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AQS IntroductionAQS Introduction

Angelique LuedekerAngelique LuedekerITEPITEP

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What is AQS?What is AQS?

• AQS stands for Air Quality SystemAQS stands for Air Quality System

• AQS is AQS is • An Oracle database with a form-based An Oracle database with a form-based

front endfront end• The national repository for ambient air The national repository for ambient air

monitoring datamonitoring data

• Data from AQS are available to the Data from AQS are available to the publicpublic

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Why Submit Data to AQS?Why Submit Data to AQS?

• Supports tribal capacitySupports tribal capacity• Satisfies potential grant requirementSatisfies potential grant requirement• Creates public awareness that tribes are Creates public awareness that tribes are

concerned with air qualityconcerned with air quality• Promotes partnerships and data sharing with Promotes partnerships and data sharing with

adjacent agencies (other tribes, states, etc.)adjacent agencies (other tribes, states, etc.)• Data analysis can determine if other types of Data analysis can determine if other types of

monitoring neededmonitoring needed

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How Do I Submit Data to How Do I Submit Data to AQS?AQS?• Register for a User ID with EPA Register for a User ID with EPA

www.epa.gov/ttn/airs/airsaqs/registration.htm

• Complete one-time software installationComplete one-time software installation

• Enter site and monitor data into AQSEnter site and monitor data into AQS

• Get your sampling data into AQS raw Get your sampling data into AQS raw data pipe-delimited formatdata pipe-delimited format

• Submit to AQSSubmit to AQS

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What is the AQS Pipe-What is the AQS Pipe-Delimited Format?Delimited Format?• Data downloaded from sampler or datalogger Data downloaded from sampler or datalogger

may not be in AQS formatmay not be in AQS format• AQS accepts pipe-delimited format, with each AQS accepts pipe-delimited format, with each

value in a pre-designated ordervalue in a pre-designated order• Each field separated by a pipeEach field separated by a pipe• Most values in file are coded (e.g., ozone Most values in file are coded (e.g., ozone

equals 44201 in AQS)equals 44201 in AQS)

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Example of Pipe-Delimited Example of Pipe-Delimited Format for Raw Data (RD)Format for Raw Data (RD)

• AQS Site ID: 01-001-9999AQS Site ID: 01-001-9999• Pollutant Measured: OzonePollutant Measured: Ozone• POC (assigned as part of the monitor ID): 1POC (assigned as part of the monitor ID): 1• Does this value already exist in AQS? NODoes this value already exist in AQS? NO• How long did it take to form the sample (the duration): 1 hourHow long did it take to form the sample (the duration): 1 hour• What kind of instrument was used? Dasibi 1008-AHWhat kind of instrument was used? Dasibi 1008-AH• When was the sample collected? June 10, 2006When was the sample collected? June 10, 2006• What time did the sample begin (local standard time): 1:00 PMWhat time did the sample begin (local standard time): 1:00 PM• Sample Concentration: 0.050 parts per millionSample Concentration: 0.050 parts per million• Any other qualifiers that you want to apply to the data? NoAny other qualifiers that you want to apply to the data? No• Would you like to specify an alternate Minimum Detection Limit Would you like to specify an alternate Minimum Detection Limit

for this sampler? NOfor this sampler? NO• Would you like to specify an uncertainty value with this Would you like to specify an uncertainty value with this

sample? NOsample? NORD|I|01|001|9999|44201|1|1|007|056|20060610|13:00|0.050|||||||||||||||

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How Do I Get My Data into How Do I Get My Data into This Format?This Format?• Use ToolboxUse Toolbox

• Enter 4-digit AQS Site ID into Site form of Enter 4-digit AQS Site ID into Site form of

ToolboxToolbox

• Before you can create AQS pipe-delimited Before you can create AQS pipe-delimited

data files using Toolbox, Toolbox needs data files using Toolbox, Toolbox needs

Monitor Protocol informationMonitor Protocol information

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What Is Monitor Protocol What Is Monitor Protocol Information?Information?• Information about what pollutant (parameter) is Information about what pollutant (parameter) is

measured at a site, sampling methodologies, measured at a site, sampling methodologies, units, durations, other infounits, durations, other info

• If already submitting raw data to AQS, file If already submitting raw data to AQS, file created automatically by AQScreated automatically by AQS

• If not submitting raw data to AQS, option of If not submitting raw data to AQS, option of entering Monitor Protocol data when setting up a entering Monitor Protocol data when setting up a monitor in AQSmonitor in AQS

• You can download Monitor Protocol file from You can download Monitor Protocol file from AQS using AMP500 reportAQS using AMP500 report

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AQS File FormattingAQS File Formatting

