====== 4. AERMAP ======
===== 4.1 Introduction =====

**AERMAP** is a topographic preprocessor developed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to support the atmospheric dispersion model [[aermod|AERMOD]]. It processes terrain elevation data, generating essential information about the relief that influences pollutant dispersion.

Primary Objective:

  * Process topographic data to characterize the terrain in the study area. 
  * Generate elevation parameters used by [[aermod|AERMOD]], such as terrain heights at each receptor/source, slopes, and obstacle effects.

=== Input Data ===
^ Type ^ Description ^ Formats/Examples ^
| Digital Elevation Model (DEM) | Terrain altitude data | DEM files (USGS), SRTM, or ASTER |
| Source and Receptor Coordinates | Locations of emissions and analysis points | .DAT or .TXT files |
| Control Parameters | Processing settings (resolution, domain) | .INP or .TXT input file |

=== Outputs Generated ===
^ File ^ Content ^ Use in [[aermod|AERMOD]] ^
| .OUT (Main) | Terrain heights for sources and receptors | Defines topographic influence on dispersion |
| .HIL (Optional) | Elevation file in binary format | Visualization in GIS software |
| Reports (.RPT) | Processing logs and errors | Consistency verification |

Why is AERMAP important?

  * Accuracy: Ensures [[aermod|AERMOD]] correctly accounts for terrain impact on pollutants.
  * Efficiency: Automates complex elevation calculations for multiple points.
  * Compatibility: Uses global topographic data standards (e.g., USGS).

See [[#Figure 1|Figure 1]]:

== Figure 1 ==

<WRAP box center> {{:recepthor.png |Figure 1 – Receptors}}<WRAP center> **Figure 1:** Receptor domain region </WRAP> </WRAP>
===== 4.2. Required Files for AERMAP =====
==== 4.2.1. National Elevation Dataset (NED) ====

First, download the **AERMAP** executable from [[https://www.epa.gov/scram/air-quality-dispersion-modeling-related-model-support-programs| EPA AERMAP]] and extract the file to the folder ''C:\Users\Cliente\Desktop\AermodTutorial\4.AERMAP''.

Next, visit: [[https://apps.nationalmap.gov/downloader/|National Map]] to acquire elevation data for **AERMAP**. Follow the steps below, as shown in [[#Figure 2|Figure 2]]:
  - Click the search bar and type ''Bloomigton'', then select ''Bloomington, Illinois'';
  - Adjust the zoom as shown in the figure and click ''Extent'';
  - Select the region of interest by left-clicking to draw the area;
  - Check ''Elevation Products (3D Elevation Program Products and Services)'' under Data;
  - Check ''Select All'' under Subcategories;
  - Click "Search Products".

== Figure 2 ==

<WRAP box center> {{:national.png |Figure 2 – AERSURFACE download}}<WRAP center> **Figure 2:** Download the elevation data </WRAP> </WRAP>

Now locate the data ''USGS 1 Arc Second n41w089 20240104'' and ''USGS 1 Arc Second n41w090 20240104'' and click their respective ''Download'' links, as shown in [[#Figure 3|Figure 3]]:

== Figure 3 ==

<WRAP box center> {{:nationalLINK.png |Figure 3 – AERSURFACE download}}<WRAP center> **Figure 3:** Download the .TIF data </WRAP> </WRAP>
Save the files to ''C:\Users\Cliente\Desktop\AermodTutorial\4.AERMAP'' and rename them to ''n41w089'' and ''n41w090''.

