United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research and
Development
Washington, DC 20460
EPA/625/R-99/00;
September 1999
http://www.epa.gov/empact
Ozone Monitoring, Mapping,
and Public Outreach
Delivering Real-Time Ozone
Information to Your Community
E M P A C T
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access
& Community Tracking
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This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved for publication.
Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or reccommendation of their use.
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Ozone Monitoring, Mapping,
and Public Outreach
Delivering Real-Time Ozone
Information to Your Community
United Environmental Protection Agency
Laboratory
Office of Development
Cincinnati, Ohio
^ Printed on paper containing at least
' 30% postconsumer recovered fiber.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The development of this handbook was managed by Scott Hedges (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
National Risk Management Laboratory) with technical guidance from Richard Wayland (U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality, Planning and Standards). While developing this handbook, we sought
the input of many individuals in air quality agencies across the country and within the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Gratitude is expressed to each person for their involvement and contributions.
Tad Aburn, Maryland Department of the Environment, Air Quality Planning Program
Lee Alter, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM)
Aaron Childs, City of Indianapolis Environment and Resource Management Division
Greg Cooper, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Air Quality Management
Laura DeGuire, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division
Phil Dickerson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality, Planning and Standards
Tim Dye, Sonoma Technology, Inc.
Chris Galilei, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Lisa Grosshandler, North Carolina Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air
Quality
Mike Koerber, Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO)
Thomas Monosmith, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division
Randy Mosier, Maryland Department of the Environment, Air Quality Planning Program
Mike Norcom, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
James Parks, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Air Quality Division
Charles Pietarinen, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Air Quality Management
Scott Reynolds, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Air Quality Analysis
Mike Rizzo, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
Liz Santa, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division
Kerry Shearer, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Dan White, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
Neil Wheeler, MCNC Environmental Programs
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1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK 5
3. OZONE MONITORING 7
3.1 Ozone Monitoring—An Overview 7
3.2 Siting Your Ozone Monitoring Network 10
3-3 Selecting Monitoring Equipment 13
3.4 Installing Monitoring Equipment 15
3-5 Calibrating Monitoring Equipment 18
3-6 Maintaining Your Monitoring Equipment and Ensuring Data Quality 20
3.7 Annual Network Review 24
4. DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING 25
4.1 Overview of the Automated Data Transfer System (ADTS) 25
4.2 Getting Ready to Use the ADTS for Data Collection and Transfer 28
4.3 Using the ADTS for Data Collection and Transfer 32
4.4 Operations at the Data Collection Center 41
5. MAKING OZONE MAPS 45
5.1 Understanding MapGen's Capabilities 45
5.2 Getting Started 46
5-3 Generating and Managing Maps 48
5.4 Advanced Features 61
5-5 Technical Support 61
6. COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 63
6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Ozone 63
6.2 Successful Ozone Outreach Programs 70
6.3 Guidelines for Presenting Information About Ozone to the Public 71
APPENDIX A A-l
Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
APPENDIX B B-l
Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
APPENDIX C C-l
Automated Data Quality Checks
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1. INTRODUCTION
Ozone, when it occurs at ground level, presents a serious air quality problem
in many parts of the United States. Ozone is a major ingredient of smog, and
when inhaled—even at very low levels—it can cause a number of respirato-
ry health effects. People who live in communities with high ozone levels can use
timely and accurate information to make informed decisions about how to pro-
tect their health from ozone exposure and when to take actions to reduce local
ozone levels.
GOOD OZONE
Ozone occurs naturally in the
Earth's upper atmosphere—
10 to 30 miles above the Earth's
surface—where it forms a
protective barrier that shields
people from the sun's harmful
ultraviolet rays. This barrier is
sometimes called the'
layer."
ozone
This handbook is designed to provide you with step-by-
step instructions about how to provide this information
to your community. It was developed by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) EMPACT
program. EPA created EMPACT (Environmental
Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking)
in 1997, at President Clinton's direction. The program
takes advantage of new technologies that make it possible
to provide environmental information to the public in
near real time. EMPACT is working with the 86 largest
metropolitan areas of the country to help communities in
these areas:
• Collect, manage, and distribute time-relevant envi-
ronmental information.
• Provide their residents with easy-to-understand infor-
mation they can use in making informed, day-to-day
decisions.
To help make EMPACT more effective, EPA is partnering with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey. EPA
will work closely with these federal agencies to help achieve nationwide consis-
tency in measuring environmental data, managing the information, and deliver-
ing it to the public.
To date, environmental information projects have been initiated in 61 of the 86
EMPACT-designated metropolitan areas. These projects cover a wide range of
environmental issues, such as groundwater contamination, ocean pollution,
smog, ultraviolet radiation, and overall ecosystem quality. Some of these projects
have been initiated directly by EPA. Others have been launched by EMPACT
communities themselves. Local governments from any of the 86 EMPACT met-
ropolitan areas are eligible to apply for EPA-funded Metro Grants to develop their
own EMPACT projects.
The 86 EMPACT metropolitan areas are listed in the table at the end of this
chapter.
Communities selected for Metro Grant awards are responsible for building their
own time-relevant environmental monitoring and information delivery systems.
Ozone occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground
level. Ozone can be good or bad, depending on where it is found:
BAD OZONE
Because of pollution, ozone can
also be found in the Earth's
lower atmosphere, at ground
level. Ground-level ozone is
a major ingredient of smog,
and it can harm people's
health by damaging their
lungs. Ground-level ozone can
also damage crops and many
common man-made materials,
such as rubber, plastic, and
paint.
INTRODUCTION
-------
To find out how to apply for a Metro Grant, visit the EMPACT Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/empact/apply.htm.
One of the largest and most successful EMPACT projects is the Ozone Mapping
Project, which creates maps that provide communities with real-time information
about ozone pollution in an easy-to-understand pictorial format. The maps are
created from hourly ozone data taken from monitoring networks in different
regions of the country. They use color-coded contours to depict the level of health
concern associated with different categories of ozone concentration. Shown below
is a map that depicts peak ozone values in the northeastern United States on
August 24, 1998.
The Ozone Mapping Project is a cooperative effort of the EPA, State and local air
pollution control agencies, and regional organizations, including the Northeast
States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM)(http://www.
nescaum.org), the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association
(MAPvAMA)(http://www.marama.org), and the Lake Michigan Air Directors
Consortium (LADCO) (http://www.ladco.org). In 1998, EPAs Office of Air and
Radiation assumed coordination of the project. The ozone maps are found on
EPAs AIRNOW Web site—part of the Ozone Mapping Project
(http://www.epa.gov/airnow). AIRNOW displays still-frame maps that show
today's ozone levels, yesterday's peak ozone values, and tomorrow's ozone forecast,
CHAPTER 1
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as well as animated maps that depict the formation and movement of ozone
throughout the day. The AIRNOW Web site also provides information about the
health effects of ozone and links to state and local air pollution control agencies with
real-time ozone data.
The number of cities served by the Ozone Mapping Project is growing but limit-
ed by available resources. The Technology Transfer and Support Division of the
EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORD's) National Risk Management
Laboratory initiated the development of this handbook to help interested com-
munities learn more about the Ozone Mapping Project and to provide them with
the technical information they need to develop and manage their own ozone
monitoring, mapping, and information dissemination programs. ORD, working
with the AIRNOW project lead from EPA's Office of Air Quality, Planning and
Standards, produced the handbook to maximize EMPACT's investment in the
project and minimize the resources needed to implement it in new cities. The
handbook is also available in CD-ROM format.
Both print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct on-
line ordering from EPA's Office of Research and Development Technology
Transfer Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl/. The handbook can be
downloaded from EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards AIRNOW
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/. You can also obtain a copy of the
handbook by contacting the EMPACT program office at:
EMPACT Program
U.S. EPA (8722R)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-6791
Fax: 202-565-1966
We hope that you find the handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use.
We welcome your comments, and you can send them by e-mail from EMPACT's
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/empact/comment.htm.
INTRODUCTION
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EMPACT Metropolitan Areas
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Albuquerque, NM
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA
Anchorage, AK
Atlanta, GA
Austin-San Marcos, TX
Bakersfield, CA
Billings, MT
Birmingham, AL
Boise, ID
Boston, AAA-NH
Bridgeport, CT
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
Burlington, VT
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Charleston, WV
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-
SC
Cheyenne, WY
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI
Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KT-IN
Cleveland-Akron, OH
Columbus, OH
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Dayton-Springfield, OH
Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Ml
El Paso, TX
Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN
Fresno, CA
Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland,
Ml
Greensboro-Winston Salem-High
Point, NC
Greenville-Spa rtanburg-Anderson,
SC
Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA
Hartford, CA
Honolulu, HI
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
Indianapolis, IN
Jackson, MS
Jacksonville, FL
Kansas City, MO-KS
Knoxville, TN
Las Vegas, NV
Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange
County, CA
Louisville, KY-IN
Memphis, TN-AR-MS
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
Milwaukee-Racine, Wl
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Nashville, TN
New Orleans, LA
New York-Northern New Jersey-
Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport
News, VA-NC
Oklahoma City, OH
Omaha, NE-IA
Orlando, FL
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic
City, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, ME
Portland-Salem, OR-WA
Providence-Fall River-Warwick, Rl-
MA
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Richmond-Petersburg, VA
Rochester, NY
Sacramento-Yolo, CA
Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose,
CA
San Juan, PR
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, PA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA
Sioux Falls, SD
Springfield, MA
St. Louis-E. St. Louis, MO-IL
Stockton-Lodi, CA
Syracuse, NY
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Toledo, OH
Tucson, AZ
Tulsa, OK
Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-
WV
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL
Wichita, KS
Youngstown-Warren, OH
CHAPTER 1
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2. HOW TO USE
THIS HANDBOOK
T
I
is handbook provides you with the information your community will need
to develop an ozone monitoring, mapping, and outreach program. It contains
detailed guidance about how to:
Design, site, operate,
and maintain an ozone
monitoring system.
Develop, operate, and
maintain a system to
retrieve, manage, and
distribute real-time ozone
data.
Use these data to create
ozone maps that graphically
depict information, in near
real time, about ozone
concentrations in your area.
Develop a program to
communicate information
about real-time ozone levels
and the health effects of ozone
to people in your community.
The handbook provides simple "how-to" instructions on each of these topics:
• Chapter 3 explains how to implement an ozone monitoring program
that will meet criteria established under the Clean Air Act for a
National Air Monitoring Station and State/Local Air Monitoring
Station (NAMS/SLAMS) monitoring network. It helps you plan and
site your ozone monitoring network; select, install, and operate your
monitoring equipment; and develop a preventive maintenance plan.
• Chapter 4 provides you with the information you will need to operate
the Automatic Data Transfer System (ADTS), which retrieves data from
ozone monitors, converts the data from a participating agency's format
to a standard format, ensures the integrity of the data, and prepares it
for ready-to-use mapping. This chapter helps you to obtain, install,
configure, and operate the ADTS. It also provides guidance on how to
conduct quality assurance checks on your ozone data. Appendices A
and B provide step-by-step instructions on how to configure the ADTS
and install supplemental software, and Appendix C contains a detailed
description of data quality checks.
• Chapter 5 offers a complete primer on MapGen, a software appli-
cation developed by EPA that you can use to make maps that illustrate
the concentration levels of ozone in your area. This chapter contains
instructions on obtaining and installing the software, generating maps,
using advanced features, troubleshooting, and obtaining technical sup-
port.
• Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an ozone out-
reach plan and profiles examples of successful ozone outreach initiatives
that have been implemented in EMPACT cities across the country. It
also provides guidelines for communicating information about ozone
and includes examples of information, written in an easily understand-
able, plain-English style, which you can incorporate into your own
communication and outreach materials.
HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
-------
This handbook is designed both for decision-makers who may be considering
whether to implement an ozone program in their communities and for techni-
cians responsible for implementing an ozone program. Managers and decision-
makers likely will find the initial sections of Chapters 3, 4, and 5 most helpful.
The latter sections of these chapters are targeted primarily for technicians and
provide detailed "how to" information. Chapter 6 is designed for managers and
communication specialists.
The handbook also refers you to supplementary sources of information, such as
Web sites, EPA technical guidance documents, and Internet news groups, where
you can find additional guidance at a greater level of technical detail. Interspersed
throughout the handbook are success stories and lessons learned from EMPACT
cities that have already implemented their own ozone monitoring, data transfer,
mapping, and outreach programs.
CHAPTER 2
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3. OZONE MONITORING
This chapter provides information about ozone monitoring, the first step in the
process of generating real-time ground-level ozone information and making
it available to residents in your area. The chapter begins with a broad
overview of ozone monitoring (Section 3-1), then provides information about
how to site, install, operate, and maintain an ozone monitoring network that
complies with federal regulations (Sections 3.2 through 3.7). Throughout this
chapter, you will find references to additional EPA guidance documents that pro-
vide detailed technical information about ozone monitoring.
Readers interested primarily in an overview of ozone monitoring may want to
focus on the introductory information in Section 3.1. If you are responsible for
actual design and implementation of a monitoring network, you should review
Sections 3.2 through 3.7 for an introduction to the specific steps involved in
developing and operating an ozone monitoring network and for information on
where to find additional technical guidance.
3.1 OZONE MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
Ground-level ozone is regulated under the Clean Air Act, the comprehensive fed-
eral law that regulates air emissions in the United States. Among other things, the
Clean Air Act requires the U.S. EPA to set standards for "criteria pollutants"—six
commonly occurring air pollutants, one of which is ground-level ozone. These
standards, known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), are
national targets for acceptable concentrations of each of the criteria pollutants.
For each pollutant, EPA has developed two NAAQS standards:
• The "primary standard," which is intended to protect public health.
• The "secondary standard," which is intended to prevent damage to the
environment and property.
A geographic area that meets the primary health-based NAAQS is called an
attainment area. Areas that do not meet the primary standard are called non-
attainment areas. More information about the Clean Air Act (including the full
text of the law and a Plain English Guide to the Act) can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/laws.htm.
The Clean Air Act requires each state to develop State Implementation Plans
(SIPs). SIPs describe the programs a state will use to maintain good air quality in
attainment areas and meet the NAAQS in nonattainment areas. For example, if a
city or region is a nonattainment area for ozone, the SIP describes the programs
that will be used to meet the primary NAAQS for ozone.
One of the elements of your state's SIP is a network of monitors that measure con-
centrations of the six criteria pollutants, including ozone. An ozone monitoring
network is an air quality surveillance system consisting of monitoring stations that
measure ambient concentrations of ozone. The Clean Air Act places the respon-
sibility on states to establish and operate these ozone monitoring networks and to
report the data to EPA. EPA's standards for ozone monitoring networks are found
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG
-------
in the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Part 58 [National Primary and
Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards]). You can access and review these
CFR sections from the Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center
(AMTIC) Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/codefed.html.
Information provided by your ozone monitoring network is used for a number of
purposes:
• To determine if your area is in compliance with the ozone NAAQS.
• For use in models that are used to develop strategies for controlling
ozone levels in your area.
• To provide information to the public about local air quality. You can
use ozone data to create ozone maps depicting today's ozone levels, yes-
terday's peak ozone values, and tomorrow's ozone forecast, as well as
animated maps that illustrate the formation and movement of ozone
throughout the day. These maps serve as effective tools for warning resi-
dents in your community when levels of ozone are unhealthy or expect-
ed to be unhealthy.
Under the State and Local Air Monitoring Stations network, three different sub-
systems are used to carry out ozone monitoring:
• State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS). SLAMS stations are
used to demonstrate if an area is meeting the ozone NAAQS. A
SLAMS system consists of a carefully planned network of fixed moni-
toring stations, with the network size and station distribution largely
determined by the needs of state and local air pollution control agen-
cies to meet their SIP requirements. EPA gives states and localities flexi-
bility in determining the size of their SLAMS network based on their
data needs and available resources. SLAMS network must be able to
determine:
• The highest concentration of ozone expected to occur in the area
covered by the network.
• Representative concentrations in areas of high population density.
• The impact of significant sources or source categories on ambient
pollution levels.
• General background concentration levels.
• The extent of regional pollutant transport among populated areas.
• Impacts in more rural and remote areas (such as visibility impairment
and effects on vegetation).
• National Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS). NAMS are used to supply
data for national policy and trend analyses and to provide the public
with information about air quality in major metropolitan areas. NAMS
are required in urban areas with populations greater than 200,000.
NAMS monitoring stations are selected from a subset of the SLAMS
network, and EPA requires a minimum of two NAMS monitors in
CHAPTER 3
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each of these metropolitan areas. There are two categories of NAMS
monitoring stations:
• Stations located in areas of expected maximum ozone concentration.
• Stations located in areas where poor air quality is combined with
high population density. (These monitors are sometimes known as
"maximum exposure monitors.")
Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS). PAMS are
required to obtain more comprehensive and representative data about
ozone air pollution in ozone nonattainment areas designated as serious
severe, or extreme. The table below shows how EPA designates a nonat-
tainment area as serious, severe, or extreme. (The ozone design value
for a site, shown in the right-hand column, is the 3-year average of the
annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour ozone concentration.)
Nonattainment Area Classification Ozone Design Value
Serious
Severe
Extreme
0.160 parts per million (ppm) to 0.180 ppm
0.180ppmto0.280ppm
0.280 ppm and higher
PAMS networks are used to monitor surface and upper-air meteorological
conditions and ozone precursors. (See the box below for an explanation
of ozone precursors.) Areas with fewer than 500,000 people must have
at least two PAMS sites; areas with 500,000 to 1,000,000 people must
have at least three sites; areas with 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 people must
have at least four sites; and areas with more than 2,000,000 people
must have at least five sites. EPAs Photochemical Assessment Monitoring
Stations Implementation Manual (available at http://www.epa.gov/
ttnamtil/pams.html) provides detailed information about the number
of PAMS required, station location guidance, and siting criteria. The
specific types of PAMS monitoring sites are described in greater detail
in Appendix D of 40 CFR Part 58.
Ozone Precursors
Ground-level ozone forms when various pollutants, such as volatile organ-
ic compounds and nitrogen oxides, mix in the air and react chemically in
the presence of sunlight. These pollutants are known as ozone precursors.
Common sources of volatile organic compounds (often referred to as
VOCs) include motor vehicles, gas stations, chemical plants, and other
industrial facilities. Solvents such as dry-cleaning fluid and chemicals used
to clean industrial equipment are also sources of VOCs. Common sources
of nitrogen oxides include motor vehicles, power plants, and other fuel-
burning sources.
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG
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Because ozone levels increase significantly in the hotter parts of the year in most
areas of the country, EPA requires that ozone monitoring at NAMS and SLAMS
monitoring sites be conducted during "ozone season" only. EPA has designated
ozone seasons for each state. These designations can be found in Appendix D of
40 CFR Part 58.
3.2 SITING YOUR OZONE MONITORING NETWORK
You will need to take a series of specific steps to establish and begin operating an
ozone monitoring network. First, you will need to consider where to locate your
ozone monitors. A well-designed ozone monitoring network would likely include
monitoring stations at four key types of sites:
• Maximum population exposure sites
• Maximum downwind concentration sites
• Maximum emissions impact (maximum ozone precursor concentration)
sites
• Upwind background sites
The chart below provides details about these sites:
Type of Site Relevant Pollutants Monitoring Objective Notes
Maximum
exposure
Maximum downwind
concentration
Maximum emissions
Upwind background
Ozone
Ozone
Ozone precursors
(nitrogen oxides and
VOCs)
Ozone and ozone
precursors (nitrogen
oxides and VOCs)
Regulatory compliance
Regulatory compliance
Control strategy
development
Control strategy
development
Required as part of the NAMS network. Designed to measure the highest
ozone concentration in a heavily populated area.
Required as part of the NAMS network. Designed to measure the
maximum ozone concentration expected to occur in an urban area.
Designed to measure the concentration of nitrogen oxides and VOCs in
proximity to a source. Data are used to model ozone formation.
Designed to measure the ozone and ozone precursor concentrations
entering an urban area from an upwind source.
Locating Monitoring Sites
This subsection provides some basic information about how to locate monitoring
sites and how to site monitors to avoid problems in the immediate vicinity of the
monitor. For detailed guidance on siting ozone monitors, see Guideline on Ozone
Monitoring Site Selection (available online at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/
amtic/cpreldoc.html).
