Note: This information is provided for reference purposes only. Although the information provided here was accurate and current when first created, it is now outdated.

AIRS Executive
	...brought to you by US EPA Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards

AIRS Executive for Windows is personal computer software and database that contains air pollution data extracted from the AIRS database. Its Windows interface makes it easy to generate many different reports, charts, and maps. AIRS Executive for Windows provides ambient air quality data from monitoring sites across the USA, and pollutant emissions estimates for stationary sources regulated by the EPA. AIRS Executive for Windows also includes ambient air quality data from about 50 nations that voluntarily provided data in the early 1990's to the GEMS/AIR Programme sponsored by the United Nations World Health Organization.

However, please note that AIRS Executive uses some data that the EPA is no longer supporting. In August 2000, the EPA stopped using pollutant emissions estimates in the AIRS database. These data will no longer be updated, although AIRS Executive will continue to use them.

The EPA Web site, AIRData, is an alternative that gives you access to the latest air pollution data for the entire United States. Unlike AIRS Executive, AIRSData accesses the current EPA emissions database, National Emissions Trends (NET). AIRSData reports are similar to AIRS Executive in content and features.

How Do I Get AIRS Executive?

The AIRS Executive download page has installation files that install AIRS Executive on a computer running MS-Windows®. The installation files are updated monthly to keep up with changes in the AIRS database.

AIRS Executive is provided free by the EPA. You may use it any way you wish, as long as you do not sell the software or data.

Who Is It for?

AIRS Executive is designed to provide access to a subset of air pollution information. Managers, supervisors, and non-technical staff will find it helpful in obtaining summaries of air pollution data. Non-technical users also may find AIRS Executive to be a valuable resource in obtaining air pollution information for their communities.

What Does It Do?

Like all Windows programs, AIRS Executive has menus that activate main program features. Selecting a menu option opens a window for using a particular feature, such as generating a report. The main AIRS Executive features (menus) are:

• Reports and Charts are the heart of program. Here you can produce different types of reports and charts that summarize air pollution values reported by monitoring sites, and emissions estimates from major sources of pollution. (The International data does not include pollution sources.) A report or chart displays data for a particular geographic area, pollutant, and year that you choose.
• Maps - show where air pollution sources and monitoring sites are located. The maps are static images produced with the AIRS Graphics subsystem on the EPA mainframe.
• Contacts - lists names and phone numbers of people to contact for more information about air pollution data, the AIRS database, and AIRS Executive.
• Data - lets you select USA or International data, and allows you to choose any of several monthly data "snapshots".
• Links - gives the Internet addresses of other air pollution data on the EPA Website.
• Information - contains general information about AIRS and each of its five subsystems, as well as information about AIRS Executive.

What Is Required to Use AIRS Executive?

AIRS Executive for Windows runs on any PC with Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, and 30 megabytes of available hard disk space. AIRS Executive is intended for local installation on a PC. It can be installed on a LAN file server, but concurrent use by two or more people is not supported.

Where Does the Data in AIRS Executive Come From?

The data used in AIRS Executive to produce reports and charts are extracted monthly from the AIRS database on EPA's mainframe computer. Maps in AIRS Executive are produced by AIRS Graphics, also on EPA's mainframe. AIRS Executive includes maps that show monitor and plant locations in the USA for each of the criteria pollutants. AIRS Executive (international data) also includes maps that show locations of GEMS/AIR monitoring sites at world, continent, and national scales. AIRS Executive updates normally are published by the 10th day of each month. Please note that AIRS pollution emissions estimates will no longer be updated after August 2000.

What if I Need More Detailed Data?

AIRS Executive Plus is the CD-ROM version of AIRS Executive, containing more AIRS data as well as National Emissions Trends data.

The AIRS mainframe database contains the most comprehensive collection of air pollution data in the world. An individual or organization needing very detailed or specialized air pollution data may arrange for direct access to the AIRS mainframe database. To do this, you obtain an account on the EPA mainframe computer system and pay the applicable computer usage charges. Information about obtaining a computer account is available from the EPA computer help desk, telephone 800-334-2405 (toll free) or 919-541-7862.

If your information requirements are fairly specific, a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) may be an easier way to to get AIRS data than establishing a computer account. See Obtaining Additional AIRS Data for details about submitting a FOIA request.

Need More Information About AIRS Executive?

The Comments link at the bottom of this page sends e-mail to the AIRS Executive support staff. You can call EPA's computer help desk, 800-334-2405, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (USA Eastern time zone) and request AIRS Executive information or assistance.