Calculator Inputs
Example Data Table
| Scenario | Days | Machines | Area | Distance | Dust controls | Engine baseline | Total PM (kg) | Est. AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline earthworks | 14 | 3 | 3,000 m² | 250 m | None | Improved diesel | ~9.7 | Moderate |
| With dust suppression | 14 | 3 | 3,000 m² | 250 m | Water + Cover | Improved diesel | ~6.1 | Lower increase |
| Modern engines + controls | 14 | 3 | 3,000 m² | 250 m | Water + Cover + Wheel wash | Modern diesel | ~4.6 | Often improved |
Formula Used
PM (kg) = Fuel used (L) × PM factor (g/L) ÷ 1000
NOx (kg) = Fuel used (L) × NOx factor (g/L) ÷ 1000
Controls are stacked as: remaining = Π(1 − reductionᵢ), capped at 95%.
Dust controls are stacked the same way as diesel controls.
PM increment (µg/m³) ≈ PM total (kg) × 10⁹ ÷ mixing volume
Wind dispersion factor scales concentration down with higher wind.
Impact score uses a saturating curve on weighted PM and NOx, adjusted for distance, wind, and receptor sensitivity.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose a unit system, then enter duration and work hours.
- Enter machines and fuel rate, or set machines to zero.
- Select dust activity, disturbed area, distance, and receptor type.
- Apply diesel and dust controls that match your site plan.
- Use advanced overrides if you have better emission factors.
- Press Calculate impact to see results above the form.
- Download CSV or PDF to share with your team.
Source inventory for construction activities
Quantify air impacts by separating diesel exhaust from fugitive dust. Enter realistic workdays, shift hours, machines, and fuel rate to estimate fuel use and tailpipe PM and NOx. Select the dominant dust activity and disturbed area to screen dust PM. When scopes change, re-run scenarios to compare phases such as earthworks, demolition, hauling, or concrete cutting and confirm which drivers dominate total mass and daily production targets.
Engine tier and fuel sensitivity
Emission factors in the tool are expressed as grams per liter of fuel. Moving from legacy diesel to modern engines sharply lowers PM and NOx, even if fuel use is unchanged. If fuel rate is uncertain, adjust the multiplier to reflect heavy loading, idling, cold starts, and extended queuing, and operator behavior. Use the advanced override fields when you have certified fleet factors or measured fuel burn.
Dust control effectiveness planning
Controls stack as remaining emissions after each reduction, capped to avoid unrealistic totals. Typical site measures include water application, covering stockpiles, wheel washing, stabilizing haul roads, and limiting vehicle speed. The calculator helps you test combinations and identify the smallest set that achieves meaningful reduction. Treat results as planning-level; validate chosen controls with inspections, moisture targets, traffic routing, record application rates, and maintenance schedules.
Receptor and dispersion interpretation
The concentration increment uses a simplified mixing volume based on distance and mixing height, then applies a wind dispersion factor. Longer distances, higher winds, and industrial receptors generally reduce risk, while schools and hospitals increase sensitivity. Use the AQI category as a communication shorthand, not a compliance determination. If predicted increments are high, consider monitoring, rescheduling tasks, adding barriers, notifying nearby occupants, and track complaints.
Documentation and reporting outputs
After calculation, export CSV for cost, schedule, or environmental logs, and PDF for toolbox talks and stakeholder briefings. Record the assumptions that matter most: days, machines, fuel rate, dust area, distance, wind, receptor type, and chosen controls. For repeatable reporting, keep a library of baseline and mitigated scenarios with version notes, including dates and approvers. Align outputs with permit conditions, local standards, and project environmental management plans.
FAQs
1. What does the impact score represent?
It is a comparative index built from weighted PM and NOx, adjusted for distance, wind, and receptor sensitivity. Use it to rank scenarios and prioritize controls, not as a legal compliance metric.
2. Should I enter monitored AQI data here?
No. The calculator estimates a screening AQI from modeled PM2.5 increments. If you have monitors, use them to validate assumptions, tune controls, and document real-world performance alongside the scenario results.
3. How do I select control reductions?
Start with realistic values from your dust plan, vendor specifications, and past projects. Stack only the measures you will actually implement, then test sensitivity by lowering reductions to account for imperfect coverage and maintenance.
4. Why does distance affect results strongly?
The model assumes emissions mix within a volume that grows with the square of distance. As receptors move farther away, the same mass is diluted into more air, producing a smaller concentration increment.
5. Can I model electric equipment?
Yes. Choose the electric preset to set tailpipe factors to zero, then keep dust sources and site controls active. If upstream electricity emissions matter for your reporting, capture them separately in your sustainability accounting.
6. Is this suitable for permitting submissions?
It is designed for planning and communication. For permits, follow local guidance, approved dispersion models, and required averaging times. Use this tool to build scenarios, collect inputs, and justify mitigation selections.