Locating Maximum Population Exposure Sites, You can use census or other popu-
lation data to identify the areas with the highest populations. Ideally, the ozone
monitor should be located in the highest population area likely to be exposed to
high ozone concentrations. Be careful not to locate these monitors in areas where
a local source of nitrogen oxide emissions, such as a highway or a fuel-combus-
tion source, could affect monitor readings.
1 0
CHAPTER 3
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Downwind Maximum Concentration Sites. The prevailing
wind direction is a key factor in determining where to locate upwind background
and downwind maximum concentration sites. (See the diagram below illustrating
a sample network design.) You can use models known as wind rose diagrams to
help make these siting determinations. A program to construct wind roses is avail-
able from the Support Center for Regulatory Air Models (SCRAM) within EPA's
Technology Transfer Network (TTN) at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/scram. In
areas dominated by stagnant wind conditions (where winds average less than 1.5
meters/second), it may be difficult to determine the prevailing wind direction. In
stagnant wind areas, upwind and downwind maximum concentration sites should
be located not farther than 10 miles beyond the outermost portion of the urban
fringe.
Wind rose plots alone, however, cannot determine the exact location of maximum
ozone concentration downwind of an emission source. Saturation monitoring
techniques are often used for this purpose. More information about these tech-
niques can be found in EPA's Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations
Implementation Manuals http://www.epa.gov/ttnamtil/pams.html.
PAMS NETWORK DESIGN
EXTREME
DOWNWND SITE
MAXIMUM
OZONE SITE
ECOH DAP.V
MORNING
WIND
CENTRAL BUSINESS
DISTRICT
URBANIZED
FRINGE
,>'IN ^'BACKGROUND
SITE
PRIMARY AFT ERHCON
WIND
PRIMARY MORNING WHO
Example Area Network
Design
(From 40 CFR Part 58, Appendix D)
Legend:
1. A circle denotes a PAMS Site. The
number inside describes the Site
number.
U1. High ozone day predominant
morning wind direction.
U2. Second most predominant high
ozone day morning wind direction
U3. High ozone day predominant after-
noon wind direction.
OZONE MON ITO Rl NG
1 1
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To gather data on ambient ozone concentrations, the Clean Air Act requires states to establish an ozone
monitoring network consisting of SLAMS and NAMS monitoring stations (and, where needed, PAMS
stations).
In some cases, you may want to gather additional ozone data. When regular data gathering needs to be
supplemented, Special Purpose Monitors (SPMs) are used. For example, some state and local agencies use
SPMs to obtain additional information on where to locate permanent monitoring stations. SPMs are also
used to focus air quality monitoring on a particular area of interest (often for studies intended to help learn
more about a particular aspect of air pollution).
In addition, state and local agencies may install SPMs to supplement the data they use to map ground-
level ozone concentrations in their area. These additional data are needed in some cases to ensure that
the maps provided to the public are current and accurate.
Some state and local agencies that have considered installing SPMs have been concerned that these addi-
tional monitoring stations will generate data demonstrating that their region is a non-attainment area.
Based on this concern, they may elect not to use SPMs. While EPA must consider all relevant, quality-
checked data in reviewing compliance with NAAQS, the Agency recognizes that SPM data can play an
important role in ozone monitoring and mapping. EPA does not expect to use data from ozone monitors
that operate for no more than two years in judging compliance with the ozone map. Becasue SPMs can
remain in one location for only a limited amount of time, their primary purpose is to determine how per-
manent monitors can be used to fill data gaps and where to locate permanent monitors to provide the best
coverage for the ozone map and populated areas.
Surrogate or "dummy" monitors can also be used to facilitate ozone mapping in areas where information
about local air quality is known but a permanent monitor does not exist. Communities should consult with
the state and EPA air quality contacts to investigate this approach.
Here is how one agency has successfully used SPMs: The Indianapolis Environment Resources
Management Division (ERMD), which handles air monitoring for Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana,
encountered difficulties in reducing ground-level ozone in the Indianapolis metropolitan area and in down-
wind areas to safer levels over the years. ERMD officials concluded that they needed to know if additional
ozone was coming into their area from upwind sources.
To gather this information, the officials decided to use SPMs. They installed several stations in various
upwind locations and began taking readings. When the results showed elevated ozone levels in these areas
as well, ERMD was able to begin revising its ozone-reduction strategy. The agency is now working with
organizations in the upwind areas on a regional approach to public education and regulatory enforcement
designed to help both Indianapolis/Marion County and surrounding counties and states deal effectively
with ground-level ozone.
Once you have identified the locations for your monitoring sites, you are ready to
determine how and where to place your monitors at each site. You will need to
consider the following factors when you install your monitors:
• Height. The monitor's inlet probe should be placed 3 to 15 meters
above ground level. Be sure to locate the probe at least 1 meter vertical-
ly and horizontally away from any supporting structure.
12 CHAPTERS
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• Airflow. Obstructions such as buildings, trees, and nearby surfaces affect
the flow of ozone and the mixing of pollutants. (Ozone may be
destroyed on contact with these and other surfaces.) Airflow to the inlet
probe must be unrestricted in a horizontal arc at least 270 degrees
around the probe. The probe must be located so that the distance from
the probe to any obstruction is twice the height that the obstruction
protrudes above the probe. If the probe is located on the side of a
building, a 180-degree clearance is required.
• Separation from roadways. Because automobiles emit nitrogen oxides
that affect ozone concentrations, you must place ozone monitors a
minimum distance from roadways (10 meters to 250 meters, depend-
ing upon the average daily traffic flow). See Table 1 in Appendix E of
40 CFR Part 58 for specific separation distances between ozone moni-
tors and roadways, based on daily traffic flow.
• Separation from trees. Because trees and other vegetation can affect
ozone levels, monitor probes should be placed at least 20 meters from
the "drip line" of trees. (The "drip line" is the area where water drip-
ping from a tree might fall.)
For detailed guidance on ozone monitor siting considerations, you can consult
the following references:
• Guideline on Ozone Monitoring Site Selection (available online at
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.html).
• "Meteorological Considerations in Siting Photochemical Pollutant
Monitors." Chu, S. H. (1995). Atmos. Environ. 29, 2905-2913.
3.3 SELECTING MONITORING EQUIPMENT
The next step in developing your ozone monitoring network is to identify the
equipment you need, ranging from extraction equipment and analyzers to data
recording and transfer systems.
Analyzing Equipment
An ozone analyzer is a self-contained instrument designed to measure the con-
centration of ozone in a sample of ambient air. You will need to select analyzing
equipment according to the technical needs of your monitoring program and
your available resources.
Analyzers must also meet the reference method or equivalent method specified by
EPA in Appendix D of 40 CFR Part 50. EPA requires the use of reference or
equivalent methods to help assure that air quality measurements are accurate. The
reference method measurement principles for ozone are also specified in
Appendix D of 40 CFR Part 50. However, equivalent methods may have differ-
ent measurement principles. Therefore, you should refer to the AMTIC Bulletin
Board at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic, where the EPA maintains a current list
of all designated reference and equivalent methods.
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG 13
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Before you obtain an analyzer, you will need to verify that it meets the reference
method or equivalent method requirements. Because manufacturers may have
changed or modified analyzers without changing the model number, the model
number alone does not necessarily indicate that an analyzer is covered under a des-
ignation. Also, any modification to a reference or equivalent method made by a
user must be approved by EPA if the status as a reference or equivalent method is
to be maintained.
The probe used to extract a sample of ozone from the atmosphere for analysis
must be made of suitable material. Extensive studies have shown that only Pyrex®
and Teflon® are suitable for use in intake sampling lines for the reactive gases. EPA
also has specified borosilicate glass and FEP Teflon® as the only acceptable probe
materials for delivering test atmospheres used to determine reference or equivalent
methods. Borosilicate glass, stainless steel, or its equivalent are acceptable probe
materials for VOC monitoring at PAMS. (FEP Teflon® is not suitable as probe
material because of VOC adsorption and desorption reactions.)
Your sampling probe will initially be inert. However, with use, reactive paniculate
matter will be deposited on the probe walls. Therefore, the residence time—the
time that it takes for the sample gas to transfer from the inlet of the probe to the
analyzer—is critical. In the presence of nitrogen oxides, ozone will show signifi-
cant losses even in the most inert probe if the residence time is longer than 20 sec-
onds. EPA requires that sampling probes for reactive gas monitors at SLAMS or
NAMS have a sample residence time of less than 20 seconds.
Calibration determines the relationship between the observed and the true values
of the ozone concentration being measured. The accuracy and precision of data
derived from air monitoring instruments depend on sound instrument calibration
procedures. (Accuracy is the extent to which measurements represent their corre-
sponding actual values, and precision is a measurement of the variability observed
upon duplicate collection or repeated analysis) Your calibration system must
include an ozone generator, an output port or manifold, a photometer (an instru-
ment that measures the intensity of light), a source of zero air, and whatever other
components are necessary to provide a stable ozone concentration output. Because
ozone is highly reactive and can be destroyed upon contact with surfaces, all com-
ponents between the ozone generator and the absorption cell must be made of
glass, Teflon,® or other non-reactive material. Lines and interconnections should
be kept as short as possible, and all surfaces must be clean.
14 CHAPTERS
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Data Loggers
The analyzers you have set up at your monitoring sites will generate data that
must be recorded and reported. A data logger is a computerized system that can
be used to control and record the data from several instruments. The data logger
unit incorporates software that provides a high level of flexibility for various
applications. With a data logger system, you can interact with the software using
either a keyboard or an interactive, command-oriented interface. Data loggers
perform the following functions:
• Reviewing collected data
• Producing printed reports
• Controlling the analyzer and other instruments
• Setting up instrument operating parameters
• Performing diagnostic checks
• Setting up external events and alarms
• Defining external storage
A modem connection from the monitor to an off-site computer allows data log-
ging (often from more than one monitor) to take place on a single computer. In
addition to the modem, this system requires an off-site computer, data acquisition
and processing software, and a data storage module. Once the data are delivered
to the computer, they are filtered by specified acquisition parameters and stored
in a file in the data acquisition system where further processing and reporting
occurs.
3.4 INSTALLING MONITORING EQUIPMENT
The manufacturer that supplied your monitor should provide you with a com-
plete manual with detailed equipment installation instructions. This section
describes some of the basics of installation monitoring equipment. You will need
to consult the manufacturer's manual, however, for complete step-by-step instal-
lation instructions.
When you install your ozone monitors, you will need to take the following basic
steps:
Inspecting the Equipment
• When the shipment of the monitor is received, verify that the package
contents are complete as ordered.
• Inspect the instrument for external physical damage due to shipping,
such as scratched or dented panel surfaces and broken knobs or
connectors.
• Remove the instrument cover and all interior foam packing and save
(in case future shipments of the instrumentation are needed). Make
note of how the foam packing was installed.
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG 15
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• Inspect the interior of the instrument for damage, such as broken com-
ponents or loose circuit boards. Make sure that all of the circuit boards
are completely secured. (Loose boards could short out the mother-
board.) If no damage is evident, the monitor is ready for installation
and operation. If any damage due to shipping is observed, contact the
manufacturer for instructions on how to proceed.
• If you discover that the instrument was damaged during shipping and it
becomes necessary to return it to the manufacturer, repack it in the
same way it was delivered.
Installing an ozone monitor consists of connecting the sample tubing to the sam-
ple gas inlet fitting and connecting the primary power and the recorder.
• The sample inlet line connection should be made with 1/4-inch outer
diameter Teflon® tubing.
• The entrance of the sampling system should have provision for a water
drop-out or other means of ensuring that rain cannot enter the system.
Place this water drop-out as far as possible from any sources that could
contaminate the sample.
• Because the analyzer is an optical instrument, it is possible that particu-
late in the gas sample could interfere with the ozone readings, although
the sampling/referencing cyclic operation of the instrument is designed
to eliminate such interference. In order to avoid frequent cleaning of
the optics and flow handling components, installation of a Teflon® filter
is recommended. A 0.5-micron Teflon® filter will not degrade the ozone
concentration. However, if particulate matter builds up on the filter, the
particulate matter will destroy some of the ozone in the sample. Be sure
to change the filters regularly.
• Since the instrument's exhaust consists of ambient air with some ozone
removed, ensure that the exhaust cannot re-enter the sample system.
• Install the monitor's electrical connections as indicated in the manual.
The typical monitoring instrument is designed to operate on standard,
single phase AC electrical power, 50-60 Hz, and 105-125 or 220-240
volts. Most instruments are supplied with a three-conductor power
cable. If you are operating the instrument on a two-wire receptacle, a
three-prong adapter plug should be used with the pigtail wire connected
to the power outlet box or to a nearby electrical ground. (Operating the
instrument without a proper third wire ground may be dangerous.)
The recording device, data acquisition equipment, and any monitoring equip-
ment, calibration equipment, or other ancillary equipment should be installed
according to the information supplied in the appropriate manuals.
16 CHAPTERS
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Standard Operating Procedures
After you install your monitor, you should develop written Standard Operating
Procedures that describe the operation of each portion of the monitoring site.
Data collected using fully documented procedures have much higher credibility.
Be sure to develop written Standard Operating Procedures whenever the proce-
dure in question is repetitive or routine and will significantly affect data quality.
Guidance for the Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures for Quality-Related
Documents provides information about developing, documenting, and improving
Standard Operating Procedures. It can be found on the Web at
http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/qa/qa_docs.html#g-.
Environmental Control for Monitoring Equipment
When you install your ozone monitor, you will need to control any possible phys-
ical influences that might affect sample stability, chemical reactions within the
sampler, or the function of sampler components. These environmental controls
will help ensure that you receive accurate data from your monitoring network.
The table below summarizes these physical variables and the ways in which you
can control them.
Variable Method of Control
Instrument vibration
Light
Electrical voltage
Temperature
Humidity
Design instrument housings, benches, etc. according to manufacturer's specifications. Use shock-absorbing feet for the monitor and a
foam pad under analyzer. Attempt to find and isolate the source of the vibration. The pumps themselves can be fitted with foam or
rubber feet to reduce vibration. If the pumps are downstream of the instruments, connect the pumps by way of tubing that will
prevent the transfer of vibrations back to the instruments and/or the instrument rack.
Shield instrumentation from natural or artificial light.
Ensure constant voltage to transformers or regulators. Separate power lines. Isolate high current drain equipment such as hi-vols,
heating baths, and pumps from regulated circuits. The total amps to be drawn should be checked before another instrument is added.
Regulate air conditioning system. Use 24-hour temperature recorder. Use electrical heating/cooling only.
Regulate air conditioning system; use 24-hour recorder.
Securing Your Monitoring Site
Your monitoring equipment will need to operate unattended for prolonged peri-
ods. Standard security measures such as enclosures, fences, and lighting will help
safeguard the equipment and prevent interference with its operation. To enclose
the monitoring equipment, you might construct a shelter or use a trailer with
appropriate power, telephone, and air conditioning systems.
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG
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Monitoring Site Checklist
Here's a list of things to check before operating your ozone monitoring site:
• Have the sampling manifold (if used) and inlet probe for the analyzer
been checked for cleanliness?
• Has the shelter been inspected for weather leaks, safety, and security?
• Has the equipment been checked for missing parts or frayed electrical
cords?
• Are the monitor exhausts positioned so that exhaust will not be drawn
back into the inlet?
• Are field notebooks and checklists available at the site in a secure
location?
• Have photographs or videotapes of the site been taken after set-up, for
use in reviewing the layout of the monitoring site to ensure that condi-
tions have not changed?
3.5 CALIBRATING MONITORING EQUIPMENT
To ensure the accuracy and precision of data derived from your air monitoring
instruments, you will need to develop reliable instrument calibration procedures.
This section describes two alternative calibration methods: primary calibration
procedures and calibration using a transfer standard.
Primary Calibration Procedures
Dynamic calibration involves introducing gas samples of known concentrations
into an instrument to adjust the instrument to a predetermined sensitivity and
produce a calibration relationship. This calibration relationship is derived from
the instrument's response to successive samples of different, known concentra-
tions.
The photometer that you use for calibration must be dedicated exclusively to cal-
ibration and not used for ambient monitoring. Ozone analyzers are typically
located at widely separated field sites. While a photometer and the photometric
calibration procedure can be used at each field site to calibrate each analyzer, you
may find it advantageous to locate a single photometer at a central laboratory
where it can remain stationary, protected from the physical shocks of transporta-
tion, and available to be operated by an experienced analyst under optimum con-
ditions. This single photometer can then serve as a common standard for all ana-
lyzers in a network. This central photometer would then be used to certify one or
more ozone transfer standards that are carried to the field sites to calibrate the
ozone monitors. For more information about ozone transfer standards, see
Standards for the Calibration of Ambient Air Monitoring Analyzers for Ozone, avail-
able on the AMTIC Technical Guidance Documents Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.html.
18 CHAPTERS
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You should conduct a visual inspection of the photometer system prior to use to
verify that the system is in order, all connections are sound, gas flow is not restrict-
ed, and there are no leaks. Next, you should perform a linearity test of the pho-
tometer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Accuracy of the photomet-
ric calibration system can be verified by occasional comparison with ozone stan-
dards from other independent organizations, either directly or using transfer stan-
dards. Some portion of the ozone may be lost upon contact with the photometer
cell walls and gas handling components. The magnitude of this loss must be
determined and used to correct the calculated ozone concentration. This loss
must not exceed 5 percent.
To calibrate ozone analyzers, take the following steps:
• Allow the photometer to warm up and stabilize.
• Verify that the flow rates through the photometer cell and into the out-
put manifold are accurate.
• Open the two-way valve to allow measurement of zero air through the
manifold.
• Adjust the ozone generator to produce the required amount of ozone.
• Actuate the two-way valve to allow the photometer to sample zero air
until the cell is thoroughly flushed and record the stable measured
value.
• Actuate the two-way valve to allow the photometer to sample the ozone
concentration until the cell is thoroughly flushed and record the stable
measured value.
• Record the temperature and pressure of the sample in the photometer
cell.
• Calculate the ozone concentration.
• Obtain additional ozone concentration standards by repeating the steps
above with different concentrations of ozone from the generator.
To learn more about calibration procedures, you can review Technical Assistance
Document for the Calibration of Ambient Ozone Monitors (available at
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.html).
When the monitor to be calibrated is located at a remote monitoring site, it is
often convenient to use a transfer standard rather than a primary standard cali-
bration system. A transfer standard is defined as a transportable device or appara-
tus that, together with the associated operational procedures, can accurately
reproduce pollutant concentration standards or produce accurate assays of pollu-
tant concentrations which are quantitatively related to an authoritative master
standard. The primary function of a transfer standard is to duplicate and distrib-
ute concentration standards to places where comparability to a primary standard
is required.
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG 19
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Because of the nature of ozone, transfer standards must be capable of accurately
reproducing standard concentrations in a flowing system. Ozone transfer stan-
dards are complex systems consisting of devices or equipment that generate or
assay ozone concentrations. Ozone concentrations are needed to calibrate an
ozone analyzer for ambient monitoring. Usually a number of such analyzers need
to be calibrated, and they are located at various field sites which may be separat-
ed by appreciable distances. Also, these analyzers require recalibration at periodic
intervals. Consequently, a large number of ozone standards will be required at var-
ious times and places. Ozone standards may also be needed to check the span or
precision of these analyzers between calibrations.
Follow these procedures to calibrate ozone analyzers using transfer standards:
• Allow sufficient time for the ozone analyzer and the photometer or
transfer standard to warm up and stabilize.
• Allow the analyzer to sample zero air until a stable response is obtained.
Adjust the analyzer zero control to +5 percent of scale.
• Generate an ozone concentration standard of approximately 80 percent
of the desired upper range of the ozone analyzer and allow the analyzer
to sample this ozone concentration standard until a stable response is
obtained.
• Adjust the ozone analyzer span control to obtain a convenient recorder
or data logger response.
• Generate several other ozone concentration standards (at least five oth-
ers are recommended) over the scale range of the ozone analyzer by
adjusting the ozone source.
• Plot ozone analyzer responses versus the corresponding ozone concen-
trations and draw the calibration curve or calculate the appropriate
response factor.
