Air Quality System AQS Status and Plans

1
Air Quality System (AQS) Status and Plans

• Part 1 Nick Mangus
• US EPA
• Boring Infrastructure Stuff
• Part 2 Mike Matsko
• NJDEP (Representing AQDE Team)
• Interesting Implementation Projects

2
Topics for Part 1 Status Plans

• AQS and AirNow Background
• Similar Data
• Separate flows
• Flow Status
• Node Flow
• New Version of Schema
• Flow Automation
• Data Publishing plans
• Communications
• Turn over to Mike

I believe what happens in history is this the
old are always wrong and the young are always
wrong about what is wrong with them.
-- G.K. Chesterton
3
AQS Background

• Collects air quality data (pollution and related
  information)
• Data is used to determine non-attainment areas
  and by health researchers
• Managed and operated in RTP, NC
• 1,000 sites around the country
• 200 parameters collected
• Reporting schedule varies, but generally, data
  required 90 days after end of calendar quarter in
  which it was collected
• We get almost 2M data points per week from State,
  local, and tribal agencies (several hundred
  files)
• Highest volume through CDX

4
AirNow Background

• Collects air quality data (pollution and related
  information) and forecasts
• Data is used to inform public of immediate health
  concerns
• Managed in RTP, NC
• Operated in Sonoma, CA
• 1,000 sites around the country (same as AQS)
• 2 primary parameters collected, anything allowed
• Reporting schedule every hour for data every
  day for forecasts
• Data converted into near-real-time maps at
  http//www.airnow.gov/
• Not yet on the Exchange Network

5
Status Continuing to Improve

• AQS
• Accepts data via Node since May 2005
• Many formats
• Legacy flat file
• New flat file
• Schema v1.0
• Schema v2.0 (almost!)
• New version of the schema will be released soon
  (responding to conformance review)
• AQDE AQSv2
• AirNow
• Working to implement node at DMC
• Will use same schema for air quality data (not
  forecast) submissions
• Pilot project completed (q.v. Part 2)

When you break the big laws, you do not get
freedom you do not even get anarchy. You get
the small laws. -- G.K. Chesterton
6
New Schema
Progress is a comparative of which we have not
settled the superlative. -- G.K. Chesterton

• Version 1 developed with a pure information
  engineering approach
• Node submission to feds
• Minimize instance document size
• Version 2 developed for flexibility of exchange
• ESAR compliant
• Revamped structure
• Flat versus hierarchical
• Better facilitates non-federal (e.g,
  state-to-state) sharing
• Focus was Air Quality not just AQS
• Will incorporate data for AirNow exchanges
• Testing plan / ability

7
XML Testing
AQS PROD
AQS Node
AQS QA

• Two databases
• AQS Production (AQSPROD)
• AQS Quality Assurance (AQSQA)
• AQSPROD database was backed up to AQSQA on
  4.8.2007
• Data and passwords will be as of then (90 day
  exp.)
• Contractors cannot get access
• Call helpdesk with problems 866-411-4EPA

8
Submission Automation
The simplification of anything is always
sensational. -- G.K. Chesterton
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2
3
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5
Error
Information
9
Data Publishing
We look forward with enthusiasm because we are
afraid to look back. --
G.K. Chesterton

• No node publishing yet
• Users can get XML data from AQS as you get any
  other data
• New system for dissemination AQS Data Mart
• Prevent competition for resources
• Uses CDX/EN web services
• Node client in test
• Same protocol as AQDE project
• No FCD yet
• Additional web services geared toward scientists
• Additional schemas
• Stylesheets
• Client for human interaction
• Will eventually include AirNow data
• Technical issue with SOAP message size and
  physical memory of EPA and client hardware
• Will then work on publishing from AQS
• Smaller audience

10
Communications

• Helpdesk
• IPT calls
• Every other Wednesday
• May 09 is the next one
• 300 pm eastern
• 866.299.3188, code 2025661626
• Nick Mangus
• mangus.nick_at_epa.gov
• 919.541.5549

11
QuestionsMike