&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
The EMPACT Collection
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access
& Community Tracking
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Delivering Timely Water
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Disclaimer
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 recommendation of their use.
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Research and Development
Environmental Information
EPA625/R-03/002
www.epa.gov/empact
January 2003
Delivering Timely Water Quality
Information to Your Community
The River Index Project:
Lower Great Miami River Watershed
Prepared for
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with vegetable-based ink on paper that contains a minimum of
50% postconsumer fiber content processed chlorine-free.
-------
Contributors
Dr. Dan Petersen (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory)
served as principal author of this handbook and managed its development with the support of ERG, Inc., an EPA
contractor. Contributing authors include the following:
Dr. Allen Burton, Wright State University Institute for Environmental Quality
Scott A. Hammond, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
Michele Jones, City of Dayton
Bill Littleton, YSI, Inc.
Mike Lucas, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
Beth Moore, City of Miamisburg
Ned Pennock, CH2M HILL, Inc.
Donna Winchester, City of Dayton
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Contents
1. Introduction 1
1.1 About the EMPACT Program 1
1.2 About the River Index Project 2
1.3 Other Local Monitoring Efforts 4
1.4 About this Handbook 5
1.5 For More Information 6
2. How To Use This Handbook 7
3. Water Quality Monitoring 9
3.1 Water Quality Monitoring - An Overview 9
3.2 Designing a Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Project 15
3.3 Selecting Your Sampling Frequency 17
3.4 Selecting Water Quality Parameters for Monitoring 18
3.5 Selecting Monitoring Equipment 20
3.6 Siting Monitors 21
3.7 Installing Monitoring Equipment 22
3.8 Calibrating Monitoring Equipment 28
3.9 Maintaining Monitoring Equipment 31
4. Collecting, Transferring, and Managing Real-Time Water Quality Data 35
4.1 System Overview 35
4.2 Processing the Information 39
4.3 Calculating a River Index 39
4.4 Lessons Learned 44
5. Depicting Real-Time Water Quality Data 45
5.1 What Are Data Visualization Tools? 45
5.2 Data Visualization Tools Employed in the River Index Project 46
6. Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 50
6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Real-Time Water Quality Data 50
6.2 Elements of the River Index Project Outreach Program 55
6.3 Resources for Presenting Water Quality Information to the Public 57
7. Sustaining Timely Water Quality Information 60
7.1 Building on Existing Programs 60
7.2 Housing of Database and the Web Server 61
7.3 Public Support 61
7.4 Determining Data to Collect 62
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Appendix A: Glossary of Terms 64
Appendix B: Graphs of Water Quality Data Collected in 2000 68
Appendix C: Ratings for Water Quality Parameters 73
Appendix D: Telephone Survey Form 74
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1. Introduction
People who spend time in, on, or close to rivers can benefit from timely information
about water quality. This information can help people make day-to-day decisions
about when and how to use the river. For example, swimmers can find out about
fecal coliform levels to protect their health when bacteria levels in a river are too
high, and anglers can use the information to help decide when and where to go fish-
ing. If the information is not communicated in a timely manner, the value of the
information can be reduced and, in some cases, lost.
In 2000, a team of academic and government organizations launched a project
to gather and communicate timely environmental information to the public in
the southwest Ohio and southeast Indiana region of the Great Miami River
watershed. This project, known as the River Index Project, was funded with a
grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) EMPACT
Program. The goal of disseminating timely information to the was achieved by:
• Designing and operating a system of water quality monitoring stations to
gather real-time water quality data.
• Designing and operating a system to retrieve, manage, and analyze real-time
water quality data.
• Using the real-time water quality data to develop a water quality index and a
river index for each water quality monitoring station.
• Developing a plan to communicate timely water quality information to the
public.