To learn more about the use of transfer standards, review the guide Transfer
Standards for Calibration of Ambient Air Monitoring Analyzers for Ozone (available
at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.html).
3.6 MAINTAINING YOUR MONITORING EQUIPMENT
AND ENSURING DATA QUALITY
Once you have installed and calibrated your ozone monitoring network, the
process of monitoring ozone in your area can begin. At this point, you should be
sure to develop procedures for checking the quality of your data and maintaining
the monitoring equipment.
20 CHAPTERS
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To help ensure that your data are valid, you will need to screen it for possible
errors or anomalies. Statistical screening procedures can be applied to ambient air
measurement data to identify data that may not be accurate.
Data validation entails accepting or rejecting monitoring data based on routine
periodic analyzer checks. For example, you will need to check the analyzer span
for excessive drift or changes in recorded data according to the manufacturer's
specifications. If the span drift is equal to or greater than 25 percent, up to two
weeks of monitoring data may be invalidated. To avoid this situation, you may
want to perform span checks more often than the minimum recommended fre-
quency of two weeks.
You should also monitor the hardcopy output from a data logger to detect signs
of malfunctions, which may include:
• A straight trace (other than the minimum detectable) for several hours
• Excessive noise (noisy outputs may occur when analyzers are exposed to
vibrations)
• A long steady increase or decrease in deflection
• A cyclic trace pattern with a definite time period, indicating a sensitivi-
ty to changes in temperature or parameters other than ozone concentra-
tion
• A trace below the zero baseline that may indicate a larger than normal
drop in ambient room temperature or power line voltage
• Span drift equal to or greater than 25 percent
Data must be voided for any time interval during which the analyzer has mal-
functioned.
In addition, the integrity of air samples may be compromised by faulty delivery
systems such as the sampling interface. For information about quality
control/quality assurance protocols set forth by the EPA, you can refer to
AMTIC's QA/QC Web site (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qaqc.html).
Each component of your monitoring equipment will have its own maintenance
routine. In many cases, the equipment manual provided by the vendor will offer
detailed maintenance procedures. The table below describes the essential equip-
ment monitoring and maintenance activities you will need to follow.
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG 21
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Maintenance Issue Acceptance Limits Method of Measurement Corrective Action, If Needed
and Frequency
Shelter temperature
Sample introduction system
Recorder
Data logger
Analyzer operational settings
Analyzer operational check
Precision check
• Mean temperature between 22°
and 28°C (72° and 82°F), daily
fluctuations <±2°C(4°F).
• No moisture, foreign material,
leaks, or obstructions; sample
line connected to manifold.
• Adequate ink supply and
chart paper.
• Legible ink traces.
• Correct settings of chart speed
and range switches.
• Correct time.
• Complete data storage or
hardcopy output.
• Flow and regulator indicators
at proper settings.
• Temperature indicators cycling
or at proper levels.
• Analyzer set in sample mode.
• Zero and span controls locked.
• Zero and span within tolerance
limits as specified.
• Assess precision by repeated
measurements.
• Check thermograph chart daily
for excessive fluctuations.
• Make weekly visual inspection.
• Ma ke weekly visua 1 inspections.
• Make weekly visual inspections.
• Make weekly visual inspection.
• Check every two weeks.
• Check every two weeks.
• Mark chart for the affected
period of time.
• Repair or adjust temperature
control system.
• Clean, repair, or replace as
needed.
• Replenish ink and chart paper
supply.
• Adjust recorder time to agree
with clock; note on chart.
• Perform maintenance according
to manufacturer's specifications.
• Adjust or repair as needed.
• Isolate source of error and
repair.
• After corrective action,
re-calibrate analyzer.
• Calculate and report results of
precision check.
Developing a Preventive Maintenance Plan
You should develop a preventive maintenance plan to ensure the equipment mon-
itoring and maintenance procedures are consistently followed. Your preventive
maintenance program should include:
• A short description of each maintenance procedure
• The schedule and frequency for performing each procedure
• A supply of critical spare parts on hand
• A list of maintenance contracts for instruments used in critical meas-
urements
• Documentation showing that maintenance has been performed as
required by the maintenance contract, the Quality Assurance Project
Plan, or test plan
22
CHAPTER 3
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You must perform preventive maintenance periodically to maintain the integrity
of the instrument. You should keep a log book with the instrument, since main-
tenance is performed according to total hours of "instrument on" time. The fol-
lowing steps are included in preventive maintenance procedures:
• Replace the ozone scrubber cartridge according to the procedures speci-
fied by the manufacturer in the operating manual for the analyzer (typ-
ically, every 125 hours of instrument operation). The exact life span of
the ozone scrubber is directly proportional to the level and characteris-
tics of the pollutants flowing through it. Most manufacturers recom-
mend that you replace the ozone scrubber cartridge at regular intervals
until you can determine an "average" life span based on your experience
with actual operating conditions at each installation site.
• Clean the cooling fan filter to ensure an adequate air supply through
the cooling fan at the back panel.
The table below lists checks that should be performed as corrective maintenance.
(Procedures for performing the checks, acceptable values, and procedures for per-
forming adjustments are included in the manufacturer's operating manual.)
Type of Check Recommended Frequency
Sample flow check
Span check
Recorder span check
Zero check
Control frequency check
Sample frequency check
Temperature check
Pressure check
System leak check
Solenoid valve leak check
Every 24 hours, or on each day when an operator is
in attendance
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 720 hours of instrument operation
Every 720 hours of instrument operation
Every 168 hours of instrument operation
Every 720 hours of instrument operation
To document the performance of these maintenance operations, site personnel
should fill out and maintain data sheets as a permanent record of maintenance
operations.
The manufacturer's manual for each piece of instrumentation will provide a list
of recommended spare parts that should be maintained either at the site or at a
central location for easy replacement.
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG
23
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EPA requires that you conduct an annual network review to determine:
• How well your network is achieving its required air monitoring objec-
tives.
• Whether your network is meeting the needs of the data users.
• How the network might be modified to continue to meet its monitor-
ing objectives and data needs.
Some possible modifications may include terminating existing monitoring sta-
tions, relocating stations, or adding new monitoring stations. (For a complete
summary of the network review process, see EPA's SLAMS/NAMS/PAMS Network
Review Guidance at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.html.)
24 CHAPTERS
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4. DATA COLLECTION AND
TRANSFER FOR OZONE
MAPPING
During ozone season, ozone monitors record ozone measurements around the
clock, every day. Before monitoring station data reach you for mapping, the
information is quickly passed through the Automatic Data Transfer System
(ADTS), EPA's computer system set up for automated data retrieval, manage-
ment, and distribution. Other data transfer and management systems are com-
mercially available for ozone mapping; however, this handbook focuses on EPA's
ADTS.
The ADTS enables you to provide data to EPA's central database, known as the
Data Collection Center, as well as receive data from the Data Collection Center
for mapmaking. If you are a staff member at a state or local agency operating
ozone monitoring stations, you will probably want to obtain ADTS software and
learn about the Internet protocol established for connecting to the system. This
will enable your office to serve as one of the network exchange points for ozone
data. Guidance on obtaining and installing the necessary software and on inter-
acting with the ADTS for data exchange is provided after the overview section of
this chapter. Throughout this chapter, we point you to other sources of help on
the ADTS.
Readers interested primarily in an overview of the ADTS process may want to
focus on the introductory information in Section 4.1 below. If you are responsi-
ble for or interested in implementing ADTS, you should carefully review the
technical information presented in the sections on getting ready, using ADTS for
data collection and transfer, and operations at the Data Collection Center
(Sections 4.2 through 4.4).
4.1 OVERVIEW OF THE AUTOMATED DATA TRANSFER
SYSTEM (ADTS)
In brief, here's how the ADTS works:
Throughout the United States, over 1300 monitoring stations collect ozone con-
centration data. You can view a map of the U.S. that shows the locations of these
ozone monitors at http://www.epa.gov/airsdata/mapview.htm. These moni-
tors collect ozone around the clock and then report the data as hourly averages.
In general, the monitoring sites are maintained by state or local agencies that col-
lect (or "poll") the data on a regular basis. Each participating agency collects the
data in its State Host Computer, which is linked to a central database called the
Data Collection Center (DCC). Together, all the State Host Computers and the
DCC make up the ADTS network.
Each State Host Computer is set up to convert collected data to a standard for-
mat and then transfer the data to the DCC. At many agencies, the State Host
Computer is configured to transfer data automatically; at some agencies, com-
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING 25
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puter equipment limitations require the data transfer to be carried out as a man-
ual operation.
The DCC is located in North Carolina. It receives ozone monitoring data on a
regular basis from sites around the country. The DCC's primary tasks are to:
• Manage and quality-check the data.
• Send out the collected data for use in ozone mapping.
In general, the DCC sends data for mapmaking through individual State Host
Computers, which are set up to download ozone monitoring data from the
DCC—either as a manual or automated process. From the State Host Computer,
ozone monitoring data files make their way to your desktop for your use in devel-
oping ozone maps.
The schematic below shows how the ADTS operates.
Ozone
Monitor
Ozone
Monitor
Ozone
Monitor
State Host Computers
• poll data from ozone
monitors
• convert data
• transfer data to DCC
Data Collection Center
• polls data from SHCs
• performs QA/QC
• manages data
• archives data
• transfers data to end user
End User for
Map Generation
Data Flow the
The ADTS collects and transfers ozone monitoring data so that the data are read-
ily available for use in mapping and other ozone concentration studies. The
ADTS requires each agency in the network to process and transfer its collected
data according to a schedule that is specific to each state. Thus, when a state
26
CHAPTER 4
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agency decides when to poll its monitoring stations, it must consult its state
schedule and allow sufficient time to complete the collection, processing, and
transfer of data to the DCC.
Note!
Polling schedules for various states can be found at
http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/ozmap/. You will need a password and
user name to access this site. Please contact Phil Dickerson at dicker-
son.phil@epa.gov for a password and user name. When you reach
the Ozone Mapping System (OMS) Web page, scroll to the section
titled New! and click on the link called polling schedule table.
The table below shows the approximate times by which collected data moves
through the system. As you can see, real-time ozone data are available to end users
very quickly—usually in 1 to 2 hours.
State Host Computer State Host Computer State Host Computer DCC Processes Data by DCC Transfers Data
Polls Ozone Monitor ' * 3 Must Process Data by Must Transfer the Data to End User
to the DCC by
8:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
8:40 a.m.
11:40 a.m.
1:40 p.m.
3:40 p.m.
5:40 p.m.
7:40 p.m.
9:40 p.m.
8:45 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
1 :45 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
5:45 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
9:45 p.m.
8:50 a.m.
11:50 a.m.
1:50 p.m.
3:50 p.m.
5:50 p.m.
7:50 p.m.
9:50 p.m.
9:20 a.m.
12:20 p.m.
2:20 p.m.
4:20 p.m.
6:20 p.m.
8:20 p.m.
10:20 p.m.
1 Time at which polling of ozone monitors should begin.
2 All times are in EDT.
3 The standard EPA convention for naming hourly data is to refer to hourly data by its starting time. For example, hourly data averaged from
11:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m. would be reported as 11:00 a.m. data.
Here's a more detailed explanation of how data move through the ADTS system:
• The agency collects data from a monitor at 8:00 a.m. and then every 2
hours between 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
• The 8:00 a.m. poll contains all the previous day's 24-hour observations
(12:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.) and all hourly data for today (12:00 a.m.
through 7:00 a.m.). Because this poll contains a complete data set for
yesterday, actual 8-hour averages can be determined by the DCC for
yesterday. This means that animations for the previous day can be creat-
ed using actual data. (See Chapter 5 on making ozone maps.)
• The 11:00 a.m. poll contains 3 hours of hourly averaged data from
8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 10:00 a.m.
• The 1:00 p.m. poll contains 2 hours of averaged data for 11:00 a.m.
and noon. The remaining polls will each also contain 2 hours of data.
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
2 7
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Within 40 minutes of polling data from a monitor, an agency's State Host
Computer converts and transfers the data to the DCC. For example, an agency
polling data at 1:00 p.m. has until 1:40 p.m. to convert and transfer the data.
Upon receiving the data, the DCC quickly processes the data and transfers it back
within 30 minutes on average. During this time, the DCC merges data, calculates
peak data, performs automatic and manual quality assurance/quality control
(QA/QC) checks, and transfers processed data (today's hourly and peak ozone
data) to the end user for map generation.
Note!
The DCC collects and distributes forecast levels for those agencies and
communities participating in the forecast program. This forecast data
is posted to the EPA AIRNOW Web site (http://www.epa.gov/airnow).
This concludes the overview of the ADTS. If you are interested in technical
details about the ADTS and how to access and use it to exchange ozone moni-
toring data, please read on.
4.2 GETTING READY TO USE THE ADTS FOR DATA
COLLECTION AND TRANSFER
If you wish to set up a State Host Computer to connect to the ADTS, you will
need to install special software that will enable you to use the system to transfer
ozone monitoring station data to and from the DCC. Obtaining and installing
the necessary software and then connecting and setting up operations with the
automated system is relatively easy if you are familiar with the use of software
applications and Internet technology. The guidance and reference information
provided here will help you get started as an ADTS operator.
Before you obtain and install the software, however, you need to determine
whether you have the necessary computer hardware, software, and connectivity
resources to operate the ADTS. This section will help you make that determina-
tion so that you can upgrade your equipment if necessary. Then you will learn
how to obtain and install the necessary software, and finally, how to configure
your system to interact with the ADTS.
Assessing Your Computer Resources
Recognizing that the level of available computer equipment at state agencies
across the country varies considerably, EPA has established three basic hardware,
software, and connectivity options for interacting with the ADTS. Level 1 pro-
vides the highest level of performance because it accommodates the greatest level
of automation in transferring data. Level 2, however, allows a level of performance
high enough for most automated operations. Level 3 meets the minimum require-
ments for interacting with the ADTS; users with Level 3 computer resources are
likely to encounter some limitations in using the system. EPA assumes that most
agencies have computer arrangements that at least meet the requirements of Level
3- Depending on the level of performance you require, you may need to upgrade
your system.
28 CHAPTER4
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The attributes of the three performance levels are as follows:
Level 1: Computer systems operating at this level provide the highest degree
of automation for data transfer functions. At this level, the State Host
Computer is set up with a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server to
allow the DCC to initiate automatic data transfer.
Level 2: Computer systems operating at this level are able to initiate data
transfer to the DCC by FTP, dial-up, or modem (backup). Many
State Host Computers use Windows 95 FTP to upload/download
data to and from the DCC. If you plan to have the DCC call your
State Host Computer automatically, you will need to install FTP
server software.
Also, if your agency plans to initiate data transfer, we strongly recom-
mend that you use a dedicated, hard-wired Internet connection.
Dial-up connections are unreliable—you may not be able to connect,
the line may be busy, or the modem may not function properly. If
you prefer dial-up, your software might not provide for automatic
connections. If you do not have automatic connection software, we
suggest that you use the Windows Dial-Up Networking software in
combination with the free shareware Dunce (Dial-Up Networking
Connection Enhancement). Both are discussed later in this chapter.
Level 3: Computer systems operating at this level provide performance suffi-
cient for transferring files to the DCC by modem. Modems and
communications software must support Kermit-Lite file transfers by
modem. (See the description of Kermit-Lite software in the "Other
Software" section below.)
The table below lists the equipment requirements for each performance level:
Level Hardware Software Connectivity
Level 1 (Preferred)
Level 2
Level 3 (Minimum)
133 MHz Pentium PC
16 to 32 MB RAM
100 MB free disk space
SVGA or EVGA video
66 MHz 486 PC
8 MB RAM
100 MB free disk space
VGA video
16 MHz 386 PC
1 MB RAM
20 MB free disk space
Monochrome monitor and card
Windows 95 (includes FTP client)
An FTP server
DOS 6.22
Windows 3.1 or Windows for
Workgroups
PPP/SLIP and FTP clients
DOS 3.2 or higher
Network card or ISDN
28.8 K baud modem
Direct Internet connection
Outside firewall or external
access permitted
Modem (backup)
1 4.4 K baud modem
Dial-up Internet connection
Modem (backup)
2,400 baud modem
Modem for Kermit-Lite
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
29
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and ADTS and
Once you have determined that your computer system meets ADTS technical
requirements, you can obtain, install, and configure the software and system as
required transfer data. In addition to the ADTS software, you will need other
applications, such as ClockerPro or Clocker, Kermit-Lite for MS-DOS, and data
polling and conversion software. (See "Other Software" on page 32.) Using these
software tools together allows you to poll data from monitoring stations, convert
the data to the appropriate format, and transfer data to and from the DCC.
ADTS Software
The ADTS software allows you to transfer data to and from the DCC. Obtaining,
installing, and configuring the ADTS software is straightforward. See the instruc-
tions below.
Obtaining and Updating ADTS Software
You can obtain the ADTS software (and updates) through the OMS Web site or
by FTP. To download ADTS from the OMS Web site, you need a connection to
the Internet and Internet browser software such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or
Netscape Navigator.
You can find detailed instructions on how to obtain and install the ADTS soft-
ware in Installation and Operation of the Automatic Data Transfer System for State
Host Computers at http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/oms-docs.html.
Configuring ADTS Software
Once you have installed the ADTS software, you can configure the files by fol-
lowing the guidance in the ADTS installation instructions file. You will also need
to modify the ADTS configuration to conform with your polling and data con-
version software. To do so, follow the instructions provided with your particular
software as well as those in the ADTS installation instructions file. For assistance
in configuring your polling and data conversion software, contact Phil Dickerson
at dickerson.phil@epa.gov.
When you installed the ADTS software, various subdirectories were created under
the c:\oms directory as described in adts-shc.txt. The table on the next page
describes the files from these subdirectories that you will most likely use to con-
figure and operate the ADTS software.
30 CHAPTER4
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Directory Files Description
\bin
\config
\convert
\data
\transfer
omscnvrt.exe
download.pif
downldSl.pif
oms-env.bat
mscustom.ini
omscnvrt.inp
shc31.dk
shc95.dk
spw.bat
upload.pif
upldSl.pif
omscnvrt.bat
airs2oms.exe
\in
\out
\work
upload.bat
Dummy data conversion program. Provides sample source code that shows you how to convert from
AIRS (Aerometric Information Retrieval System) format to MapGen format.
Windows 95 program to download data from the DCC.
Windows 3.1 program to download data from the DCC.
ADTS configuration script.
Kermit-Lite initialization file.
Initialization file for the QMS data conversion program. Used only by agencies without polling software.
Sample Clocker task schedule.
Sample ClockerPro task schedule.
Hidden DCC password file.
Windows 95 program to upload data to the DCC.
Windows 3.1 program to upload data to the DCC.
Contains most of the customization for your system.
Converts AIRS data format to QMS data format.
Incoming ozone data directory. Contains default directories by year.
Outgoing ozone data directory. Contains default directories by year.
Work directory for peak forecasts.
ADTS master upload script.
To configure files, you can open and edit them with a text editor such as Notepad.
Appendix A contains tips about how to configure your system for forecast data.
It also explains how to configure files such as oms-env.bat, omscnvrt.inp, and
airs2oms.exe.
Setting Up Your Password
To transfer data from a State Host Computer to the DCC, you will need to estab-
lish an FTP account with the DCC with an FTP password. You can obtain a pass-
word from Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.gov.
After obtaining a password, you can add your password to spiv, bat or u>s_ftp. It is
strongly recommended you use ius_ftp and not spiv, bat to set up your password
because ius_ftp encrypts passwords and makes them very secure. u>s_ftp is available
as a free download for U.S. federal, state, or local government employees at
http://www.ipswitch.com/support/versions/index.html. Choose the product
WS_FTP LE and download it. User documentation is available at
http://www.ipswitch.com/support/ws_ftp_le_support.htm I.
After setting up your password, we recommend that you test your password by
connecting to the DCC via FTP. To connect, the address is
http://stegy.rtpnc.epa.gov, the FTP port is 21, and the USER ID is your three-
character agency name. (See http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/pub/Sitelnfo/
agency_codes.html.)
