rapidAER features and capabilities

simplified interface design

rapidAER has a simplified interface, designed so that a new user with a simple modelling requirement is not forced to deal with screens that he does not need. Experienced modellers needing the full set of AERMOD capabilities can quickly prepare the necessary inputs.

integrated database

rapidAER allows you to enter data once and reuse many times. With an integrated database, you can store common data for a facility including sources, buildings, boundary, grids, background concentrations, and emissions.

Instantly retrieve selected information and enter it into the run information.

Copy an existing run from the database, import from csv and other files, or import an AERMOD input file to populate all of the fields in the run.

Access any information for the run or any other run in the database, in most cases with one mouse click.

information tracker

The rapidAER system tracks the status of the data creation for the run and informs the user of missing or inconsistent elements which need to be addressed before the input file can be created.

The system keeps track of all of the files created by the user or produced by the model, which avoids wasted time and reduces the possibility of submission errors.

everything in one place

A modeling dashboard provides a single location for creating the input file, submitting and tracking model runs, reviewing model logs and model input/output files.

automated processing

Execution of the model and other processing is done behind the scenes, allowing the user to carry on with other activities in rapidAER.

The AERMET, AERMAP, BPIP and related programs are integrated into the system, including automated data extraction and transfer to the source, building and grid components of the database.

computation engine

results that match

All of the dispersion computations are made by the US EPA AERMOD code so that rapidAER produces results exactly matching the EPA results.

several hundred times faster

The rapidAER approach to using the code greatly speeds up model execution especially when runs for many substances or scenarios are based on a single model run.

detailed source attribution and statistics

With rapidAER processing you can produce detailed source attribution and statistics as well as producing the standard AERMOD tables and output files.

interactive modelling capability

rapidAER provides an interactive modelling capability where the user can specify a time period to model and a set of receptors or arbitrary location and the averaging period required, and rapidAER will output concentrations or frequency of exceeding a specified threshold.

analysis and display facility

scenario modelling component

The scenario modelling component allows specification of source emissions for a new scenario or pollutant and execution of a model run within minutes without preparing any input files.

sort and export data with ease

The output from scenario models is displayed on-screen as tables, allowing the user to sort the results by receptor, source, emission or concentration, and to display source contribution for any selected value, as well as exporting the data.

graphical display facilities

Graphical display facilities allow for display of time series plots, contour plots, facility layout plots as interpreted by the model and integration with the Surfer (Golden Software) program for advanced graphical display, including export to Google Earth or other GIS systems.

The Facility location data (source, building, boundary) can be derived from CAD drawings or can be created by the user in Google Earth. The Google Earth markup created by the GE program (as shown below) is exported to a KML file and read directly by rapidAER to enter into the database upon user review.