition to cleaning and calibrating your analyzers, you might need to perf

maintenance that depends on factors specific to your project, your community, and your 

monitoring locations. 

To ensure accuracy and precision of data derived from your air monitoring instruments, 

need to develop reliable instrument calibration procedures. The EPA document Ozone 

Monitoring, Mapping, and Public Outreach: Delivering Real-Time Ozone Information to Yo

Community (EPA/625/R-99/007) provides two alternative calibration methods: primary 

calibration procedures and calibration using a transfer standard. You can find the docum

online at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/cdmanual.pdf. 

Enclosure 

Temperature 

Humidity 

Data Logger Carbon 

Monoxide 

Monitor 

Ozone 

Monitor 

Wind Speed & Direction 

Meteorological 

Tower Exhaust 

Particulate 

Trap 

Vacuum 

DC Voltages 

Modem 

Modem 

Phone 

Line 

Cellular 

Phone 

Teflon 

Tubing 

Sample Line Filters 

Roof 

Air Inlet 

PM-10, Beta, 

and 

TSP Samplers 

Miscellaneous 

Monitoring 

Apparatus 

Figure 4. Block diagram of an ambient air monitoring station 

3-12 Cha
maintenance contracts, the QA/QC plan, or the test plan. 

Each component of your monitoring equipment has its own maintenance routine. In many 

cases, the equipment manual provided by the manufacturer offers detailed maintenance 

procedures. The table below describes the essential equipment maintenance activities. 

Check every 2 weeks. 

Checks performed as part of maintenance activities and the recommended frequency for each 

check are listed below. 

Measurement and 

Frequency 

Check thermograph chart 

daily for excessive 

fluctuations. 

Corrective Action, if Needed 

Mark chart for the affected 

period. Repair or adjust 

temperature control 

system. 

Maintenance Item 

Shelter temperature 

Acceptance Limits 

Mean temperature

between 220° and 280° C 

(72° and 82° F), with daily

fluctuation ±2° C(4° F). 

Sample introduction 

system 

No moisture, foreign

material, leaks, or 

obstructions; sample line 

connected to manifold. 

Make weekly visual 

inspections. 

Clean, repair, or replace as 

needed. 

Recorder Adequate ink supply and 

chart paper. Legible ink 

traces. Correct settings of 

chart speed and range

switches. Correct time. 

Make weekly visual 

inspections. 

Replenish ink and chart 

paper supply. Adjust

recorder time to agree

with the clock; note on 

chart. 

Data logger Complete data logger 

storage or hard copy. 

Make weekly visual 

inspections. 

Perform maintenance 

according to manufacturer’s specifications. 

Analyzer operational

settings 

Flow and regulator

indicators at proper

settings. Analyzer set in 

sample mode. Zero and 

span controls locked. 

Make weekly visual 

inspection. 

Adjust or repair as needed. 

Analyzer operational check Zero and span within 

tolerance limits as 

specified. 

Check every 2 weeks. Isolate source of error and 

repair. After corrective 

action, recalibrate analyzer. 

Precision check Assess precision by

repeated measurements. 

Calculate and report

results of precision check. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
Temperature check Every 720 hours of instrument operation 

Pressure check Every 720 hours of instrument operation 

System leak check Every 168 hours of instrument operation 

Solenoid valve leak check Every 720 hours of instrument operation 

For the Paso del Norte Project, calibration occurs every 28 days during CO season. Span 

checks are performed once a week. 

3.2 TRAFFIC MONITORING: AN OVERVIEW

Information obtained through monitoring of traffic is used to inform the public about 

traffic delays, road construction delays, accidents, and other impedances. Traffic monitor

includes using traffic sensors to collect traffic volume and speed information and video 

cameras to visualize delays caused by traffic. Other sources of traffic-related information 

include county engineering or transportation departments (e.g., for schedules of road 

construction) and police and fire departments. 

Traffic monitoring information is used to: 

• Determine current traffic volumes and show any trends or changes. 

• Identify current and potential traffic congestion areas. 

• Identify alternative routes. 

• Alert the public about traffic impedances. 

• Educate the public about the relationship between traffic and air pollution. 

• Encourage the use of other modes of transportation (e.g., buses). 

• Design transit improvement projects. 

Additional information on traffic monitoring is available from the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/. The U.S. Department of Transportat

Travel Model Improvement Program also provides information on traffic monitoring, 

including research on transit modeling and data collection (http://tmip.tamu.edu/). 

3.2.1 DESIGN FACTORS FOR TRAFFIC MONITORING 

To design your traffic monitoring program, you must first identify the purpose(s) of the 

monitoring. In addition to linking traffic data and air quality data, your purpose (s) may b

• Enhance public safety. 

• Reduce congestion and travel delays. 

3-14 Cha
• Where are the traffic congestion areas in your region? 

• What traffic parameters should you monitor? 

• How often should you monitor traffic? 

For the Paso del Norte Project, the main purpose of collecting traffic information is to 

inform the public about daily traffic conditions. The public can use the information to make 

decisions about what routes to take and when to travel. Another purpose of collecting traffic 

information is to provide information needed to estimate vehicle emissions in the region. 

Traffic data are input into transportation models to generate an estimate of the emissions 

from vehicle exhausts. This estimate is then used along with other information to educate the 

public about air pollution in the region and what they can do to improve air quality (e.g., 

reduce the number of vehicle trips on days when the temperature is high). Less time on the 

road results in reduced emissions from vehicle exhausts. 

What Area Do You Want To Include in the Program? 

As with air quality monitoring, the area in which you wish to conduct traffic monitoring 

may depend on the jurisdiction of your organization. You may decide to focus on areas with 

the highest traffic volume (e.g., metropolitan areas). 

In the Paso del Norte region, sensors and cameras are used on arterials in the city of El Paso 

and on certain highways in the region to collect traffic data. Data also are collected at international bridge crossings using cameras. Traffic monitoring in the region was initiated before 

the start of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. 

Are There Already Traffic Monitors or Cameras in Place? 

State and local transit agencies and organizations conduct traffic monitoring. By working 

with these organizations, you can share data collected using existing traffic sensors and 

cameras and decide whether additional sensors and cameras are needed. When existing 

traffic sensors are used, they may have to be upgraded to provide near real-time traffic data. 

In the El Paso metropolitan area, 600 intrusive traffic sensors (i.e., loop detectors using 12 or 

14 AWG wire) collect speed and volume data. Traffic information is also collected through a 

Video Vehicle Detector System (VIVIDS) loop detector manufactured by Trafficon. A VIVIDS 

detector is a camera located on the mast arm of a traffic signal. VIVIDS detectors are used at 

several locations in El Paso (e.g., at the intersection of Montana and Airway Streets and along 

the Gateway East and West Boulevard). Forty cameras provide video images of traffic conditions in the Paso del Norte region. The Paso del Norte project team installed 16 cameras on 

the Mexico side of the international bridges. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
wait times) is provided by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service on an hourly basis

These efforts address the number one need identified in the El Paso Intelligent 

Transportation System Early Development Plan: current and reliable traffic information. 

Near real-time traffic data are not available for Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Cd. Juár

Chihuahua. 

What Traffic Parameters Should You Monitor? 

The following traffic parameters may be included in your monitoring program. 

• Traffic volume—vehicle count. 

• Vehicle presence—whether there is a vehicle in the detection zone of a sensor. 

• Vehicle passage—vehicle movement through the detection zone of a sensor. 

• Vehicle speed. 

• Vehicle classification—by gross vehicle weight. 

• Vehicle weight. 

• Gap and headway—distance and time intervals between vehicles passing a specified 

location. 

• Travel time. 

• Vehicle and lane occupancy—the number of persons, including driver and passenge

in a vehicle and the number of vehicles in a lane. 

The traffic parameters that you monitor are based on your project’s objectives and on th

funds available. Different types of traffic monitoring sensor have different applications. 

Depending on the number of monitors needed, your budget may dictate the type of 

monitors you can install. 

Traffic parameters measured in the Paso del Norte region are listed below. 

Traffic Parameters 

Traffic volume 

Vehicle speed 

Traffic volume 

Vehicle speed 

Traffic volume 

Vehicle speed 

Traffic Monitoring Locations in 

the Paso del Norte Region 

Interstate-10 

U.S. Route 54 

Various locations in city of El Paso 

3-16 Cha
pgg

Paso del Norte Environmental Project are collected at 5-minute intervals at fixed locations in 

El Paso and at fixed locations on some of the highways in the area. Volume and speed measurements are summarized on an hourly basis, and data sets and displays are refreshed on the 

Internet every 60 minutes. Information on international bridge crossings and wait times 

collected by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service is also refreshed on the Internet 

every 60 minutes. 

3.2.2 SELECTING YOUR TRAFFIC MONITORING 

EQUIPMENT AND LOCATIONS 

A traffic sensor, one type of traffic monitoring equipment, includes three components: 

1) the transducer, 2) the signal processing device, and 3) the data processing device. 

Traffic Monitoring Equipment—Sensors 

Transducer. Detects the presence or passage of a vehicle or its axles. 

Signal processing device. Converts the transducer output to an electrical signal. 

Data processing device. Converts the electrical signal from the signal processing device to traffic data. 

This device includes computer hardware and firmware. 

Reference: Federal Highway Administration 2000. A Summary of Vehicle Detection and Surveillance Technologies Used in 

Intelligent Transportation Systems. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/vdstits.htm 

You can also monitor traffic using still cameras or video cameras to capture traffic volume, 

delays, and other obstructions. The video image system includes cameras, computers to 

digitize and send the image, and software to interpret the image. 

Equipment Selection 

Your selection of remote near real-time traffic monitoring equipment depends on your 

project’s objectives. When selecting monitoring equipment, you should consider equipment 

life, reliability, and maintenance requirements. 

To decide which traffic monitoring equipment to use in your near real-time environmental 

monitoring program, you can consult the Federal Highway Administration’s A Summary 

of Vehicle Detection and Surveillance Technologies Used in Intelligent Transportation Systems, 

located on the FHWA’s Web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/vdstits.htm. 

The summary includes principles of operation, applications and uses, advantages and 

disadvantages, and other relevant information for the following technologies: 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
 Piezoelectric sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count, vehicle spac

vehicle weight, and vehicle speed (using multiple sensors). 

– Magnetic sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count, vehicle presenc

(depending on model), vehicle speed, and lane occupancy. 

– Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) sensors. Monitoring parameters include vehicle weig

traffic count (volume), vehicle speed, and vehicle classification. 

