diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9bab38e..a23e468 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,11 +2,55 @@
 
 See the [SEALS documentation](https://justinandrewjohnson.com/earth_economy_devstack/seals_overview.html) for full details.
 
-## Developer notes
+---
 
-To manually (wihtout using github actions) push a new release to Pypi, run the following command:
+## Getting Started
 
+### Environment Setup
+
+See [docs/environment_setup.md](docs/environment_setup.md) for detailed instructions.
+
+Quick start:
 ```bash
-python -m build
-python -m twine upload dist/*
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+conda create -n hazelbean_env python=3.10
+conda activate hazelbean_env
+pip install hazelbean seals
+```
+
+### Project Setup
+
+1. **Create project folder structure**
+   ```bash
+   mkdir -p ~/Files/seals/projects/my_project/my_project_dev
+   ```
+   - `my_project/` - runtime folder (not version controlled)
+   - `my_project_dev/` - version controlled code and inputs
+
+2. **Copy and rename the run script**
+   ```bash
+   cp seals_dev/run_seals_standard.py projects/my_project/my_project_dev/run_my_project.py
+   ```
+
+3. **Modify run_my_project.py**
+   - Set `project_name = 'my_project'`
+   - Set `project_dir = '..'` (parent of _dev folder)
+   - Set `input_data_dir = 'input/my_project_input'`
+   - Configure scenarios, years, AOI as needed
+
+4. **Create version-controlled input folder**
+   ```bash
+   mkdir -p my_project_dev/input/my_project_input
+   ```
+
+5. **Add your inputs** to `my_project_dev/input/my_project_input/`:
+   - [scenarios.csv](docs/scenarios_format.md) - scenario definitions
+
+6. **Run the script**
+   ```bash
+   conda activate hazelbean_env
+   cd my_project_dev
+   python run_my_project.py
+   ```
+   This creates in `my_project/`:
+   - `input/` - copied from `my_project_dev/input/my_project_input/`
+   - `intermediate/` - SEALS outputs and results
diff --git a/docs/environment_setup.md b/docs/environment_setup.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0714901
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/environment_setup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# SEALS Environment Setup
+
+## 1. Install Miniforge/Conda
+
+If not already installed, download and install [Miniforge](https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge).
+
+## 2. Create hazelbean environment
+
+```bash
+conda create -n hazelbean_env python=3.10
+conda activate hazelbean_env
+```
+
+## 3. Install dependencies
+
+**From PyPI:**
+```bash
+pip install hazelbean
+pip install seals
+```
+
+**Or from source (for development):**
+```bash
+cd ~/Files/seals/hazelbean_dev
+pip install -e .
+
+cd ~/Files/seals/seals_dev
+pip install -e .
+```
+
+Both methods install all dependencies automatically.
+
+## 4. Activate environment
+
+Always activate before running SEALS scripts:
+```bash
+conda activate hazelbean_env
+```
diff --git a/docs/scenarios_format.md b/docs/scenarios_format.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f5db0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/scenarios_format.md
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# scenarios.csv Format
+
+The `scenarios.csv` file defines your SEALS scenarios. Each row represents one scenario.
+
+## Column Reference
+
+| Column | Description | Example |
+|--------|-------------|---------|
+| `scenario_label` | Unique scenario identifier | `baseline`, `ssp2_rcp45` |
+| `scenario_type` | `baseline` or `policy` | `baseline` |
+| `aoi` | Area of interest | `global` or `from_regional_projections_input_path` |
+| `exogenous_label` | Exogenous scenario name | `baseline` |
+| `climate_label` | Climate scenario | `rcp45` |
+| `model_label` | Model source | `gtap`, `magpie`, `luh2` |
+| `counterfactual_label` | Counterfactual reference | `baseline` |
+| `years` | Space-separated projection years | `2030 2050` |
+| `baseline_reference_label` | Reference scenario for policy | `baseline` (blank for baseline) |
+| `base_years` | Base year(s) | `2017` |
