EPA-450/3-76-011
August 1975
CDHS EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY REPORT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Air and Waste Management
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
-------
EPA-450/3-76-011
CDHS EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY REPORT
by
International Business Machines Corporation
18100 Frederick Pike
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20760
Contract No. 68-02-2054
_ EPA Project Officer: Lloyd Hedgepeth
Prepared for
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Air and Waste Management
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711
August 1975
-------
This report is issued by the Environmental Protection Agency to report
technical data~of interest to a limited number of readers. Copies are
available free of charge to Federal employees, current contractors and
grantees, and nonprofit organizations - as supplies permit - from the
Air Pollution Technical Information Center, Environmental Protection
Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; or, for a fee,
from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road,
Springfield, Virginia 22161.
This report W(as<*furnished to the Environmental Protection Agency by
International Business Machines Corporation, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20760, in fulfillment of Contract No. 68-02-2054.' The contents of this
report are reproduced herein as received from International Business
Machines Corporation. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed
are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Environmental
Protection Agency. Mention of company or product names is not to be
considered as an endorsement by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Publication No. EPA-450/3-76-011
11
-------
NOTICE
This report discusses the following three subsystems of the Comprehensive
Data Handling System (CDHS):
Air Quality Data Handling Subsystem-II (AQDHS-II)
Emissions Inventory/Permits and Registration
Subsystem (EIS/P&R)
Enforcement Management Subsystem (EMS)
While the EMS was originally included as a subsystem of the CDHS, installa-
tion, maintenance and other matters dealing with EMS are handled by the
Division of Stationary Source Enforcement (DSSE) . Any inquiries regarding
the EMS should be directed to:
Office of Enforcement and General Counsel
Office of General Enforcement
Waterside Mall, 3220L
Washington, D. C. 20460
All inquiries regarding AQDHS-II or EIS/P&R should be directed to the
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
-------
1.0 THE COMPREHENSIVE DATA HANDLING SYSTEM - AN OVERVIEW
This section provides a conceptual description of the Comprehensive Data
Handling System (CDHS) to establish its role in air pollution control and to
give the user an insight into the overall application of the system. This
foundation will allow the user to incoporate CDHS subsystems into his normal
routine with greater appreciation of the advantages and benefits that can be
obtained.
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Air Quality Management is today one of the most important of the public
disciplines. It assumes this importance because of its relative newness and its
pervasive influence on our society.
While the social importance has certainly caused some helpful fiscal backing, it
has also created severe challenges for Air Quality Managers. Working under
severe time constraints with limited resources the state Air Quality Manager has
had to:
a. explore this new area of concern,
b. establish procedures for enforcing air pollution control,
c. prepare and implement long term policies which win lead to improvement
of the air quality,
and always in the harsh spotlight of public scrutiny.
The exercise of air pollution control is highly dependent upon the collection,
processing and analysis of large amounts of data. This data, which describes
both the sources of pollutants - the emission inventory and the resultant
-------
ambient concentrations - the air quality file, is constantly changing and
growing in amount. Proper maintenance and processing imposes special resource
requirements on the state and local agency.
The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the work load imposed on
state and local agencies as the result of data collection, processing and
reporting functions arising from existing Federal regulations. EPA has
responded by creating a data handling system patterned to satisfy both state and
Federal needs for collecting, processing, and reporting air qualityand
emissions data. The need to manage resources and schedules is also recognized
as an inherent part of this system. The EPA solution is the Comprehensive Data
Handling System (CDHS) which is.comprised of: . . .
The Emission Inventory/Permits and Registration Subsystem (EIS/P&R)
The Air Quality Data Handling Subsystem (AQDHS II)
The Enforcement Management Subsystem (EMS)
The CDHS has been designed to support state and local agencies by providing an
automated means for managing their emissions and air quality data in support of
the many functions of air pollution control. A significant feature of the
system is the capability to automatically respond to the Federal reporting
requirement for both air quality and emissions data. Figure 1.1-1, CDHS System
Summary, provides a ready reference relating air pollution control functions to
CDHS support capabilities. The manner in which CDHS support capabilities are
applied at the state and local level are purposely left to the descretion of the
Air Pollution Control Manager so that he can have full control of his operation
while exploiting the advantages of automation.