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
3 1
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Polling and Data Conversion Software
Many agencies use polling software provided by outside vendors to obtain data
from ozone monitoring stations. If your polling software does not include utilities
for converting polled ozone data, the Ozone Mapping Project provides two soft-
ware tools—omsconvrt and airs2oms—for converting standard AIRS (Aerometric
Information Retrieval System) data files into the OMS standard format. Appendix
A provides detailed information about how to obtain and install omsconvrt and
airs2oms.
Other Software
ClockerPro and Clocker. ClockerPro and Clocker are personal/network program
schedulers for Windows that are designed to schedule programs (or reminders)—
such as the upload and download of data from the DCC—to run at specified
times.
Kermit-Lite. You will need to install Kermit-Lite for MS-DOS, the communica-
tions software used by the ADTS as a backup method of file transfer. Kermit-Lite
ensures that your data will be transferred if your other transfer protocol method
(e.g., modem, Internet, or dial-up) should fail.
Connectivity Software. If your agency uses a dial-up network connection to initi-
ate data transfer with the DCC, you may want to use Dunce 2.52 (Dial-Up
Networking Connection Enhancement). Dunce allows for much easier dial-up
networking than Win95 currently provides. Serv-U is a full-featured FTP server
for Windows. If your agency wishes to have your State Host Computer data polled
by the DCC, you can use Serve-U as your FTP server software.
Appendix B contains instructions for obtaining and installing ClockerPro,
Clocker, Kermit-Lite, and Dunce 2.52.
4.3 USING THE ADTS FOR DATA COLLECTION AND
TRANSFER
Now that you have installed and configured the software needed to connect with
the ADTS, you are ready to learn how to use the ADTS system. Operating the
ADTS is relatively easy if you are familiar with the use of software applications and
Internet technology. If you have the appropriate computer resources (as described
in Section 4.2), you can automate much of your system's interaction with the
ADTS.
This section describes a four-step process for collecting and transferring ozone
monitoring station data to and from the DCC. This section also provides infor-
mation on maintaining and troubleshooting the system.
Collecting and Transferring Data
Using the ADTS to collect and transfer data involves the four steps shown below.
The first time you perform these steps, you will need to be attentive to a variety
of details involved in setting up the protocol for your State Host Computer. Once
32 CHAPTER4
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you have established the appropriate protocol, however, implementing these steps
should be quick and easy.
Polling Data from
Ozone Monitors
Converting the Data
Assigning QA/QC
Criteria and
Checking the Data
Transferring Data to
and from the DCC
Step 1: Polling Data from Ozone Monitors
During ozone season, ozone monitoring stations typically operate around the
clock and report hourly averaged ozone concentrations. If you are an operator of
a State Host Computer, you should work in conjunction with the DCC to decide
the most appropriate times for polling your monitoring stations for data using the
ADTS. When deciding on polling times, you should consider your schedule for
processing the data and transferring it to the DCC. (See the sample schedule pro-
vided in Section 4.1.) When developing your polling and transfer schedule, you
may want to consult with Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.gov.
Once you have established your polling schedule, use the polling software you
installed to access the monitoring station data loggers. Consult the instructions
provided with the software for information about operating your polling software.
To implement your polling software according to the schedule you developed, we
recommend that you use the ClockerPro or Clocker personal/network program.
If you have the necessary computer resources, these tools will enable your State
Host Computer to automatically poll the data loggers at the specified polling
times.
The polling software allows you to transfer polled data from ozone monitoring
stations to your State Host Computer via a protocol transfer. You acquire the data
by "calling" each monitor's data logger at specified times throughout the day using
a dedicated hard-wired Internet connection, a dial-up service, or a modem.
Place your polled data in your c:\oms\data\in\{year} directory.
Step 2: Converting the Data
After you poll data from monitoring stations, you must convert it to the correct
format for use in creating ozone maps. This conversion is needed because ozone
monitors record ozone measurements in the AIRS format, while MapGen only
accepts the OMS format. Once you have configured your State Host Computer
to run your conversion software, the data are automatically converted as they are
received from the monitoring stations.
If you are using software supplied by an outside vendor, you should refer to that
software's instructions for information on operating data conversion software.
(Your polling software may have come with conversion software.) If you are using
the OMS conversion software, please contact EPA's Phil Dickerson at
dickerson.phil@epa.gov for user information.
Tip!
We strongly recommend that
agencies bordering each
other geographically collect
data from the same moni-
toring station. If one agency
is unable to collect data, the
other can collect and trans-
fer the data. For example, in
northern Virginia, a few
monitoring stations provide
data to two different agen-
cies. This redundancy allows
one agency to supply the
data when the other cannot.
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
33
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ACCESSING YOUR OZONE DATA
We recommend that you use a dedicated hard-wired Internet connection to
access data from your monitoring stations. Although this type of connection
costs more than dial-up and modem connections, an Internet connection is
more reliable and much more efficient. Dial-up and modem connections
are less reliable because you may be unable to connect, the line may be
busy, or the modem may not work. The following example illustrates the
importance of using a dedicated hard-wired Internet connection: Suppose
a state agency needs to collect data from 40 monitoring stations for the
1:00 p.m. poll and uses the dial-up method. If it takes you approximately
1 minute to connect to each monitor, you will need at least 40 minutes to
collect data from 40 monitors. Thus, using dial-up service may not provide
you with enough time to collect, convert, and transfer all the data files.
Step 3: Assigning QA/QC Criteria and Checking the Data
You can assign specific QA/QC criteria to your data for use by the DCC. You can
also check your data before it goes to the DCC. The OMS Web site contains
example quality assurance values that may be incorporated into the DCC software
(http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/pub/Sitelnfo/03-QC-Table.html.) To assign spe-
cific QA/QC criteria, contact Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.com.
You can review and check your data before sending it to the DCC. You can con-
duct a QA/QC on collected data according to an established written schedule.
(See the sample schedule provided in Section 4.1.)
EPA encourages you to include a check on active and historical ozone monitoring
station files as part of your QA/QC protocol. The active file lists monitoring sites
expected to be operational this summer. The historical file lists ozone monitoring
sites throughout the country that are known to have operated at one time or
another (including currently active sites). It is important to check these files before
data are transferred to the DCC to ensure that no monitoring sites are missing,
coordinates are accurate, and priorities are set correctly. The files can be accessed
at http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/OMS-docs.html.
If you make changes to the active or historical file for a monitoring station,
please document your changes and send the documentation to Ted Smith at
smith_w@mcnc.org.
230210002,45,27,54,69,33,19,'GREENVILLE ',ME1-1
230252003,44,42,20,69,39,39,'SKOWHEGAN ',ME1-1
230313002,43,5,0,70,45,0,'FRISBEE SCHOOL, KITTERY MAINE ',NHl-l,MEl-2
Let's take a closer look at a station location file so you can see what needs to be
covered when conducting QA/QC. Shown below is part of an active monitoring
station file:
Notice that the file provides the geographic referencing information needed to
plot the ozone data. Any errors in the latitude/longitude coordinates (e.g., 45, 27,
34 CHAPTER4
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54, 69, 33, 19) will cause the data to be plotted in the wrong location when you
generate an ozone map using MapGen.
Note!
We encourage agencies that border each other geographically to
report data from the same monitoring station. (Note that dual report-
ing requires that neighboring agencies incorporate one another's site
and data files in their polling software.) As shown above for AIRS ID
23031 3002, this redundancy allows NH1 -1 to supply the data to the
DCC when ME1 -2 is not available. For each station where redundan-
cy occurs, agencies can specify a priority value that the DCC adds to
the station location files. The priority is used to resolve duplicate sta-
tion data. The higher the value, the higher the priority. If ME1-2 has
primary priority and NH1-1 has secondary priority, the DCC specifies
the codes as "NH1 -1, ME1 -2." If ME1 -2 fails to submit data for that
site or reports missing data, then data from NH1 -1 will be used.
Step 4: Transferring Data to and from the DCC
Data exchange from the agency's State Host Computer to the DCC is accom-
plished in one of two transfer methods:
• The State Host Computer sends a data file to the DCC (agency initiat-
ed).
• DCC obtains the data file from the State Host Computer (DCC initi-
ated).
The diagram below illustrates how data are exchanged via these two transfer
methods.
State Host Computer
Data Conversion
Transfer of
Ozone Data
Outgoing Data
End User
SHC Initiated
DCC Initiated
Status of Transfer
Data Collection Center
User Incoming
Data
Incoming Data
QA/QC
Database
(archived)
Outgoing Data
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
35
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Because most agencies choose to initiate data transfer from their State Host
Computer to the DCC, the process described below focuses on an agency-initi-
ated exchange. For information on DCC-initiated data transfers, please refer to
http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/oms-docs.html. To transfer data to the DCC:
1. Provide your agency user ID. Before you can initiate a data transfer, your
agency must establish a user's account on the DCC. (See the subsection on
configuring the ADTS software in Section 4.2 for information about estab-
lishing a user's account.)
2. Select a data file and send it to the DCC. Sending the data places it on your
user's incoming data directory on the DCC. For example, if an agency from
Connecticut is identified by the user name CTl, the State Host Computer
will deposit files in the CTl user directory.
When the State Host Computer successfully transfers a data file to the DCC, the
DCC sends an acknowledgment file to the sending computer for the 8:00 a.m.
poll only. You can check the status of your last transfer (or transfer attempt) by
reviewing the transfer log in c:\oms\transfer\. If you are using Windows FTP,
check the file transfer.log. If you are using WS_FTP, check the file xferlog.txt.
3- The DCC will obtain the file from the incoming directory. On regular cycles,
the DCC checks the user's incoming data directory and transfers data files to
its incoming data directory. From here, files are merged, submitted to
QA/QC, stored in a database, archived, and then released to the public.
To upload or download a data file to or from the DCC, follow the instructions
below:
Uploading Data. To upload a data file (e.g., 071414.ctl) from your agency's State
Host Computer to the DCC, double-click on upload.pif (Windows 95) or
upld31.pif (Windows 3.1) in the c:\oms\config directory. To automatically sched-
ule the upload, you can use ClockerPro or Clocker. Uploading transfers the data
file from the c:\oms\data\in\{year} directory to the DCC user's incoming data
directory.
Note!
The ADTS uses the mmddhh.aaa date/time naming convention for the
data file being transferred to the DCC, where mm is the month, dd is
the day, and hh is the hour when the file was created. The aaa is the
three-character code for your agency. For example, if Vermont pre-
pares a file for transmission at 2:25 p.m. (14:25) on June 20, the file
name will be: 062014.vtl. You should base your date/time stamp on
the clock setting on the system doing the transfer, which can be in stan-
dard or daylight savings time, provided the DCC is made aware of
which time scale you are using.
Submitting Forecast Data. Your state agency can submit site-specific forecasts as
part of your routine ozone data file. (For more information about ozone forecast-
ing, see the box below.) You need to submit forecast data via the ozone data file
(with the 3:00 p.m. poll) or over the Web using a forecast transmission form. To
submit forecasts using a data file, you will need to configure the ADTS software
as discussed in the section on configuring ADTS. Once configured, the State
Host Computer will insert a forecast packet in the data file being transferred to
36 CHAPTER4
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the DCC. Some polling software programs insert a forecast packet into the file,
so users of these software packages will not have to configure the ADTS software
for forecasting.
If you plan to use the forecast packet, please follow the step-by-step instructions
on the OMS Web site at http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/ozmap/. (You will need
a user name and password to access this site. You can obtain a password and user
name from Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.gov. Once you reach the
OMS Web site, scroll to the section titled New! and click on the link called 1999
Draft Forecast Plan). Information on The Ozone Forecast Map Plan for the
Northeast States also can be found at http://www.nescaum.org.
Ozone Forecasting
A number of air quality agencies have used ozone forecasts to warn the
public about unhealthy levels of ozone and to encourage the public to take
voluntary actions to reduce ozone concentrations in their area. For exam-
ple, in California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District uses
forecasts to predict maximum ozone concentrations for 40 subregions in
the Los Angeles area.
Ozone forecasts are usually issued by air quality agencies and reported in
local newspapers or on local television or radio stations. Forecasts are an
important part of "ozone action day" programs—public health officials rely
on ozone forecasts when they decide whether or not to call an "action day."
(See Chapter 6 for more information about ozone action days.)
To help air quality agencies develop and implement forecasting programs,
EPA has developed a guidance document that provides:
• Information on how ozone forecasts are currently used.
• A summary and evaluation of methods currently used to forecast
ozone levels.
• Step-by-step guidance that air quality agencies can follow in
developing and operating an ozone forecasting program.
The guidance document—Guideline for Developing an Ozone Forecasting
Program—is available from EPA's Technology Transfer Network and can be
downloaded from the Web at http://www.epa.gov/ttncaaa1/.
Tip!
You should schedule your
download an hour or two
after a routine upload—at
the end of the day, or early
the next day—to ensure
receipt of all available data.
(See the example schedule
provided in Section 4.1.)
Downloading Data. To download a data file from the DCC, double-click on
download.pif (Windows 95) or downld31.pif (Windows 3.1) in the c:\oms\config
directory. To automatically schedule the download, you can use ClockerPro or
Clocker. Observation data (marked by .obs) and/or gridded data files (marked by
.grd) will be transferred from the DCC's outgoing data directory to the host com-
puter's c:\oms\data\in\{year} directory. (Observation data and gridded data are dis-
cussed in greater detail in Section 4.4.)
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
37
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Readying Your System for Hourly Data Polling
Indianapolis Environment Resources Management Division
To gather the data needed to map changing levels of ozone during the day,
air quality agencies and offices need to be able to poll data from their mon-
itors frequently—typically, every 1 to 2 hours. These data are then reported
to EPA and made available to the public via Web sites, telephone hotlines,
and other outreach mechanisms.
Making the switch. While changing from daily data polling and transfer to the
more frequent polling is not difficult, the experience of agencies that have
upgraded their systems can be helpful. In 1998, the Indianapolis
Environment Resources Management Division (ERMD), a city/county agency
for Indianapolis and Marion County in Indiana, decided to move to fre-
quent polling as part of their ozone public information initiative.
Upgrading hardware and software. Since ERMD did not need to add new moni-
tors to gather the required data, the biggest change they had to make was
obtaining and installing software capable of conducting the new polling
regimen. To get the new system functioning smoothly, the agency needed to
dedicate staff time to install and troubleshoot the software, contact the ven-
dor for support, and test the system. In addition, ERMD decided to add
another computer server at their office to handle the polling and data trans-
fer functions.
Lessons learned. Communication is critical, ERMD staff noted. To change the
software, conduct the data transfers, and implement new quality assurance
procedures, they "reached out" to other state and regional air quality agen-
cies that had undergone similar changes. Talking with these offices provid-
ed important insights that helped save time and resources. The office also
communicated closely with EPA staff to ensure ERMD was able to move data
to EPA's Data Collection Center reliably.
Maintaining Your System
As with any application, staff resources are necessary to maintain your agency's
State Host Computer. This includes providing system support for your software,
hardware, and security needs. Any staff member who is familiar with providing
system support in general and with the ADTS software in particular should be
able to maintain your State Host Computer.
Troubleshooting: Questions and Answers
This section contains information about common troubleshooting issues, pre-
sented in question-and-answer format.
Q: Is technical support available for agencies setting up a State Host Computer?
A: Yes. Additional documentation is available at http://envpro.ncsc.org/
oms/oms-docs.html. You also can access a Web Bulletin Board system that
allows you to post and respond to messages from members of the Technical
38 CHAPTER4
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Workgroup at http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/ozmap/. You will need a user
name and password to access the Web board, which you can obtain from Phil
Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.gov. When you reach the OMS Web page,
scroll to the section titled New! and click on the link Ozone Mapping Technical
Site. Scroll to the bottom of the new page and click on the link Technical
Workgroup Online Conference. Enter your user name and password to enter the
Web Bulletin Board system. If you are a new user of the Web Bulletin Board,
you will need to create an account and password by clicking the New Users but-
ton.
Q: Can I poll data more frequently than scheduled?
A: Yes. You can collect data from the monitors as frequently as you want. You just
need to configure the ADTS for the State Host Computer. Most states collect
data every one or two hours and some collect it every five minutes. However,
the data are processed by the DCC according to its set schedule.
Q: If my agency has to perform manual polling, do we need to come in on evenings
' weekends, or are alternatives available?
A: Please contact Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.gov for information.
Q: What should I do if I miss a foiling time for transferring data from the ozone mon-
itor to the State Host Computer?
A: You should complete the transfer as soon as possible and then transfer it to the
DCC.
Q: What should I do if I miss a polling time for transferring data from the State Host
Computer to the DCC?
A: If you miss one polling cycle, the missing data can be interpolated at the DCC.
However, if you miss two or more hours of data, the data are marked as miss-
ing. You should still complete the transfer as soon as possible. You can also
transfer the data in the morning along with the 8:00 a.m. poll, which contains
all the previous day's observations.
Q: What do I do when I can't log in or connect to the DCC using the AD TS software
on the State Host Computer?
A: Sometimes users enter an incorrect user ID or password. If you are unable to
log in to the DCC but seem to connect, check the oms-env.bat and spw.batfAes
to make sure your user ID and password entries are correct and have no lead-
ing or trailing spaces in the entries.
If you cannot determine the cause of the failure, set check=y in the oms-env.bat
file and run the system in check mode. This will allow you to test the system
and ensure that it is working properly. You will be able to review your data
prior to release, and the system will pause if it finds errors at the end of the
script.
If you have a direct Internet connection and are having trouble connecting to
the DCC, check with your network administrator to be sure the problem is
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING 39
-------
not related to a firewall at your site. Also, note that the DCC uses a firewall
and you may not be allowed access if your Internet protocol address has
changed (e.g., because you changed Internet Service Providers).
If you have difficulty connecting to your Internet Service Provider in a reason-
able amount of time, you may wish to consider using ClockerPro or Clocker
to schedule the connection 5 or 10 minutes before the ADTS is scheduled to
transfer your data to the DCC. If you adopt this approach, remember to
increase the time allowed for your connection to be idle before disconnecting.
In addition, the oms-env, bat file contains a debug feature that you can run. Set
the debug variable to Y. You can also send the file to dickerson.phil@epa.gov
for debugging and analysis.
Oj How do I know when the data file has been successfully transferred?
A: When the State Host Computer successfully transfers a data file to the DCC,
the DCC will send an acknowledgment file to the sending computer for the
first morning poll at 8:00 a.m. Acknowledgment files are not sent for other
polling hours because of the large volume of e-mails that would be generated.
You can check the OMS transfer directory to check for any possible errors in
transferring the data. If you are using Windows FTP, check the file transfer.log.
If you are using WS_FTP, check the file xferlog. txt.
When the DCC initiates data transfer, it sends a delivery status file to the State
Host Computer. If the DCC successfully connects to the State Host Computer
and transfers data, it deposits an "okay" file on the host computer (e.g., accede).
In the event that the State Host Computer transfer file is not found, the DCC
deposits a "not found" file (e.g., 0821l4nf.ctl) on the host computer.
Oj How will I be notified when new ADTS software is released?
A: You will be notified by e-mail. Each participant is automatically put on the e-
mail list.
Oj Does the DCC calculate forecast data?
A: No. The agency sending the data is responsible for calculating the forecast data
and submitting it to the DCC.
Q: How can an agency submit forecast data?
A: If you choose to participate in the forecast program, the agency can submit the
forecast data via the ozone data file (with the 3:00 p.m. poll) or via a Web-
based forecast submission form. After the data are submitted, the DCC will
post it to the EPA AIRNOW Web site (http://www.epa.gov/airnow) for
access by agencies and communities.
To submit forecast data via the Web or ozone data file, follow the step-by-step
instructions in the OMS Web site at http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/ozmap/.
You will need a password and user name to access this site. You can obtain a
password and user name from Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.gov.
When you reach the OMS Web site, scroll to the section titled New! and click
40 CHAPTER4
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on the link called 1999 Draft Forecast Plan. The Ozone Forecast Map Plan for
the Northeast States, located at http://www.nescaum.org, contains additional
information.
4.4 OPERATIONS AT THE DATA COLLECTION CENTER
(DCC)
Now that your agency has established its State Host Computer and you are using
the ADTS for data collection and transfer, you might be interested in knowing
more about the DCC. The section provides general information about operations
at the DCC in support of the ADTS.
