DANA Tool
The Database for Air Quality and Noise Analysis (DANA) is a tool created by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to process historical traffic data. The tool combines traffic data from existing data sources into a single database. It then processes the combined data into properly formatted inputs for EPA's Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) model and for the newly integrated Traffic Noise Model Aide (TNMAide) Tool. DANA provides real-world traffic conditions for use in planning and environmental analyses, instead of relying on models to generate base year traffic data. Finally, DANA helps ensure that environmental analyses use a consistent set of traffic data and processing methods across the entire country. FHWA provides the DANA tool as a resource to stakeholders and use of the tool is voluntary (using DANA may not satisfy all regulatory requirements).
Download DANA Tool
There are 9 total installers1 to unpack the DANA tool and associated input files:
- DANA_Installer.zip Updated: 4/17/2024, which will install version 2.1 of the DANA tool executable and some of the smaller default input files
- 7 different dana_tmas[year]_Installer.zip files, which will extract the larger TMAS input data files within the proper folder structure2 ("year" indicates the year represented by the TMAS data in that installer, 2015-2021 data now included)
- DANA_EXAMPLE_DATA_Installer.zip, which will extract sample data from Middlesex County, MA to use for self-training on the DANA tool
The order in which the installers are executed has no effect on their functionality. Please see Section 1.3.2 of the DANA Tool User Guide for additional installation instructions.
Given the large dataset that the tool processes, high-capacity hardware should be used to run the DANA tool. The following hardware configuration is recommended for running the tool:
- High-capacity computer including a powerful computer processing unit (CPU) (e.g., Intel Xeon) and a minimum of 16 GB of free random access memory (RAM), however 32 GB or more RAM is recommended
- Sufficient hard disk space to store output data
- Windows operating system
Documentation
Technical Support
For technical support regarding the tool itself and the input data, please contact DANAhelp@dot.gov for dissemination to the proper point of contact for the issue.
Training
- DANA Tool and TNMAide Release Webinar (63 minutes) or (PDF of slides) – This webinar provides an overview of the DANA Tool and TNMAide, demonstrates how to use the two tools through a live demonstration, and describes possible uses.
- DANA Tool and TNMAide Video Series – These short-format videos provide an overview of the DANA tool and TNMAide, describe how to download and install them, and demonstrate how to run the tools.
Related Links
- TNMAide – TNMAide is a spreadsheet tool that uses output from the DANA Tool to aid in the determination of the worst noise hour of the day, for use in the FHWA's Traffic Noise Model (TNM), as required by 23 CFR 772; and a method to estimate LDN and/or LDEN by using hour by hour data. TNMAide and the associated documentation can be found on the TNM website.
- Github – Visit the DANA tool Github page to access a repository of the Python scripts behind the DANA tool and to comment on issues for future versions of the tool.
Archive
- DANA Tool Version 1.0 User Guide (February 2022, 1.6MB) - Includes sections on background, setup, operating the graphical user interface (GUI), data flow, and input/output data specifications.
- DANA Tool Version 1.0 Factsheet (February 2022) - Provides a brief overview of the DANA Tool and possible use cases.
- DANA Tool Version 2.0 User Guide (January 2023, 2.53MB) - Includes sections on background, setup, operating the graphicale user interface (GUI), data flow, and input/output data specifications.
1 The sample data is only for self-training and is not required if users download their own local HPMS and NPMRDS data.
2 See Section 1.5.2 for details