EPA's approach to assisting both state and local governments in air quality
management has been to regard air po.llution control as an overall system in and
of itself. This system is complex with many internal interrelationships, with
distinct feedback loops with many external influences. The system depends on
the collection, evaluation and reporting of a large amount of data. Figure 1.1-1
illustrates these features and highlights the data relationships between
-------
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL FUNCTIONS
Status
Recommendations
Analysis and
Evaluation
System
Data
Dalii System
Status
Data
Management
Policy Regulations
Directed Actions
Recommendations
Proposed Laws
Reports
Standards
Laws
Time Schedule
Enforcement Functions
I Variance System J
( Permit System J
(Inspection ^
System J
(Enforcement A
System )
(Surveillance \
System J
(Air Quality
System
I Complaint System J
EPA
Legislature
Hearings
Hearings
Public
Recommended Actions
Laws Enforcement Powers
Courts
Legal Agency
Complaints
Figure 1.1-1. An Air Pollution Control System
-------
management, analysis and the enforcement functions. The source enforcement
functions generate data describing emission sources, air quality and related
information. This data, in turn, is analyzed, evaluated and reduced to
management reports measuring the success of control activities. Management
translates the findings into policies and, where necessary, regulations.
The nature of the end product in air quality management suggests that
measurements are needed both at specific locations and at less specific or
global locations. This monitoring must be of sufficient resolution so as to
adequately describe the air quality found; it must also be measured with
sufficient rapidity to be of more than historical value. With these
considerations in mind, the system structure has been adapted for CDHS to
address the many interfaces and feedbacks of the air pollution system as well as
the pure data handling functions.
1.2 COMPREHENSIVE DATA HANDLING SYSTEM (CDHS)
Management of air quality requires constant surveillance of air quality and
careful recording of all significant pollution sources with respect to:
a. Location by name and address
b. Categorization by emission type and quantity
c. Identification with processes
d. Relation to other facility attributes.
Measurements are required to trace progress of particular emission control
attempts and of the general state of air quality. Involved long range plans are
required to change and control specific plant processes. Detailed analysis is
required to predict future air pollution conditions and to determine the
contributory effect of any particular emission. These considerations must, in
-------
urn, be related to Air Pollution Control Implementation Plans to ensure that
nforcement actions are achieving desired goals. These and the many unmentioned
asks in air quality control add up to a massive data handling requirement.
he CDHS was designed to meet these specific requirements by responding to the
omplex relationships of air pollution control as depicted in Figure 1.2-1. It
irovides computerized data storage and retrieval subsystems to serve in
irocessing the details of point and area emission inventories as well as high
volumes of repetitive air quality measurements. Files and procedures necessary
:o manage the long range scheduling inherent in bringing emission levels under
:ontrol are provided as part of the system.
U.1 subsystems have been developed with state and local needs in mind.
Consequently, two system features are significantly important. All systems
contain the capability for agencies to locally devise qualification criteria for
accessing the data bases. This means that each agency can selectively retrieve
data records (or portions thereof) according to their special needs. All
systems can accommodate a wide variety of data (e.g., multiple sources,
pollutants and air quality) which are selected locally. All subsystems enable
users to select records from the data base and process the answers using
subsystem programs to produce several classes of reports, including detail and
summary reports. Provisions are made to simplify the addition of programs to
extend the type, content, and formats of reports that can be generated from the
data bases. In addition, the extended version of EIS permits an agency to
record, store, and access information whose content and format are locally
selected. This capability gives the agency a means for handling special
information beyond the normal scope or of different content from generally
applicable air pollution control data.
The subsystems are capable of accepting machine readable information formatted
ac.cording to the CDHS defined or the Federal (EPA) formats for emission and air
quality data. The internal files are designed to accept multiple formats
-------
Emission Inventory/
Permits and Regis-
tration Subsystem
(Data)
Emissions
Permits
Compliance
Complaints
Prosecution
Inspection
Surveillance
Reports
Comprehensive
Data Handling
System
Enforcement
Management
Subsystem
(Schedules)
Actions
Permits
Inspections
Prosecution
Complaints
Compliance
Reports
Air Quality
Data Handling
Subsystem
(Air Quality)
Trends
Models
Surveillance
Reports
V
Evaluation — Decision — Control
Figure 1.2-1. CDHS Design Overview
-------
including those defined by the system, National Emissions Data System (NEDS),
the Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric Data (SAROAD) System or the local
agency. Full compatibility with Federal requirements is, therefore, achieved
while allowing agencies to handle data in local formats.
The retrieval language format is common to all subsystems, thus providing a
uniform user interface. In all cases, this facility takes simple but powerful
logical expressions of the type :
IF a condition is true, THEN select the record,
e.g., IF STACK ='100'
and converts them into computer program statements which test the data base."
The language allows for compound logical queries which give the user the ability
to selectively retrieve from one to many records. This capability lets the user
rapidly respond to many different types of questions related to air pollution
control. If the test is successful, a copy of the qualifying record is added to
an output file called an answer set from which appropriate reports are
generated.
CDHS serves an Air Quality Control Agency by:
a. Allowing better utilization of professional personnel by providing
organized data handling systems.
b. Assisting management by giving day-to-day visibility of the status of
operations such as air quality monitoring, source monitoring, permits
and registrations, inspections, complaints, surveillance, compliance,
schedules, and legal actions.
c. Providing a mechanism for appropriately formatting the basic data for
inputs to Federal reports.