The DCC, which is located at the Agency's computing center, functions as the
only ozone data collection facility covering the United States. (Because operating
a data collection system is quite complex, we strongly recommend that state agen-
cies continue to use EPA's DCC as the central ozone data collection point.)
Nonetheless, if you are interested in information on establishing and operating
your own data collection system, see documentation at http://envpro.ncsc.org/
oms/oms-docs.html.
This section describes the DCC's main functions, the types of data generated,
formats used, the effect of the new ozone standards on DCC operations, and
DCC's QA/QC program.
The DCC's Main Functions
The DCC's primary functions are to:
• Obtain ozone monitoring data from state agencies.
• Provide FTP and Kermit servers for State Host Computer-initiated data
transfers.
• Maintain master station location and polling tables.
• Merge data from state agencies.
• Perform automated and manual QA/QC checks on incoming data.
• Compute daily peaks and 8-hour ozone averages.
• Manage and archive the collective database.
• Provide data for map generation.
• Transfer ozone monitoring station data.
Types of Data Generated by the DCC
State agencies report hourly data to the DCC. The DCC uses this information to
generate different types of data, called data groups. These data groups include:
• Daily peaks based on forecasted 8-hour averages.
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING 41
-------
• Daily peaks based on actual 1-hour averages.
• 8-hour averages derived from 1-hour averages.
• 8-hour averages calculated from actual 1-hour averages.
For example, the DCC calculates actual 8-hour ozone concentrations once a day
following the 8:00 a.m. polling of data files from State Host Computers. This
allows the DCC to base yesterday's peak map on actual data. This also enables the
DCC to keep a running record of the season's 8-hour ozone data.
Of
The DCC places forecasts in an ozone forecast table on EPA's AIRNOW Web site
at http://www.epa.gov/airnow. The table provides a categorical prediction of
ozone levels for each participating metropolitan area. The forecast for each state
is updated approximately 1 hour after the state agency begins collecting data from
its monitoring sites.
The DCC uses two different types of indeces and data formats to display
processed data. It is important to understand these indexes and formats to under-
stand the data you will map.
Two different indeces are used to map the 8-hour and 1-hour values. The first
index is the Air Quality Index (AQI) that shows 8-hour data in parts per billion.
The second index normalizes these parts-per-billion values according to the AQI
scale (0 to 500). (See Chapter 6 for more information about the AQI.)
The DCC can also create two types of ozone data formats: observation data
(marked by the .obs file extension) and gridded data (marked by the .grd exten-
sion). Observation data from a State Host Computer contain various data points.
Each point represents an hourly ozone measurement recorded by a monitoring
station. The State Host Computer transfers these hourly data to the DCC. The
DCC then calculates more data groups, such as 8-hour averages and daily peaks,
from the hourly data. All these data groups are included in one file called the
observation file. MapGen software can be used to display each of these data
groups as maps that show, for example, still-frame and animation maps of hourly
data.
Gridded data have generally undergone one more processing step then observa-
tion files. When an observation data group is saved as gridded data, the data
group is projected onto a gridded data set. (Data groups are further explained in
Chapter 5, Section 5-3.)
of Data
The DCC ensures that the data you receive for mapping have been thoroughly
quality-checked. The DCC uses both automated and manual data quality checks
42 C HAPTE R 4
-------
before finalizing processed data. Among other things, the automated QA/QC
program:
• Checks to see if the station locations reported by agencies are on the list
of active monitoring station locations.
• Ensures that the files transferred from the State Host Computers con-
form to the OMS data format.
• Performs various data quality checks.
Before releasing data, the DCC staff perform manual QA/QC by creating maps
and visually inspecting them. The DCC checks that the contour colors and ranges
flow in categorical increments and accurately reflect changes in ozone concentra-
tions. The DCC looks for such problems as:
• A questionable color range, such as a large red area with a green area
inside, which may indicate a data discrepancy at the ozone monitor.
(An area with "unhealthy" ozone levels is unlikely to surround an area
with "good" ozone levels.)
• Gray areas on a map that identify missing data.
If anomalies on a map are large and cannot be resolved, or if large amounts of data
are missing from the mapping domain, the data will not be released to the
public.
Appendix C provides detailed information on how the DCC performs various
automated data quality checks.
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING 43
-------
Developing a State-of-the-Arl Ozone Data Transfer System
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
The way your system polls data from ozone monitors, checks the data, and
distributes it plays a key role in the quality and usefulness of the resulting
information. In New Jersey, the state's Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) has assembled an advanced system with several key fea-
tures for collecting and transferring ozone data reliably and efficiently.
Polling data frequently. One of these features is frequent data polling. Like
other states, New Jersey established a system of air quality monitors in the
1 970s in response to the original Clean Air Act requirements. While other
states' monitors typically poll their data at 1-hour intervals, New Jersey
structured its system to poll by the minute. (New Jersey initially implement-
ed this rapid reporting capability so that radiation releases from any of the
state's nuclear power plants could be immediately detected.) To help trans-
fer data reliably, the state uses both leased phone lines and dedicated
Internet access lines. This helps prevent busy signals, line tie-ups, or other
difficulties in sending and receiving data.
Publicizing the data. This near-constant data polling has allowed New Jersey
DEP officials to track ozone levels closely throughout the day during the
ozone season. This information is then made available to the public via fre-
quent updates of the state's air quality Web site (located at
http://www.state.ni.us/dep/airmon).
Customizing data management software. To manage the flow of all this informa-
tion, the state needed specialized software for polling data, generating
reports, and sending the data to the DCC. New Jersey DEP asked its soft-
ware vendor to customize the company's regular, off-the-shelf product to
include a user interface and capabilities tailored to New Jersey's system.
Complementing this unique software is New Jersey's central computer sys-
tem, which is based on UNIX, an operating system designed for stability
and reliability. DEP officials report an extremely low amount of downtime.
Performing effective quality control. New Jersey has also developed a compre-
hensive quality assurance system. Quality reviews are built into the moni-
toring system, with software checks that highlight, for staff review, any data
that fall outside New Jersey DEP-specified maximum fluctuations. Any infor-
mation that is prepared for release to the public has similar warning flags
built into the data transfer software. DEP programmers also have developed
sophisticated graphing systems that allow ozone monitoring staff to quickly
review nearly every piece of data coming from the monitors so they can pick
up on problems almost immediately—a task that would otherwise be near-
ly impossible.
Lessons learned. DEP staff emphasize that air quality agencies should try to
develop automated record keeping practices. In New Jersey, computers
record information on every data transfer activity—from initial polling to the
delivery of final data to the DCC. These files have proved invaluable, allow-
ing DEP staff to identify and quickly correct any data difficulties that may
occur.
44 CHAPTER4
-------
5. MAKING OZONE MAPS
Now that your ozone monitoring network is in place and you have collected
the resulting data, you can turn to the next step: preparing ozone maps to
depict all this information. EPA has developed an easy-to-use, powerful
application called MapGen that communities can use to make maps that illustrate
the concentration levels of ozone and other data. MapGen will enable you to:
• Generate still-frame images of ozone concentrations, including yester-
day's peak ozone concentrations, today's peak ozone concentrations,
and snapshots of today's hourly data.
• Produce animated maps illustrating the movement of ground-level
ozone over time.
• Customize your maps based on your data and outreach needs.
This chapter offers a complete primer on MapGen. It contains instructions on
obtaining and installing the software, generating maps, using advanced features,
troubleshooting, and obtaining technical support.
Readers interested primarily in an overview of MapGen's capabilities and features
may want to focus on the introductory information in Section 5-1 below. If you
are responsible for actual software installation and map generation, you should
carefully review the technical information presented in the sections on getting
started, generating and managing maps, advanced features, and technical support
(Sections 5-2 through 5-5).
5.1 UNDERSTANDING MAPGEN'S CAPABILITIES
MapGen draws ozone maps in the following way: First, data from ozone moni-
tors are input into MapGen. Then MapGen estimates ozone concentrations in
areas where there are no actual ozone measurements (i.e., in the areas between
monitors). The process of estimating ozone levels is called interpolation. Once
ozone concentration data have been interpolated, MapGen automatically draws
color contours that represent different levels of ozone in the mapping region.
Each of the colors corresponds to the Air Quality Index (AQI) developed by EPA
for ozone and other major air pollutants. (See Chapter 6 for more information
about the AQI.) Five different color contours may appear on an ozone map. Each
color denotes a different level of health concern for ozone.
The screen on page 46 shows one type of image you can compose using MapGen.
This particular map depicts ozone levels in the northeastern United States on
September 14, 1998.
MAKING OZONE MAPS 45
-------
Note!
The legend created by
MapGen currently displays
two shades of yellow for the
contour associated with
moderate air quality (as
shown in the screen at
right). In future releases of
MapGen, the legend will
be changed to display only
one shade of yellow.
•
£fe DHIMBM 0*
PPB
12 am September 14,1MB
Purple
Rnt
Ornngr
Yellaw
Yellow
Qntn
The map shows that ozone levels ranged from good to very unhealthy across the
region. The table below shows the air quality descriptors and associated contour
colors for 8-hour ozone data.
Contour Color
Green
8-Hour Ozone Range
(in parts per billion)
0-64
Air Quality Descriptor
Good
Yellow
65-84
Moderate (upper end)
Orange
85-104
Unhealthy for sensitive groups
Once you become familiar with MapGen, you will be able to customize your
maps. This will allow you to create different types of maps that can serve as effec-
tive public outreach and education tools. (For more information on the role the
maps can play in public outreach on ozone, see Chapter 6.) You can also add addi-
tional layers of information—including meteorological, geological, and other pol-
lutant data—to generate more comprehensive maps.
5.2 GETTING STARTED
MapGen was designed to be easy to obtain and install. The first step is to deter-
mine if you have the minimum computer hardware and software needed to run
46
CHAPTER 5
-------
MapGen. Once you are satisfied with your computer arrangement, you will need
to follow a simple procedure to install MapGen (and update it, if needed).
The following hardware, software, and Internet connection requirements are
quite basic—most likely, your existing setup already meets these requirements.
You will need:
• An IBM PC-compatible computer with a Pentium processor (133
MHz or greater)
• 16 megabytes of RAM (or greater)
• 100 megabytes office disk space (more will be needed for large ani-
mations)
• A super VGA monitor and video card (24-bit or 32-bit color settings
are recommended. Settings at or below 16-bit are inadequate for many
of the colors used for mapping and for some data conversion programs.)
• Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT 4.0
MapGen will work on older systems. For example, you can run the program on a
90 MHz Pentium computer. As with any software, however, the more processor
power, memory, and free disk space your system has, the better MapGen's per-
formance will be.
Because you will need to download MapGen from the Ozone Mapping System
(OMS) Web site, you will need a connection to the Internet and Internet brows-
er software such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
and
MapGen is obtained through the OMS Web site. To obtain and install the soft-
ware, follow these steps:
1. Go to the OMS Web site at http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/#mapgen-reg.
2. After registering to download MapGen, go to the "Download MapGen" page.
Print out the installation instructions (the mg980611. txt file) and the readme
file.
3. Download mg980611.exe to a directory on your computer.
4. Follow the installation instructions to install the downloaded file onto a direc-
tory on your computer. (We recommend that you accept the default directo-
ry, C:\oms\, that the installation software creates.)
5- Once MapGen installation is complete, verify that the program is working by
navigating to the C:\oms\ directory and double-clicking on mapgen.exe.
MAKING OZONE MAPS 47
-------
Updating MapGen
EPA periodically updates MapGen. If you previously installed MapGen, you may
wish to replace it with the most current version. (Updated versions are posted on
the OMS Web site.) To update MapGen:
1. Go to the Web site ftp://envpro.ncsc.org/pub/oms/mapgen/.
2. Click on the file readme, upd (installation instructions) for instructions on how
to install the most recent version of MapGen.
3. Click on the file update.bat. (This is a script that installs the update.) Save this
file to a directory on your computer.
4. Click on the self-extracting zip file containing the update files. This executable
file is named according to its release date. For example, if a new release
occurred on June 11, 1998, the new executable would be named u990915.exe.
Save this file to a directory on your computer.
5- Go to the appropriate directory and double-click on update.bat. The file will
unzip the installation files into the proper directories.
Once you have successfully installed or updated the MapGen software, you're
ready to begin developing and customizing ozone maps.
Creating Still-
frame Maps
Selecting the
Area to Display
in Your Maps
Customizing 1 Creating and
and Saving Your ' Saving Animated
Maps ] Maps
Conducting
QA/QC on Maps
5.3 GENERATING AND MANAGING MAPS
This section presents instructions that will guide you through the process of cre-
ating, managing, and reviewing still-frame and animated maps using this simple,
five-step process:
Because ozone monitoring data are typically delivered to you from the Data
Collection Center (or a state agency) in ready-to-use format, you should be able
to input ozone measurements into MapGen and immediately begin producing
color maps.
STEP 1: CREATING STILL-FRAME MAPS
In this step, you will learn how to input ozone data into MapGen, choose the type
of data to map, and display data to create a still-frame image.
Before you create your first maps, you will need to understand the difference
between the two types of data you will receive from the Data Collection Center
(or a state agency):
• Observation data (usually denoted by the .obs file extension)
• Gridded data (usually denoted by the .grd extension)
48
CHAPTER 5
-------
For the purposes of creating maps, the main thing you need to know about these
two types of files is that gridded data have generally undergone one more pro-
cessing step than observation data. When an observation data group is saved as
gridded data, the data group is projected on and saved to a gridded data set. Once
this has been done, the interpolation parameters and chosen data group cannot
be adjusted.
Open observation data lile(s|
Look in
j obi
rJ B dM SIB
J§]0314.0BS
File name:
Files of type: | Observation data files f.obs)
Let's start by creating a map using observation data.
Creating Maps Using Observation Data
1. Open MapGen by clicking on the mapgen.exe file in your C:\oms\ directory.
MapGen will open up to a blank screen.
2. Go to the File menu and select Open Observation Data. Navigate to the direc-
tory in which the data are stored and select the data file you want to use. Open
the data file.
Note!
If you received your data directly from the Data Collection Center, the
data file will have an .obs extension (as shown in the screen above). For
communities that receive data from a state or local agency, the data
file may have an .obs extension or an extension unique to that agency
(such as ME1 for a file from Maine).
3. Go to the Plot menu, where you will view the data groups in the files you
opened. Select the data group you want for your map.
The name of each data group indicates what your ozone map will display For
example, in the screen shown on the next page, the user has selected a data group
to create a map that shows daily peak ozone levels based on predicted 8-hour
ozone level averages.
MAKING OZONE MAPS
49
-------
r-n ,
Group*
"*• CCSJKE FfiEi.Ciai ««. *.s«i. lirf-rtd wrt frttti-iMl Slj*l_fif r - . HH
", ' M II MM ..,.••,•.•> .1 .v-i. I Ml -4 ..'h! I ;-ti - ,(,.! I i!i: -.''"
PEAf .*C.T
Here are a few other examples of data groups and what they will show in the maps
you create:
• OZONE OBSERVED SAMPLE AVG_TIME=60 INTERVAL=60
START_REF=0
Displays actual 1-hour averages for each hour in the day in parts per billion
(PPB). In keeping with the 8-hour ozone standard, 1-hour ozone values are
displayed using MapGen's default 8-hour ranges as shown in the table in
Section 5-1-
• OZONE DERIVED SAMPLE AVG_TIME=480 INTERVAL=60
START_REF= -240
Displays 8-hour averages derived from 1-hour averages in PPB. Ozone values are
displayed using the default 8-hour ranges as shown in the table in Section 5-1-
• OZONE OBSERVED PEAK AVG_TIME=60 INTERVALS 440
START_REF=0
Displays the daily peak based on actual 1-hour averages in PPB. Ozone values are
displayed using the default 8-hour ranges as shown in the table in Section 5.1.
• AQI OZONE Data Groups
Displays the same type of maps for 1-hour, 8-hour, and daily peak ozone concen-
trations as described in the above data groups. However, ozone values are stan-
dardized to the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale. The AQI is explained in the sec-
tion below on Adjusting Contours.
The illustration below and the table on the next page identify and explain the six
parts of a data group name. This information will help you interpret the name of
any data group—so you can choose the one you want for your map.
50
CHAPTER 5
-------
PARAMETER
Variable
Characteristic
Measurement Type
Averaging Time
Interval
| EXPLANATION
The pollutant measured (for example, ozone)
The data are either observed, derived, or predicted
Either sample or peak measurements
The averaging time in minutes for the variable reported. For example: 60 (hourly averages), 480
^8-hour averages), or 1440 (daily averages)
The interval between values. For example: 60 (hourly) or 1440 (every 24 hours). Daily peaks have intervals of 1440 minutes.
The start time of a value in minutes. This can be designated as 0, -240, etc. A start reference of 0 indicates the starting time from when the
Start Reference 1 ozone average is calculated. A start reference of -240 indicates that the ozone average is a mid-hour average. The average is calculated in
the middle of the 8-hour period based on the four previous and four subsequent hours.
To learn more about data groups, refer to the Map Generator System User Guide at
http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/oms-docs.html.
4. After you have selected a data group, select Draw Plot to create a plot of the
data group. (A "plot" is a still-frame image map.)
Remember that some data groups contain hourly ozone data. Here is how you
can display still-frame, hourly images using these data groups: After using
Draw Plot to create the first hourly map, use the Next Plot option to advance
to the next hour of input data contained in that data group. Keep using Next
Plot to display subsequent hourly maps until the Next Plot option has turned
to gray in color. (When this occurs, there are no more data in the file.) You can
also select Previous Plot to display the previous hour of input data for the
selected data group. Plot menu options are shown below.
That's it—you've created a map using observation data!
Creating Maps Using Gridded Data
With gridded data, all the choices concerning data groups have already been made—
either by the Data Collection Center or by a MapGen user in a previous session.
When you work with gridded data, all you need to do is open the file and display
the still-frame image.
1. Open MapGen by clicking on the mapgen.exe file in your C:\oms\ directory.
MapGen will open up to a blank screen.
2. Go to the File menu and select Read Gridded Data. Navigate to the directory
in which the gridded data are stored and select a grid file. Open that file and
your gridded data map will be displayed.
Congratulations on creating your first maps with MapGen! In Step 2, we'll look
at how you can adjust your maps to focus on specific regions.
Tip!
If you cannot view all the
hourly maps contained in an
hourly data file—and the
Next Plot or Previous Plot
options have turned to gray
in color—make sure the
Time Span menu item under
the Animate menu is set cor-
rectly. The Animation Start
Time should be set to the
first step (first hour of input
data) and the An/'maf/'on End
Time should be set to the
last step (last hour of input
data).
MAKING OZONE MAPS
5 1
-------
STEP 2: SELECTING THE AREA TO DISPLAY IN YOUR MAP
In this step, you will learn how to manipulate your still-frame image map to dis-
play ozone concentrations in a particular geographic area. As described below, this
involves adjusting plot area parameters such as latitude and longitude. You then
fine-tune the map view by adjusting its width and height.
Tip!
To display a view of the
entire United States, click
the Full U.S. radio button
and the plot area will be
regenerated. If the north-
east corner of the United
States is cut off in the
regenerated map, change
the Top-Right Corner
Longitude value to -58 to
fix this problem.
Adjusting the Plot Area Displayed in the Map
1. Go to the Customize menu and choose Select Plot Area and Projection Params to
open the Select Plot Area window displaying a view of you map. (See the screen
below.) Notice that the current parameters for the map view are displayed in
the bottom portion of the window.
2. Select the plot area you want by adjusting the map parameters. (See the screen
on page 53.) The easiest way to do this is to left-click your mouse and then use
the cursor to draw a box around the area you want to focus on. When you have
selected the area you want, release the mouse button. MapGen will automati-
cally recalculate the plot and parameter values shown at the bottom of the
screen.
It Map Generator
-. Plot Animate JHelp
Interpolation Parameters...
Delect Plot Area and Projection Params...
Set Plot Size -^|.^^^_^^^^
Contours..
Other Map Features...
Add Text Label...
Change Font...
Set Text Alignment
Show Text Tags
Import Jop Bitmap...
