Air Quality Data Exchange
Exchange Network Users
Meeting
April 18th, 2006
Why we need the AQDE
AQS
QA - 3 month time lag in the data that is
available
AirNowTech
Most states only submit Ozone and PM2.5 data
Request from another state directly
Typically a substantial delay before receiving a
response from the provider
Most transactions via postal mail
Time for a provider to prepare the data
Project Objectives
Drastically reduce the waiting time for states to obtain air quality data
Demonstrate state to EPA
AQS data exchange via CDX
AirNow data exchange on AirNow node
Demonstrate state to state XML data
exchange utilizing the EN
hourly
minute (NJ)
Demonstrate the state to state flow of AQS
data geospatially.
Many Thanks
EPA
Funding
AQS (Nick Mangus)
AirNow (Phil Dickerson)
Partners
Delaware
New York
New Jersey
enfoTech
XML data flow
Project management
Sonoma Technologies
AirNowTech
ESRI
GIS Technology
AQDE Schema
AQDE = AQS version 2
Upgraded the AQS schema to be ESAR
compliant
Additional data elements for AirNow.
Allows states to
flow data to AQS
flow data to AirNowTech
support state to state data flow
When EPA is ready to accept AirNow
data over the Exchange Network, we
will have 1 schema that works for
everything.
Reduces work on states.
Discoverable Web Services
Will register web services on Data Registry
Oregon DEQ
Users will be able to use the Data
Discovery Tool or Service to find AQDE
web services
Leveraging Schema and
Web Services
Reusing this flow for NJ Homeland
Security data flow
Dept. of Health - PHIN (Public Health
Information Network).
Geospatial Analysis
AirNow
AirNow/AirNowTech
AirNow
General public
Hourly data – AQI for Ozone and PM2.5
GIF images
AirNowTech
Government and academia
Hourly data - Absolute data values
Additional parameters and met data
Historical data
GIS
AirNowTech Navigator
Issues with Existing
AirNow Data & Apps
Cannot submit data to AirNowTech with
web services or XML
 States need to maintain separate data
exchange mechanisms to support the
submission of data to AirNow.
In many cases AirNowTech does not
contain updated or corrected data.
AQDE Solution
Enhanced Navigator
Create a web service interface to
retrieve submitted files.
New AirNow node, separate from CDX
Create data transformation module
were
XML file is parsed directly into the AirNow
database.
XML file is converted into .obs files, which
is processed into AirNow database.
• Create automated processing of data
correction & updates.
–States will submit data to the AIRNow
Node using the AQDE XML Format.
–Submission will include all updates since
the last submission.
–Submission can be scheduled through the
state’s node client or other scheduling
software.
Challenges
Choosing a GIS Solution
New application
Modification of existing application
Balancing the implementation of the
AQDE flow with the implementation of
new air monitoring systems.
Next Steps
Implement state to state flow
Begin enhancements to Navigator to
accept XML flow
Face to face meeting to discuss flow
and GIS development
TPA
Results
 Out of state air quality data on demand
Use with any analysis method
 Reduced work for the states
1 schema 2 flows
 Enhanced AirNowTech
More updated and corrected data
Raising the profile of XML and web services in
the air science community
 Schema and web services that can be reused in
future applications.
 Better information for health and homeland security
decision-making.