-------
CDHS, or any of its subsystems, is available without charge to state and local
agencies through the appropriate EPA Regional Office. EPA encourages the use of
CDHS by state and local agencies and conducts a project to provide installation
assistance and detailed system orientation training when requested by state and
local agencies. System maintenance and further development is scheduled for at
least the next several years.
CDHS will store, update, retrieve and maintain a history of information to
support the following agency functions:
a. Emission Inventory Data Base Maintenance
b. Air Quality Data Base Maintenance
c. Scheduled Activity Monitoring
d. Permit System Operation and Enforcement
e. Compliance System Operation and Enforcement
f. Inspection System Operation
g. Complaint System Operation.
CDHS supports these activities by a combination of independent subsystems: the
Emissions Inventory/Permits and Registration Subsystem (EIS/P&R), the
Enforcement Management Subsystem (EMS), and the Air Quality Data Handling
Subsystem (AQDHS-II). A conceptualization of the system is shown in Figure 1.2-2,
The Emissions Inventory Subsystem, with its extension to handle Permits and
Registrations, (EIS/P&R), provides a means for monitoring point and area source
engineering and emissions data. It has special capabilities for recording
permit data and can handle narrative information such as rules and regulations.
EIS/P&R also provides means for handling special data of local importance while
maintaining full compatibility (for reporting purposes) with Federal
requirements. EIS/P&R is especially significant since it can be used to support
such agency activities as permit control, source inventory, .legal actions, and
the monitoring and recording of enforcement and inspection activities.
-------
The
Comprehensive Data Handling System
State Local
EPA
Air Pollution Control
Figure 1.2-2. CDHS Concept
-------
The Enforcement Management Subsystem (EMS) provides the means for recording and
monitoring the many scheduled activities needed for air pollution control. EMS
assists management by reporting scheduled actions (and providing individual
Action Cards) as well as generating form letters to organize activities such as
permit applications, meetings with industry, and enforcement notices for which
appropriate standard letters can be locally devised.
The Air Quality Data Handling Subsystem (AQDHS-II), as its name implies, records
and processes air quality data. In addition it provides a means for monitoring
special site information such as sensor descriptions. AQDHS-II contains a full set
of statistical processing routines designed to reduce air quality data into a
meaningful form in presentation. The reports generated by AQDHS-II assist agencies
in monitoring the progress and effectiveness of air pollution control. AQDHS-II
simplifies reporting requirements by automatically generating appropriate
Federal air quality reports.
The CDHS subsystems are straightforward and simple by design. They derive their
power from the ease of execution of three basic capabilities: data storage,
data retrieval, and report generation. The general flow of information through
the system is shown in Figure 1.2-2.
The greatest utility of CDHS comes from its capability to selectively retrieve
and display in various formats the contents of one or more data elements in a
source record. Using this capability users can answer such requests as, "Show me
all data on.firms whose principal product is steel." or "Show me all data for
plants who are. within a square bounded by four UTM coordinates and whose stacks
are less than 100 feet and emit S02." or "How many facilities have stacks taller
than 100 feet?" or "What is the distribution of emissions in Montgomery County by
major categories of pollutant sources?" using EIS/P&R. AQDHS-II supplies
information supporting answers to such questions as: "Are there any centers of
high pollution concentration in Western City?," "Has the particulate standard
been exceeded at the City Hall site this year?," "Is there any periodicity to the
concentration of hydrocarbon at the corner of 5th Avenue and Vine?," "Has the
10
-------
sulfur oxide concentrations in Carroll County decreased in the last two years?"
or "What are the monthly mean carbon monoxide concentrations along Interstate
70S?" EMS on the other hand helps agencies keep track of scheduled events and
supplies answers to such questions as: "What inspectors will be out next week and
where will they go?," "Do we have any court cases scheduled in September?," "Are
there any sources who are delinquent in requesting permits?," or "Do we have any
special surveillance activities next month?"
The fact that separate computer program facilities are used to extract data from
files and to list the data makes the system generally amenable to local
extension with specialized programs. These locally developed programs resolve
special local problems and analyze particular atmospheric conditions.
1.3 EMISSION INVENTORY/PERMIT AND REGISTRATION SUBSYSTEM (EIS/P&R)
The Emission Inventory/Permit and Registration Subsystem (EIS/P&R) is designed
to help resolve agency problems associated with maintaining and controlling
sources of pollution (Figure 1.3-1). The subsystem provides the basic
capabilities needed to record data describing sources of pollution in terms
directly applicable to control and enforcement rules and regulations. The re-
corded data includes engineering data describing the ultimate source of
pollution as well as the flow through the system to the atmosphere. The
subsystem also accommodates descriptive data related to permits or registrations
pertaining to each source.