+| `key_base_year` | Key base year for LULC | `2017` |
+| `comparison_counterfactual_labels` | For comparisons | (usually blank) |
+| `time_dim_adjustment` | Time adjustment | `add2015` |
+| `coarse_projections_input_path` | Path to LUH2 data | `luh2/raw_data/rcp45_ssp2/...nc` |
+| `lulc_src_label` | LULC source | `esa` |
+| `lulc_simplification_label` | LULC class scheme | `seals7` |
+| `lulc_correspondence_path` | LULC correspondence file | `seals/default_inputs/esa_seals7_correspondence.csv` |
+| `coarse_src_label` | Coarse data source | `luh2-14` |
+| `coarse_simplification_label` | Coarse class scheme | `seals7` |
+| `coarse_correspondence_path` | Coarse correspondence file | `seals/default_inputs/luh2-14_seals7_correspondence.csv` |
+| `lc_class_varname` | Land class variable | `all_variables` |
+| `dimensions` | Dimensions | `time` |
+| `calibration_parameters_source` | Calibration file | `seals/default_inputs/default_global_coefficients.csv` |
+| `base_year_lulc_path` | Base year LULC raster | `lulc/esa/lulc_esa_2017.tif` |
+| `regional_projections_input_path` | Regional projections CSV (optional) | `regional_projections/my_projections.csv` |
+| `regions_vector_path` | Regions shapefile | `cartographic/countries_iso3_with_label.gpkg` |
+| `regions_column_label` | Region column name | `iso3_label` |
+
+## Example
+
+```csv
+scenario_label,scenario_type,aoi,exogenous_label,climate_label,model_label,counterfactual_label,years,baseline_reference_label,base_years,key_base_year,comparison_counterfactual_labels,time_dim_adjustment,coarse_projections_input_path,lulc_src_label,lulc_simplification_label,lulc_correspondence_path,coarse_src_label,coarse_simplification_label,coarse_correspondence_path,lc_class_varname,dimensions,calibration_parameters_source,base_year_lulc_path,regional_projections_input_path,regions_vector_path,regions_column_label
+baseline,baseline,global,baseline,rcp45,luh2,baseline,2017,,2017,2017,,add2015,luh2/raw_data/rcp45_ssp2/multiple-states_input4MIPs_landState_ScenarioMIP_UofMD-MESSAGE-ssp245-2-1-f_gn_2015-2100.nc,esa,seals7,seals/default_inputs/esa_seals7_correspondence.csv,luh2-14,seals7,seals/default_inputs/luh2-14_seals7_correspondence.csv,all_variables,time,seals/default_inputs/default_global_coefficients.csv,lulc/esa/lulc_esa_2017.tif,,cartographic/countries_iso3_with_label.gpkg,iso3_label
+ssp2_rcp45,policy,global,ssp2,rcp45,luh2,ssp2_rcp45,2030 2050,baseline,2017,2017,,add2015,luh2/raw_data/rcp45_ssp2/multiple-states_input4MIPs_landState_ScenarioMIP_UofMD-MESSAGE-ssp245-2-1-f_gn_2015-2100.nc,esa,seals7,seals/default_inputs/esa_seals7_correspondence.csv,luh2-14,seals7,seals/default_inputs/luh2-14_seals7_correspondence.csv,all_variables,time,seals/default_inputs/default_global_coefficients.csv,lulc/esa/lulc_esa_2017.tif,,cartographic/countries_iso3_with_label.gpkg,iso3_label
+```
diff --git a/seals/seals_utils.py b/seals/seals_utils.py
index 46b9beb..520b569 100644
--- a/seals/seals_utils.py
+++ b/seals/seals_utils.py
@@ -715,7 +715,14 @@ def set_derived_attributes(p):
     p.fine_resolution = hb.get_cell_size_from_path(p.base_year_lulc_path)
     p.fine_resolution_arcseconds = hb.pyramid_compatible_resolution_to_arcseconds[p.fine_resolution]
     
-    if hb.path_exists(p.coarse_projections_input_path):
+    # Check for explicit coarse resolution from scenarios.csv column.
+    # Regional (non-global) NetCDFs need this because auto-detection assumes
+    # global extent (180/num_lat_cells) and computes wrong values.
+    explicit_coarse_resolution = getattr(p, 'coarse_resolution_arcseconds', None)
+    if explicit_coarse_resolution is not None:
+        p.coarse_resolution_arcseconds = float(explicit_coarse_resolution)
+        p.coarse_resolution = hb.pyramid_compatible_resolutions[p.coarse_resolution_arcseconds]
+    elif hb.path_exists(p.coarse_projections_input_path):
         p.coarse_resolution = hb.get_cell_size_from_path(p.coarse_projections_input_path)
         p.coarse_resolution_arcseconds = hb.pyramid_compatible_resolution_to_arcseconds[p.coarse_resolution]
     else: