For this project, we examined cap-and-trade NOx Budget Program (NBP) to see it's effectiveness in reducing NOx emissions at a disproportionate rate between socioeconomic groups. Using census data from the American Census Survey (ACS) along with spatial data from HYSPLIT simulations together, our group approximated where these emissions were being reduced compared to other areas. More specifically, our study was done looking at the facilities under the New York Independent System Operator, or NYISO, an organization that oversees the facilities we gathered emission data on. Throughout this project, our R coding and troubleshooting skills were challenged and enhanced as coding tasks needed to be finished on time in order for the project to proceed. Additionally, our research skills were greatly improved as a result of needing to consider various data and how it would apply to our research.

This project truly honed our collaboration and communication skills over the semester. A major factor in improving these skills was the virtual semester that made it more difficult to accomplish our goals. Due to social-distancing and quarantine protocols, we weren't able to work together in-person, which would have made communication and collaboration easier. However, we adapted to overcome each obstacle and took advantage of our skills as digital natives in a virtual environment. By using messaging apps like GroupMe to communicate our goals and divvy up individual responsibilities, we were able to provide a viable substitute to in-person communications. While this wasn't an ideal situation and incomparable to being in-person, the adversity of this challenge turned out for the better as we completed our project and are better off for it in regards to our communication and collaboration skills.