Since the emission inventory identifies sources of pollution which are the
ultimate objectives of control regulations and enforcement actions, the
subsystem has been designed to support not only the basic functions but also a
number of related functions. Prime among these are:
11
-------
AREA SOURCES
POINT SOURCES
EIS/P&R
Inspection
Enforcement
j
Management
Federal Reports
Legal Actions
Control Evaluation
Complaints
Emergency Action
Compliance
Source Surveillance
PERMITS
:.,->Vl^J -
vX~ ' iS^i ifl U*-' v
Figure 1.3-1. EIS/P&R Concept
-------
a. Inspections
b. Complaints
c. Legal compliance
d. Source surveillance.
Inspections are supported by the subsystem and, in turn, support the subsystem.
EIS/P&R provides a readily accessible medium for recording the results of
inspections. The results may appear in the system as verified standard entries
or as narrative accounts. The subsystem is supported in the sense that the
content of the files are given additional validity and, thus, greater utility
because of the verifications achieved during inspections. EIS/P&R can be easily
used to verify or identify sources against which complaints have been made. For
example, a geographical search of the file could be used to find the possible
source or sources that may have given rise to a complaint. Conversely, the data
on file may eliminate sources from consideration. Again the flexibility of the
system can be used to record the complaint in narrative form once the
appropriate source has been isolated.
Legal actions are also supported by EIS/P&R which provides a means for recording
facts that could be introduced as evidence. Such facts could include as a
standard part of the recorded data such items as measured and allowable
emissions, pertinent permit information, and appropriate engineering data.
Additional material can be included in EIS/P&R to cover such facts as registered
complaints, source surveillance reports, and cross references to admissable
legal documents. This information can be related to court calendars either by
schedules incorporated in the special fields of the EIS/P&R record or by manual
cross reference to the schedules maintained by the EMS. All of this capability
provides greater management control as well as the means for presenting pending
actions for management review.
EIS/P&R supplements EMS arid the Compliance Data System by providing a direct
association between sources, permits and compliance schedules. Compliance
schedules can be inserted as a part of the emission inventory record by using
13
-------
the specialized storage and retrieval capabilities of the subsystem. Thus, all
aspects related to the degree of compliance of a source can be recorded within a
single record of the source thereby permitting the retrieval and reporting of
all pertinent data and compliance data. Such reports can be expected to be
useful in establishing inspection schedules, monitoring compliance, highlighting
problems, and guiding enforcement actions.
Source surveillance information consisting of emission measurements (e.g., stack
tests) and special air quality measurements can also be recorded as part of a
source record. This information can then be readily available for review when
considering source enforcement actions of various types. Of course the
interface with EMS for scheduling purposes helps organize the acquisition and
use of valuable data.
The EIS/P&R consists of a number of programmed packages that perform the
following functions:
a. Create an Emissions data base from NEDS formatted data
b. Create an Emissions/Permit data base from EIS/P&R
formatted data
c. Add to, change, or delete data in the file
d. Selectively retrieve data from the file
e. Calculate estimated emission from stored emission factors
f. Generate detail emission reports
g. Generate detail permit .reports
14
-------
h. Generate summary emission reports
i. Generate Federal (NEDS) reports.
There are two types of input to the subsystem. They are cards punched according
to the National Emissions Data System (NEDS) format, and cards punched according
to the EIS/P&R format.
Both types are used for creating the original file, while the EIS/P&R formats
are generally used for adding to, changing, or deleting data from the file.
Major subsystem functions are file maintenance, internal data edits, data
retrieval and report generation. File maintenance includes those functions that
permit an up-to-date file to be maintained. Three types' of file maintenance
transaction are allowed—add, change, and delete. The subsystems can:
a. Add new source records
b. Add data to existing source records
c. Change a data value in a source record
d. Delete a source record
e. Delete a portion of a source record.
In ordinary use, most data values in a record can be used in a query statement
to develop simple or compound logical inquiries about the data contents of a
source record. Such queries can be used to retrieve from one to all source
records, depending only on the type of source information desired.
Information retrieved from the master file can be presented in three ways,
namely:
a. Detailed reports
b. Summary reports
c. NEDS reports.
15
-------
Detailed reports present all data about the source. Summary reports present a
summary of emissions from several sources. NEDS reports are simply the source
data presented in NEDS input formats.
1.4 ENFORCEMENT MANAGEMENT SUBSYSTEM (EMS)
The Enforcement Management Subsystem was developed in 1972 to provide state and
local air pollution agencies with an effective means of controlling enforcement
activities (Figure 1.4-1). The subsystem emphasizes management control of the
enforcement function and establishes standardized methods of handling data.
Presently, a number of changes and additions to improve operation of the system
are underway, including a mechanized link with the Compliance Data System (CDS)
which will permit state agencies to meet many EPA reporting requirements with a
minimum of additional effort. Another improvement will permit better selection
of output data.
