Analysis Module Parameters
This article provides a quick reference to the parameters for each module. For more details on the parameters and how they are applied in analysis, please see the methodology documentation for individual modules. For guidance on setting parameters, see the Setting Analysis Module Parameters tutorial.
Minimum Dwelling Unit Density. Expressed in dwelling units per acre. A residential density threshold above which land is considered to be developed or "consumed."
Minimum Employment Density. Expressed in jobs per acre. An employment density threshold above which land is considered to be developed or "consumed."
Electricity rates are expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per household, per year by housing type. Natural gas use rates are expressed in therms. Housing types, as specified in Building and Place Types, include:
Single-family detached, large lot. Refers to lot sizes over 5,500 square feet.
Single-family detached, small lot. Refers to lot sizes under 5,500 square feet.
Single-family attached. Refers to townhomes, rowhomes, and other single-family attached unit types.
Multifamily. Refers to apartments and condominiums in multi-unit buildings.
Electricity rates are expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per square foot, per year by building use type. Natural gas use rates are expressed in therms. Building use types, which correspond to employment subsectors as specified in Building and Place Types, include:
Other retail
Retail services
Restaurant
Accommodation
Office services
Wholesale
Medical Services
Education
Arts and entertainment
Transportation/Warehouse
Public administration
Adjustment factors are multipliers that are used to adjust total energy use calculations up or down. The factors may be used to broadly calibrate the energy use calculations to local data, or express broad shifts in energy use into the future. A factor of 0.8, for example, is the equivalent of reducing calculated energy use by 20%. The factors can be set by sector and fuel type, including:
Residential Electricity
Residential Natural Gas
Commercial Electricity
Commercial Natural Gas
Rates are expressed in gallons per capita, per day by housing type. Housing types, as specified in Building and Place Types, include:
Single-family detached, large lot. Refers to lot sizes over 5,500 square feet.
Single-family detached, small lot. Refers to lot sizes under 5,500 square feet.
Single-family attached. Refers to townhomes, rowhomes, and other single-family attached unit types.
Multifamily. Refers to apartments and condominiums in multi-unit buildings.
Rates are expressed in gallons per employee, per day by employment subsector. Distributions of employment by subsector are specified in Building and Place Types, including:
Retail services
Restaurant
Accommodation
Arts and entertainment
Other retail
Office services
Education
Public administration
Medical services
Wholesale
Transportation/Warehouse
Construction
Utilities
Manufacturing
Extraction
Military
Agriculture
Reference Evapotranspiration. A measure of water loss to the atmosphere for a "reference crop" of turf grass. Expressed in inches of water per year, this value varies by climate and is used to determine outdoor water use.
Adjustment factors are multipliers that are used to adjust total water use calculations up or down. The factors may be used to broadly calibrate the water use calculations to local data, or express broad shifts in water use due to improved efficiency or conservation into the future. A factor of 0.8, for example, is the equivalent of reducing calculated water use by 20%. The factors can be set by sector for indoor water use and outdoor landscape irrigation (outdoor water use):
Residential Irrigation
Commercial Irrigation
Residential Indoor
Residential Outdoor
Walk Speed. Expressed in miles per hour. The default value is 3.
Retail Location. A number n used to calculate the nth nearest retail location. The default value is 5.
Service Start Time. The Transit Accessibility module accounts for service according to transit schedule data, incorporating services meeting the start and end time parameters specified. The default start time is 7 am.
Service End Time. The Transit Accessibility module accounts for service according to transit schedule data, incorporating services meeting the start and end time parameters specified. The default end time is 10 pm.
Walk Speed. Expressed in miles per hour. The default value is 3.
Retail Location. A number n used to calculate the nth nearest retail location. The default value is
School Trip Factor. A multiplier to estimate school trips.
Truck VMT Factor. A multiplier to estimate commercial truck travel relative to total passenger vehicle VMT.
Annualization. A factor indicating the relationship between daily and annual VMT. The default is 350.
Transportation GHG Emission Factors
Fuel Economy. On-road average fuel economy, in miles per gallon.
Fuel CO2 Equivalent Emission Rate. Carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per gallon of fuel, in pounds per gallon.
Transportation Air Pollutant Emission Factors
Nitrogen Oxide. Emissions in grams per mile.
Particulate Matter 10. Emissions in grams per mile.
Particulate Matter 2.5. Emissions in grams per mile.
Sulfur Oxide. Emissions in grams per mile.
Carbon Monoxide. Emissions in grams per mile.
Volatile Organic Compounds. Emissions in grams per mile.
Energy Use GHG Emission Factors
Electricity CO2 Equivalent. Carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per megawatt-hour of electricity, in pounds per gallon.
Natural Gas CO2 Equivalent. Carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per therm of natural gas, in pounds per gallon.
Water Supply GHG Emission Factors
Indoor Water Use. Electricity use associated with the transport, treatment, and distribution of water and wastewater, in kilowatt-hours per million gallons of indoor water use.
Outdoor Water Use. Electricity use associated with the transport, treatment, and distribution of water, in kilowatt-hours per million gallons of outdoor water use.
Water Use Costs
Residential Water. Cost per thousand gallons, in dollars.
Energy Use Costs
Residential Electricity. Retail cost per kilowatt-hour, in dollars.
Residential Natural Gas. Retail cost per therm, in dollars.
Transportation Costs
Auto Fuel. Retail cost per gallon, in dollars.
Auto Ownership and Maintenance. Cost per mile for auto ownership and maintenance.
Fuel Economy. On-road average fuel economy, in miles per gallon.
Sea Level Rise. Indicates input data used: NOAA Sea Level Rise.
Wildfire Risk. Indicates input data used: USFS Wildfire Hazard Potential (U.S. outside California); CALFIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (in California).
Flood Risk. Indicates input data used: FEMA Flood Hazard Areas.