United States
                    Environmental Protection
                    Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
                    Research and Development
EPA/600/S4-87/023  Feb. 1988
&EPA         Project Summary
                     Environmental  Methods Testing
                     Site Project:  Data Management
                     Procedures  Plan
                    E. H. Barrows
                      The Environmental Methods Testing
                     Site (EMTS) Data Management Proce-
                     dures Plan identifies the computer
                     hardware and software resources used
                     in the EMTS project. It identifies  the
                     major software packages that are avail-
                     able for use by principal investigators
                     for the analysis of data. It establishes
                     standard methods for the transfer of
                     data sets between the two principal
                     operating locations. The procedures to
                     add data to the EMTS data base, to
                     extract data, and to generate reports
                     are detailed. The responsibilities for the
                     controlled, orderly and efficient use of
                     the resources are delineated.
                      This Project Summary was developed
                     by EPA's Environmental Monitoring Sys-
                     tems Laboratory, Research Triangle Park,
                     NC, to announce key findings of  the
                     research protect that Is fully documented
                     In a separate report of the same title (see
                     Project Report ordering Information at
                     back).

                     Introduction
                      The purpose of the Environmental
                     Methods Testing Site (EMTS) project is to
                     advance the state of the art of assessing
                     human exposure to environmental pol-
                     lutants. Characterization of this site re-
                     quires a well-managed computerized data
                     base to store and efficiently retrieve data.
                     The approach is to set up a single, well-
                     characterized site, and then invite princi-
                     pal investigators to conduct relevant field
                     studies at this site.
                      The EMTS Project  has  selected  the
                     Chattanooga  Standard Metropolitan
                     Statistical Area (SMSA) for this purpose.
                     The SMSA contains the city of Chat-
tanooga, Tennessee and the six counties
surrounding it.
  The overall output goals of the EMTS
project are to provide computer graphics
and analysis and terminal views of data.
These goals are met by providing a com-
mon data  base for users, providing pro-
ducts that will assist users in the conduct
and analysis of their studies, and providing
products that will assist EPA in advancing
methodologies for assessing human
exposures.

Data Processing Configurations
  The general flow of data in the EMTS
will  normally be directed from various
originating sources into the  NCC IBM
3090/200 computer at RTP for data col-
lection and initial manipulations. These
data will  be stored in a relational data
base environment using FOCUS, and from
these data, customized subsets will be
extracted for analysis and manipulations.
Analysis resources of two principal types
are available for the EMTS project: (1)
statistical packages on the IBM mainframe
may be used for analyzing tabular data
sets, and (2) the Geographic Information
System available on the DEC VAX 11 /785
at the EMSL/LV facility may be used for
analyzing  spatial data  sets. Data trans-
mission  resources include tapes and
telecommunication facilities to move files
between  computer systems. Access
methods available to the investigators to
access the computer systems are
discussed.

Responsibilities and Procedures
  The EMTS Data Set Inventory System
is a PC-based system maintained by the

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   ERC to provide an index of all data sets
   included in  the EMTS data  base.
   EMSL/RTP will  process data sets and
   assist investigators  in the statistical
   analysis  of data. Selected data sets will
   be built  by EMSL/RTP for transfer to
   EMSL/LV and entry into the GIS. The
   ARC/INFO system at EMSL/LV will  be
   used to create spatial representations of
   data and to perform analysis of data.
          E. H. Barrows is with Northrop Services. Inc.. Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
          R. H. Jungers and T. C. Lawless are the EPA Project Officers (see below).
          The complete report, entitled "Environmental Methods Testing Site Project: Data
            Management Procedures Plan,"(Order No. PB 87-229 654/AS; Cost: $11.95,
            subject to change) will be available only from:
                  National Technical Information Service
                  5285 Port Royal Road
                  Springfield, VA 22161
                  Telephone: 703-487-4650
          The EPA Project Officers can be contacted at:
                  Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
                  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                  Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
U.S. OFFICIAL^.
         UlPOSTAI
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Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300

EPA/600/S4-87/023
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