Installation of the system at an air pollution agency should improve the
efficiency of the enforcement function and increase management's ability to
control these operations. A number of states have been operating the system for
varying periods of time. In addition, four states are in the process of
installing the EMS.
All enforcement staff members of an air pollution agency should benefit from the
use of the EMS. Agency management will obtain improved operational control over
the enforcement function. They will be able to prepare many periodic reports
more efficiently than before.
Engineers, inspectors and other staff members should also benefit through easy
access to specific source information and improved control and visibility over
their routine activities.
16
-------
EMS
Schedules
Compliance
Permits
Meetings
Action
Performance Assessment
Source Surveillance
Inspections
Form Letters
Figure 1.4-1. EMS Concept
-------
EMS is concerned directly with enforcement activities such as inspections,
variances, permits, and any action which the agency undertakes. It is concerned
with both historical and future actions, and makes future workloads highly
visible to management and section heads through the Future Schedule Summary
Report. It improves the agency's ability to evaluate the upcoming workload in
terms of available personnel, and permits scheduling changes in activities. For
example, at any time, an agency can determine the status of its activities with
respect to a given source. These activities can include a history of past
contact, current activities, and other actions planned for years into the
future, such as a compliance schedule or a routine every-two-years checkback
inspection. This whole sequence of activity is available for inspection by
staff members and management, showing what has been done, what is due, and what
is planned.
The availability of this record of all present and planned contact between
agency personnel and a specific source generally represents a significant
improvement over most state files.
One member of a state agency described the EMS as a sophisticated tickler file.
That description is largely correct. The ability to store future schedules, or
to plan inspections or legally mandated increments of progress, and to present
these activities sorted out by time or by staff group, has proven to be useful.
Middle management should be able to look ahead and evaluate the upcoming actions
that his group will be expected to perform within a given time period.
Looking at the realities of daily agency activity, it becomes apparent that
technical personnel spend significant time digging out data to support external
requests for informatives. Answers to citizens, to the legislature, to other
state officials, to the EPA, and to others are needed. An up-to-date EMS data
base permits the staff to leave much of the "digging out" of the information to
the system. For example, one report permits a staff member to prepare a report
listing all agency activity of a designated type, such as inspections, and
allows the staff member to select the time period covered, even including future
periods if desired.
18
-------
EMS is a dynamic system, not one which simply maintains a static data base for
reporting purposes. It features the Action Card. The Action Card is a "turn-
around document," in that it is produced by the system and is also designated to
be reentered with new information. For example, an increment of progress is
scheduled for a certain date. The system prepares one of these cards
identifying the upcoming increment of progress. This card goes to the person
who performs the needed action. Next, the person who is responsible for the
activity can write the results right on the card. If it is a routine action,
the staff member need circle only one or two numbers. However, he has the
capability of adding English language comments or even scheduling a reinspection
or other activity by means of the card. When he has done this, these results
are punched into the card itself and it is fed back into the system which
updates its own records. If an additional action has been called for, the
system will produce a second card at the appropriate time and the process is
repeated.
A new feature of the EMS is now under development. This will provide a direct
link to the national Compliance Data System. We believe it will substantially
reduce the effort required by state agencies to meet federally mandated
reporting requirements of increments of progress. The link works this way: at
reporting time, the operator from the state agency who is running the system
schedules a special computer program to be run, using his EMS data base. The
special "converter" computer program extracts appropriate information from the
state's EMS base, reformats it into CDS input format, and punches out a deck of
cards representing that information. State personnel will have an opportunity
to review the data being extracted through the printed report to ensure that all
data which they need to pass on is included and that it is completed correctly.
The reports capable of being produced by the system are as follows:
a. Action card
b. Action Summary Report
c. Edit and Update Report
19
-------
d. Future Schedule Summary Report
e. Geographic Locator Report
f. Source Action Summary Report
g. Source Registration.
Additional retrieval capabilities are now being implemented and these will be
available within a short period of time. It will be possible, however, to
install the existing system and directly go to the retrieval programming without
substantial effort.
Of particular interest to heads of State agencies, is the basic capability of
EMS to provide individual service to local agencies. For example, the
centralized operation of EMS by the state provides a respository for the
information pertaining to the local agencies operations. Periodic generation of
^reports for distribution provides a tailored schedule monitoring system for each
local agency. In this way both state and local agencies can contribute data to
the system and utilize its outputs.
1.5 THE AIR QUALITY DATA HANDLING SUBSYSTEM (AQDHS-II)
The AQDHS-II is, as a subsystem, similar to all other components of CDHS and is
designed to assist agencies resolve problems dependent upon the distribution and
trends of air quality. It has basic design functions which are supplemented by
built-in flexibility to support related enforcement functions (Figure 1.5-1).