• Non-intrusive technologies. Sensors installed above ground (above traffic lanes or on 

the side of the road). These sensors provide traffic data with less traffic disruption t

do intrusive technologies. Many of these sensors have multiple lane applications. 

Non-intrusive sensors include: 

– Video image processors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle 

presence, occupancy, speed, and classification; and lane occupancy. 

– Microwave radars. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle presenc

speed, and classification; and lane occupancy. 

– Passive infrared sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle 

presence, passage, speed, and classification; and lane occupancy. 

– Active infrared sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count; vehicle 

presence, speed, and classification; and lane occupancy. 

– Ultrasonic sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count, vehicle presen

vehicle speed (two sensors) and lane occupancy. 

– Passive acoustic array sensors. Monitoring parameters include traffic count, 

vehicle presence, vehicle speed (with assumed car length), and lane occupancy. 

– Combinations of sensor technologies. 

When selecting your traffic monitoring equipment, you need to consider outside factors 

might affect the operation of the sensor or camera. Outside factors and the sensitivity of 

monitoring equipment to the factors are listed below. 

Installation, operation, and maintenance procedures and requirements for traffic sensors 

might be a big factor in your choice of monitoring equipment for your project. See Sectio

3.2.3 for more details on installing, operating, and maintaining traffic monitoring equipm

A camera used to monitor traffic can be equipped with an automatic zoom lens or a man

zoom lens. Cameras also have varying magnification capabilities. Depending on the loca

and view to cover, you should choose the camera that best fits your location. 

3-18 Cha
High vehicle speed Piezoelectric sensor 

Low vehicle speed Passive acoustic array sensor 

Inclement weather Microwave radar 

Passive acoustic array sensor 

(precipitation) 

Video image processor

Infrared sensor 

Headlights/sunlight Video image processor

Infrared sensor 

Air turbulence Ultrasonic sensor 

Reference: Federal Highway Administration 2000. A Summary of Vehicle Detection and Surveillance Technologies Used in 

Intelligent Transportation Systems. http://www.fhwa.dot/gov/ohim/tutw/vdstits.htm. 

Traffic monitoring equipment used in the El Paso area includes 600 intrusive traffic sensors 

and 40 video image cameras (an additional 32 cameras are expected to be installed by the end 

of 2003). Sensors collect volume and speed data on the El Paso arterials and on Interstate 10 

and U.S. 54. Video images show delays on highways and at international brides. Every camera 

has a manual zoom lens with a magnification factor of 4, and is manufactured by COHU. 

Data from the traffic sensors on Interstate 10 and U.S. 54 are logged into an automated 

traffic management system operated by the TxDOT in Austin. Traffic data collected in the 

city of El Paso are logged into a system called QuickNET (from Bytrans) by the City. These 

data are then processed for communication to the public. 

Monitoring Locations 

You should select monitoring locations that best fulfill the objectives of your remote near 

real-time traffic monitoring project. Consider the monitoring location checklist in Section 

3.1.2 when choosing your monitoring locations. 

3.2.3 INSTALLING, OPERATING, AND MAINTAINING

TRAFFIC MONITORING EQUIPMENT 

Planning and coordination are necessary for installing any type of traffic monitoring equipment—sensors or cameras. The installation and maintenance of the equipment may result in 

traffic disruption including lane closures. You need to set a schedule and inform the public 

before beginning work. 

Installing Traffic Monitoring Equipment 

As indicated in the section above, traffic sensors fall into two major categories—intrusive 

technologies and non-intrusive technologies. Intrusive sensor installation results in more traffic 

disruption than does installation of non-intrusive sensors. Consult the equipment manufacturer’s manual for detailed instructions on how to install the traffic monitoring equipment. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
the Paso del Norte region. In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation operates 

loop counters at locations on I-10 and U.S. 54. 

Operating Traffic Monitoring Equipment 

Automated traffic monitoring equipment collects traffic data and automatically sends the 

information to your database. With non-automated equipment, you must call the monito

equipment to download the data. The box below briefly explains how the technologies lis

in Section 3.2.2 work (reference: Federal Highway Administration’s A Summary of Vehicle 

Detection and Surveillance Technologies Used in Intelligent Transportation Systems, fall 2000)

Operation of Traffic Monitoring Equipment—Brief Overview 

Pneumatic road tube. A portable unit that senses vehicle as their tires pass over the tube. The tire causes a pu

of air pressure to close an air switch. This switch produces an electrical signal that is then sent to the counter. 

Inductive loop detector. The inductive loop of the sensor (signals with frequencies between 10 and 50 KHz) 

decreases when a vehicle stops or passes over the loop. The oscillation frequency increases, causing the 

electronic unit to send a signal to the controller. 

Piezoelectric sensor. The sensors create a voltage signal proportional to the force or weight of the vehicle. 

Magnetic sensor. Detects the presence of a metallic vehicle based on perturbation of Earth’s magnetic field. 

WIM sensors. 

• Bending plate—a unit consisting of plates with strain gauges. The strain value is used to estimate sta

weight based on various calibration parameters (e.g., vehicle speed). 

• Piezoelectric—see “piezoelectric sensors” above. 

• Load cell—weight scales that use a pressure transducer to transmit weight information to data collec

equipment. 

• Capacitance mat—a unit consisting of steel sheets and dielectric material. The mat senses vehicles w

the space between the steel sheets decreases (and the capacitance increases). 

Video image processor. A system including cameras, a microprocessor-based computer, and image softwa

Vehicles are detected by changes between successive frames. 

Microwave radar. Detects vehicle presence when transmitted radar energy is reflected back to the antenna. 

A receiver can then calculate various traffic monitoring parameters. 

Passive infrared sensor. Detects energy (graybody emission due to non-zero surface temperature) emitted 

from vehicles, roads, etc. 

Active infrared sensor. Detects vehicle presence when transmitted infrared energy is reflected back. 

Ultrasonic sensor. Detects vehicle presence when transmitted pressure waves of sound energy are 

reflected back. 

Passive acoustic array sensor. Detects approaching vehicles using audible sounds. The unit includes an up

and lower microphone. 

3-20 Cha
You will likely focus most of your scheduled equipment maintenance on calibrating your 

traffic monitoring sensors to meet your project’s QA/QC protocols. The required effort and 

frequency of maintenance depends on the types of sensors you use and the conditions at your 

monitoring locations. In addition to sensor calibration, you might need to perform scheduled 

maintenance. Maintenance requirements depend on factors specific to your project and your 

monitoring locations. 

You also should develop a preventive maintenance plan to ensure that the sensor and 

camera operations and maintenance procedures are followed consistently. Your preventive 

maintenance plan should include: 

• A short description of each maintenance procedure. 

• The schedule and frequency for each procedure. 

• A list of critical parts on hand. 

• A list of maintenance contracts for instruments. 

• Documentation that shows maintenance is performed as required by maintenance 

contracts, the QA/QC plan, or the test plan. 

Each component of your traffic monitoring equipment has its own maintenance routine. 

In many cases, the equipment manual provided by the manufacturer offers detailed 

maintenance procedures. 

Cameras and multiplexers (modems) used in the Paso del Norte region are maintained 

once per week. The zoom and focus of the cameras, the condition of the wiring, and all connections are checked, and the equipment is cleaned. 

3.3 COLLECTING WEATHER INFORMATION 

Weather information is important to the public. They want to know the current weather 

conditions as well as the weather forecast. This information also is important with respect to 

the air quality of an area. For example, the current temperature is an indicator of the potential for high ground-level ozone levels, particularly during the summer. The weather forecast 

also can be used to help predict future air quality conditions in an area. 

3.3.1 WEATHER PARAMETERS 

You may want to collect information for some of the weather parameters described below 

through your environmental monitoring program. 

• Ambient air temperature. The hotness or coldness in the atmosphere. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
• Pressure. Atmospheric pressure is caused by the weight of the atmosphere. At sea lev

pressure has a mean value of one atmosphere; pressure decreases with increasing altit

• Relative humidity—A measure of the water vapor content of the air, usually as a percen

• Solar radiation. Radiation from the sun. 

• UV forecast. Recommends whether the level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching 

atmosphere can cause overexposure to various groups of people. 

• Visibility. The farthest distance that atmospheric conditions allow one to see witho

instruments. 

• Wind speed and direction. Usually miles per hour that wind is traveling and the so

direction. 

3.3.2 SOURCES OF INFORMATION 

The Web site for the U.S. National Weather Service (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/) displays 

weather information collected through the Automated Surface Observation System. The

data include temperature, wind speed, wind direction, UV radiation intensity, dew point

and precipitation. The National Weather Service (NWS) updates its weather data hourly

except for precipitation data, which it updates every 6 hours. This information is availab

to the public through a file server at the NWS gateway using file transfer protocol (FTP)

Another source of information on UV radiation is EPA’s SunWise School Program 

(http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindexcontour.html). 

Temperature, wind speed, and wind direction data can also be collected at air quality 

monitoring stations. The frequency of collection for weather data should be the same as 

frequency of collection for air quality data. 

For the Paso del Norte Project, wind speed, wind direction, and temperature data are 

collected at the CAMS in the region. These data are then transferred and processed with 

quality data. 

As part of the Paso del Norte Project, weather data from the NWS in Santa Teresa, New 

Mexico, are retrieved by a server at the University of Texas at El Paso by means of a FTP 

connection. These data are processed through a series of algorithms and redisplayed. Cur

temperature, UV intensity, relative humidity, wind speed, and heat index readings appea

digital form on the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project Web site. Graphs 

showing changes in various weather parameters also are on the Web site. The UV radiati

information on the Project’s Web site comes from EPA’s SunWise School Program. 

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represents full bi-national cooperation and support from its member organizations. 

Equally important, the JAC provides a forum to assign responsibilities and authority for 

collecting and processing information. It also is a non-partisan organization through which 

all members can take credit for regional accomplishments such as the Paso del Norte 

Environmental Monitoring Project. 

The JAC developed a strategic plan that includes a work plan to improve air quality in the 

Paso del Norte region. Many of the tasks in the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring 

Project came directly from the strategic plan. As a result, the Paso del Norte Project is an 

integral part of a comprehensive plan developed by a sanctioned bi-national organization. 

This helps ensure the success of the current project as well as support to continue the project 

beyond the limits of the EMPACT grant. This type of support is very important for projects 

that involve multiple jurisdictions. 

