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Models and tools can be used to measure and compare costs and benefits resulting from transportation activities and control measures, the application of new vehicle technologies, or using new transportation fuels.

ACRP Report 11: Guidebook on Preparing Airport Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories (April 2009) (PDF 1.72mb)

Transportation Research Board

ACRP Report 11: Guidebook on Preparing Airport Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories provides a framework for identifying and quantifying specific components of airport contributions to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). This guidebook can be used by airport operators and others to prepare an airport-specific inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies calculation methods that can be applied consistently, improving comparability among airports and enhancing understanding of relative contributions of greenhouse gases to local environments. The inventory methods presented focus on the six primary greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, and perfluorocarbons. As part of the methodology, the guidebook provides instructions on how to calculate emissions from specific sources and how to create carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalencies.

Climate Leadership in Parks (CLIP)

(Currently not publicly available)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This tool calculates emissions based on fuel consumption and/or vehicle miles traveled and thus allows for greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria pollutant emissions estimation at a more local level.

COMMUTER Model (PDF 1.02mb)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This model analyzes the impacts of transportation control measures (TCMs) on vehicle miles traveled (VMT), criteria pollutant emissions, and CO₂.

EMFAC Model

California Air Resources Board

This model produces emission rates and inventories for criteria air pollutants and CO₂. It is the approved emissions model used in the State of California for SIP development, conformity analysis, and other analyses that are typically conducted using MOBILE6 in other states.

The Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model

Argonne National Laboratory

This full life-cycle model was designed to evaluate energy and emission impacts of advanced vehicle technologies and new transportation fuel combinations on a full fuel-cycle/vehicle-cycle basis.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Deployment Analysis System (IDAS)

Federal Highway Administration

This sketch planning analysis tool is used to estimate the impacts, benefits, and costs resulting from the deployment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) components of over 60 types of ITS investments.

Lifecycle Emissions Model (LEM)

(not publicly available)

University of California, Davis

This model estimates energy use, criteria pollutant emissions, and CO₂-equivalent GHG emissions from transportation and energy sources.

Long Range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) System

Commend: Community for Energy, Environment and Development

LEAP is a software tool for energy policy analysis and climate change mitigation assessment that uses integrated modeling to track energy consumption, production, and resource extraction in all sectors of an economy.

The MARKAL-MACRO Model

Department of Energy

This model is an integration of two models, MARKAL and MACRO to link the use of energy and environmental resources to the economy. It can forecast emissions sources and levels for CO₂, SOx, and NOx, and any user-specified pollutants and wastes.

MiniCAM Model

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

This model forecasts CO₂ and other GHG emissions and estimates the impacts on GHG atmospheric concentrations, climate, and the environment. As of 2005, this model was superseded by ObjECTS-MiniCAM, a C++ version of the model that incorporates object-oriented programming designs for increased flexibility, maintenance, and modeling detail.

MOBILE6

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

MOBIL6 is used to produce motor vehicle emission factors for use in transportation analysis and can be used at any geographic level within the U.S.

Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) Model

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This modeling system estimates emissions for on-road and non-road sources for a broad range of pollutants and allow multiple scale analysis. This system is intended to replace MOBILE6 and NONROAD.

National Energy Modeling System (NEMS)

(Proprietary portions such as the macroeconomic model and the optimization modeling libraries can be ordered.)

Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. DOE

This modeling system represents the behavior of energy markets and their interactions with the U.S. economy. It contains a transportation demand module (TRAN) that has several sub-modules and that uses NEMS inputs.

National Mobile Inventory Model (NMIM)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

NMIM uses current versions of MOBILE6 and NONROAD to calculate emission inventories, based on multiple input scenarios that users can enter into the system, and can be used to calculate national or individual state or county inventories.

NONROAD Model

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This model produces estimates of criteria pollutant emissions and CO₂ from all non-road sources, with the exception of commercial marine vessels, locomotives, and aircraft. The model calculates past, present, and future emission inventories for 80 basic and 260 specific non-transportation equipment categories.

Recommended Practice for Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transit (PDF 976kb)

American Public Transportation Association

This Recommended Practice provides guidance to transit agencies for quantifying their greenhouse gas emissions, including both emissions generated by transit and the potential reduction of emissions through efficiency and displacement by laying out a standard methodology for transit agencies to report their greenhouse gas emissions in a transparent, consistent and cost-effective manner.

State Inventory Tool (SIT)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This tool will help develop a comprehensive GHG inventory at the state level by allowing users to enter their own state-specific activity data to estimate emissions.

State Inventory Project Tool

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This tool is based on the State Inventory Tool (SIT) and forecasts emissions through 2020 to allow users to compare trends back to 1990.

System for the Analysis of Global Energy Markets (SAGE)

(Not publicly available)

U.S. Department of Energy

SAGE is an integrated set of regional models that provides a technology-rich basis for estimating regional energy supply and demand. For each region, reference case estimates of end-use energy service demands (e.g., car, commercial truck, and heavy truck road travel; residential lighting; steam heat requirements in the paper industry) are developed on the basis of economic and demographic projections.

Transitional Alternative Fuels and Vehicle Model (TAFV)

University of Maine

The TAFV model represents economic decisions among auto manufacturers, vehicle purchasers, and fuel suppliers and can predict the choice of alternative fuel technologies for light-duty motor vehicles.

VISION Model

Argonne National Laboratory

This model forecasts energy use until 2050 and provides estimates for advanced light- and heavy-duty highway vehicle technologies and alternatives, including potential energy use, oil use, and carbon emissions impacts. The model was designed as a simplified and fast way to assess the potential impact of new fuel technologies on energy use and carbon emissions.

World Energy Protection System (WEPS) Transportation Energy Model (TEM)

U.S. Department of Energy

This structural accounting model for transportation energy use generates mid-term forecasts of the transportation sector's energy use in order to evaluate the effect of changes in fuel economy on carbon emissions.

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