The original version of TIM was developed as part of the ReFINE programme, and was limited in only being able to use UK emission and fleet data. It could also only handle a single well pad, with up to twelve wells active on that pad, in a single model run. It was also limited to a four-year period of pad activities. Post-processing of multiple runs was required to collate data from multiple sites, over many years.

Version Two of TIM can potentially handle data from any country if presented in the correct format. It can also handle a large number of pads and wells, over a 50-year maximum period, if necessary. The trade-off for the increased flexibility of Version Two, is that run-times may be long, and a large number of intermediate and final output files may be produced.

Work is ongoing to improve the usability, flexibility, memory and disk requirements and run-time of UHTIMv2. Outside of M4ShaleGas activities, it is envisaged that future versions of TIM will feature:

• Enhanced run-times through multithreading of core calculation loops;
• Integration with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve data entry, handling and visualisation;
• Better links to existing, third party air-quality modelling and noise mapping tools;
• Integration of health-related dose-response/impact-cost relationships for pollutants.

Whenever feasible, updates to UHTIMv2 will be made available via the ‘Downloads’ section of this website.