Geographic Information Systems 

After many years of research, vehicles were identified as the most significant source of air 

pollution in the Paso del Norte region. To assess the impact of vehicles on air pollution, 

the Project collects near real-time information on traffic conditions in the region and at the 

international ports of entry. That information, along with near real-time ambient air quality 

and meteorological data, is input into various transportation models to develop vehicle 

emission estimates. Outputs from the transportation models are then input into the 

photochemical modeling being conducted for the region by EPA Region 6 and the Texas 

Commission on Environmental Quality. A system is needed to integrate all of the near 

real-time information that is collected. Geographic information systems (GIS) serve this 

role in the Paso del Norte Project. 

GIS combine geographic features (described as lines, points, and polygons) with information 

stored in tabular or database format. In the Paso Del Norte Project, CAMS are input as 

points and contain associated air quality and meteorology information. Roadway segments 

are input as lines or polylines, and contain traffic volumes, speeds, and limited vehicle mix 

characteristics. Land use is summarized by polygons and equated to general area emissions. 

Two GIS programs are used in the Paso del Norte Project: ArcView by Environmental 

Science Research Institute and TransCAD by Caliper Corporation. ArcView is used to store 

core data along with spatial analysis and to visualize multiple layers or themes such as roads, 

terrain, and monitor locations. TransCAD is used for transportation modeling and to 

develop emissions estimates. Both of these programs support industry-standard file formats, 

which allows data to be shared and exchanged. The role played by these two GIS programs is 

critical to the success of the Paso del Norte Project. 

Collecting Timely Environmental Information 
, jppg

housed in El Paso. These differences in the input variables illustrate how transportation 

modeling can be complicated in a bi-national region such as Paso del Norte. To ensure 

that the results of the transportation modeling are accurate, all jurisdictions in an area 

must support the modeling efforts by providing accurate inputs for the model. 

Multiple Uses of Near Real-Time Data 

The Paso del Norte Project’s near real-time traffic data can be used for purposes other th

public communication. For example, emergency personnel can use traffic volume inform

tion and current images of traffic conditions to respond to accidents. In addition, near 

real-time border crossing information and associated wait times are important to federal 

agencies responsible for overseeing the international ports of entry in the region. Because 

the Paso del Norte Project, the infrastructure needed to communicate those data is in pla

The multiple uses of the data demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive approach 

data collection and management in a large, bi-national metropolitan area. 

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Using the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project as a model, this chapter provides 

you and your community with suggestions on how to process timely environmental information. Section 4.1 contains an overview of processing environmental information. Sections 4.2 

and 4.3 contain information on transferring data and managing data, respectively. 

4.1 PROCESSING ENVIRONMENTAL 

INFORMATION: AN OVERVIEW 

To process near real-time environmental data, you need to develop a data transfer and management system. This system can benefit your community by enabling you to control data 

collected using automatic monitoring equipment. By using the system’s software, you can 

program your system to collect data from remote sampling locations at specified intervals 

and store them. With little or no need for human intervention, the information can be 

exported to a database, set in a standard format, and merged with manually collected data. 

Once the data are available in a database, they can be used in a wide variety of applications. 

They can be: 

• Manually inspected for quality control purposes. 

• Plotted using graphing software. 

• Mapped using a geographic information system (GIS). 

• Processed and combined with other data. 

• Made available to the public via a Web server. 

Timely processing of environmental data is key to creating a useful tool that can affect daily 

activities of the public. There are two major steps to processing the data: 1) transferring the 

data from data loggers at remote monitoring locations to your central hub; and 2) managing the data in preparation for dissemination to the public. 

4.2 TRANSFERRING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 

TO YOUR CENTRAL HUB 

Data can be transferred from one location to another either automatically or manually. 

Automated data transfer systems are easier to operate than are manual systems. Automated 

systems, after collecting data using a data logger, send the data automatically to your computer 

and data acquisition system. The data are typically put into a comma-delimited ASCII file 

(a standard format). From this file, data can be converted to HTML tables. Non-automated 

data transfer systems require an additional step—the monitoring station has to be called 

manually to download the data. 

Processing Timely Environmental Information 
American 

pages are built using HTML codes embedded in the text. 

Intranet. An in-house LAN (Local Area Network) or client/server system not accessible by the genera

public. The communications protocol and hypertext links operate the same as on the Internet. 

TCP/IP. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is the Internet protocol that allows 

communications between 

Management 

dissimilar systems. The TCP part provides transport protocol functions 

to ensure that all the information sent is received correctly. The IP part provides the routing mechanism

Reference: Alan Freedman and Alfred 

Association. 

and Emily Glossbrenner. 1998. The Internet Glossary and Quick Reference Guide. New Yo

4.2.1 DATA TRANSFER COMPONENTS 

To receive data collected automatically, you can use a modem (or other) connection from e

monitoring station to your central hub computer. This allows data logging from more than 

monitor to occur on a single computer. You typically need data acquisition and processing 

ware and a data storage module to collect and manage the data. Once data are delivered to 

central hub computer, they are filtered and stored in a file in the data acquisition system w

further processing and reporting occurs. 

In addition to transferring the data from remote monitoring locations to your central hub c

puter, you also may collect data from other sources. These data might or might not need to 

processed further for public use. For example, weather data can be collected from the Nation

Weather Service. These data, which already have been processed; you can place them on you

Web site after formatting them, and they can then be accessed via an Internet connection. 

Environmental Data Transfer Components 

Central hub computer(s). One or more computers can be used to retrieve the data from various 

sources (e.g., remote monitoring locations and other Web sites). 

Computer connection (e.g., modem connection). This connects the computer at the remote 

monitoring locations to the central hub computer. It also can connect your central hub computer to 

other computers on your network or to data on Web sites. Data may be transferred via modem, intran

FTP, or microwave link. 

Data acquisition software. You can purchase software (or develop your own computer routine) 

to automatically collect the data from remote locations in a standard format (e.g., ASCII text). 

Validation software and other processing software. You can purchase software (or develop your ow

computer routine) to perform quality control analysis on the collected data. Once the data are validate

(i.e., pass quality control criteria), you can further process the data for public use. 

Database/archive storage system. This system stores all your data by date and time of collection. 

The system will be most useful if you can use it to perform queries of the data. 

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4.2.2 PASO DEL NORTE PROJECT—DATA TRANSFER 

COMPONENTS 

In the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, air quality data, traffic volume data, 

traffic video images, weather data, and static and live images from Webcams, hubs, and Web 

sites are transferred to a central hub location. Components of the data transfer system are: 

• Air quality data and meteorological data collected at continuous air monitoring 

stations (CAMS). 

For CAMS in El Paso operated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 

(TCEQ): 

– Data transferred from CAMS to TCEQ for validation using the IPS Meteostar system. 

– Validated data transferred from TCEQ to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) 

via secure intranet FTP. 

For CAMS in El Paso operated by the El Paso City-County Health and Environment 

District: 

– Data transferred from CAMS to TCEQ via modem for validation using the IPS 

Meteostar system. 

– Validated data transferred from TCEQ to UTEP via secure intranet FTP. 

For CAMS in Cd. Juárez, Mexico: 

– Data transferred from CAMS to Universidad Autonoma de Cd. Juárez (UACJ) 

via dial-up connection. 

– Data transferred from UACJ to UTEP via Internet2 for validation. 

(Note: CAMS in Cd. Juárez are scheduled to be incorporated into the IPS Meteostar 

system. Radios will be used to transmit data from Cd. Juárez to TCEQ.) 

For CAMS in Sunland Park, New Mexico: 

– Data transferred from CAMS to UTEP via dial-up connection for validation. 

Processing Timely Environmental Information 
• Traffic volume data. 

You can transfer traffic volume data and video camera images from your monitorin

stations to your central hub using fiber optic lines, phone line connections, or wire

connections. Components of the traffic volume data transfer system for the Paso d

Norte Environmental Monitoring Project include: 

– Traffic volume data from loop counters in El Paso and on I-10 and U.S. 54 

transferred to the El Paso Traffic and Transportation (T&T) Department via fibe

optic lines. 

– Data from El Paso T&T transferred to UTEP via dial-up modem. 

Traffic volume data are automatically placed on the Paso del Norte Environmental 

Monitoring Project’s Internet server using a Unix CRON (clock daemon). Traffic v

ume data and border wait times are stored on a secure intranet site integrated with 

industry-standard relational database (using a ColdFusion application server, manu

tured by Macromedia) and Internet GIS applications (ArcView Internet, manufact

by ESRI) to allow police, fire service, and EMS to register current incidents. 

• Traffic video images. 

Traffic video images are transferred in the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitori

Project using the following components: 

– El Paso traffic images transferred to El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization 

(MPO) via a fiber optic system. 

– Traffic images from MPO transferred to UTEP via secure intranet FTP. 

– Traffic images for international bridges transferred to the Instituto Municipal de 

Investigación y Planeación (IMIP) via multiplexer wire modem and then to the C

of El Paso via a microwave connection. The images are then transmitted to UTE

via a dedicated T1 line. 

• Bridge crossing and wait times. 

Data from U.S. Customs and Immigration Service transferred to UTEP via Intern

• Weather data. 

Weather data are collected from the CAMS and from the NWS. Transfer 

components for the weather data collection system are: 

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Air quality data are collected at the CAMS in the Paso del Norte region every 5 minutes. 

Each afternoon around 3:00 p.m., the 5-minute data sets for the past 24 hours are submitted 

to UTEP, where they are processed and communicated to the public. 

Traffic volume data are summarized by MPO every hour. These data are then sent to UTEP 

via a secure intranet FTP, where the data sets and displays on the Web site are refreshed every 

60 minutes. Border crossing information and bridge wait times also are updated every hour. 

The Paso del Norte project team updates the traffic video images on the Web site every 15 

minutes using an automated modem system. The site also offers visibility images from UTEP 

Southern View, Ranger Peak, and downtown (looking west from Chelsea Retirement Center); 

these are live images, updated every 10 minutes with the system used to update traffic video 

images. 

Data from the NWS Web site are updated hourly for all parameters except precipitation. 

NWS updates precipitation data every 6 hours. UTEP refreshes the data on the Web site 

every hour. 

4.3 MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 

Once you have collected your data from monitoring stations, hubs, and Web sites, you need 

to format and process the data using standard formats and computer routines, then store the 

data in a database. You also may perform quality assurance/quality control checks at this 

point. Data stored in the databases can be used to update your Web site automatically, and in 

models (e.g., emission models or transit models). 

System Components—Managing Data 

Computer(s). You might use one or more computers to format the retrieved environmental monitoring 

data. You need to ensure that your computer has the appropriate features and software necessary to 

format and manage the data. 

