Recommended CEQA Modeling Analysis Tools

Models are commonly used to calculate land use development project air emissions. During the review, various modeling tools are available to evaluate air quality impacts for a project. The District recommends these computer models to analyze the related air quality impacts from land use projects.

If the project applicant proposes a modeling analysis different than the District's recommended models, please consult with the District staff prior to conducting the analyses.

CalEEMod Model

The California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod) is designed for governmental agencies, land use planners, and environmental professionals to quantify potential criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a variety of land use projects. The model can estimate direct emissions from construction and operational activities as well as indirect emissions from energy use, solid waste disposal, and waste use. The District's California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Handbook Appendix B provides the modeling tips for using CalEEMod to analyze the project's related air quality impacts. 

Roadway Construction Emission Model

The Roadway Construction Emission Model was developed by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD). The model is a spreadsheet-based model that is able to estimate exhaust emissions from heavy-duty construction equipment, haul trucks, and worker commute trips as well as fugitive dust from the construction of a new roadway, road widening, roadway overpass, levee or pipeline projects. 

EMFAC Model

The Emission Factors (EMFAC) model was developed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to assess the mobile source emissions for each air basin, county or the whole state. It contains vehicle activities and emission factors from all types of motor vehicles operating on highways, freeways, and local roads in California. CARB has created an EMFAC Web Database which can provide a quick and easy way to access commonly used EMFAC emissions and emission factors data without having to install and run the EMFAC model.

CALINE-4 Model

The CALINE-4 model is recommended when a land use project is identified that it will have potential carbon monoxide (CO) impacts for any intersection affected by the project which already has traffic mitigation incorporated. The model is used to estimate local CO concentrations resulting from motor vehicle emissions. It was developed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).