Modeling Mobile-Source Emissions

The Mobile Source Emissions Factor (MOBILE) model is a computer model developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for estimating emissions from on-road motor vehicles. MOBILE is used in air-quality planning and regulation for estimating emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and for predicting the effects of emissions-reduction programs. Because of its important role in air-quality management, the accuracy of MOBILE is critical. Possible consequences of inaccurately characterizing motor-vehicle emissions include the implementation of insufficient controls that endanger the environment and public health or the implementation of ineffective policies that impose excessive control costs. Billions of dollars per year in transportation funding are linked to air-quality attainment plans, which rely on estimates of mobile-source emissions. Transportation infrastructure decisions are also affected by emissions estimates from MOBILE. In response to a request from Congress, the National Research Council established the Committee to Review EPA's Mobile Source Emissions Factor (MOBILE) Model in October 1998. The committee was charged to evaluate MOBILE and to develop recommendations for improving the model.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Overview of Mobile-Source Emissions
2 Uses of MOBILE in Air-Quality Management
3 Technical Issues Associated with the MOBILE Model
4 Model Uncertainty and Evaluation
5 Alternative Mobile-Source Emissions Modeling Techniques
6 A Toolkit of Future Emissions Inventory Models
References
Glossary
Appendix A Biographical Information on the Committee to Review
EPA's Mobile Source Emissions Factor (MOBILE) Model
Appendix B Acronyms and Names Used for Classifying Organic
Compounds