Award Date

1-1-2007

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Science

First Committee Member

Krystyna A. Stave

Number of Pages

235

Abstract

Although air quality has improved in the United States over the past thirty years, some air quality management areas continue to have serious problems with air pollutants such as particulate matter (NRC 2004). I hypothesize that using a systems approach would have benefits for PM10 management, including improved results and understanding, as well as identification of ineffective policies. A system dynamics model was developed for PM10 in the Las Vegas Valley. Policy analysis revealed real-world behavior, important dynamics of the system, and potentially harmful policies. Results support the importance of a systems and long-term perspective, and show that PM10 pollution could have been reduced or avoided by other strategies. Recommendations for the model, problematic assumptions, and implications of results for air quality management are discussed.

Keywords

Air; Approach; Benefits; Evaluating; Management; Matter; Nevada; Particulate; Pollution; Systems

Controlled Subject

City planning; Environmental sciences

File Format

pdf

File Size

4075.52 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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