Clear Text/Top Bitmap
Zoom
Features
Alternatively if you know the coordinates of the area you want to focus on, you
can adjust your map by typing over the values in the Latitude and Longitude
fields at the bottom of the screen. The view of your map shown will move one
way or another, depending on the coordinate values you alter, as described below:
• Bottom-Left Corner Coordinates: Increase or decrease the latitude
value to expand or contract the map southward. Increase or decrease
the longitude value to expand or contract the map westward.
• Top-Right Corner Coordinates: Increase or decrease the latitude value
to expand or contract the map northward. Increase or decrease the
longitude value to expand or contract the map eastward.
52
CHAPTER 5
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frill lit Ptrt *
-------
You've succeeded in showing a specific geographic area on your map! In Step 3,
we'll work on customizing and saving your map.
STEP 3: CUSTOMIZING AND SAVING YOUR MAP
Now that you have generated an ozone map displaying a plot area of interest, you
can customize your map in a variety of ways.
This section describes several customization features, shown in the screen below.
These include interpolation, which allows you to change the default values pro-
grammed into MapGen for interpolating ozone levels between ozone monitoring
stations, and contouring, which allows you to change the default values pro-
grammed into MapGen for the color, number, and ranges of different ozone con-
tours.
| It Map Generator HIsOu]
File
H^, Plot Animate Help
Delect Plot Area and Projection Params...
Set Plot Size
Other M^p Features...
Add Text Label...
Change Font...
Set Text Alignment >
Show Text Tags
Import Top Bitmap...
Customize
Features
This section also shows you how to customize your map to show supporting
information such as geographic features, identifying text, and images. After doing
this, you can save your customization settings for use with other maps, and you
can save your customized still-frame image map in a variety of formats.
Adjusting Interpolation Parameters
Interpolation is the process of estimating ozone concentrations in areas where
ozone monitors do not exist. Estimated data measurements are derived from
neighboring ozone monitors. Interpolation makes it possible to display ozone
concentrations between ozone monitors.
We recommend that you use the default interpolation parameters, which have
been thoroughly tested for generating appropriate estimated results. Changing the
default settings has the potential to produce unrealistic results, especially if you are
unfamiliar with the methods for estimating concentrations or with the typical
behavior of ozone in a specific mapping region.
54
CHAPTER 5
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However, for some local analyses, you may want to adjust the interpolation
parameters. For example, you may want to adjust the parameters to make the
map's contours appear "smoother." We strongly recommend that you read further
about interpolation methods at http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/oms-docs.html
by following the links to Interpolation Documents and Map Generator System User
Guide. These documents will help you understand how to adjust interpolation
parameters.
Adjusting Contours
Using predetermined breakpoints, MapGen automatically groups ozone data into
different contour ranges keyed to health effects associated with particular ozone
concentrations. Depending on the type of data group you are mapping, you may
use the AQI 8-hour index (parts-per-billion scale) or the AQI common scale.
8-Hour Air Quality Index (parts-per-billion scale)
In keeping with the new 8-hour ozone standard, MapGen uses 8-hour ozone data,
with parts per billion as the measurement unit, to determine the contour break-
points. These default breakpoints are shown below. It is strongly recommended that
you do not change these contour ranges. Doing so can result in a misinterpretation of
ozone concentration data. These settings are consistent with the new 8-hour ozone
standard. Nonetheless, if you wish to change the contours, please read the Map
Generator System User Guide for further information. The following table shows
the 8-hour index (parts-per-billion scale):
AQI Common Scale
The AQI common scale standardizes pollutants such as ozone to a uniform scale
(0 to 500) to convey a consistent health message across pollutants. The Data
Collection Center calculates AQI 1-hour and 8-hour ozone data groups that are
scaled to the common index for use in mapping. The table at the top of page 56
shows the AQI ranges for the 8-hour and 1-hour data measurements in parts per
billion standardized to the AQI common scale.
MAKI N G OZONE MAPS
55
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Contour Color
AQI (Common Scale) Equivalent AQI 8-Hour Equivalent AQI 1-Hour Air Quality Descriptor
Ozone Concentration Ozone Concentration
Range (parts per billion) Range (parts per billion)
0-50
0-64
Good
51-100
65-84
-9
Moderate
101-150
85-104
125-164
Unhealthy for sensitive groups
Unhealt
Very unhealthy
The new 8-hour standard requires agencies to report the 8-hour ozone measure-
ments. Using the new AQI 8-hour breakpoints will almost always result in a more
health-protective index than the index based on 1 -hour standard. However, a very
small number of areas may have atypical air quality patterns that result in higher
1-hour averages than 8-hour averages. Only in these atypical areas—where the 1-
hour index is more protective—are agencies required to report 1-hour data. For
values above 125 parts per billion, agencies must report the highest value as deter-
mined for either the 8-hour or 1-hour value.
Customizing Your Map with Supporting Information
You are most likely to customize your ozone map by adding geographic features,
other supporting information, and text or images to highlight particular features
in the map.
Adding Geographic Features
1. Go to the Customize menu and select Other Map Features to access the Map
Features window (shown below).
M.ip i p.ihiii":
LheWrth
ff
P
Choose Heist.
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To select a feature for display in your ozone map, click on the Show box next to
the option you want. You can also customize the display of these features as
described below:
State Boundaries, County Boundaries, and Transportation Routes. These selec-
tions allow you to add state, county, and transportation lines to your map. You
can set the width of these feature lines (specified in point sizes) by typing over
the default setting. You also can set the color by clicking on the Set Color but-
ton.
Observing Stations. This selection plots ozone monitoring station locations on
the map as triangles. You can scale the size of the icons as appropriate for your
map.
Legend. This selection places a color scale legend on the right side of the map.
The legend is based on either the default or the customized contours.
Time and Date. This selection adds to the map the time and date that data
were collected.
Rivers. This selection plots rivers and other waterways on the map.
Water Bodies. This selection displays water bodies on the map. The Choose
File(s) option allows you to select a file with a specific water body shape. In
some cases, you may want to use a water body on your map as an overlay to
focus the portrayal of ozone concentration information on an adjacent land
area.
Blank Geography Overlay File(s) and Area with Missing Data Color. As with
adding water bodies, these selections allow you to overlay areas in the larger
frame of your map to focus attention on an adjacent area of interest. The
Choose File(s) option allows you to select an appropriate shape from an overlay
file. The files provide shape overlays for all 50 states, as well as areas of Canada
and Mexico. Area with Missing Data Color allows you to choose a color for the
overlay shape.
2. After selecting the map features you want and customizing their display, click
on the OK button. Then refresh the map display by going to the Plot menu
and selecting Draw Plot.
Go to the Customize menu to add an image or text to your ozone map. For exam-
ple, you might want to add an image to identify a unique geographic landmark
or text to pinpoint the location of a city.
Import Top Bitmap. This selection allows you to place a custom bitmap image
(.bmp) or graphic interchange format (GIF) onto your map. Some Windows
meta files (usually denoted with a .wmffde extension) also can be imported
and placed on the map.
Add Text Label. This selection accesses a window for entering text captions.
After inputting your caption in the text field, click on the OK button. The
caption will appear in the upper left-hand corner of the map display. From
there, you can then move text to the desired location on the map.
MAKING OZONE MAPS 57
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Change Font. This selection allows you to change the typeface of the text labels.
Set Text Alignment. This selection allows you to align your text within the cap-
tion label block.
Show Text Tags. This selection allows you to select all text and bitmaps as one
group on the map display. Once selected, you can move or delete them. You
can individually select a caption or bitmap by left-clicking on your mouse, and
then pointing at the desired selection.
Clear Text/Top Bitmap. This selection allows you to remove selected text or
bitmap items from the map.
and
Once you have established your custom settings for a map, you can save the set-
tings for use in a subsequent MapGen session. Also, you can save the still-frame
image map you've created in any of several formats.
Saving Custom Settings
Go to the File menu and select one of the following:
Save Settings to Disk. This selection saves the current custom settings as an ini-
tialization file to a disk. (Such files are usually denoted by the . ini file exten-
sion.)
Load Settings from Disk. This selection allows you to select and display custom
settings from a disk.
Save Current Settings as Defaults. This selection allows you to save the current
user settings to a disk in MapGen's *. ini file. Subsequent MapGen user sessions
will default to those settings.
Return to Defaults. This selection allows you to reset all your custom settings
to MapGen's "factory default" settings. With this selection, any customized
settings that you have established will be deleted.
Saving Still-Frame Image Maps
To save a still-frame image as a bitmap file, or gridded data, go to the Plot or
File menu as indicated below and select one of the following:
Save Plot as Bitmap (Plot menu). This selection saves the current still-frame
image map as a pixellated image or bitmap. (Such files are usually denoted
with a .bmp file extension.)
Save Plot as GIF (Plot menu). This selection saves the current plot as a GIF file
(such files are usually denoted with a .gif file extension). The GIF option
works only if your monitor is set to 256-color, 24-bit, or 32-bit and higher
resolution. The GIF format enables you to easily incorporate your images onto
Web pages.
58 CHAPTERS
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Note!
If you are using Windows NT, your map may not convert to a GIF map.
This is because the Windows NT and MapGen's ImageMagick convert
programs conflict.
Save GriddedData (File menu). This selection interpolates the open data file
onto a grid, using the current interpolation parameter values, and then saves
the interpolated data.
Now that you've mastered still-frame image maps, you're ready for animations!
STEP 4: AND
Another way to add supporting information to your ozone map is by animating
the color ozone contours to portray changes in concentrations over time. For
example, if you have sufficient data, you can use your map to show a "movie" of
changes in ozone concentration over the course of an afternoon. In this step, you
will learn how to create an animation for a particular time frame and then save
the settings.
Getting Ready
1. Go to the Plot menu and select Draw Plot to display your ozone map.
2. Go to the File menu and select Open Observation Data. Then:
• Navigate to the directory in which the data are stored and select the
data file you want to use. Open the data file.
• Go to the Plot menu, where you will view the data groups in the
files you opened. Select an hourly data group for your animation.
Note!
You cannot create animations using data groups that have peak meas-
urements.
3. Go to the Customize menu and choose Select Plot Area and Project Params to
open the Select Plot Area window displaying your map. Select your plot param-
eters to cover the area that will include your animation, then regenerate and
fine-tune your map (see Step 2: Selecting the Area to Display in Your Map).
4. Go to the Customize menu to customize your display or go to the File menu
to load previously saved custom settings (see Step 3: Customizing and Saving
Your Map).
Establishing the Time Span and Color Changes Portrayed
1. Go to the Animate menu and select Time Span. The window that appears
allows you to choose what time period your animation will cover.
In the screen on page 60, for example, time span parameters are presented for
a single observation file brought into MapGen. Because the Animation Start
Time and the Animation End Time scroll bars are set at the extreme first and
last steps, respectively, the window shows that the earliest ozone concentration
MAKING OZONE MAPS 59
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measurement recorded for this data group was taken at 12 a.m. on September
13, 1998, and the last was taken at 11 p.m. on September 13, 1998.
Choose Ihe lime span Jot your animation
L-l!t 5*5
0
• Jl •"..•
Note!
If you bring in two or more continuous observation files, the Animation
Start Time (e.g., 12 a.m. on September 1 3, 1 998) will be the date and
time in the observation files of the earliest ozone measurement taken.
The Animation End Time (e.g., 11 p.m. on September 14, 1998) will
be the date and time in the observation files of the last ozone meas-
urement taken. If you bring in two observation files that do not have a
continuous time span, the time span window will appear with a range
but there will be a gap in the data displayed.
2. Use the scroll bars in the Time Span window to specify a time period for your
animation of ozone concentrations. When you are done, click on the OKbut-
ton.
3- From the Animate menu, select Frames/Hour to set the number of frames to be
shown in your animation per hour of ozone data. If you set the number at 1,
your animation will show one image for each hour in the chosen time frame,
running in chronological order. If you set the number at greater than 1,
MapGen will create "in-between" frames by linearly interpolating data, which
will make your animation flow more smoothly. A setting of 3 frames per hour
is recommended for a smooth-running animation.
4. Again from the Animate menu, select Animated GIF Settings to control the
speed of your animation by inserting delays and to specify whether your ani-
mation should continue to run by looping through the same data.
Playing, Saving, and Retrieving Your Animation
Now that you've established the settings for your animation, it's time to show the
"movie." If you decide the animation effectively portrays important information,
you might want to save it.
1. From the Animate menu, select Animate to view the animation "on the fly,"
and then make adjustments as necessary.
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2. Once you are satisfied with your animation, you can save the file by going to
the Animate menu and selecting one of the following options:
Create Animation File, This selection creates and saves an animation file (such
files are usually denoted by the ,ani extension) to a disk.
Create Animated GIF File, This selection creates and saves a GIF animation file
(such files are usually denoted by the ,gif extension) to a disk.
Note!
An animation file can take up large amounts of disk space. Typically,
about 312 Kilobytes (KB) of space must be available per 400x400-
pixel frame of the animation. About 600 KB would be required for a
640x480-pixel frame. GIF animations can require even more disk
space. About 200 KB to 6 Megabytes (MB) will be required for the
animated GIF itself. Also, up to several hundred MB may be required
while the image file is being created.
See the Map Generator System User Guide at http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/
oms-docs.html for further information on creating animated GIF files and on
the use of a free animated GIF utility. (The current version of MapGen does
not have the capability to generate MPEG video animations.)
3- To open and play an animation file saved to a disk, go to the Animate menu
and select Play Animation File.
STEP 5: CONDUCTING QA/QC ON MAPS
It's always a good idea to review your map for data integrity. Detailed QA/QC
considerations are covered in Section 4.3 of this handbook.
5.4 ADVANCED FEATURES
If you're interested in the following MapGen advanced features, additional infor-
mation is available in the Map Generator System User Guide at
http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/oms-docs.html.
MapGen Scripting Language. You can automate map production using MapGen's
scripting language. See the User Guide's section on writing and executing
scripts.
ImageMagick Convert, MapGen uses the ImageMagick "Convert" program to
convert bitmaps files to GIF format and to merge individual frames into ani-
mated GIF images. ImageMagick utilities also recognize over 40 image for-
mats. See the User Guide's section on using and obtaining this software.
5.5 TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If you need additional help creating either still-frame image maps or animations,
please refer first to MapGen's Help system. The Help menu includes entries such
as Beginner Tips and Map Generator Help. (Selecting Map Generator Help opens
the Map Generator System User Guide in HTML format.)
Technical support is also available via the Web. (See the box on page 62.)
MAKING OZONE MAPS 61
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Known MapGen Bugs
The current version of MapGen includes several known malfunctions that will be
fixed in future releases of the software. For information about these bugs, see the
Map Generator System User Guide at http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/oms-
docs.html.
Also, if you discover additional bugs in the software, please report them to the
Web-based tracking system at http://envpro.ncsc.org/products/ticket.html. At
the site, the Project—Subsystem you should select is Ozone Mapping System—
Other. You also can report MapGen bugs by sending an e-mail to oms@ncsc.org
or a fax to 919-248-9245.
Gelling Help from EPJTs WebBoard
The Online Ozone Conferencing and Discussion Resource
Real-time ozone monitoring and mapping systems can be complex, and, from time to time, difficulties may
arise when implementing and operating them. Where can you go to get answers to your questions? EPA's
WebBoard.
As ozone mapping has taken off in the past several years, state and local officials involved in ozone proj-
ects have faced—and tackled—many of the same issues you may now be confronting. WebBoard allows
you to tap into their experience. Developed by EPA in 1 998, the site offers informative question-and-answer
sessions and discussions between anyone involved or interested in ozone monitoring and mapping. Have
a question about merging ozone data from multiple agencies? Need help with MapGen's animations?
Simply post your question on the WebBoard. You'll get responses from other EMPACT cities, EPA, state air
quality officials, and others offering ideas or recommendations that can help you fix the problem and move
ahead with your program.
WebBoard is divided into several areas. The feature area is the conference, where you can post questions
on different topics and watch the replies flow back. In addition, the site contains a comprehensive search
feature allowing you to check whether any of your questions have been addressed in previous postings.
There also is a chat room hosting real-time discussions on anything related to ozone mapping. The more
users, the better the information—so if you need to learn more about ozone monitoring or mapping, log
on to WebBoard!
To access the WebBoard, you must log in to http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/ozmap/. You will also need a user
name and password, which you can obtain by contacting Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.gov. Once
you have accessed the Web page, click on the link called Ozone Mapping System Online Conferencing &
Chat to access the Web Board, where you can post and respond to messages about MapGen.
62 CHAPTERS
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6. COMMUNICATING
INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE
AND THE OZONE MAP
As your community develops its ozone monitoring and real-time mapping sys-
tems, you will want to think about the best ways to communicate the infor-
mation these systems will yield. This chapter of the handbook is designed to
help you do so:
• It outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan and pro-
files examples of successful ozone outreach initiatives that have been
implemented in EMPACT cities across the country.
• It also provides guidelines for communicating information about ozone
and includes examples of information, written in an easily understand-
able, plain-English style, which you can incorporate into your own
communication and outreach materials.
6.1 CREATING AN OUTREACH PLAN FOR OZONE
Outreach will be most effective if you plan it carefully, considering such issues as:
Who do you want to reach? What information do you want to disseminate? What
are the most effective mechanisms to reach people? Developing a plan ensures that
you have considered all important elements of an outreach project before you
begin. The plan itself provides a blueprint for action.
An outreach plan does not have to be lengthy or complicated. You can develop a
plan simply by documenting your answers to each of the questions discussed
below. This will provide you with a solid foundation for launching an outreach
effort.
Your outreach plan will be most effective if you involve a variety of people in its
development. Where possible, consider involving:
• A communications specialist or someone who has experience develop-
ing and implementing an outreach plan.
• Technical experts in the subject matter (both scientific and policy).
• Someone who represents the target audience, i.e., the people or groups
you want to reach.
• Key individuals who will be involved in implementing the outreach
plan.
As you develop your outreach plan, consider whether you would like to invite any
organizations to partner with you in planning or implementing the outreach
effort. Potential partners include trade associations, environmental organizations,
community groups, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and clinics,
schools, day care centers, summer camps, local health departments, and other
local or state agencies. Partners can participate in planning, product development
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 63
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and review, and distribution. Partnerships can be valuable mechanisms for lever-
aging resources while enhancing the quality, credibility, and success of outreach
efforts.
Developing an outreach plan is a creative and iterative process involving a num-
ber of interrelated steps, as described below. As you move through each of these
steps, you might want to revisit and refine the decisions you made in earlier steps
until you have an integrated, comprehensive, and achievable plan.
Are Your
Defining your outreach goals is the first step in developing an outreach plan.
Outreach goals should be clear, simple, action-oriented statements about what
you hope to accomplish through outreach. Once you have established your goals,
every other element of the plan should relate to those goals. Here are some sam-
ple goal statements that a community might develop for its ozone outreach effort:
• Have all local television stations include the ozone map in their weather
reports during ozone season.
• Secure the participation of at least 50 percent of local businesses in
"ozone action day" initiatives.
• Ensure that all local clinics and HMOs include articles about the health
effects of ozone in their newsletters before and/or during the ozone
season.
Are You To
Identifying Your Audience(s)
The second step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify the target
audience or audiences for your outreach effort. As illustrated in the sample goals
above, outreach goals often define their target audiences. You might want to refine
and add to your goals after you have specifically considered which audiences you
want to reach.
Target audiences for an ozone outreach program might include, for example, the
public, school children, educators, physicians, business leaders, environmentalists,
journalists, and weather broadcasters. Some audiences, such as educators, jour-
nalists, and weather broadcasters, may serve as conduits to help disseminate
information to other audiences you have identified, such as the public.
Consider whether you should divide the public into two or more audience cate-
gories. For example: Will you be providing different information to certain
groups, such as the elderly, or parents? Does a significant portion of the public
you are trying to reach have a different cultural or linguistic background from
other members? If so, it likely will be most effective to consider these groups as
separate audience categories.
64 CHAPTER6
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Profiling Your Audience(s)
Outreach will be most effective if the type, content, and distribution of outreach
products are specifically tailored to the characteristics of target audiences. Once
you have identified your audiences, the next step is to develop a profile of their
situations, interests, and concerns. This profile will help you identify the most
effective ways of reaching the audience. For each target audience, consider:
• What is their current level of knowledge about ozone?
