Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program
Over the last several years, Abt Associates has developed and refined the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP), a GIS-based state-of the-art environmental and health impacts and benefits assessment model. BenMAP is EPA’s premier tool for estimating benefits associated with air pollution reduction strategies BenMAP estimates reductions in the incidence of a wide variety of health outcomes associated with reductions in ambient air pollution concentrations, as well as the associated avoided social costs. The model incorporates location-specific health effect incidence rates, sizes of affected populations, concentration-response functions, and ambient pollutant concentrations. Extremely flexible in its application, BenMAP can be used for any area and pollutant of interest. Abt Associates recently added to BenMAP the ability to estimate the health impacts of forecasted temperature increases related to climate change. BenMAP has been used domestically and internationally. In the U.S., BenMAP is EPA’s premier tool for estimating benefits associated with air pollution reduction strategies and has been used to evaluate many of EPA’s recent major air regulations, including the Clean Air Non-Road Diesel Rule, the Clean Air Interstate Rule, and the recent National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter and ozone. Abt Associates has also supported environmental and health ministries in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and South Korea by developing and implementing air pollution analyses based on the International BenMap model, and conducted in-country training of researchers and ministry staff.