Lakes CALRoads View

 

Lakes CALRoads View is a specialized air dispersion modeling software package for predicting air quality impacts produced by mobile (vehicle) sources at or near roadways and roadway intersections. Based on the US EPA’s CALINE4 (California Line Source Dispersion Model) and validated intersection algorithms, CALRoads View provides transportation engineers and environmental professionals with a purpose-built tool for assessing carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other vehicle-related pollutants. Version 6.5.0 continues Lakes Environmental’s legacy of user-friendly regulatory modeling, offering intuitive roadway input, comprehensive meteorological processing, and advanced visualization for transportation impact assessments. Whether evaluating new highway alignments, analyzing traffic congestion hot spots, or preparing environmental documents for infrastructure projects, CALRoads View delivers the accuracy and compliance that transportation and environmental professionals demand.

???? Primary Users

This specialized air dispersion modeling software is designed for:

  • Air Quality & Environmental Engineers assessing pollutant impacts from roadway and traffic sources.

  • Transportation Planners & Highway Engineers evaluating air quality impacts of new roads, interchanges, and widenings.

  • Environmental Consultants & EIA Specialists preparing transportation-related EIA reports for regulatory compliance.

  • Urban & Regional Planners modeling traffic-related emissions for sustainable development.

  • Regulatory Agencies reviewing air quality permit applications for transportation projects.

 

 

⚡ Key Features & Capabilities

????️ Roadway & Intersection Modeling

Roadway Segments:

  • Straight and curved roadways from CAD/GIS import or manual digitization

  • At-grade, depressed, and elevated roadway configurations

  • Single or multi-lane roadways with variable width and orientation

  • Parking lots, on-ramps, off-ramps, and merging zones

Intersection Modeling:

  • Signalized (traffic lights) and unsignalized (stop sign) intersections

  • Turning lanes (left/right, dedicated/shared)

  • Intersection queuing and idling emissions

  • Traffic signal timing (cycle length, green split, phase)

???? Emission Source Characterization

Vehicle Emission Estimates:

  • Direct integration with US EPA’s MOVES (Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator)

  • Import from EMFAC (California-specific model)

  • User-defined emission rates (g/sec/m) for custom applications

Traffic Parameters:

  • Average Daily Traffic (ADT) and hourly traffic volume

  • Vehicle mix: passenger cars, light trucks, heavy-duty trucks, buses

  • Cruise speed, acceleration, deceleration, idle

  • Signal timing and queuing for intersections

????️ Dispersion Calculations

CALINE4 Model Engine:

  • Gaussian dispersion for line and area sources

  • Wind direction relative to roadway orientation

  • Stable, neutral, and unstable atmospheric conditions

  • Mixing height and vertical dispersion parameters

Receptor Placement:

  • User-defined discrete receptors (fenceline, sensitive receptors)

  • Cartesian grid with variable grid spacing

  • Elevated receptors (building rooftops, above-grade)

  • Near-road and far-road (background) analysis

???? Meteorological Data Processing

Data Sources:

  • ASOS, AWOS, METAR surface stations

  • On-site meteorological tower data

  • User-defined wind speed, wind direction, stability class

  • Seasonal and annual averaging periods

Wind Treatment:

  • Wind angle relative to roadway orientation (parallel, perpendicular, oblique)

  • Calm wind processing (no wind / variable direction)

  • Wind speed and turbulence intensity

???? Advanced Output & Visualization

Contaminant Types:

  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) – standard near-road indicator

  • Particulate Matter (PM10, PM2.5)

  • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx, NO2)

  • Air Toxics (benzene, 1,3-butadiene, etc.)

Reporting:

  • 1-hour, 8-hour, daily, and annual averaging periods

  • Contour maps (concentration isopleths) for EIA graphics

  • Comparison with NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards)

  • Gridded output for GIS (Shapefile / KML)

3D Visualization:

  • Concentration contours overlaid on aerial imagery / road map

  • Cross‑road vertical profiles (distance vs. concentration)

  • Intersection hot spot mapping

???? Scenario Management & Compliance

Scenario Comparison:

  • Baseline (existing) vs. Future (proposed) roadway

  • Mitigation scenarios (traffic calming, alternative fuel fleet)

  • Intersection signal timing optimization

  • Parking garage and idling reduction strategies

Regulatory Compliance:

  • US EPA transportation conformity

  • State Implementation Plan (SIP) hot‑spot analysis

  • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) / Environmental Assessment (EA)

????️ GIS & CAD Integration

  • Direct import of road centerlines (Shapefile, DXF, KML)

  • Background aerial/satellite imagery (WMS, Bing Maps)

  • Export concentration contours to GIS and CAD formats