• What do you want them to know about ozone? What actions would
you like them to take regarding ozone?
• What information is likely to be of greatest interest to the audience?
What information will they likely want to know once they develop
some awareness of ozone issues?
• How much time are they likely to give to receiving and assimilating the
information?
• How does this group generally receive information?
• What professional, recreational, and domestic activities does this group
typically engage in that might provide avenues for distributing outreach
products? Are there any organizations or centers that represent or serve
the audience and might be avenues for disseminating your outreach
products?
Profiling an audience essentially involves putting yourself "in your audience's
shoes." Ways to do this include consulting with individuals or organizations who
represent or are members of the audience, consulting with colleagues who have
successfully developed other outreach products for the audience, and using your
imagination.
The next step in planning is to think about what you want to communicate. In
particular at this stage, think about the key points, or "messages," you want to
communicate. Messages are the "bottom line" information you want your audi-
ence to walk away with, even if they forget the details.
A message is usually phrased as a brief (often one-sentence) statement. For
example:
• The ozone map provides you with real-time information about ozone
levels in your community.
• You can take steps to protect your family's health from ozone pollution.
• You can help reduce ozone levels in your community.
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 65
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Outreach products often will have multiple related messages. Consider what mes-
sages you want to send to each target audience group. You may have different
messages for different audiences.
What Outreach Products Will You Develop?
The next step in developing an outreach plan is to consider what types of outreach
products will be most effective for reaching each target audience. There are many
different types of outreach products in print, audiovisual, electronic, and event
formats. The table below provides some examples.
Print Audiovisual Electronic Events Novelty Items
• Fact sheets
• Brochures
• Question-and-answer
sheets
• Newspaper and
magazine articles
• Editorials
• Newsletters
• Stuffers
• Press releases
• Educational curricula
• Coloring books
• Posters
• Public service
announcements
• Cable television
programs
• Exhibits
• Videos
• Logos
• Web pages
• E-mail message
• Press conferences
• Speeches
• Fairs
• Community days
• One-on-one meetings
• Public meetings
• Media interviews
• Briefings
• Banners
• Bumper stickers
• Mouse pads
• Buttons
The audience profile information you assembled earlier will be helpful in select-
ing appropriate products. A communications professional can provide valuable
guidance in choosing the most appropriate products to meet your goals within
your resource and time constraints. Questions to consider when selecting prod-
ucts include:
• How much information does your audience really need to have? How
much does your audience need to know now? The simplest, most effec-
tive, most straightforward product generally is most effective.
• Is the product likely to appeal to the target audience? How much time
will it take to interact with the product? Is the audience likely to make
that time?
• How easy and cost-effective will the product be to distribute or, in the
case of an event, organize?
• How many people is this product likely to reach? For an event, how
many people are likely to attend?
• What time frame is needed to develop and distribute the product?
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CHAPTER 6
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• How much will it cost to develop the product? Do you have access to
the talent and resources needed for development?
• What other related products are already available? Can you build on
existing products?
• When will the material be out of date? (You probably will want to
spend fewer resources on products with shorter lifetimes.)
• Would it be effective to have distinct phases of products over time? For
example, a first phase of products designed to raise awareness, followed
at a later date by a second phase of products to encourage changes in
behavior.
• How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent news
value may be rapidly and widely disseminated by the media.
How Will Your Products Reach Your Audience?
Effective distribution is essential to the success of an outreach strategy. There are
many avenues for distribution. The table below lists some examples.
EXAMPLES OF DISTRIBUTION AVENUES
• Your mailing list
• Partners' mailing list
• Phone/Fax
• E-mail
• Internet
• Journals or newsletters of partner organizations
TV
Radio
Print media
Hotline that distributes products upon request
Meetings, events, or locations
(e.g., libraries, schools, clinics) where products are
made available
You need to consider how each product will be distributed and determine who
will be responsible for distribution. For some products, your organization might
manage distribution. For others, you might rely on intermediaries (such as the
media or physicians) or organizational partners who are willing to participate in
the outreach effort. Consult with an experienced communications professional to
obtain information about the resources and time required for the various distri-
bution options. Some points to consider in selecting distribution channels
include:
• How does the audience typically receive information?
• What distribution mechanisms has your organization used in the past
for this audience? Were these mechanisms effective?
• Can you identify any partner organizations that might be willing to
assist in the distribution?
• Can the media play a role in distribution?
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
67
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• Will the mechanism you are considering really reach the intended audi-
ence? For example, the Internet can be an effective distribution mecha-
nism, but certain groups may have limited access to it.
• How many people is the product likely to reach through the distribu-
tion mechanism you are considering?
• Are sufficient resources available to fund and implement distribution
via the mechanisms of interest?
Follow-up Will You
Successful outreach may generate requests for further information or concern
about issues you have made the audience aware of. Consider whether and how
you will handle this interest. The following questions can help you develop this
part of your strategy:
• What types of reactions or concerns are audience members likely to
have in response to the outreach information?
• Who will handle requests for additional information?
• Do you want to indicate on the outreach product where people can go
for further information (e.g., provide a contact name, number, or
address, or establish a hotline) ?
Is the for
Once you have decided on your goals, audiences, messages, products, and distri-
bution channels, you will need to develop an implementation schedule. For each
product, consider how much time will be needed for development and distribu-
tion. Be sure to factor in sufficient time for product review. Wherever possible,
build in time for testing and evaluation by members or representatives of the tar-
get audience in focus groups or individual sessions so that you can get feedback
on whether you have effectively targeted your material for your audience. Section
6.3 provides guidelines for effectively presenting information about ozone to the
public.
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GETTING THE WORD OUT: NORTH CAROLINES AIR AWARENESS PROGRAM
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality
One of the challenges of an ozone outreach effort is focusing the public's attention on the problem. In
North Carolina, officials have implemented a comprehensive ozone outreach program—the Air Awareness
Program—that has brought ozone to the public's attention and encouraged them to begin taking action.
North Carolina created the Air Awareness Program in 1 996 to help limit ozone levels in three of the state's
largest metropolitan areas: Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (the "Triad" area), and Winston-
Salem-Greenville. Organizers in the state's Division of Air Quality (DAQ), which operates the program,
have developed a multi-pronged approached to outreach to raise public awareness about ozone.
Holding Ozone Season Kick-Off Events. Each year, the DAQ begins its summer outreach with a series of ozone
season kickoff events. In 1997, the program launched its outreach efforts in the Triad area with a rally at
Durham Bulls Baseball Park before the start of a Bulls baseball game, complete with handouts for fans and
a pre-game ozone weather report by a local television meteorologist. Also, before the start of each ozone
season, the DAQ runs media-targeted special events to coach meteorologists, journalists, and other media
professionals in how to report on ozone during ozone season.
Reaching Out to Schools. Educating school children is another important component of the Air Awareness pro-
gram. DAQ staff frequently visit schools in the three target metropolitan areas to discuss ozone-related
issues with students and offer teachers a series of classroom tools—from an "Air Adventures Puppet Show"
to a computer-based "Air Jeopardy" game. Children are also encouraged to spread the word about ozone
by talking with their parents about ozone's health effects and what families can do to help reduce
summertime ozone levels.
Building Coalitions. Another strategy for raising public awareness about ozone is to build coalitions with busi-
nesses and other organizations willing to help reduce ground-level ozone. Program organizers seek out
potential coalition members in the three target metropolitan areas, encouraging them to join the program
and reach out to their employees to explain ozone and suggest steps they can take. At the end of each
season, DAQ hosts an ozone awards night honoring those coalition members that developed the most
innovative and effective public education efforts.
Getting Results. How well is the Air Awareness Program working? Surveys conducted in Charlotte before and
after the ozone season in 1 998 showed that the program had a measurable impact on public awareness
about air pollution. For example, the percentage of survey respondents in the Charlotte area who said that
air pollution was a problem increased from slightly more than half (56 percent) before the Air Awareness
Program to about two-thirds (67 percent) after program implementation. Likewise, the percentage of peo-
ple who said they took measures to reduce air pollution in their daily routines increased from 41 percent
to 55 percent.
Lessons Learned. To be successful, DAQ staffers advise, it is important to consider these types of programs as
year-round efforts, not just as projects that are limited to ozone. It takes time, they note, to plan events and
recruit coalition members, and because schools are closed for much of the ozone season, outreach to kids
needs to happen before peak ozone season, during the winter and spring. Even if budgets are tight, DAQ
staff recommend that air quality agencies dedicate a full-time staffer to manage their ozone outreach pro-
grams all year long.
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 69
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6.2 SUCCESSFUL OZONE OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Many innovative ozone outreach efforts have already been implemented in
EMPACT cities around the country. These have included:
• Getting ozone maps on TV.
• Launching intensive campaigns to encourage broadcast and print media
coverage during ozone season about ozone and its health effects.
• Developing Web sites that include ozone maps and other ozone-related
information.
• Working with schools to provide information about ozone in science
and health classes.
• Developing "ozone action day" programs aimed at encouraging people,
businesses, and industries to take voluntary measures to help reduce
ozone on days when ozone levels are high.
• Operating hotlines that provide recorded information about current and
forecasted ozone levels.
TUNING IN TO OZONE
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Getting ozone maps on television is one of the best ways to communicate information about ozone levels
to a large number of people. The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has
developed some winning strategies for getting their ozone maps broadcast on local television weather
reports.
Depicting Ozone Graphically. For several years, television meteorologists covering Sacramento have broadcast
short ozone forecasts for the next day without using any supporting maps. Despite these forecasts, the
AQMD found that people did not always fully understand the health effects of ozone and the need to
reduce it. AQMD planners decided to push for animated maps on weather broadcasts depicting the for-
mation and movement of ground-level ozone. According to AQMD staff, seeing a map on TV showing your
region covered with a blanket of orange or red—signifying high or unhealthy ozone levels—can be a pow-
erful motivator.
Working with Weather Service Providers. Weather Service Providers (WSPs) are companies that supply weather
data, images, and forecasts to TV stations, newspapers, and private industry. Generally, local television sta-
tions obtain information and images for their weather reports from WSPs. TV stations trust the products that
WSPs supply. If WSPs pick up the ozone maps, station meteorologists are much more likely to use them.
Before agreeing to use the maps, however, the WSPs need to be convinced that the information is worth
providing, quality-checked, and consistently available. AQMD took on this challenge, focusing on the two
main WSPs serving Sacramento area TV stations. AQMD staff provided the WSPs with fact sheets, devel-
oped working relationships with their meteorologists, and presented information on ozone maps at meet-
ings attended by WSP staff. AQMD staff expect that at least one WSP will pick up the maps for the 1 999
ozone season.
70 CHAPTER6
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Recruiting Individual Stations. In addition to working with WSPs, AQMD also began reaching out to the indi-
vidual local television stations. AQMD developed high resolution ozone maps, put them on their "Spare
The Air" Web site (www.sparetheair.com), and began encouraging local meteorologists to use them. In the
1998 ozone season, this outreach method proved successful. Local station KCRA went to the Web site,
downloaded the animated maps, modified them slightly to fit the station's graphic style, and ran them on
their weather broadcasts.
Lessons Learned. AQMD attributes its success in getting the ozone maps on television to the working rela-
tionships they developed with WSPs and local station meteorologists. In addition to pushing for broadcast
of the maps, AQMD staff provided them with information on all types of air quality issues, made them-
selves available whenever television station staff needed anything for their weather-related news reports,
and even tried to anticipate and respond to possible future feature story needs.
6.3 GUIDELINES FOR PRESENTING INFORMATION
ABOUT OZONE TO THE PUBLIC
As you begin to implement your outreach plan and develop the products select-
ed in the plan, you will want to make sure that these products present your mes-
sages and information as clearly and accurately as possible.
How Do You Present Technical Information to the Public?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature, and ozone is no exception.
Nevertheless, this information can be conveyed in simple, clear terms to non-
specialists, such as the public. Principles of effective writing for the public include
avoiding jargon, translating technical terms into everyday language the public can
easily understand, using the active voice, keeping sentences short, and using head-
ings and other format devices to provide a very clear, well-organized structure.
You may want to refer to the following Web sites for more ideas about how to
write clearly and effectively for a general audience:
• The National Partnership for Reinventing Government has developed a
guidance document, Writing User-Friendly Documents, that can be
found on the Web at http://www.plainlanguage.gov/.
• The Web site of the American Bar Association has links to important
online style manuals, dictionaries, and grammar primers
(http://www.abanet.org/lpm/writing/styl.html).
As you develop communication materials for a specific audience, remember to
consider what the audience members are already likely to know, what you want
them to know, and what they are likely to understand. Then tailor your informa-
tion accordingly. Provide only information that will be valuable and interesting to
the target audience. For example, environmentalists in your community may be
interested in why EPA revised the 1-hour ozone standard to an 8-hour standard.
However, it's not likely that school children will be engaged by this level of detail.
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 71
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When developing outreach products, be sure to consider any special needs of the
target audience. For example, if your community has a substantial number of peo-
ple who speak little or no English, you will need to prepare communication mate-
rials in their native language.
The rest of this section contains examples of text about ozone, ozone monitoring
and mapping, and the health and environmental effects of ozone. These examples,
presented in a question-and-answer format, are written in a plain-English style
designed to be easily understandable by the public. You can use this text as a
model to stimulate ideas for your own outreach language or you can incorporate
components of this text directly into your products.
The Of
• What is ozone?
Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas composed of three atoms of oxygen.
• Is ozone good or bad for people's health and the environment?
Ozone occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ozone
can be good or bad, depending on where it is found:
• Good Ozone. Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth's upper
atmosphere—10 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface—where it
forms a protective barrier that shields people from the sun's harmful
ultraviolet rays. This barrier is sometimes called the "ozone layer."
• Bad Ozone. Because of pollution, ozone can also be found in the
Earth's lower atmosphere, at ground level. Ground-level ozone is a
major ingredient of smog, and it can harm people's health by
damaging their lungs. It can also damage crops and many common
man-made materials, such as rubber, plastic, and paint.
• How is ground-level ozone formed?
Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air but forms when two
kinds of pollutants—volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides—mix in
the air and react chemically in the presence of sunlight. Common sources of
volatile organic compounds (often referred to as VOCs) include motor vehi-
cles, gas stations, chemical plants, and other industrial facilities. Solvents such
as dry-cleaning fluid and chemicals used to clean industrial equipment are also
sources of VOCs. Common sources of nitrogen oxides include motor vehicles,
power plants, and other fuel-burning sources.
• Are there times of the year when ozone pollution is of particular
concern?
Yes. In most parts of the United States, ozone pollution is likely to be a con-
cern during the summer months, when the weather conditions needed to form
ground-level ozone—lots of sun, hot temperatures—normally occur. Ozone
pollution is usually at its worst during summer heat waves when air masses are
stagnant.
72 C HAPTE R 6
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• Are there times of the day when ozone pollution is a particular
concern?
Yes. Ozone levels vary during the day. They are highest during late afternoon
and decrease rapidly at sunset.
The U.S. EPA's booklet Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby (found on the Web at
http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/gooduphigh) contains additional information
about both good and bad ozone.
The of
• In what ways can ozone affect people's health?
Ozone can affect people's health in many ways:
• Ozone can irritate the respiratory system. When this happens, you
might start coughing, feel an irritation in your throat, and/or experi-
ence an uncomfortable sensation in your chest. These symptoms can
last for a few hours after ozone exposure and may even become
painful.
• Ozone can reduce lung function. When scientists refer to "lung
function," they mean the volume of air that you draw in when you
take a full breath and the speed at which you are able to blow out the
air. Ozone can make it more difficult for you to breathe as deeply
and vigorously as you normally would.
• Ozone can aggravate asthma. When ozone levels are high, more asth-
matics have asthma attacks that require a doctor's attention or the use
of additional asthma medication.
• Ozone can aggravate chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema and
bronchitis.
• Ozone can inflame and temporarily damage the lining of the lung.
J £ J o o J o
Ozone damages the cells that line the air spaces in the lung. Within a
few days, the damaged cells are replaced and the old cells are shed. If
this kind of damage occurs repeatedly, the lung may change perma-
nently in a way that could cause long-term health effects.
• When do I need to be concerned about ozone exposure?
Most people only have to worry about ozone exposure when concentrations
reach high or very high levels. Some groups of people are particularly sensitive
to ozone, and members of these groups are likely to experience health effects
before ozone concentrations reach high levels. However, when ozone levels are
very high, everyone should be concerned about ozone exposure. In general, as
ozone concentrations increase, more and more people experience health effects
and the effects become more serious.
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 73
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Who is sensitive to ozone?
People most sensitive to ozone include children, adults who are active out-
doors, people with respiratory disease (such as asthma), and people with
unusual susceptibility to ozone.
• Children. Active children are the group at highest risk from ozone
exposure. Such children often spend a large part of their summer
vacation outdoors, engaged in vigorous activities either in their
neighborhood or at summer camp. Children are also more likely to
have asthma or other respiratory illnesses. Asthma is the most com-
mon chronic disease for children and may be aggravated by ozone
exposure.
• Adults who are active outdoors. Healthy adults who exercise or work
outdoors are considered a "sensitive group" because they have a high-
er level of exposure to ozone than people who are less active out-
doors.
• People with respiratory diseases, such as asthma. There is no evidence
that ozone causes asthma or other chronic respiratory disease, but
these diseases do make the lungs more vulnerable to the effects of
ozone. Thus, individuals with these conditions will generally experi-
ence the effects of ozone earlier and at lower levels than less sensitive
individuals.
• People with unusual susceptibility to ozone. Scientists don't yet know
why, but some healthy people are simply more sensitive to ozone
than others. These individuals may experience more health effects
from ozone exposure than the average person.
Are the elderly sensitive to ozone? What about people with heart
disease?
Scientists have found little evidence to suggest that either the elderly or people
with heart disease have heightened sensitivity to ozone. However, like other
adults, elderly people will be at higher risk from ozone exposure if they suffer
from respiratory disease, are active outdoors, or are unusually susceptible to
ozone.
What can I do to avoid unhealthy exposure to ozone?
You can take a number of steps to protect yourself when ozone concentrations
reach unhealthy levels. The chart on page 75 tells you what types of health
effects may occur when ozone levels are considered good, moderate, unhealthy
for sensitive groups, unhealthy, and very unhealthy. It also tells you what you
can do to avoid these effects. (The example text on the Air Quality Index,
beginning on page 77, contains additional text about communicating infor-
mation about the health effects of ozone at different concentration levels.)
74 CHAPTER6
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Ozone Level
Health Effects and Protective Actions
Good
What are the possible health effects?
• No health effects are expected.
Moderate
What are the possible health effects?
• Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory effects from prolonged exposure to ozone during
outdoor exertion.
What can I do to protect my health?
• When ozone levels are in the "moderate" range, consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion if you are
unusually sensitive to ozone.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Unhealthy
What are the possible health effects?
• If you are a member of a sensitive group,1 you may experience respiratory sumpoms (such as coughing or
pain when taking a deep breath) and reduced lung function, which can cause some breathing discomfort.
What can I do to protect my health?
• If you are a member of a sensitive group,1 limit prolonged outdoor exertion. In general, you can protect
your health by reducing how long or how strenuously you exert yourself outdoors and by planning outdoor
activities when ozone levels are lower (usually in the early morning or evening).
• You can check with your State air agency to find out about current or predicted ozone levels in your location.
This information on ozone levels is available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/airnow
fou are a member of a sensitive group,1 you have a higher chance of experiencing respiratory symptoms
ch as aggravated cough or pain when taking a deep breath), and reduced lung function, which can cause
ne breathing difficulty.
™ this level, anyone could experience respiratory effects.
I can I do to protect my health?
ou are a member of a sensitive group,1 avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Everyone else—especially
Idren—should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
in outdoor activities when ozone levels are lower (usually in the early morning or evening).
j can check with your State air agency to find out about current or predicted ozone levels in your location.
is information on ozone levels is available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/airnow.
lat are the possible health effects?
imbers of sensitive groups! will likely experience increasingly severe respiratory symptoms and impaired
jathing.
my healthy people in the general population engaged in moderate exertion will experience some kind of
ect. According to EPA estimates, approximately:
Half will experience moderately reduced lung function.