Computer routines. Software that formats, performs quality control analyses on, modifies, or converts 

the collected data for dissemination to the public. 

Database/archive storage system. This system stores all your data by date and time of collection. 

You should be able to perform queries of the data. These queries can help you to develop transit 

models and other environmental data tools. 

Models. Computer models analyze your raw data for various purposes. For example, you can use a 

model to extrapolate the data (e.g., if you have transit data for a major road, you can use set parameters to determine traffic volume on connecting roads) and analyze different scenarios (e.g., the effect 

that a lane closure would have on border wait times). 

Processing Timely Environmental Information 
Web pages. Graphics on Web pages that change with the change in conditions (e.g., the A

Quality Index) are built using Adobe Image Ready. The resulting code is then modified to 

ColdFusion Markup (*.cfm) language, and the variables are linked to a database. As the 

database is updated, the Web page loads new images and text based on its contents. As a 

result, there is flexibility in designing pages. Original data can be validated and imported 

the database through standard scripts, or interactive forms can be designed to allow partn

institutions to update the information through a secure intranet site. 

The Paso del Norte project team transfers the environmental data as comma-delimited 

ASCII text. The Team uses the following standard units for the air quality pollutants: 

• Ozone: parts per billion (ppb). 

• Carbon monoxide: parts per million (ppm). 

• PM2.5: micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). 

• PM10: micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). 

• Sulfur dioxide: parts per billion (ppb). 

Air quality data from the Cd. Juárez CAMS is received in a proprietary report format (E

Version 3.0). The ASCII report is processed via a script to output a fixed-format data file

Air quality data from the New Mexico CAMS also is received in a proprietary report for

(i.e., PC208W). Java scripts are used to extract the data from the report format and outp

the fixed-format data file. 

The format for the air quality data includes AIRID, year, month, day, hour, minute, typ

value, and averaging time. Java scripts are used to validate the data and reprocess them in

the directory structure used by the visualization software. Custom visualization applicatio

are written in C run within Iris Explorer, a commercial mathematical modeling applicati

to generate time sequence TIFF images. Adobe Premier is used to sequence the images in

animated movies, GIFs, and other digital formats. 

Traffic data are retrieved every 10 minutes and processed to extract average speeds, traffic 

counts, and truck counts. The resulting data are imported into a relational database and 

linked to the road network using the Environmental Systems Research Institute’s ArcIMS 

GIS to allow visualization of near real-time speeds and traffic volumes. Transportation da

are also imported into Caliper’s TransCad transportation model, which is used to develop 

improved routing and emergency response applications and near real-time vehicle emissi

estimates. 

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system is used to transmit the images from IMIP to the El Paso Municipal building. The 

images are then transmitted to UTEP via a dedicated T1 line. Information from IMIP can also 

be sent to UACJ, where there is a backup system for transmitting data across the Mexico/U.S. 

border. Border crossing images are updated every 30 seconds. Telephones used to transmit 

border crossing images to IMIP are scheduled to be replaced with a radio communication 

system to reduce cost and to reduce the potential for vandalism. 

Weather data and the UV index are downloaded to a central hub computer as ASCII text. 

Temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and the UV index are placed directly into a 

relational database and retrieved via the Web site using ColdFusion by Macromedia. 

4.3.2 STORING DATA 

After you transfer and format the data, you can store them in databases with a name that 

reflects the time and date when they were obtained and identifies their source. When practical, images have times and dates embedded. Because time for transferring and validating data 

varies, the time on stored files typically does not reflect the exact collection time. However, 

the original images and raw data should contain this critical information. From the databases, stored data can be converted or modified for use on your Web site (e.g., converted to 

HTML tables), with other community outreach materials, or in models (e.g., emissions and 

transit models). You also can query the data for analysis and case studies. 

For the Paso del Norte Project, images and raw data are archived and backed up on a daily 

basis. ASCII data are imported into a relational database as needed to support the various 

applications and Web pages. Queries can be performed in the database to identify data sets 

of interest and download them using anonymous FTP file transfer. Archived data are compressed using gzip (*.gz) to insure compatibility across operating systems. Raw data, images, 

and databases are transferred to a CD for permanent storage once per month. TransVista 

images of freeway conditions are not stored because of restrictions on the use of the images. 

4.3.3 USING DATA IN MODELS 

Computer modeling simulates a set of conditions by performing a series of equations or 

computer routines on set and inputted parameters (e.g., air quality or traffic monitoring 

data). You can purchase software to perform the modeling or create your own computer 

routine to model the data. 

Processing Timely Environmental Information 
The TransCAD model also is used to generate estimates of vehicle emissions. 

4.4 LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE 

PASO DEL NORTE ENVIRONMENTAL 

MONITORING PROJECT 

Industry Standards Are Critical 

For the Paso del Norte Project, communicating timely environmental information is a 

technical challenge that requires multiple organizations and systems to share data and 

applications. Effective communication between systems is possible when data management 

applications support industry standards. Using industry standards for processing and mana

data also makes it easier to address database problems and expands the potential for packag

information. 

For the Paso del Norte Project, applications that support Open Database Connectivity 

(ODBC), traditional FTP, and Java (cross platform) programming languages were the ea

to design and implement. Parsing data into an ODBC relational database is relatively 

straightforward, and developing customized applications for presenting information in a 

database provides a robust solution that can grow with new ideas and opportunities. Mo

important is the understanding that organizations that use industry standards can quickl

provide ongoing support of developed applications. Finally, using industry standards esta

lishes a foundation for collaborative development among other institutions and organiza

that support the resulting information system. 

Currently, environmental data collection and management systems inherently are proprietary, and limit collection and processing to the features requested by the client agency. T

ability to capture data and process them so that they can be used by decision-makers suc

elected officials is difficult without the use of industry standards. If industry standards ar

not used, the number and complexity of the steps required to collect and process data 

increases dramatically. As a result, the initial investment of time and resources is greater. 

More important is the loss of reliability due to increased chances for things to go wrong. 

For the Paso del Norte Project, every effort was made to use industry standards with regi

database technologies as the warehouse for data so that Java, Internet programs, and cust

applications could be used to access the data. Having the data accessible via the Internet 

provides the foundation for an “enterprise” approach to processing and communicating 

environmental data collected in the Paso del Norte international region. 

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communication capabilities vary among the broadcast companies, the approach used to provide 

a company with environmental information might have to be customized. You can do this by 

visiting each company to learn about its capabilities and then designing your communication 

system to be compatible. 

Coordination Among Project Partners 

In a complex, multi-task project such as the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring 

Project, close coordination among the project partners is essential. This is even more important when several jurisdictions in different countries are involved. The project team should 

include at least one member with expertise in each field, and a team leader has to be assigned 

for each task. The team leader must assign tasks and follow up to ensure that they are completed. In addition, the entire project team must meet periodically, and follow-up is needed to 

ensure that actions discussed at the meetings are completed. As issues arise, the project team 

must meet to discuss and resolve them. It is also important that project members work 

together to share information, to brainstorm solutions to issues, and to complete the project 

tasks. A collaborative relationship between the project team and the responsible organizations 

is extremely important for the successful completion of a project. 

International Communications Pose the Greatest 

Challenge 

Costs of international telecommunications are prohibitive. Public Internet access also poses a 

problem because the quality of service for Internet access varies significantly. For these reasons, radio and microwave communications are the best infrastructure for transmitting data 

between countries. However, the ability to integrate radio and microwave communications 

with local area networks varies among agencies. In the Paso del Norte Project, the City of El 

Paso and the universities were able to establish communications. Other partners were not, 

and had to depend on outside professional services for communication. This delayed the 

project. The project team had to use its technical expertise to address the communications 

issues of all of the project partners. 

Sustaining the Project 

By focusing on collabaration, leveraging, and automation, the Paso del Norte Project can be 

sustained after the EMPACT grant period has ended. 

Processing Timely Environmental Information 
Leveraging of the Paso del Norte Project is resulting in unexpected investments that will 

help ensure the continuation of the project. Future plans include integration of the Paso 

del Norte Mapping for Public Access Initiative into the project. This regional GIS initiat

which will give the public Internet access to live maps of El Paso, Cd. Juárez, and Doña 

County, has added approximately $2 million to the project’s local funds. The Paso del N

Project also is being expanded to include emergency preparedness and response capabilit

One reason these other programs are leveraging the Paso del Norte Project is that the 

logistics of complex working relationships, information security, and other challenges 

have already been addressed in the project. 

Automation of information collection and data processing, including quality assurance, a

is critical to the continuation of the Paso del Norte Project. During the project, data coll

tion and processing was simplified so that they can be continued with a minimal investm

Minimizing the number of steps in a process increases it’s reliability and reduces the proj

maintenance requirements. For example, transferring data needed to calculate the AQI fr

multiple sources to a centralized database eliminates redundancy and provides an efficien

means to process the data, calculate the AQI, and disseminate the AQI to the public. Th

end result is an increase in capacities and lower overall costs for the daily routine tasks. 

Universities Play a Critical Role 

Through UTEP, the Paso del Norte Project leveraged the Community Scholars Program 

get students involved in air quality issues in the Paso del Norte region. This makes future 

generations aware of the regional air quality issues and helps increase the resources that w

be available when long-term environmental challenges in the region must be addressed. 

Universities also are an important base of knowledge—knowledge they can use in further 

research to understand and solve required environmental problems. In addition, universiti

have experience collaborating on projects, can quickly establish systems for information 

exchange, and can develop approaches for accomplishing multi-disciplinary tasks or objec

tives. In the Paso del Norte Project, local universities have become hubs for data warehous

and for developing approaches to address the environmental issues of the region. For exam

UTEP participation in Internet2, a high-bandwidth dedicated intranet among partnering 

institutions, provides critical infrastructure for the transfer of information across internatio

boundaries. 

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g p

collect real-time vertical temperature and moisture profiles of the atmosphere. Future 

research with the radiometer will help define critical conditions during temperature 

inversions that cause episodic air quality issues. 

Access to near real-time environmental and meteorological information has peaked the interest 

of emergency response agencies including EMS 911 and police and fire departments. This has 

provided an opportunity to establish a secure intranet site to expand information access to 

remote offices and to other agencies currently not connected directly to the 911 system. 

Animations of ozone and carbon monoxide have spurred new health research that considers 

the spatial distribution of air quality impacts. The Center for Border Health Research, a 

subsidiary of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (sponsor of the Paso del Norte Mapping 

for Public Access Initiative) has made available the Texas public hospital discharge database, 

which documents demographic and diagnostic information from individual hospital encounters by ZIP code for the period 1999 to 2000. These data, in conjunction with the air quality 

information from the Paso del Norte Project, are being used in several epidemiological 

studies, and serve as the core information for collaborative research grant proposals to 

the National Institutes of Health and other entities. 