Create a subfolder named ''Seamless_dem'' within **AERMAP** and move the files ''n41w089'' and ''n41w090'' there.
Next, download a ''.Tif'' image converter to make these files compatible with the subprocessor (native .tif files are compressed).
Click {{ :conversao.rar|conversao}} and extract it to the **AERMAP** folder. Open CMD and enter:

''gdal_translate -of GTiff -co COMPRESS=NONE "C:\Users\Cliente\Desktop\AermodTutorial\4.AERMAP\Seamless_dem\n41w089.tif" "C:\Users\Cliente\Desktop\AermodTutorial\4.AERMAP\Seamless_dem\a1.tif"''

Press Enter. Repeat for the other image:

''gdal_translate -of GTiff -co COMPRESS=NONE "C:\Users\Cliente\Desktop\AermodTutorial\4.AERMAP\Seamless_dem\n41w090.tif" "C:\Users\Cliente\Desktop\AermodTutorial\4.AERMAP\Seamless_dem\a2.tif"''

==== 4.2.2. Receptors ====

A discrete receptor grid is available {{ :receptores_bloomington.rar|here}}. Extract it to ''C:\Users\Cliente\Desktop\AermodTutorial\4.AERMAP''.

===== 4.3. Configuring AERMAP =====
With all inputs ready, configure **AERMAP**.
Create a text file named ''aermap'' with the following content:

<code>CO STARTING
   TITLEONE  UFSC/ TraPoDisO
   TITLETWO  Bloomington, IL, 2024 NED Data File
   DATATYPE  NED  FILLGAPS 
   DATAFILE  .\Seamless_dem\a1.tif
   DATAFILE  .\Seamless_dem\a2.tif
   DOMAINXY  300000  4470000 16    355784  4499506  16
   ANCHORXY  333420  4482400       333420  4482400  16  4
   RUNORNOT  RUN
CO FINISHED

SO STARTING
   LOCATION    STACK1  POINT  333415  4482405 
SO FINISHED

RE STARTING
   INCLUDED receptores_bloomington.dat
RE FINISHED

OU STARTING
   RECEPTOR  Bloomington.rec
   SOURCLOC  Bloomington.src
OU FINISHED
</code>

Below is a description of each line:

== Section CO – Control Options ==
| Line | Description |
| TITLEONE UFSC/ TraPoDisO | Project main title |
| TITLETWO Bloomington, IL, 2024 NED Data File | Additional description with location and data type |
| DATATYPE NED FILLGAPS | Specifies NED (National Elevation Dataset) data with gap interpolation |
| DATAFILE .\Seamless_dem\a1.tif | First GeoTIFF file containing elevation data |
| DATAFILE .\Seamless_dem\a2.tif | Second GeoTIFF file containing elevation data |
| DOMAINXY 300000 4470000 16 355784 4499506 16 | Defines lower-left and upper-right domain corners (UTM, zone 16N) |
| ANCHORXY 333420 4482400 333420 4482400 16 4 | Anchor point for internal grid alignment |
| RUNORNOT RUN | Command to start processing |

== Section SO – Sources ==
| Line | Description |
| LOCATION STACK1 POINT 333415 4482405 | Defines a point source named STACK1 at the specified UTM coordinates |

== Section RE – Receptors ==
| Line | Description |
| INCLUDED receptores_bloomington.dat | Imports the receptor list and coordinates file |

== Section OU – Output ==
| Line | Description |
| RECEPTOR Bloomington.rec | Output file with receptor elevations/hill heights |
| SOURCLOC Bloomington.src | Output file with source elevations/hill heights |

===== 4.4. Running AERMAP =====

With ''aermap.txt'' ready, open CMD and navigate to ''C:\Users\Cliente\Desktop\AermodTutorial\4.AERMAP''.
Type ''aermap aermap.txt'' and press Enter to generate **AERMAP** outputs. This may take time due to the high number of receptors per project.

Wait for the process to complete, and in the end, we will have the last two files required for the final execution of [[aermod|AERMOD]]:  
- ''Bloomington.rec '' 
- ''Bloomington.src''

===== What is next? =====
Now we are almost finished; the only step left is to integrate all the data previously generated by **AERMET** and **AERMAP** in order to run them in [[aermod|AERMOD]] and obtain the output data we need
===== Attachment =====

Here you can download the folder I used to create this document. It is important that you use it only for comparison purposes or in case you are unable to make progress on the project.
Attached: download.rar