One-fifth will experience severely reduced lung function.
10 to 15 percent will experience moderate to severe respiratory symptoms (such as aggravated cough and
pain when taking a deep breath).
ople with asthma or other respiratory conditions will be more severely affected, leading some to increase
medication usage and seek medical attention at an emergency room or clinic.
hat can I do to protect my health?
If you are a member of a sensitive group,1 avoid outdoor activity altogether. Everyone else—especially
children—should limit outdoor exertion and avoid heavy exertion altogether.
Check with your State air agency to find out about current or predicted ozone levels in your location.
This information on ozone levels is available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/airnow
1 Members of sensitive groups include children who are active outdoors; adults involved in moderate or strenuous outdoor activities; individu-
als with respiratory disease, such as asthma; and individuals with unusual susceptibility to ozone.
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
75
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In general, your chances of being affected by ozone increase the longer you are
active outdoors and the more strenuous the activity you engage in. Therefore,
it is recommended that you limit outdoor activities as ozone levels rise to
unhealthy levels. You can do this by limiting both the amount of time you are
active outdoors and your activity level. For example, if you're involved in an
activity that requires heavy exertion, such as running or heavy manual labor,
you can reduce the time you spend on that activity or substitute another activ-
ity that requires less exertion. In addition, you can plan outdoor activities
when ozone levels are lower, usually in the early morning or evening.
For additional, easy-to-understand information about the health effects of ozone,
you can read EPA's booklet Smog: Who Does It Hurt? (found on the Web at
http://www.epa.gov/airnow/health. EPA has also developed a fact sheet about
ozone's health and environmental effects. It can be found on the Web at
http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/naaqsfin/o3health.htm.
and the Air Act
• Are there federal laws that regulate ground-level ozone?
Yes. Ground-level ozone is regulated under the federal Clean Air Act, which is
the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions in the United States.
The Clean Air Act requires the U.S. EPA to set health-based standards for six
commonly occurring air pollutants, including ozone. These standards are
known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The
NAAQS can be defined as the levels of air quality that EPA has determined to
be generally protective of people's health. The Clean Air Act requires each state
to develop and implement a plan for meeting and maintaining the NAAQS
for ozone and other major pollutants within their state.
You can find out more about the Clean Air Act and the NAAQS in EPA's Plain
English Guide to the Clean Air Act (http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/
peg_caa/pegcaain.html.)
• What is meant by the new 8-hour standard for ozone?
In 1997, EPA adopted new, more stringent standards for ozone, based on
research that found that the original NAAQS for ozone, known as the 1 -hour
standard, was not adequately protective of human health. The 1-hour standard
limited ozone levels to 0.12 parts per million averaged over a 1-hour period.
The new standard, known as the 8-hour standard, requires that a community's
ozone levels be no higher than 0.08 parts per million when averaged over an
8-hour period.
• How are ground-level ozone levels measured?
Under the Clean Air Act, states are required to establish air monitoring net-
works—air quality surveillance systems that consist of a series of carefully
placed monitoring stations. Each station measures the concentrations of
important air pollutants, including ground-level ozone, in the immediate
vicinity of the station. States are required to report the data gathered from the
monitoring stations to the EPA.
76 CHAPTER6
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What is the ozone map?
The ozone map is a tool designed to provide the public with easy-to-under-
stand information about ozone levels in their community and throughout
their region. The map uses color contours to show concentrations of ground-
level ozone. The colors on the map change as the ozone concentrations change.
The maps can show:
• Yesterday's actual ozone levels.
• Today's actual ozone levels.
• Forecasts of tomorrow's peak ozone levels.
• Animations that depict the formation and movement of ozone
throughout the course of the day.
What do the map's colors mean?
The ozone map is color-coded to indicate the level of health concern associat-
ed with the ozone concentration. For example, green means ozone levels are
"good," yellow means they are "moderate," orange means they are "unhealthy
for sensitive groups," red means they are "unhealthy," and purple means they
are "very unhealthy." Once you understand the color scheme, you can use the
map to quickly determine whether ozone concentrations are reaching
unhealthy levels in your area.
How is the ozone map created?
The map is created using specially designed computer software. Real-time,
hourly ozone data provided by state and local air monitoring stations are input
into the software, called MapGen. MapGen takes these ozone concentration
data and automatically draws color contours coded to different levels of ozone
concentrations.
Where can I see the ozone map?
In some areas of the U.S., the ozone map is shown on televised weather broad-
casts and in local newspapers. For many areas of the country, the ozone map
is available over the Internet on EPA's AIRNOW Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/airnow). AIRNOW also contains facts about the
health and environmental effects of air pollution, ideas about ways you can
protect your health and actions you can take to reduce pollution, and links to
state and local air pollution control agency Web sites with real-time air pollu-
tion data.
It
• What is the Air Quality Index?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool developed by EPA to provide people
with timely and easy-to-understand information on local air quality and
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 77
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whether it poses a health concern. It provides a simple, uniform system that
can be used throughout the country for reporting levels of major pollutants
regulated under the Clean Air Act. In addition to ground-level ozone, these
pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (soot,
dust, particles), and nitrogen dioxide1. You may sometimes hear the AQI
referred to as the Pollutant Standards Index.
The AQI converts a measured pollutant concentration to a number on a scale
of 0 to 500. The AQI value of 100 corresponds to the National Ambient Air
Quality Standard established for the pollutant under the Clean Air Act. This is
the level that EPA has determined to be generally protective of human health.
The higher the index value, the greater the health concern.
What do the Air Quality Index health descriptors mean:
As shown below, the Air Quality Index scale has been divided into six cate-
gories, each corresponding to a different level of health concern. Each catego-
ry is also associated with a color. (The same color scheme is used in the ozone
map.)
Green
Air Quality Index Value
OtoSO
Health Descriptor
Good
Yellow
51 to 100
Moderate
101 to 150
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
151 to 200
Unhealthy
Very Unheal1
Hazardou
The level of health concern associated with each AQI category is summarized
by a descriptor:
Good. When the AQI value for your community is between 0 and 50, air qual-
ity is considered satisfactory in your area.
Moderate. When the index value for your community is between 51 and 100,
air quality is acceptable in your area. (However, people who are extremely sen-
sitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.)
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Some people are particularly sensitive to the
harmful effects of certain air pollutants. For example, people with asthma may
be sensitive to sulfur dioxide and ozone, while people with heart disease may
be sensitive to carbon monoxide. Some groups of people may be sensitive to
more than one pollutant. When AQI values are between 101 and 150, mem-
bers of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Members of the general
public are not likely to be affected when the AQI is in this range.
Lead is also considered a major air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. However, because all areas of
the United States are currently attaining the NAAQS for lead, the AQI does not specifically address
lead.
78
CHAPTER 6
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Unhealthy. When AQI values are between 151 and 200, everyone may begin
to experience health effects. Members of sensitive groups may experience more
serious health effects.
Very Unhealthy. AQI values between 201 and 300 trigger a health alert for
everyone.
Hazardous. AQI values over 300 trigger health warnings of emergency condi-
tions. AQI values over 300 rarely occur in the U.S.
How is the Air Quality Index calculated?
State and local air quality monitoring networks take measurements of levels of
ozone, fine and coarse paniculate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
and sulfur dioxide several times a day. These raw measurements are then con-
verted into corresponding AQI values using standard conversion scales devel-
oped by the EPA. For example, an ozone measurement of 0.08 parts per mil-
lion, which happens to be National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone,
would translate to an AQI value of 100.
Once the AQI values for the individual pollutants have been calculated, they
are then used to calculate an overall single index value for the local area. The
single AQI value is determined simply by taking the highest index value that
was calculated for the individual air pollutants. This value becomes the AQI
value reported in a community on a given day. For example, say that on July
12, your community has an AQI rating of 115 for ozone and 72 for carbon
monoxide. The AQI value that will be reported that day for your community
is 115- On days when the AQI for two or more pollutants is greater than 100,
the pollutant with the highest index level is reported, but information on any
other pollutant above 100 may also be reported.
When and how is the Air Quality Index reported to the public?
In metropolitan areas of the U.S. with populations over 350,000, state and
local agencies are required to notify the public on days when the AQI for that
area exceeds 100. They may also report the AQI levels for all pollutants that
exceed 100. Even in areas where reporting is not required, EPA, state, and local
officials may use the AQI as a public information tool to advise the public
about how local air quality might affect their health, and what actions they can
take to protect their health and improve air quality. You may see the AQI
reported in your newspaper or on the Internet, or it may be broadcast on your
local television or radio station. In some areas, AQI information is available on
a recorded telephone message.
More information about the AQI is contained in EPA's brochure Measuring
Air Quality. It can be found on the Web at http://www.epa.gov/oar/
oaqps/psi.html.
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 79
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to
• What can I do to reduce ozone pollution?
You can do a number of things to help prevent the formation of ground-level
ozone. On days when ozone levels are high, you can take the following steps:
• Instead of driving, use mass transit, or walk or ride a bike—if these
activities require moderate levels of exertion. (Keep in mind that
because fitness levels vary widely among individuals, what is moder-
ate exertion for one person may be heavy exertion for another.)
• Consider eating lunch at your desk rather than driving to a restau-
rant.
• Share rides.
• Make sure your car is well-tuned.
• Be careful not to spill gasoline when you fill the tank of your car or
lawnmower.
• Refuel your car or lawnmower after dusk.
• Replace your gas-powered lawn mower with a manual or electric-
powered unit.
• Don't mow the lawn or use an outdoor barbecue.
• Use water-based paints instead of oil-based paints.
80 CHAPTER6
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ORGANIZING OZONE ACTION DAYS
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments & the Baltimore Metropolitan Council
Air quality planners in many EMPACT areas have realized that unless the public begins to cut back volun-
tarily on activities that contribute to ozone formation—particularly on days when meteorologists predict
high levels—their communities will face tough ozone-reduction measures down the line. But getting indi-
viduals to change their behavior can be difficult. Here's how the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region tack-
led this challenge.
Launching Ozone Action Days. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Baltimore
Metropolitan Council created the ENDZONE program (Partners to End Ground-Level Ozone) in 1994.
From behavior modification surveys conducted previously, ENDZONE's organizers knew area residents
were concerned about air quality but didn't know how they could help. In response, ENDZONE planners
launched their Ozone Action Days program. Ozone action days, which have been initiated in a number of
EMPACT areas, are designed to give individuals information about steps they can take to help reduce
ground-level ozone when especially high ozone levels (called "Code Red" days) are forecast.
Recruiting Partners. ENDZONE's Ozone Action Days strategy is based on recruiting high-profile industries,
large retailers, and other businesses and organizations to commit to helping reduce ground-level ozone.
There are two major benefits to this approach:
• Each partner educates their employees and customers on ground-level ozone and the concrete
steps they can take when Code Red days are forecast. This approach enables the program to
reach large numbers of individuals.
• The partners also initiate very public ozone reduction actions—often covered by the media—that
in turn may influence many other individuals and organizations to follow suit.
Providing Tools to Partners. After recruiting over 400 local businesses and industries, ENDZONE staff provid-
ed the partners with extensive ozone outreach material and ideas. This gave partners the start they need
to develop their own ozone outreach programs. For example, after educating their employees about
ozone, International Paper went into the community to host an ozone workshop and partner with a local
elementary school to teach kids about ozone. Amoco offered a $4 rebate to customers for refueling after
dark on Code Red days. And a local chamber of commerce placed articles in community newspapers all
summer long about the need to change behavior when ozone levels are high.
Lessons Learned. What have organizers learned from this effort? Feedback from the partners has shown that
the public has begun to understand what contributes to ground-level ozone. While people recognized that
driving was an ozone-contributing activity, for example, many were unaware of how much ozone they
could prevent by not operating lawnmowers and other lawn and garden power equipment. Ozone Action
Days staff also learned to pick their behavior modification targets carefully. While boating is an important
contributor to ground-level ozone, for example, efforts to reduce this activity during ozone incidents were
unsuccessful—while people would forgo mowing the lawn on a hot summer's day, boat owners typically
were not willing to skip boating when the weather turned hot and muggy. In general, program organizers
credit positive initial results on tying individual efforts to ozone incidents: when bad ozone levels are fore-
cast, residents are motivated to take action. Still, organizers recognize that the kinds of changes needed
won't happen overnight. They caution that it is important to think about what changes will be needed 10
to 15 years from now and to structure an outreach program around long-term goals.
You can find out more about ENDZONE's Ozone Action Days program at http://www.endzone-
partners.org/ and about other state and municipal ozone action days programs at
http://www.epa.gov/airnow/action.html.
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APPENDIX A
TIPS ON CONFIGURING THE AUTOMATIC DATA
TRANSFER SYSTEM (ADTS)
This appendix contains tips on:
• Configuring your system for forecast data.
• Configuring files such as oms-env.bat, omscnvrt.inp, and airs2oms.exe.
Forecast Data
Agencies and communities are strongly encouraged to participate in the EPA fore-
cast program. By participating in this program, communities can receive ozone
forecasts (for today and tomorrow) from the EPA AIRNOW Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/airnow). If you choose to participate, your agency will be
responsible for calculating the forecast data and submitting it via the ozone data
file (with the 3:00 p.m. poll) or a Web-based forecast submission form. After the
data are submitted, the Data Collection Center (DCC) will post it to EPA's
AIRNOW Web site for access by agencies, communities, and individuals.
Please follow the step-by-step instructions in the Ozone Mapping System (OMS)
Web site at http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/ozmap/ for submitting forecast data
via the Web or ozone data file. (You will need a password and user name, which
you can obtain from Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil@epa.gov. When you
reach the OMS Web site, scroll to the section titled New! and click on the link
called 1999 Draft Forecast Plan). The Ozone Forecast Map Plan for the Northeast
States, located at http://www.nescaum.org, contains additional information.
OMS-ENV.BAT
This file contains most of the customization for your system. Please see the instal-
lation instructions file adts-shc.txt for step-by-step instructions on configuring
oms-env. bat. You will not need to modify oms-env. bat if you are using specific
polling software listed in adts-shc. txt.
When you configure oms-env. bat, you will edit some lines of code. When you edit
the code for SET AGENCY, you will enter your three-character agency ID (e.g.,
MAI). You can find list of agency IDs at http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/
pub/Sitelnfo/agency_codes.html.
If you decide to submit data for your forecast via the ozone data file, you will need
to configure oms-bat.env by editing the code for SETFCST. When you edit the
code for SET FCST, you will determine whether you want forecasts to be calcu-
lated based on your ozone data. If SET FCST is set to Y, the Automatic Data
Transfer System (ADTS) will insert a forecast packet in the file being transferred
to the DCC. (Some polling software applications insert a forecast packet into the
file, so the PCS Invariable should be set to TV.)
TIPS ON CONFIGURING THE AUTOMATIC DATA TRANSFER SYSTEM (ADTS) Al
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OMSCNVRT.INP
This is the initialization file for the data conversion program and should be used
by agencies without polling software. You can download this file from
ftp://envpro.ncsc.org/OMS/Utility/. Please contact Phil Dickerson at dicker-
son.phil@epa.gov for information on obtaining and configuring this file.
AIRS20MS.EXE
This file converts Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) data format to
OMS data format and should be used by agencies without polling software. To
obtain this program, download the convert.exe file from ftp://envpro.ncsc.org/
OMS/Utility/. Save the file in the c:\oms\convert directory, double click on con-
vert.exe to extract the airs2oms files, and then follow the installation instructions
in airs2oms.doc. (The converter file is also distributed with MapGen, discussed in
Chapter 5 of this handbook, and it will be placed in the c:\oms\convert directory
when you install MapGen.)
A2 APPENDIXA
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APPENDIX B
INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING
SOFTWARE
This appendix contains instructions for installing and configuring ClockerPro
and Clocker, Kermit-Lite, and connectivity software such as Dunce (Dial-up
Networking Connection Software).
ClockerPro and Clocker
ClockerPro for Windows95 and Clocker for Windows 3-1 may be downloaded
from: http://www.winnovation.com/clocker.htm. To install ClockerPro or
Clocker:
1. Click on the file clkpr311.zip (for ClockerPro) or clk2403.zip (for Clocker)
and save it to a temporary directory on your computer (such as c:\tmp).
2. Start your Web browser. Navigate to the location of clkpr311.zip.
3- Run setup.exe and follow the instructions provided.
For instructions on using ClockerPro or Clocker, select Help from the software's
main screen. Sample schedules specific to Automatic Data Transfer System
(ADTS) operation are provided in c:\oms\conftg\shc95.clk (for ClockerPro) and
c:\oms\config\shc31.clk (for Clocker). You can open these from either program's
File\Open menu. The polling times in these sample schedules do not reflect the
currently recommended polling/upload times for each day and will need to be
modified.
Kermit-Lite
Kermit-Lite for MS-DOS is the communications software used by the ADTS as
a backup method of file transfer. The required initialization and script files have
already been included in the ADTS software distribution. We suggest that you
install the full Kermit for MS-DOS package to have access to the latest initializa-
tion and script files as well as documentation. Kermit-Lite for MS-DOS and
Windows 3.x can be downloaded from http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/
mskermit.html. Follow the installation instructions provided with Kermit-Lite
and install it. Do not install the full Kermit-Lite package in the c:\oms directory.
Doing so might overwrite files you have already configured for your computer.
Connectivity Software
For information on installing Dunce 2.52, see the instructions file adts-shc.txt.
You can download Dunce 2.52 from http://www.gf-inter.net/serv03.htm.
Serv-U is available as shareware (registration is $25) from http://www.cat-
soft.com/.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING SOFTWARE Bl
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APPENDIX C
AUTOMATED DATA QUALITY CHECKS
This appendix contains a detailed description of automated data quality checks
that the Data Collection Center (DCC) performs on actual (observed) station
data groups. These automated data quality checks:
1. Check for data that are out of range.
2. Check for data with unusual rates of changes.
3- Check how many hours of data are missing. Uses interpolation to estimate
hourly values if only 1 hour is missing. If more than one hour is missing, the
data is marked as missing and there is no attempt to estimate the data.
4. Assign quality control flags to each ozone value.
Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) flags enable whoever is reviewing
the data to quickly identify problems and understand their source and severi-
ty. The flags are written to the observation file, where they can be reviewed by
the DCC (and also by the end- user who has an observation file). The follow-
ing table shows the correlation between flag type and data integrity.
Level Flag Meaning
1
2
2
3
4
5
G
K
R
E
M
B
Good Data
Suspect Range or Sample Number
Suspect Rate of Change
Estimated
Missing (-999 will be used for the missing data value)
Bad (Severe Range or other problem)
Tip!
If you open an observation
file, you will see that each
monitoring station has two
lines of data. The first line
contains the ozone data val-
ues. The second line con-
tains QA/QC flags directly
beneath their respective
ozone data values. The flags
signify whether the data
value is good, suspect, esti-
mated, missing, or bad.
5. Extrapolate a single missing value (i.e., estimate new values from missing or
bad values).
6. Assign specific QA/QC criteria to the data. For example, for the Greenwich,
CT, monitoring station, the proposed maximum allowed ozone level during
11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. is 197 parts per billion. The QA/QC program checks
to see if ozone data during this time fall within the allowable concentration.
For further information on proposed quality assurance values that may be
incorporated into the DCC software, see sample criteria at
http://envpro.ncsc.org/oms/pub/Sitelnfo/03-QC-table.html.
7. Generate a quality control report that summarizes the total amount of good,
suspect, bad, and missing data by station. This report is reviewed every time a
polling cycle is completed by a DCC staff member before the data are released
to the public. Each "suspect" or "severe" flag set by the automated program is
inspected in the context of surrounding data both in time and in space.
AUTOMATED DATA QUALITY CHECKS
C 1
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Document the level of QA/QC effort in the observation file. The observation
file provides information on the level of QA/QC effort at the DCC:
• =0 means that no QA/QC was done.
• =l means that the DCC performed an automated
QA/QC check of the data.
• =2 means the staff reviewed the automated QA/QC.
Note!
The DCC performs a "mini-check" on forecast data, but the data are
not flagged. Forecast data should be inspected before use.
C2 APPENDIXC
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