Processing Timely Environmental Information 
and educational materials, and in other outreach and communication initiatives.


Section 5.1 provides an overview of data visualization. Section 5.2 introduces the data


visualization tools used by the Paso del Norte project team. If you are interested in a basic


introduction to data visualization, you may want to read only Section 5.1. If you are


responsible for choosing and using data visualization software to model and analyze data,


you also should read Section 5.2.


5.1 WHAT IS DATA VISUALIZATION? 

In this handbook, “data visualization” is graphic representation of data. Presenting data in a 

visual format can enhance your audience’s understanding of and interest in the information. 

Data visualization tools discussed below include maps, color coding, icons, graphs, and 

geographic information systems (GIS). 

• Maps. Maps are one of the most basic and familiar data visualization tools that can be 

used to communicate timely environmental information. If kept simple (e.g., clutterfree) and accompanied by a good key that explains the different map symbols, a map 

can be one of the easiest data interpretation and visualization tools to develop and use. 

• Color coding. Like maps, color coding is already familiar to many people. Thus its 

message can be easily understood. Colors to indicate “good” or “poor” environmental 

conditions (and ranges between those extremes) have been used successfully in maps, 

graphs, indexes, icons, and other tools for risk communication. Make sure to choose 

appropriate colors (and color ranges): use well-known color coding schemes, such as 

green to represent “go” (e.g., “it’s OK to go hiking based on air quality conditions”) 

and red to represent “stop” (e.g., “stay indoors particularly if you have a respiratory 

problem”). 

• Icons. The term “icon” is used here in a very general sense to describe any visual cue 

or image used to communicate information—anything from a physical placard (e.g., a 

beach closure symbol or sign) to a symbol on a computer screen. Although words can 

be added, an icon ideally should be able to convey at least its basic meaning without 

relying on verbal language. 

• Graphs. Graphs are another commonly used and relatively easy-to-understand data 

visualization tool. They often convey information about how several variables are 

related or compare to each other. Some projects allow users to generate graphs as 

needed by specifying which variables they want plotted and how they would like 

them plotted. 

Depicting Timely Environmental Information 
visualization tools, you will immediately be impressed with their ability to model and 

analyze your data for a variety of purposes, from making resource management decisions 

to supporting public outreach and education efforts. 

5.2 DATA VISUALIZATION TOOLS EMPLOYED 

IN THE PASO DEL NORTE 

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECT 

The Paso del Norte Project uses several data visualization tools to communicate environme

information to the public. Examples include maps, color-coding, tables and charts, GIS, an

live and static images of the Paso del Norte region. 

5.2.1 MAPS 

Animated maps are used on the Paso del Norte Web site to depict air quality with respec

both carbon monoxide and ozone (see Figures 5 and 6). They emulate a three-dimension

perspective, as though the Paso del Norte region were being viewed at an oblique angle f

an airplane flying south of Cd. Juárez, Mexico. The maps provide an animated movie for

mat, which local television stations can download for rebroadcast and which the public 

can view on the Internet. Text on the maps can be viewed in both English and Spanish. 

Figure 5. Paso del Norte animated carbon monoxide map. 

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Figure 6. Paso del Norte animated ozone map. 

Another map on the Web site for the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project is a 

map of the United States that shows the current UV Index for the country. Colors are used 

to show how the value for the index varies. The Web site also contains information about the 

UV Index and what the values for the index mean. 

5.2.2 COLOR CODING 

Color coding is used on the Project Web site’s U.S. map to indicate the value for the UV 

Index, on the animated maps of the Paso del Norte region to indicate air quality with respect 

to ozone and carbon monoxide, and on the Web page that presents the Air Quality Index for 

the region. The Web site also describes the condition represented by each color on the animated maps and the Air Quality Index (see the table below). This is particularly important 

because some people may not know what a color means. The colors used in the Paso del 

Norte Project are the same as the colors used to for the Air Quality Index nationally. This 

makes it easier for people who are not from the Paso del Norte region to understand the 

information communicated through the Paso del Norte Project. 

AQI Color-Coding System Health Risk Description 

Green Good No limitations on outdoor exertion. 

Yellow Moderate Unusually sensitive people should consider 

limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. 

Orange Unhealthy to sensitive 

groups 

Active children, adults, and people with 

respiratory disease (such as asthma) should 

limit prolonged outdoor activity. 

Red Unhealthy Active children, adults, and people with 

respiratory disease, such as asthma, should 

avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, 

especially children, should limit prolonged 

outdoor exertion. 

Purple Very unhealthy Active children, adults, and people with 

respiratory disease, such as asthma, should 

avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else, 

especially children, should limit outdoor exertion. 

Depicting Timely Environmental Information 
p

Lanes Open 

11 of 11 total 

Figure 7. International bridge crossing wait times. 

5.2.4 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM 

An industry standard GIS-based transportation model, TransCAD, is used to visualize tr

volumes in the Paso del Norte region. The model predicts and displays the impact on tra

volumes and levels of service from construction activities, accidents, and other roadway 

impedances. This information helps commuters and emergency response personnel avoid 

congested areas. It also estimates vehicle emissions in the area based on traffic volume da

5.2.5 LIVE AND STATIC IMAGES 

Live and static images are provided by the Paso del Norte webcam system (see Figure 8). 

These images allow researchers, community leaders, and the citizens of the Region to see 

how air quality affects visibility. By actually seeing the impact of air pollution, those grou

are encouraged to learn more about what they can do to improve air quality. 

Minutes 

50 

Bridge 

Americas-Lincoln 

Hours 

0 

Last Updated a

01-May-02 7:22:42 a

Americas-Perez Serna 0 50 11 of 11 total 01-May-02 7:22:55 a

DCL-Stanton 0 10 1 of 1 total 01-May-02 7:23:04 a

Paso del Norte 0 20 10 of 10 total 01-May-02 7:23:13 a

Ysleta 0 3 13 of 13 total 01-May-02 8:02:21 a

Sta. Teresa 0 0 2 of 2 total 26-Mar-02 6:37:02 a

Fabens 0 0 2 of 2 total 21-Mar-02 7:34:37 a

Figure 8. Visibility webcam images. 

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effe tively communicating information, and contains examples of text that you can incorporate into your own communication and outreach materials (Section 6.3). 

6.1 CREATING AN OUTREACH PLAN FOR 

NEAR REAL-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 

Outreach is most effective if you plan it carefully: Whom do you want to reach? What 

information do you want to disseminate? What are the most effective mechanisms to reach 

people? Developing a plan ensures that you consider all important elements of an outreach 

project before you begin. The plan itself provides a blueprint for action. 

An outreach plan is most effective if you involve a variety of people in its development. 

Where possible, consider involving: 

• A communications specialist or someone who has experience developing and 

implementing an outreach plan. 

• Technical experts in the subject matter (both scientific and policy). 

• Someone who represents the target audience (i.e., the people or groups you want to 

reach). 

• Key individuals who will be involved in implementing the outreach plan. 

As you develop your outreach plan, consider whether you would like to invite any organizations to partner with you in planning or implementing the outreach effort. Partners might 

include local businesses, environmental organizations, schools, local health departments, 

local planning and zoning authorities, and other local or state agencies. Partners can participate in planning, product development and review, and distribution. Partnerships can be 

valuable mechanisms for leveraging resources while enhancing the quality, credibility, and 

success of outreach efforts. 

Developing an outreach plan is a creative and iterative process involving a number of interrelated steps, as described below. As you move through each of these steps, you might want 

to revisit and refine the decisions you made in earlier steps until you have an integrated, 

comprehensive, and achievable plan. 

An outreach plan does not have to be lengthy or complicated. You can develop a plan 

simply by documenting your answers to each of the questions discussed below. 

This will provide you with a solid foundation for an outreach effort. 

Communicating Timely Environmental Information 
pgpgp 

disseminate information to other audiences you have identified, such as the general public

Consider whether you should divide the public into two or more audience categories. Fo

example: Will you be providing different information to certain groups, such as citizens 

businesses? Does a significant portion of the public you are trying to reach have a differe

cultural or linguistic background from other members? If so, it likely will be most effecti

to consider these groups as separate audience categories. 

Profiling Your Audience(s) 

Outreach is most effective if the type, content, and distribution of outreach products are 

tailored specifically to the characteristics of target audiences. Once you have identified yo

audiences, the next step is to develop a profile of their situations, interests, and concerns

This profile helps you identify the most effective ways of reaching the audience. For each 

target audience, consider: 

• What is their current level of knowledge? 

• What do you want them to know? 

• What information is likely to be of interest to the audience? What will they likely 

want to know once they develop some awareness of environmental issues? 

• How much time are they likely to give to receiving and assimilating the informatio

• How does this group generally receive information? 

• What professional, recreational, and domestic activities does this group typically 

engage in that might provide avenues for distributing outreach products? Are there 

organizations or centers that represent or serve the audience and might be avenues 

disseminating your outreach products? 

Profiling an audience essentially involves putting yourself “in your audience’s shoes.” Wa

do this include consulting individuals or organizations who represent or are members of 

audience, consulting other agencies or individuals who have successfully developed other 

outreach products for the audience, and using your imagination. 

What Are Your Outreach Goals? 

Defining your outreach goals is the next step in developing an outreach plan. Outreach 

should be clear, simple, action-oriented statements about what you hope to accomplish 

through outreach. Once you have established your goals, every other element of the plan 

should relate to them. 

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ppggy

to send to each target audience group. You might have different messages for different 

audiences. 

What Outreach Products Will You Develop? 

The next step in developing an outreach plan is to consider what types of outreach products 

are the most effective for reaching each target audience. There are many different types of 

outreach product: print, audiovisual, electronic, events, and novelty items. Some examples 

are provided below. 

Type of Outreach Product 

Print 

Examples of Outreach Products 

Brochures Editorials 

Educational curricula Fact sheets 

Question-and-answer sheets Posters 

Press releases Utility bill inserts 

Book covers Newspaper and magazine articles 

Audiovisual Cable television Public service announcements (radio)

Videos Exhibits and kiosks 

Electronic E-mail messages Subscriber list servers 

Web pages 

Events Briefings Community days

Fairs and festivals Media interviews 

One-on-one meetings Press conferences 

Public meetings Speeches 

Novelty Items Banners Bumper stickers 

Buttons Coloring books 

Floating key chains Frisbee discs 

Magnets Mouse pads 

The audience profile information you assembled earlier will help you select appropriate 

products. A communications professional can provide valuable guidance in choosing the 

most appropriate products to meet your goals within your resource and time constraints. 

