URBEMIS and BGM are land use emission estimate models that may be used for analyzing air quality impacts of a proposed development, such as residential, commercial, and mixed-use land uses.  As a follow up to the well attended URBEMIS/BGM computer model training classes held by the District in 2010, the District has created online URBEMIS and BGM training videos for local planners and others.

URBEMIS, a tool initially developed by the California Air Resources Board and updated by local air districts, uses EMFAC emissions factors and ITE trip generation rates to calculate ROG, NOx, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and vehicle trips.  URBEMIS estimates emissions from area sources (e.g., natural gas fuel combustion, wood stoves, fireplace combustion, landscape maintenance equipment, consumer products and architectural coating) and operational-related emissions (mobile sources). URBEMIS does not estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

BGM (BAAQMD GHG Model) was created by the District to estimate GHG emissions from land uses such as from transportation, electricity use, water use, waste disposal, and refrigerants.  Using imported land use data from URBEMIS, BGM estimates a project's carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from direct and indirect emission sources.  BGM adjusts for state GHG regulations, specifically California's low carbon fuel rules and Pavley regulations, and contains a range of GHG reduction strategies for projects to apply.

Each training video below highlights specific features in the modeling programs and may be watched in any order, depending on a user's experience with URBEMIS and BGM.

This presentation summarizes the content in the training videos.