Its basic functions include data storage, update and retrieval capabilities, as
well as a broad range of statistical processing all of which support air quality
monitoring. Related enforcement functions which are supported include:
a. Control strategy .evaluation and development
b. Recording source surveillance measurements
c. Generation of SAROAD reports
20
-------
AQDHS-II
Air Quality
Management
Control Strategy Evaluation
Federal Reports
Legal Actions
Compliance
Enforcement
Emergency Actions
Complaints
Trends
Projections
Figure 1.5-1. AQDHS-II Concept
21
-------
d. Providing data for modeling
e. Providing data for legal actions.
AQDHS-II stores and maintains measurements of air quality which are input to the
subsystem in either of two formats. The SAROAD format can be used and is
recommended as a source of data for the initial generation of a file. The AQDHS-II
format provides a full range of input capability including adding, changing or
deleting information in the file.
The more significant processing functions of the subsystem are:
a. Data checking
b. Statistical calculations
c. Automatic generation of Federal reports
d. Report generation.
Input data is checked for validity in those instances where such action is
possible. These checks are supplemented by normal data processing checks to
ensure that data is entered in the proper form. For example, numeric fields are
checked to see that only numbers have been key punched. Statistical
calculations include both arithmetic and geometric means and standard
deviations, maximum and minimum values, sliding averages for selectable
intervals, and a broad range of percentile values. A special function provides
for flags attached to air quality data to indicate whether the data has been
reported to the Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric Data (SAROAD) system and
whether the data has been changed since last updated to SAROAD. This is
valuable in reducing resource needs when generating the quarterly SAROAD input.
In addition to the SAROAD input, AQDHS-II generates three major reports for routine
agency use. There is a detail report of raw data showing file contents on a
site-by-site basis. There is a sliding average report showing a sliding average
of a selected pollutant for the usual intervals taken over a twenty-four hour
22
-------
period. Finally, there is a statistical analysis report which contains the
results of the statistical processing including the three highest values
in the sample set. All reports are titled with descriptive headings.
1.6 IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATION
All subsystems within CDHS have been designed using simplicity as the major
principle. This has resulted in subsystems which can be operated with a minimum
of modification on almost any general purpose computer. All programs are
written in either ANS COBOL or ANS FORTRAN. All input transactions have
standard punched card formats. All system files are organized for either
magnetic tapes or disk storage.
CDHS implementation activities will take various amounts of time depending on
local circumstances. However, a general schedule can be made which should be
reasonably applicable. Such a schedule is shown (Figure 1.6-1) which allows
somewhat less than five months to accomplish necessary actions to install one or
more CDHS subsystems.
All components of the system were developed so that they can be installed and
used by any agency having access to a minimally equipped computer. The basic
equipment requirements are:
a. Three tape drives (or disk equivalent)
b. 100K Bytes (or equivalent) of CPU memory
c. Card Reader
d. Printer
e. Keypunch
23
-------
Decision to Proceed
Computer Arrangements
Funding Requests
Authority to Proceed
Assign Key Personnel
Develop Schedule
Request Subsystem(s)
Request Data
Installation and Demonstration
Bring System On-line
Staff Training
Start Routine Use
EPA On-Call Services
12345
Figure 1.6-1. Sample Implementation Schedule
-------
The CDHS components can, with little modification, be operated on any computer
with the capability to:
a. Compile ANS COBOL and ANS FORTRAN
b. Sort files
c. Accept single sequential inputs and single sequential
output files
d. Print: reports and punch cards.
All operations are in batch mode; that is, a deck is submitted for a computer
run and at some later time the results are returned to the user. Use of the •
system is scheduled and processed, and output is returned to the requestor
according to local computer center procedures.
Each subsystem builds and maintains its own file from well defined input cards
which carry a code directing the computer to add, change, or delete data from
its files. Data in the files are automatically maintained in the most useful
order by reference to identification data in each record.
All system master files are ordered sequentially and may be stored on magnetic
tape or disk. Programs have only one master file input and a maximum of one
updated master file output. Intermediate "answer" files may be retained so that
several different reports may be prepared from the same source records.
A file entry can be made as soon as identifying information (plant information
for EIS/P&R and EMS and site information for AQDHS-II) is available. Additional
data may be added to or changed in the file by creating a change transaction
with the proper identifying fields and providing the new or changed data. It is,
however, more efficient to collect changes and additions to the file and perform
file update activity periodically.
25
-------
The arrangement of individual files of data have been structured to accommodate
a large data base which is organized for ease of maintenance and use. This data
base will logically include information provided from many diverse sources.
Although this would normally create significant duplication of data within the
individual files, organization in the hierarchical fashion serves to eliminate
much of this duplication and consequently enhances the effective file storage
capability.
