EPA Office of Environmental Information Connections

1
EPA Office of Environmental Information -
Connections

• WATERS Forum
• December 4, 2003

2
Integrating OW efforts into the Target Enterprise
Architecture (EA) CDX

• CDX hosts web forms/services for reporting
  environmental data across various EPA programs
• As part of locational improvement, CDX wants to
  integrate address mapping and other Geo tools
  into these forms
• Opportunity OW has developed many robust
  analytical tools, and also is using CDX for
  hosting OW applications,
• Challenge Can we integrate WebRIT, and other
  tools as appropriate, into specific CDX hosted
  web forms and web services?
• First Task Explore WebRIT and its role for
  enhancing feature location data to support CDX
  hosted applications

3
Integrating OW efforts intoTarget EA Registries

• EA System of Registries (SOR) consists of
  facility registry system, substances registry
  system, and others
• EHPTA has not defined how SOR addresses polygon,
  linear, and non-facility locations of interest
• Opportunity OW has addressed non-facility
  locations through the Reach Address Database
  (RAD)
• Challenge Can OW and OEI work to make the RAD a
  component of the EA ( water feature registry)?
• First Task Conduct assessment of RAD as part of
  the EA

4
Integrating OW efforts intoTarget EA The
Exchange Network

• Exchange Network is the top priority for CIO, and
  resources will continue for this effort
• OW/State partners have identified key data need
  for hydro data (124,000)
• Opportunity Exchange Network allows real time
  sharing of information resources, including
  Geospatial
• Challenge Use Exchange Network program to
  encourage states to develop and exchange hydro
  data
• First Task Coordinate with states through grant
  program on potential for leveraging the exchange
  network for this purpose

5
Integrating OW efforts intoTarget EA Standards
schema development

• FGDC Spatial Water Committee hydro standard under
  review through Geospatial One-Stop
• Use of standard will vary without guidance and
  support
• Opportunity EPA/OW can standardize reporting and
  exchange of water feature events.
• Challenge Can OW and OEI leverage this work
  through the Network Grants Program and/or
  State/EPA Environmental Data Standards Council?
• First Task Coordinate with states through grant
  program on potential to support this work, and/or
  have EDSC review and comment on standard and
  participate in schema development.

6
Integrating OW efforts intoTarget EA Web
Services

• Build a common Agency framework for web services
  (specifications, security, validation, workflow,
  etc.)
• Provide centralized, shareable web service
  components (e.g. middleware)
• Gradually move to a Service Oriented Architecture
  (SOA)
• Make new services available to improve quality
  assurance for the data stewards and submitters
• Develop web services based on real environmental
  information needs and deficiencies
• Design all new applications to leverage web
  services

7
Web Services (continued)

• Build services that interoperate with and enhance
  existing systems
• Build re-useable services that help integrate
  systems and publish information for program
  offices and partners (avoid stove-piped web
  services)
• Opportunity OW has made great progress with
  WATERS and has started work in the area of web
  services
• Challenge Can OW and OEI work collaboratively on
  a web services strategy and infrastructure
  build-out?
• First Task Investigate technology infrastructure
  similarities and differences for geo and non-geo
  data/applications