Questions to consider when selecting products include: 

• How much information does your audience really need to have? How much does 

your audience need to know now? The simplest, most effective, most straightforward 

product generally is most effective. 

• Is the product likely to appeal to the target audience? How much time does it take to 

interact with the product? Is the audience likely to make that time? 

• How easy and cost-effective is the product to distribute or, in the case of an event, 

organize? 

Communicating Timely Environmental Information 
 Is it effective to have distinct phases of products over time? For example, a first pha

of products designed to raise awareness, followed at a later date by a second phase 

products to encourage changes in behavior. 

• How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent news value is mor

likely to be rapidly and widely disseminated by the media. 

How Will Your Product Reach Your Audience? 

Effective distribution is essential to the success of an outreach strategy. There are many 

avenues for distribution. Some examples are listed below. 

Examples of Distribution Avenues

Your mailing list TV

Partner's mailing list Radio 

Phone/Fax Print media 

E-mail Hotline that distributes products on request 

Internet Meetings, events, or locations (e.g., libraries, scho

marinas, and public beaches) where products are 

Journals or newsletters of partner organizations made available

You need to consider how each product is distributed and determine who is responsible 

distribution. For some products, your organization might manage distribution. For othe

you might rely on intermediaries (such as the media or educators) or organizational part

who are willing to participate in the outreach effort. Consult with an experienced comm

cations professional to obtain information about the resources and time required for the 

various distribution options. Some points to consider in selecting distribution channels 

include: 

• How does the audience typically receive information? 

• What distribution mechanisms has your organization used in the past for this 

audience? Were these mechanisms effective? 

• Can you identify any partner organizations that might be willing to assist in the 

distribution? 

• Can the media play a role in the distribution? 

• Will the mechanism you are considering reach the intended audience? For example

Internet can be an effective distribution mechanism, but certain groups might have 

limited access to it. 

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• Do you want to indicate on the outreach product where people can go for further 

information (e.g., provide a contact name, number, mailing or office address, e-mail 

address, or Web address)? 

What Is the Schedule for Implementation? 

Once you have decided on your goals, audiences, messages, products, and distribution 

channels, you need to develop an implementation schedule. For each product, consider how 

much time is needed for development and distribution. Be sure to factor in sufficient time 

for product review. Wherever possible, build in time for testing and evaluation by members 

or representatives of the target audience in focus groups or individual sessions so that you can 

get feedback on whether you have effectively targeted your material for your audience. 

Section 6.3 contains suggestions for presenting technical information to the public. It also 

provides information about online resources that provide easy-to-understand background 

information you can use in developing your own outreach projects. 

6.2 ELEMENTS OF THE PASO DEL NORTE 

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROJECT

OUTREACH PROGRAM 

The Paso del Norte project team uses a variety of mechanisms to communicate timely environmental information to the public. Elements of the Project’s outreach program are 

highlighted below. 

Web site. The Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project Web site 

(http://www.ozonemap.org) is the main vehicle through which timely environmental information is conveyed to the public. The site contains the current conditions in the region with 

respect to several air pollutants (e.g., ground-level ozone and carbon monoxide), traffic, and 

weather. It also contains health facts on air pollutants, animated ozone and carbon monoxide 

maps of the region, the current Air Quality Index for the region, and current traffic images 

from cameras located throughout the region. In addition, it contains live and static images 

that allow the public to see how air quality affects visibility in the Paso del Norte region. 

The Web site also encourages people to report smoking vehicles and identifies a person to 

contact to obtain information. Information on the Web site is presented in both English 

and Spanish. Figure 9 shows the site’s home page. 

Communicating Timely Environmental Information 
Figure 9. Home page for Paso del Norte Web site. 

Community Scholars Program. The Community Scholars Program is a non-profit summ

internship program funded primarily by grants from local businesses and individual contr

tors. It is designed to foster leadership skills by involving El Paso high school honor stude

directly in researching solutions to the City’s social and civic problems. Through a compe

process, the program hires junior and senior honor students from 14 local high schools. 

Student interns undergo 40 hours of after-school training in May, then begin full-time 

research at the University of Texas at El Paso during the summer months. This program 

allows the students to focus on key environmental issues and develop materials appropri

for educating the public about those issues. One such issue is air pollution. 

As part of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, 15 laptop computers w

purchased and placed in the home schools of the students. The computers are equipped 

Web development software, geographic information systems, standard office applications

and Internet access. This allows the Community Scholars Program to extend research on 

air pollution initiated by the summer interns throughout the school year. It also allows 

the interns to encourage other students to become involved in educational activities that 

promote a better understanding of air pollution and the effects of meteorology, terrain, 

and emission sources in the bi-national Paso del Norte region. 

The home page for the Community Scholars Program is shown in Figure 10. 

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Figure 10. Home page for the Community Scholars Program 

Book covers. As part of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, 45,000 book 

covers were purchased and distributed to students. The cover contains important health 

information about ozone as well as information on the animated ozone map on the Paso del 

Norte Project Web site. 

Television. All of the local broadcast affiliates broadcast air quality and related health information, including announcements of ozone action days, during their evening broadcasts. 

Visualizations of the ozone conditions are made available to the broadcast media through 

FTP over the Internet. Ozone action days and suggestions are also announced on the 

electronic signs that are part of the TransVista Intelligent Transportation System. 

Channel 56 includes a daily “bump,” a short animation that summarizes the critical environmental conditions, during its nightly weather report. Each afternoon, a Web page is built that 

announces current environmental conditions and gives a forecast of air quality for the following 

day. The Web page is customized to meet the design requirements of Channel 56. Channel 56 

captures the image through a secure intranet site and imports it into its AccuWeather system 

for broadcast (see Figure 11). 

Ozone action days. The Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project Web site includes 

an “Ozone Action Days” page (see Figure 11). This page describes an ozone action day, 

provides information on how to protect yourself on such days, and provides recommendation 

on what not to do (e.g., driving at lunchtime) on an ozone action day. It also allows someone 

to sign up for the ozone action day notification list server. Subscribers to this list-server are 

notified when there is an ozone action day. 

Communicating Timely Environmental Information 
Figure 11. “Bump” used by Spanish television. 

Digital readouts. Digital readouts are used in the Paso del Norte Environmental Monito

Project to provide information on traffic conditions. The information, including bridge 

times, is presented on billboards located in strategic areas of the region. 

6.3 RESOURCES FOR PRESENTING 

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBL

As you begin to implement your outreach plan and develop the products selected in the 

plan, make sure that these products present your messages and information as clearly and 

accurately as possible. You might want to review the available resources on the Internet—

if any can help you develop your outreach products or serve as additional resource mater

(e.g., fact sheets). 

How Do You Present Technical Information to the Publ

Environmental topics are often technical in nature, and air quality is no exception. 

Nevertheless, this information can be conveyed in simple, clear terms to nonspecialists, s

as the public. Principles of effective writing for the public include avoiding jargon, trans

ing technical terms into everyday language the public can understand, using the active v

keeping sentences short, and using headings and other format devices to provide a very c

well-organized structure. You can refer to the following Web sites for more ideas about h

to write clearly and effectively for a general audience: 

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likely that school children will be interested in this level of detail. 

When developing outreach products, be sure to consider special needs of the target audience. 

For example, if your community has a substantial number of people who speak little or no 

English, you may need to prepare communication materials in their native language. This is 

particularly true for the Paso del Norte region because both English and Spanish are spoken 

there. 

The rest of this section contains examples of text about ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate 

matter, and the air quality index. These examples are written in a plain-English style designed 

to be easily understandable by the public. You can use this text as a model to stimulate ideas 

for your own outreach language or you can incorporate components of this text directly into 

your products. 

Figure 12. Ozone Action Days page. 

Ozone Pollution 

• What is ozone? 

Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas composed of three atoms of oxygen. 

• Is ozone good or bad for people’s health and the environment? 

Ozone occurs both in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ozone can 

be good or bad depending on where it is found. 

Communicating Timely Environmental Information 
• How is ground-level ozone formed? 

Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air but forms when two kinds 

of pollutants—volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides—mix in the air an

react chemically in the presence of sunlight. Common sources of volatile organic 

compounds (often referred to as VOCs) include motor vehicles, gas stations, chem

plants, and other industrial facilities. Solvents such as dry-cleaning fluid and chemi

used to clean industrial equipment are also sources of VOCs. Common sources of 

nitrogen oxides include motor vehicles, power plants, and other fuel-burning sourc

• Are there times of the day and year when ozone pollution is of particular concern? 

Yes. Ozone levels vary during the day. They are highest in the late afternoon and 

decrease rapidly at sunset. 

In most parts of the United States, ozone pollution is likely to be a concern during 

summer months, when the weather conditions needed to form ground-level ozone—

of sun, hot temperatures—occur. Ozone pollution is usually at its worst during the 

summer heat waves when air masses are stagnant. 

• In what way can ozone affect people’s health? 

Ozone can affect people’s health in many ways: 

– Ozone can irritate the respiratory system. When this happens, you might start coug

ing, feel an irritation in your throat, or experience an uncomfortable sensation in 

your chest. These symptoms can last for a few hours after exposure to ozone and 

even become painful. 

– Ozone can reduce lung function. When scientists refer to “lung function,” they 

mean the volume of air that you draw in when you take a full breath and the spe

at which you are able to blow out the air. Ozone can make it more difficult for y

to breathe as deeply and vigorously as you normally would. 

– Ozone can aggravate asthma. When ozone levels are high, more asthmatics have ast

attacks that require a doctor’s attention or the use of additional asthma medication

– Ozone can aggravate chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema and bronchitis. 

– Ozone can inflame and temporarily damage the lining of the lung. Ozone damages 

cells that line the air spaces in the lung. Within a few days, the damaged cells are 

replaced and the old cells are shed. If this kind of damage occurs repeatedly, the l

can change permanently in a way that could cause long-term health effects. 

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asthma or other chronic respiratory disease, but these diseases do make the lungs 

more vulnerable to the effects of ozone. 

– People with unusual susceptibility to ozone. Scientists don’t yet know why, but some 

healthy people are simply more sensitive to ozone than are others. These individuals may 

experience more health effects from exposure to ozone than does the average person. 

