AN EXTENSION OF SIM-AIR TOWARDS RAPID AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN KATHMANDU (PREPair)

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to describe the implementation of an enhancement of the SIM-Air programme which was developed by the World Bank and the application of the enhanced version to help develop rapid and reliable actions for air quality management in Kathmandu, Nepal. The enhancement of the SIM-Air programme will include:
o A link between SIM-Air to the new emissions inventory developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) for urban areas which will use local emission data collated by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
o An interface with The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) to enable more realistic dispersion modelling using meteorological data for 2005. The procedure to do this will be automated,
o Modifications to SIM-Air in order to calibrate and validate the model with monitored data. For this purpose, SIM-Air is adapted to be able to perform back-calculations using monitored data.
o Improvements to highlight co-benefits such as CO2 savings and reduction of health impacts, introduction of positive externalities within a set of scenarios which can be selected by the user.
o The introduction of PM2.5 as the key pollutant involving particles.
o Insertion of a library of policy interventions covering a number of institutional, technical, political, legal and economic areas.
o Improvements to the user interface including the provision of technical information related to SIM-Air for outreach purposes.
Whilst the modifications of SIM-Air will initially be specific and customized for Kathmandu, the enhancement will enable users to enter their own information and to determine how and what it affects in SIM-Air. A user manual will allow the model to be applied for other cities in Asia after straightforward adaptation of emissions data, meteorological data, monitoring data and acceptable policy interventions. The enhanced SIM-Air model will be available by end 2008.