Programs to build and maintain these hierarchical files are available as
standard elements of CDHS. These programs offer the data base user a standard
symbolic interface which permits him to manage and coordinate individual records
in the system without developing an in-depth knowledge of the actual file
organization.
The ability to group files and data from many diverse sources into one family of
logical structures, coupled with the ability to provide conformity between these
structures, makes this file organization scheme a highly attractive one for the
air quality management system.
The CDHS master files are arranged using simple hierarchical structures. This
means that in describing a particular phenomenon, the data which is
characteristic of all aspects is presented first. Data which relate .only to
small facets are associated with the general descriptive information by being
filed behind the header information. For example, the emissions data structure
places process and engineering descriptive information subordinate to a point
source which, in turn, is subordinate to a plant.
This type of filing is similar to manual filing systems in which a header ledger
card is followed by trailer cards which describe particular events. In one
access to the file all generic and detail descriptions can be retrieved.
26
-------
In EIS/P&R, the hierarchical structure is plant, point, process, and permits. In
AQDHS-II, the major control is pollutant and location while subset records describe
measurements taken through time. The EMS describes a particular pollution
source at its highest level of control. Detail data describes action taken to
bring the emissions under control.
1.7 PERSONNEL SUPPORT
Two types of personnel support are required. The assistance of a computer
specialist, a System Coordinator, is necessary to provide those services which
deal directly with computer equipment, performing tasks such as establishing
local machine procedures, allocating direct access space providing file backup
support and other tasks requiring familiarity with computer procedures. This
systems support is not normally a full time task and is not involved with the
day-to-day use of the contents of files. Other uses for systems support are to
provide assistance as required for coding special COBOL language retrievals, and
restoring the system in the event of a failure. The requirement for programmer
personnel has been minimized.
Data support personnel, headed by a Data Base Coordinator, are responsible for
data oriented operations including securing input data, coding data input forms,
coding retrieval statements, keeping track of the latest version of files,
scheduling computer runs, and similar activities designed to ensure efficient
use of the system. These people who must rely on the CDHS User's Guides
supplemented by locally prepared instructions, may have little or no computer
background training. The primary responsibilities of data support personnel are
to maintain complete, current data in the files and to use CDHS facilities to
prepare reports satisfying management requests.
The system requires ,no specialized training for CDHS operations personnel.
However, local procedures will be required to organize the use of the
subsystems. These deal with standard procedural decisions such as how many
27
-------
generations of each file should be kept, how to minimize use of storage devices,
when to update the files, and how to maintain data integrity.
A user should designate an individual whose responsibility includes the
collection, storage and organization of data; that is, a Data Base Coordinator
(DEC) is essential to the subsystem. The DEC sees that inspectors, engineers,
and others responsible for collecting data present their data for inclusion in
the EIS/P&R data base. He is also responsible for coordinating such activities
as:
a. Assignment of identification numbers
b. Assignment of storage devices
c. Organizing and scheduling subsystem use
d. Generating periodic reports.
For small to medium size data files with moderate usage, one individual is
probably more than sufficient. However, as the frequency of use increases and
the files expand, the function may exceed the capabilities of one man. In any
event he must be supported by keypunching which can be provided in many ways
including:
a. A keypunch section
b. Keypunching by data collectors
c. Use of centralized keypunch services
d. Contracted services.
1.8 RESOURCES
The cost or resources required to operate CDHS vary in proportion to the size of
the data base frequency of update and retrieval, the response time requirement,
and the rates charged by the local computer center. For most agencies, CDHS
28
-------
will use only a small proportion of a computer's daily schedule. Such usage
expressed as CPU time may be on the order of one half-hour a week per subsystem
for regular updates by a small agency with relatively infrequent need to extract
data from the files. . Larger agencies with many sources and sensor sites could
be expected to use the system more frequently, and for planning purposes, should
expect to need 1-2 hours per week per subsystem.
1.9 SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
Successful installation of CDHS or any one of its subsystems is more assured if
an agency carefully considers several scheduling activities and decisions. The
first decision, of course, is that which affirms the need for one or more CDHS
subsystems. Subsequently, the following actions should be taken:
a. Arrangements should be made for appropriate access to a suitable
computer. Normally this is achieved by negotiation with the head of
the state (or county, or city) central data processing center. These
negotiations should consider both the time and frequency of computer
use as well as the mechanisms and costs for obtaining access.
b. Based upon cost estimates developed during these negotiations, funding
authorization should be established.
c. At this point, key personnel should be identified and given the
responsibility for the implementation plan. Key personnel consist, at
a minimum, of the Data Base Coordinator, and the System Coordinator.
In all agencies a manager should be identified and given the
appropriate managerial responsibility. The Data Base Coordinator
should be assigned from the agency staff. The System Coordinator may
be assigned from the agency staff, but may be, by special arrangement,
a part of the data processing center staff.
