BenMAP Class

Availability | About the Course | Cost | Registration | Accommodations | Prerequisites | Contact info

Availability

We are now accepting registration for the dates in the table below. Currently, these training are all subject to cancellation if there is not enough interest. We need a minimum of 6 trainees per date. As classes become full, the status below will be changed to "Full."

Please note: If you are interested in another training date, please contact CMAS Center support.

About the Course

This is an introductory course for the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis (BenMAP) program that will guide students through the process of estimating the human health benefits that result from changes in air quality. The course provides an overview of BenMAP with a focus on the steps involved in performing and interpreting a benefits analysis. The training is structured around the following 7 topics, and comprised of both lectures and hands-on labs. On Day 3, students will have the opportunity to participate in an optional half-day session where they can apply concepts learned in Days 1 and 2 in an independent case study.

• Section 1: Overview of BenMAP
• Section 2: Introduction to Mapping
• Section 3: Introduction to One-step Analyses
• Section 4: Introduction to Creating Grids
• Section 5: Introduction to Health Incidence Estimation
• Section 6: Introduction to Aggregation, Pooling and Valuation
• Section 7: Introduction to Adding New Datasets

For hands-on lab sessions with more than 8 people, 2 instructors will be present to help students work through the labs.

Cost

The standard cost of the training is $800 per person. There is a $200 discount for full-time students for a total cost of $600. The 2-day course includes the training materials – slides from lectures, step-by-step instructions for hands-on labs and answer key. Payment is accepted with check, credit card, or purchase order. Note that you are asked to make the payment or initiate the payment process (e.g. by providing the purchase order number) at the time of registration. We will send you a receipt by email to confirm the receipt of the registration and payment. If you find later that you are unable to attend to the class after registration, please be kind enough to let us know. Please see our Payment Info page for our refund policy. To pay by credit card, please register for the class on the CMAS site and then continue to our secure online payment site.

Registration

Please use the online registration form to sign up for any of the training classes.

Prerequisites

Because this introductory-level course is inherently interdisciplinary, all critical terminology and concepts will be explained. However, prior knowledge of either air quality modeling, health science, or economic valuation techniques is helpful for getting the most out of this course.

• How to operate a windows-based PC. BenMAP is a MS Windows-based computer program, and students should be familiar with the core features of the Windows Operating System.
• Air pollution and air quality modeling. Students will not perform air quality modeling, but they should understand the fundamental relationship between emissions and changes in air pollution.
• Health effects of air pollution. Students do not need prior training in health science, but they should have a basic understanding of the relationship between air pollution and human health.
• Economic valuation of health effects. Students do not need prior training in economic valuation techniques, but they should have a basic understanding that avoided health effects can be monetized.

Contact Information

For more information on the BenMAP training, please contact Brian Naess at 919-966-9925 or email cmas@unc.edu.