– Are the elderly sensitive to ozone? Scientists have found little evidence to suggest that 

either the elderly or people with heart disease have heightened sensitivity to ozone. 

For additional information about the health effects of ozone you can read EPA’s booklet 

Smog: Who Does It Hurt? (found on the Web at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/health). 

Carbon Monoxide 

• What is carbon monoxide? 

Carbon monoxide is a odorless, colorless gas. 

• How is carbon monoxide formed? 

Carbon monoxide forms when the carbon in fuels does not burn completely. 

• How does carbon monoxide affect people’s health? 

Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream and reduces oxygen delivery to the body’s 

organs and tissues. The health threat from carbon monoxide is most serious for those 

who suffer from cardiovascular disease. Healthy individuals are also affected, but only 

at higher levels of exposure. Exposure to elevated carbon monoxide levels is associated 

with visual impairment, reduced work capacity, reduced manual dexterity, poor learning 

ability, and difficulty in performing complex tasks. 

• What are the sources of carbon monoxide? 

Vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60 percent of all carbon monoxide emissions 

nationwide, and up to 95 percent in cities. Carbon monoxide concentrations typically 

are highest during cold weather because combustion is less complete in cold temperatures. 

For additional information about carbon monoxide, refer to the EPA Web site at 

http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/. 

Particulate Matter 

• What is particulate matter? 

Particulate matter includes both solid particles and liquid droplets found in air. 

Communicating Timely Environmental Information 
coarse. Sources of coarse particles include grinding operations and dust from pav

or unpaved roads. 

• What are the health effects from exposure to particulate matter? 

When exposed to particulate matter, people with heart or lung disease (e.g., conges

heart disease, coronary artery disease, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary 

disease) are at increased health risk. People with heart disease may experience symp

toms such as chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Symptoms f

people with lung disease include coughing, phlegm, chest discomfort, wheezing, an

shortness of breath. Even healthy people may experience some respiratory systems f

exposure to particulate matter. Children are at increased risk of experiencing respir

symptoms from exposure to particulate matter because they are more active outdoo

and are more likely to have asthma. Particles with a diameter less than 10 microme

tend to pose the greatest health risk because they can be inhaled into and accumula

in the respiratory system. 

For additional information about particulate matter you can refer to the EPA’s Office of 

Quality Planning and Standards Web site at http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/. 

Air Quality Index 

• What is the Air Quality Index? 

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool developed by EPA to provide people with ti

and easy-to-understand information on local air quality and whether it poses a hea

concern. It provides a simple, uniform system that is used throughout the country 

reporting levels of major pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA). 

Pollutants include ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulat

matter, and nitrogen oxide. You may sometimes hear the AQI referred to as the 

Pollutant Standards Index. 

The AQI converts a measured air concentration for a pollutant to a number on a s

of 0 to 500. An AQI value of 100 corresponds to the National Ambient Air Qualit

Standard established for the pollutant under the CAA. This is the level or concentr

tion that EPA has determined to be protective of human health. The higher the ind

value, the greater the health concern. 

• What do the Air Quality Index descriptors mean? 

As shown below, the Air Quality Index scale is divided into six categories, each corresp

ding to a different level of health concern. Each category also is associated with a color

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Maroon 301 to 500 Hazardous 

The level of health concern associated with each AQI category is summarized by a 

descriptor: 

Good. When the AQI value for your community is between 0 and 50, air quality is 

considered satisfactory in your area. 

Moderate. When the index value for your community is between 51 and 100, air quality is acceptable in your area. For ozone and fine particles, people who are extremely 

sensitive may experience respiratory symptoms. 

Unhealthy for sensitive groups. When AQI values are between 101 and 150, members of 

sensitive groups may experience health effects. Some people are particularly sensitive to 

the harmful effects of certain pollutants. For example, people with asthma may be sensitive to sulfur dioxide and ozone, while people with heart disease may be sensitive to 

carbon monoxide. Some groups of people may be sensitive to more than one pollutant. 

Members of the general public are not likely to be affected when the AQI is in this 

range. 

Unhealthy. When AQI values are between 151 and 200, everyone may begin to experience health effects. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health 

effects. 

Very unhealthy. AQI values between 201 and 300 trigger a health effect for everyone. 

Hazardous. AQI values over 300 trigger health warnings of emergency conditions. 

AQI values over 300 rarely occur in the United States. 

• How is the Air Quality Index calculated? 

State and local air quality monitoring networks measure the concentration of groundlevel ozone, fine and coarse particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and 

sulfur dioxide several times a day. These raw measurements are then converted into 

corresponding AQI values using standard conversion scales developed by EPA. For 

example, an ozone measurement of 0.08 parts per million, which is the National 

Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone, translates to an AQI of 100. 

Communicating Timely Environmental Information 
local agencies are required to notify the public on days when the AQI for a polluta

exceeds 100. They also may report the AQI for all pollutants for which the index 

exceeds 100. Even in areas where reporting is not required, EPA, state, and local of

cials may use the AQI as a public information tool to advise the public about how 

air quality might affect their health, and what actions they can take to protect their 

health. You may see the AQI reported in the newspaper or on the Internet, or it m

be broadcast on your local television or radio station. In some areas, AQI informat

is available on a recorded telephone message. 

More information about the AQI is available at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/aqibroch

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mental information (Section 7.1). It then discusses where to house the database and Web 

server for an environmental monitoring project (Section 7.2). Section 7.3 addresses public 

support for environmental monitoring, and Section 7.4 discusses the environmental information that can be collected given a certain level of funding. 

7.1 BUILDING ON EXISTING PROGRAMS 

A key aspect of an environmental monitoring program is the ability to sustain the program 

over the long term. You can do this by building on existing programs whenever possible, 

by using existing infrastructure, and by using low-maintenance automated equipment to 

collect data. This approach reduces the funding needed to continue an environmental 

monitoring program and at the same time helps ensure full use of existing facilities. 

As discussed in the previous sections, the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project 

leveraged several existing efforts. Information collected through these efforts includes: 

• Air quality data (ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter) collected by various 

agencies in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. 

• Traffic volume data collected by the City of El Paso’s Department of Traffic and 

Transportation and by the Texas Department of Transportation. 

• International bridge crossing information provided by the U.S. Customs and 

Immigration Service. The Association of Maquilas also developed an infrastructure to 

provide timely information on the number of bridge crossings and observed wait times. 

• Static and live images from a webcam and video images of current traffic conditions at 

various locations in the Paso del Norte region. 

• Weather data obtained from the National Weather Service Web site. 

Data from these existing programs are transferred to a database, managed, and displayed on 

the Web site for the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. 

As discussed in Chapter 6, the Paso del Norte Project also leverages the Community 

Scholars Program as part of its outreach efforts. Students enrolled in the program develop 

educational materials to promote the involvement of other high school students in the 

region’s air pollution issues. 

Another leveraged program is the Ozone Map Initiative. Austin College and the University 

of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) developed an animated ozone map of the region using data 

from the continuous air monitoring stations (CAMS) in the region. This map is displayed 

on the Paso del Norte Project Web site. As part of the Paso del Norte Environmental 

Monitoring Project, an animated map for carbon dioxide was prepared using the framework 

developed for the ozone animated map and carbon monoxide data collected at the CAMS. 

Sustaining Timely Environmental Monitoring Information 
gg y 

tion, better administrative control, easier management, and less expense. In addition, fewe

software and licensing agreements are needed when the database and Web server are hous

one location. One disadvantage is that redundancy has to be included at the single locatio

Housing the database and Web server at multiple locations provides this redundancy. 

During the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, the El Paso Metropolitan 

Planning Organization (MPO) housed a new Internet server to handle the bulk of publi

Internet access. UTEP housed a new Internet server to provide for time-lapse visualizatio

of air quality on a three-dimensional GIS map and terrain model of the Paso del Norte a

basin. UTEP also housed a new database management server. 

At the completion of the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, all of UTEP

equipment will be transferred to the City of El Paso and the El Paso City-County Health 

and Environment District (EPCCH) for ongoing implementation and maintenance. UT

also will train City and EPCCH personnel on the use of the equipment. 

7.3 PUBLIC SUPPORT 

Public support is needed to sustain an environmental monitoring program because it 

makes decision-makers aware of the desire to have such a program. This is important wh

decisions are made on funding for a project. Without public support, there is little to no 

impetus to either initiate or continue an environmental monitoring program. 

Several organizations support the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project. Th

include EPCCH, El Paso MPO, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the N

Mexico Environmental Department, and the Institute of Municipal Planning and Resear

(Cd. Juárez). Other organizations that support the project include Austin College, UTEP

the KFOX television station, the Joint Advisory Committee, the Paso del Norte Air Qua

Task Force, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, and the Clean Air Partnership. 

7.4 WHAT DATA TO COLLECT 

Data collected in a near real-time environmental monitoring program depend on the 

available funding. When funds are limited, determine the critical environmental paramet

for an area and focus the monitoring effort on collecting data for those parameters. Con

any seasonal variation in the critical parameters when designing the monitoring program

The critical air quality parameters for the Paso del Norte region are ground-level ozone, 

carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. For this reason, near real-time data are collecte

for these parameters. Data also are collected that have an impact on the air concentration 

those parameters. These include traffic volume data, bridge crossing and wait time data, 

weather data. All of these data are used to inform the public about air quality in the Paso 

Norte region and to encourage them to take actions (e.g., don’t drive on days when the 

ozone level is high) to improve air quality in the region. 

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• To collect timely air quality information. 

• To disseminate timely air quality information to the public. 

• To expand the community’s awareness of health and environmental effects that air 

pollution may cause. 

• To address local air pollution problems. 

Under this program, air quality samples are taken from 18 locations around the Tucson area. 

Monitored air parameters include ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate 

matter. The Tucson area is an attainment area for all the criteria air pollutants. The area has 

been designated as a maintenance area for carbon monoxide. 

Partner Organizations 

PDEQ developed its Air Info Now Web site under a grant from EPA. The program also 

receives assistance from the University of Arizona, the American Lung Association, and the 

Pima Association of Governments. 

Collecting and Managing the Data 

PDEQ maintains 18 monitoring locations throughout the Tucson area. Ground-level ozone is 

monitored at eight locations. Other monitored parameters include carbon monoxide and particulate matter. In addition to air quality, the monitors measure wind speed, wind direction, and 

ambient air temperature. The Web site provides further details on each monitoring location. 

Like the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitoring Project, the Air Info Now Program needed 

to standardize the format of the data collected. The University of Arizona and PDEQ established a standard format that allows data to be used in near real-time mapping applications. 