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Two Ways to Get Monitor Two Ways to Get Monitor Protocol Data into ToolboxProtocol Data into Toolbox

Either Import Part of AQS

AMP500 Report (if you have one

in AQS)

Or Hand Enter Monitor Protocol Data

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Method 1: Import Monitor Protocol Method 1: Import Monitor Protocol Data From AQSData From AQS

• Data Import formData Import form• Steps similar to Steps similar to

importing data importing data collected from monitorcollected from monitor

• You must download You must download part of AMP500 report part of AMP500 report from AQS, save as from AQS, save as MK.txt on C drive MK.txt on C drive before beginningbefore beginning

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Example MK.txt fileExample MK.txt file

• Example of Monitor Protocol data file Example of Monitor Protocol data file (part of the AMP500 report) downloaded (part of the AMP500 report) downloaded from AQS; can be imported into Toolboxfrom AQS; can be imported into Toolbox

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Method 2: Manually Enter Method 2: Manually Enter Monitor Protocol Data in the Monitor Protocol Data in the Toolbox Instead of ImportingToolbox Instead of Importing

Start by clicking here

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• Data Entry formData Entry form

• Select values using drop-down arrow Select values using drop-down arrow buttonbutton

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Should I Import or Enter?Should I Import or Enter?• If your tribe has already submitted raw data to AQS, If your tribe has already submitted raw data to AQS,

importimport• If your tribe has not yet submitted data to AQS, two If your tribe has not yet submitted data to AQS, two

choiceschoices• Use AQS to create monitor protocol, import that Use AQS to create monitor protocol, import that

into Toolboxinto Toolbox• Enter monitor protocol data directly into ToolboxEnter monitor protocol data directly into Toolbox

• More comfortable entering data in AQS or Toolbox?More comfortable entering data in AQS or Toolbox?• Unless you add new monitors or pollutants, change Unless you add new monitors or pollutants, change

methodologies, etc., importing or entering is a one-methodologies, etc., importing or entering is a one-time event, like adding a Sitetime event, like adding a Site

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AQS File GenerationAQS File Generation• After Monitor Protocol information imported or After Monitor Protocol information imported or

entered, Toolbox can convert data into AQS pipe-entered, Toolbox can convert data into AQS pipe-delimited formatdelimited format

• Toolbox can create Raw Data (RD), Precision Toolbox can create Raw Data (RD), Precision (RP), and Bias (RA) files(RP), and Bias (RA) files

• These files (AQS_RD.txt, AQS_RP.txt, and These files (AQS_RD.txt, AQS_RP.txt, and AQS_RA.txt) created on hard driveAQS_RA.txt) created on hard drive

• Every file you create will replace previous fileEvery file you create will replace previous file• Keep copies of files, change names, store in a safe Keep copies of files, change names, store in a safe

placeplace

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Where Do I Start?Where Do I Start?

Start by clicking here

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Let’s Create an AQS Raw Data Let’s Create an AQS Raw Data FileFile 1. Select AQS

codes from drop-down lists

2. Enter Range

3. Click on the three buttons

1919Notepad File Ready for Submitting Notepad File Ready for Submitting to AQSto AQS

EPA also wants your QC data:EPA also wants your QC data:

• Files are called P&A filesFiles are called P&A files• EPA expects these as well as RD (raw EPA expects these as well as RD (raw

data) filesdata) files• These files are much smaller than raw These files are much smaller than raw

data filesdata files• Precision (your own QC checks with your Precision (your own QC checks with your

eqmnt)eqmnt)• Bias (external eqmnt [audit] data)Bias (external eqmnt [audit] data)

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3 types of AQS files:3 types of AQS files:

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To create a precision or bias To create a precision or bias AQS fileAQS file

• The steps are similar to creating The steps are similar to creating a raw data file, but…a raw data file, but…

• ……use a different set of buttonsuse a different set of buttons

• If generating PM data files, If generating PM data files, choose units wisely on formchoose units wisely on form• Different units for concentration Different units for concentration

data (raw data) and flow rates data (raw data) and flow rates (precision or bias)(precision or bias)

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What the Toolbox Does DoWhat the Toolbox Does Do

• Creates RD, RP, and RA files ready to Creates RD, RP, and RA files ready to

submit to AQSsubmit to AQS

• Reports AQS Null Value codes you Reports AQS Null Value codes you

assigned during Final Data Review and assigned during Final Data Review and

Invalidation process (3Invalidation process (3rdrd phase of data phase of data

review)review)

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What the Toolbox Doesn’t DoWhat the Toolbox Doesn’t Do

• Submit data to AQS for youSubmit data to AQS for you

• Use the natural and exceptional Use the natural and exceptional

events AQS flagsevents AQS flags