Characterizing and Quantifying Emissions and Transport of Fugitive Dust Emissions Due to Department of Defense Activities

Abstract : New understanding of dust emission processes related to Dept. of Defense testing and training activities and the transport of dust were achieved during this project. New formulations of emission factors and measurement methods that allow for the extension of specific results to areas and installations where measurements were not acquired can provide more defensible estimates of contributions of dust from testing and training activities than was previously available to DoD installations. Characterization of terrain effects that modulate dust emission and transport were also developed that may lead to more accurate estimates of these contributions. The dust transport model DUSTRAN was modified through the replacement of a proprietary GIS system with an open-source one, which should contribute to making DUSTRAN much more widely used. The dispersion model component within DUSTRAN now includes AERMOD, the US EPA s preferred model. DUSTRAN now offers the option to calculate dispersion using deposition velocities developed as part of this project linked to specific vegetation/roughness environments.