29
-------
d. The responsible key personnel should now schedule required actions
consisting of at least the following elements:
1. Request for subsystem(s) from EPA through
the Regional Office
2. Request for initial data base from EPA, NADB
through the Regional Office
3. Subsystem(s) installation and demonstration
4. Bringing the subsystem(s) on-line by creating the
initial data base
5. Provision of subsystem(s) training for appropriate
agency staff in the selected subsystem(s)
6. Inauguration of routine use.
The accomplishment of this action will lead to an easy and well organized
installation of CDHS.
30
-------
TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO.
EPA-450/3-76-011
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION-NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
CDHS Executive Summary Report
5. REPORT DATE
March 1976
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
The I
Corporation - Federal Systems Division
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20760
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
The IBM Corporation - Federal
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20760
Systems Division
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
68-02-2054
12. SP
QNSORING.AGENCY NAME AJ\I D_A D D R E S S . „
I). S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Waste Management
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Final
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
Management of air quality requires constant surveillance of air quality and
careful recording of all significant pollution sources.
Measurements are required to trace progress of specific emission control
attempts and of the general state of air quality. Detailed analysis is required
to predict future air pollution conditions and to determine the contributory effect
of any specific emission. These considerations must, in turn, be related to Air
Pollution Control Implementation Plans to ensure that enforcement actions are
achieving desired goals. These and the many unmentioned tasks in air quality
control add up to a massive data handling requirement.
The CDHS was designed to provide using States (via the EPA Regional Offices)
with a universal and compatible system for managing air data. It will also provide
an efficient mechanism for timely, complete and accurate input of air quality data
to the National Systems.
This report contains a brief description of the CDHS system and is intended
to provide an executive overview of the system.
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
Computer Programs
Computer Software
Data Processing
Air Pollution
Data Handling
Computer Systems Programs
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
CDHS
AQDHS-II
EIS/P&R
EMS
SAROAD
NEDS
CDS
13. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release unlimited
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
35
20. SECURITY CLASS (This pagei
Unclassified
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
-------
INSTRUCTIONS
1. REPORT NUMBER
Insert the EPA report number as it appears on the cover of the publication.
2. LEAVE BLANK
3. RECIPIENTS ACCESSION NUMBER
Reserved for use by each report recipient.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Title should indicate clearly and briefly the subject coverage of the report, and be displayed prominently. Set subtitle, if used, in smaller
type or otherwise subordinate it to main title. When a report is prepared in more than one volume, repeat the primary title, add volume
number and include subtitle for the specific title.
5. REPORT DATE
Each report shall carry a date indicating at least month and year. Indicate the basis on which it was selected (e.g., date of issue, date of
approval, date of preparation, etc.).
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
Leave blank.
7. AUTHORtS)
Give name(s) in conventional order (John R, Doe, J. Robert Doe, etc.), List author's affiliation if it differs from the performing organi-
zation.
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER
Insert if performing organization wishes to assign this number.
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Give name, street, city, state, and ZIP code. List no more than two levels of an organizational hirearchy.
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER
Use the program element number under which the report was prepared. Subordinate numbers may be included in parentheses.
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NUMBER
Insert contractor grant number under which report was prepared.
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS . . . .
Include ZIP code. :
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Indicate interim final, etc., and if applicable, dates covered.
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
Leave blank.
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Enter information not included elsewhere but useful, such as: Prepared in cooperation with, Translation of, Presented at conference of,
To be published in, Supersedes, Supplements, etc.
16. ABSTRACT
Include a brief (200 words or less) factual summary of the most significant information contained in the report. If the report contains a
significant bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.
17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
(a) DESCRIPTORS - Select from the Thesaurus of Engineering and Scientific Terms the proper authorized terms that identify the major
concept of the research and are sufficiently specific and precise to be used as index entries for cataloging.
(b) IDENTIFIERS AND OPEN-ENDED TERMS - Use identifiers for project names, code names, equipment designators, etc. Use open-
ended terms written in descriptor form for those subjects for which no descriptor exists.
(c) COSATI FIELD GROUP - Field and group assignments are to be taken from the 1965 COSATI Subject Category List. Since the ma-
jority of documents are multidisciplinary in nature, the Primary Field/Group assignment(s) will be specific discipline, area of human
endeavor, or type of physical object. The application(s) will be cross-referenced with secondary Field/Group assignments that will t'ollcm
the primary posting(s).
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Denote releasability to the public or limitation for reasons other than security for example "Release Unlimited." Cite any availability to
the public, with address and price.
19. & 20. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
DO NOT submit classified reports to the National Technical Information service.
21. NUMBER OF PAGES
Insert the total number of pages, including this one and unnumbered pages, but exclude distribution list, if any!
22. PRICE
Insert the price set by the National Technical Information Service or the Government Printing Office, if known.
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73) (Reverse)
------- |