This is an air dispersion modelling application to respond to the real needs of experienced as well as novice modelers:

• Provide guidance and checks at each step in developing the model input files and running the models
• Facilitate the task of keeping track of all previous runs and associated files
• Quickly find and access completed runs to facilitate new run generation
• Provide a single seamless interface to all auxiliary programs (such as BPIP and SCREEN3) and alternative models for a one-stop modelling exercise.

This approach permits sophMOD to offer the following advanced modelling capabilities:

• Checklist of model status - the application tracks all actions by the user and provides a checklist of completed tasks for the current run at all times. Tasks which depend on prior completion of other tasks will not be available to the user: for example it will prevent the initiation of model input file creation if information on sources is missing. Any changes which the user makes to the data will trigger appropriate regeneration of the files so that all information is current. This prevents the creation of runs where the wrong data has been inadvertently supplied, saving valuable time and preventing potentially costly errors.
  
• Run any of the models from the same data - once data has been entered or imported into sophMOD it is available for use in any of the included models at will. These include at present the ISC Short Term, Long Term, Event and Prime models, the AERMOD model and the SCREEN3 model. Entry or modification of building data in the database will trigger the BPIP model to create the building information which is then automatically inserted into the model input file.
  
• Simplified data entry - data for sources, receptors and buildings can be entered via screen edit, copied from another existing run, imported from ASCII file, or read from an existing model input file.
  
• Work on several runs at the same time - the models are executed within sophMOD in a separate thread so that they run in the background allowing the user to work on other model runs at the same time. The database and checklist capabilities ensure that the user can continue previously started runs at any time without losing track of previous activities.
  
• Rapid model execution - compiling the EPA models as DLL files running in a separate thread allows for much faster execution of model runs. In addition, the particulate depletion calculating procedure has been modified to run up to 50 times faster than the EPA version, permitting full grid runs of the particulate depletion algorithms in the ISC models.
  
• Graphical output handling - plot files created from the models can be automatically gridded and displayed within the Surfer mapping software.
  
• Long-term archiving - archival function permits the archiving of completed runs in a database which can be made accessible to other users. All of the data, specifications and auxiliary files are compressed into a single file and can be retrieved at any time to re-create the model run within the sophMOD database.
  
• Online Help System - context sensitive online help for each of the fields on each screen provides guidance on entry of data as well as references to the supplied model User Guides for detailed information.

To appreciate firsthand the benefits in terms of the easy to use checklist approach for the occasional modeler, and advanced time-saving features as well as inter-model comparability of the database approach for the power user, ask us for a fully functional 30 day evaluation version of sophMOD.