Introduction
After having completed the training exercises, hopefully you have a better understanding of the complexities of EQuIS Schemas and EQuIS workflow components.
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The focus of this appendix is to apply the knowledge gained through the training exercises to establish new EQuIS databases and meet project objectives. |
For any project, an Environmental Data Management Plan (EDMP) should be developed to define standards for data structure, content, and format, and to support data quality objectives. The EDPM needs to consider the reporting and output requirements of the project and clearly define the data owners and recipients. The EDMP should state the relationship to the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) or other data quality documentation. The data dictionary establishes field definitions and other information pertaining to content requirements, such as example valid values for standard terms (chemical name, analytical method, units, etc.). The database schema, in conjunction with the data dictionary, define where and how the data is stored.
When setting up a new EQuIS database and facilities (i.e., projects) within the database, use the EDMP and QAPP to determine the needed Schemas, format files, and reference values. If EDGE is used for field data collection, EDGE can be configured by EQuIS administrators to have specific project requirements to assist field crews. If data validation is required and DQM is part of the workflow, the DQM module also needs to be configured.
The reference tables within EQuIS contain the reference values, valid values, and/or look-up values. The values include lists of units, location types, coordinate types, sample types, analytes, CAS numbers, matrices, analytical methods, etc. Reference tables are not initially populated with values in a new database. This feature is designed so the database owner may populate reference tables with values that align with particular project needs. Each EQuIS database has only ONE set of reference values for ALL of the facilities in that database. Establishing reference values is a critical action item.
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Determine data management objectives before implementing and configuring an EQuIS database. |
Organization
This appendix contains exercises to demonstrate how to set up a new EQuIS database, create a new facility and populate it with data, setup and configure EDGE, and configure DQM. The EDGE exercises are not applicable if you are not using EDGE to collect field data. The DQM exercises are not applicable if you are not using the DQM module. If data validation is part of your workflow, an example of a simplified project QAPP is provided for reference.
Unlike most of the training exercises, a training scenario is not provided. These exercises are provided to assist you with meeting your project needs.
Key Terminology
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) – A written document that provides a framework for environmental data collection, which will meet specific project objectives and includes procedures to obtain data of known and adequate quality. Basic Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) elements should be addressed in the QAPP, including: precision, accuracy, sensitivity, representativeness, completeness, and comparability.