4/27/2004

NIF Output Options for NONROAD Reporting Utility


NIF is the National Emission Inventory (NEI) Input Format.  
This documents the Reporting Utility's NIF output option 
that was first made available in the EPA draft NONROAD2002a 
model in 2003.  Although the default Reporting Utility has
been updated slightly to function with the new core model, 
the NIF 2.0 output has not changed.  We realize that the 
NIF 3.0 format has already been issued by EPA, but that 
format has not yet been incorporated into the default 
NONROAD model Reporting Utility.  For more information on 
this and a preliminary test version of a NIF 3.0 reporting 
utility, see the "NIF 3.0 vs NIF 2.0" section of the file 
nrnote12.txt. 

**Note: If you wish to use data from any NONROAD runs you have
previously imported into an earlier version of the Reporting
Utility, you will have to re-import them into this version of the
Reporting Utility from the original .OUT output files. (see Step
5 below).

How to Use the Reporting Utility to Create a NIF Format
Output Database:

1. Start the NONROAD Reporting Utility

2. If you have not yet done so, choose Re-Attach Tables from the
Data menu. If prompted to "locate the nrdata database," use the
file open dialog that pops up to navigate to c:
\nonroad\reports\nrdata.mdb and click "OK."

3. When you see the "tables successfully attached", click the
"OK" button.

4. Under certain circumstances, the program may also ask you to
locate the nif.mdb database. Follow the same procedure to point
Access to this database which is also located in c:
\nonroad\reports\nif.mdb

5. If you have not already done so, import data from a NONROAD
model run in the usual way using the Import Data command under
the Data menu.  Note: data from any NONROAD runs you have
previously imported into a prior version of the Reporting Utility
will have to be reimported into this version. 

6. To export data to a NIF format database, start by choosing
Export NIF from the Data menu.

7. Use the "drop down" arrow on the resulting Export Simulation
dialog to find the NONROAD data that you wish to export. Do not
attempt to type a simulation name directly into the empty white
text box.

8. Fill in the required information on the resulting Exporting
Simulation dialog box. 

   a) At the top of this box, you will see the name of the NIF
format database (if any) to which this particular run has
previously been exported.  If a previous export exists, you
cannot overwrite it, you will have to choose a new name after
filling in the other fields in this dialog box and clicking on
the "Export" button. 

   b) The Contact Information is used to fill in certain fields
in the NIF database.  

   c) The Time Period, Start Date, End Date, and Episode Year
should already be filled in with data from the selected
simulation (do not modify these).  

   d) You *do* need to use the drop down list to fill in the
Period Type field. Make sure that you select the proper type
corresponding to the run you are exporting.  

   e) There is also a space for a *short* memo on your run.
Anything typed in here is stored in the NIF database that you are
exporting.

9. After everything is properly filled out, click on the "Export"
button. You will be prompted for the name and location of the new
database you are creating. It is probably best to put the new
database in the c:\nonroad\outputs directory.

10. The program will let you know when it has finished creating
the new database. Click "OK" and then "Done" to get back to the
main screen.

A few things to note:

1. The Reporting Utility automatically chooses between various
allowable units of measure for the emission and throughput fields
and performs the necessary units conversion to avoid
underflow/overflow problems associated with the limited field
size allowed by NIF.  The correct NIF unit codes are filled in.  

2. The program assumes that you are always creating NIF records
of type TR (Transmittal).  

3. Consistent with common practice in EPS and elsewhere, a FIPS
county code of 000 is used to represent results from a state
total run. Similarly, a FIPS state code of 00 is used for results
of an "all states" run. Currently, EPA's NIF QA tool will flag
this as a potential problem. 

Thank you,

NONROAD Engine Emission Modeling Team
Assessment and Standards Division, US EPA

Email:  nonroad@epa.gov
Fax:    734-214-4939
Web:    www.epa.gov/otaq/nonrdmdl.htm
US mail:  US EPA Assessment and Standards Division
          2000 Traverwood Drive
          Ann Arbor MI 48105