PDEQ performs quality assurance/quality control on the air monitoring data using the standard practices defined in 40 CFR Part 58, Ambient Air Quality Surveillance (available online 

at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html#page1). They include standard operating procedures for data collection, sample analysis, and data processing. They also include 

defined calibration and performance test schedules, and tolerances not to be exceeded. 

PDEQ uses a Microsoft (MS) NT Server to display the air quality monitoring data on the 

program’s Web site. To convert the air quality monitoring data to a Web-compatible format, 

PDEQ wrote computer macros for MS-DOS batch files and MS Excel, Access, and Visual 

Basic programs to convert the hourly air quality monitoring data from the proprietary Data 

Management System file structure to MS Access database tables. The data then can be 

accessed via Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), which pulls data out for Web page 

displays. PDEQ also developed computer routines to create HTML tables. 

Appendix A 
time measurements of groundlevel ozone in the Tucson metropolitan area. Several ozon

monitors within the Tucson metropolitan area provide continuous measurements of hou

averaged ground-level ozone. The program then promptly transfers the hourly averages t

central computer hub where the ground-level ozone maps are generated. 

With only eight ozone monitors to work with, the Air Info Now Program team develope

regression-based spatial modeling approach to map ozone levels in the region. The geogr

of Tucson allows the model to estimate ozone concentrations at locations where measure

ments are not taken regularly. The model relates near real-time ozone measurements to t

local geography of the monitors in Tucson’s monitoring network. The program team use

several years (1995–1998) of hourly averaged ozone data to “train” the model and to dev

statistical relationships between local geography and measured ozone concentrations. Th

model provides a continuous surface map of estimated ground-level ozone concentration

across the Tucson metropolitan area. 

Outreach Barriers and Strategies 

As with any environmental monitoring program, successful communication with 

the community is key to achieving the program goals. The Air Info Now program’s 

outreach activities include the development and operation of its Air Info Now Web site 

(http://www.airinfonow.org/). Because the Tucson community includes English- and Span

speaking residents, the Web site can be viewed in either English or Spanish. The Web sit

provides air quality information to the community, including the Air Quality Index for 

ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter and a ground-level ozone map for the a

The public can use these data to plan their daily activities. 

The Web site includes tools to educate the public about air pollution. The “Activities” pa

for example, includes: 

• Online games to teach users about ozone and carbon monoxide, and the effect air 

pollutants have on your lungs. 

• Experiments to teach users about particulate matter, smog, and greenhouse gases. 

• List of 50 things you can do to reduce air pollution. 

The Web site also includes air pollution information specifically geared toward teachers f

incorporation into lesson plans for various age groups and details on the health effects of 

ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. 

A-2 Appe
• Flingers. 

• Pens. 

• Mirage boards. 

• Magnets. 

The Air Info Now partners provided information about the availability of these new air


pollution resources to a variety of groups in the targeted audience, including teachers,


students, local health department staff, school nurses, home health care practitioners,


pharmacists, physicians, and the media. In addition, the Web site was linked to several


relevant Web sites to increase the number of visits to the site.


For More Information

E-mail the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality at webmail@deq.co.pima.az.us.


Appendix A 
neighborhood in the heart of Boston, the asthma hospitalization rate is annually among the 

highest in Massachusetts (in 1992 it was five times the state average). Although Americans of 

all ages, races, and ethnic groups have been affected by asthma, nationwide data show that 

the epidemic is most severe among lower-income and minority children. 

These data have led to heightened concern about the quality of air that inner-city children 

are breathing—both indoors and out. In recent years, scientists have developed a better 

understanding of the role that air pollutants can play in exacerbating asthma symptoms and 

triggering asthma attacks. Much work has been done to reduce children’s exposures to indoor 

air pollutants and allergens such as cigarette smoke, cockroach particles, dust mites, and 

animal hair, because these are considered among the most common asthma triggers. At the 

same time, there is growing recognition of a need for better information on children’s 

exposures to outdoor air pollutants. 

Throughout most of the United States, levels of outdoor air pollutants are much lower today 

than they were in the past. However, in some parts of the country (particularly urban areas), 

outdoor air is getting worse, not better. Pollutants of concern include ground-level ozone 

(formed by the chemical reaction of pollutants in emissions from vehicles, power plants, and 

other sources) and particulate matter (dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets emitted 

into the air by sources such as cars, trucks, buses, factories, and construction activities). Both 

of these pollutants have been linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and both tend 

to be in the highest concentration in urban areas. 

To protect their health, inner-city residents need timely access to air quality data. Levels 

of outdoor air pollutants such as ground-level ozone and particulate matter vary from day to 

day and even during the course of a single day. Access to air quality forecasts and real-time 

data allow residents to reduce their exposures when pollutant levels are high. For children 

and others with asthma, reducing exposures to asthma triggers can be part of a multi-faceted 

approach to managing symptoms that also includes behavior changes, drug therapy, and 

frequent medical follow-ups. Patient education is also key to this approach. 

In 1999, a team of academic, community, and government organizations launched a pilot project to collect and communicate real-time data on air pollution in Roxbury, Massachusetts. This 

pilot project, which became known as AirBeat, was funded with a grant from EPA’s EMPACT 

Program. The AirBeat Project had two main goals: 1) to collect near real-time ambient air 

quality data for ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5),and other pollutants, and to 

develop data techniques for managing those data and 2) to communicate near real-time air 

quality data to the public in a way that can be easily understood and used by community 

residents to reduce human exposure. 

Appendix A 
Local organizations involved in the AirBeat Project include the Suffolk County Conserva

District, Alternatives for Community and Environment, Harvard School of Public Healt

the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP), and Northeast 

States of Coordinated Air Management. 

Collecting and Managing the Data 

AirBeat’s near real-time pollution data come from a single monitoring station located in 

Dudley Square, a major commercial hub in the center of Roxbury. This monitoring stati

is part of a statewide network of 42 monitoring sites operated by MA DEP to gather dat

ambient air concentrations of criteria pollutants. 

In 1997, MA DEP began investigating the possibility of siting a PM2.5 monitor in Roxb

to comply with new PM2.5 monitoring requirements set by EPA earlier that year. In sitin

the monitor, MA DEP invited the input of several local community organizations, inclu

Alternatives for Community and Environment, an environmental justice organization th

advocated the need for air quality monitoring in Roxbury. Together, they agreed on the 

Dudley Square location. Out of this cooperative effort, the AirBeat project was born. Th

driving motivation behind the project was a desire to leverage the air quality information 

from the new monitoring site by making the data accessible to Roxbury residents in real 

time. The project partners also hoped to use the air quality data to address community c

cerns that elevated concentrations of certain air pollutants, such as ozone and particulate 

matter, might be contributing to Roxbury’s high asthma hospitalization rate and the inci

dence of other respiratory illnesses. 

To address these concerns, the AirBeat team arranged to include the following monitorin

capabilities at the Dudley Square site: 

• Continuous monitoring for PM2.5. 

• Continuous monitoring for black carbon soot (BC), which is a strong indicator of 

diesel emissions. Although BC is a component of PM2.5 (typically about 10 percen

by mass), its temporal variation can be very different—BC concentrations often pe

during morning rush hour. 

• Continuous monitoring for ozone. 

• Meteorological monitoring to track weather conditions. 

The AirBeat team also made arrangements with MA DEP to download the raw monitor

data directly from the Dudley Square station via a modem-to-modem connection, so tha

AirBeat could process the data and deliver it to the public in real time. 

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Outreach Strategies 

The AirBeat team planned an extensive outreach program to communicate the air quality 

monitoring results in an understandable manner to local citizens and to educate them about 

the connections between air pollution and health effects. 

Starting in 2000, the AirBeat team began presenting the data collected by the ambient air 

quality monitoring station in near real-time for public access on the AirBeat Web site 

(http://www.airbeat.org/) and via a telephone hotline system. 

For More Information 

Consult the following resources for more information about the AirBeat Project: 

• Alternatives for Community and Environment 

http://www.ace-ej.org/ 

• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 

http://www.state.ma.us/dep/dephome.htm 

• Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management 

http://www.nescaum.org 

Contacts for the AirBeat Project 

George Allen 

Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management 

Phone: 617-367-8540 

E-mail: gallen@nescaum.org 

Jodi Sugerman-Brozan 

Alternatives for Community and Environment 

Phone: 617-442-3343 x23 

E-mail: jodi@ace-ej.org 

Matthew Goode 

Suffolk County Conservation District 

Phone: 617-451-9141 

Jerry Sheehan 

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 

Phone: 617-292-5500


E-mail: jerry.sheehan@state.ma.us


Appendix A 
• Air Info Now Environmental Monitoring Project Web Site: 

http://www.airinfonow.org—provides information about air quality, health concerns related 

to air pollution, and local solutions to improve air quality in the Tucson, Arizona, area. 

Air Quality Monitoring Resources 

• EPA’s Ozone Monitoring, Mapping, and Public Outreach (EPA/625/R-99/007) document helps users identify monitoring locations and equipment for ground-level ozone. 

Available online at: http://www.epa.gov/airnow/cdmanual.pdf. 

• Clean Air Act information: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/laws.htm—includes the full 

Clean Air Act law and a plain English Guide to the Act. 

• Office of Air and Radiation’s Technology Transfer Network: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic— 

provides links to information on air quality monitoring, including methods and standards. 

• EPA’s AirNow Web Site: http://www.epa.gov/airnow/—lists information on the Air 

Quality Index. 

Traffic Monitoring Resources 

• Federal Highway Administration: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/—search this Web site for 

additional information on traffic monitoring and transit planning. 

• The Federal Highway Administration’s A Summary of Vehicle Detection and Surveillance 

Technologies Used in Intelligent Transportation Systems document describes the various 

traffic monitoring equipment and applications. Available online at: 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/vdstits.htm. 

• U.S. Department of Transportation’s Travel Model Improvement Program: 

http://tmip.tamu.edu/—provides information on traffic monitoring, transit modeling, 

and data collection. 

Quality Control Resources 

• EPA’s Guidance for the Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for QualityRelated Documents (EPA/600/R-96/027) helps users develop standard operating 

procedures. Available online by searching the EPA Web site by publication number 

(http://www.epa.gov/clhtml/pubtitle.html). 

• The EPA Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center’s quality assurance/quality 

control page: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qaqc.html. 

Computer Models 

• EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality Web site: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/— 

provides details on the vehicle exhaust emissions model MOBILE 6 (most recent version). 

Appendix B