This technology transfer handbook presents a case study of the River Index
Project. It describes how the River Index Project started, how real-time water
quality data are collected in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed, and how
those data are processed and then communicated to the public. The handbook
also presents lessons learned during the project and provides readers with infor-
mation on how to develop similar water quality monitoring, data processing,
and outreach programs for their community. The handbook is written primarily
for community organizers, non-profit groups, local government officials, tribal
officials, and other decision-makers who implement or are considering imple-
menting environmental monitoring and outreach programs.
1.1 Abouf I he EMPACT Program
This handbook was developed by EPA through its EMPACT Program.
EPA created EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and
Community Tracking) to promote new and innovative approaches to collecting
and managing environmental information and for communicating the informa-
tion to the public.
1 For this handbook, real-time data are data collected and communicated to the public in a time
frame that allows the public to use the data to make day-to-day decisions.
Introduction
-------
1.2 Abouf fhe River Index Project
The Great Miami River watershed includes approximately 10,680 square kilo-
meters of land in southwest Ohio and southeast Indiana (see Figure 1). The
Great Miami River flows from northeast to southwest through southwest Ohio
and eventually drains into the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio. Major tribu-
taries on the Great Miami River include the Stillwater River and the Mad River,
both of which join the Great Miami River in Dayton, Ohio.
Toledo
Cleveland
Figure 1. The Great Miami River Watershed
The Lower Great Miami River Watershed is the local name for the drainage area
covering most of Montgomery County, the southeast portion of Miami County,
and the northwest portion of Greene County in Ohio (see Figure 2). It covers
1,204 square kilometers (465 square miles) and includes 18 townships and 24
villages and cities. In addition to the Stillwater and Mad Rivers, tributaries to
the Great Miami River in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed include Bear
Creek, Wolf Creek, Twin Creek, and Holes Creek.
Introduction
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Darke County
*°«creek *
Preble
County
Warren
County
:: - - - t.
Greene
County
Figure 2. The Lower Great Miami River Watershed
Much of the greater Dayton area, which comprises the largest urbanized area in
the Miami Valley Region, is in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed. With a
1990 census population of 613,000, the Dayton urbanized area makes a signifi-
cant contribution to the complex mixture of urban, suburban, and rural land
uses in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed. This land use mixture and the
associated pollution sources (e.g., urban and suburban stormwater runoff, nutri-
ents and pesticides from lawns and crop land, and eroded soil from agricultural
and construction sites) have resulted in increased reliance and stress on the pre-
cious, dynamic water resources in the watershed.
In 1986, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), the
agency responsible for areawide water quality planning in the Lower Great
Miami River Basin, initiated the Lower Great Miami Watershed Enhancement
Program (WEP). The goal of the WEP was to coordinate the efforts of the area's
many public agencies and private organizations in the development and imple-
mentation of cost-effective and non-duplicative watershed protection activities.
One aspect of the WEP was the initiation of educational programs to make the
public more aware of the quality of the region's surface water resources. The
idea of developing a "river index' that would translate complex water quality
data into user friendly information was an "action item' identified early by the
WEP stakeholders. When the EMPACT Program grants were initiated, a group
of WEP partners joined together to write the grant proposal and subsequently
carry out the River Index Project.
Introduction
-------
The River Index Project helps water quality management organizations and
other interested parties learn more about the characteristics of the rivers in the
Lower Great Miami River Watershed through remote real-time monitoring of
river water quality. Data gathered are used to calculate an index that portrays the
quality of the river at each of the monitoring stations in the River Index Project.
Indexes often are used to combine several measures of a complicated process
into a single number. A good example is the Dow Jones Industrial Index: a sin-
gle number designed to reflect the trend of the entire U.S. stock market.
The MVRPC is the lead agency for the River Index Project. Original partners
with the MVRPC on this project are listed below:
• Miami Conservancy District (MCD)
• City of Dayton, Ohio
• Wright State University
. CH2M HILL, Inc.
. YSI, Inc.
• Unites States Geological Survey (USGS)
In addition, the City of Miamisburg assisted with the operation of a monitoring
station during 2001 and 2002.
MCD left the project in the fall of 2000.
The River Index Project leverages several existing programs. For example,
MCD's experience and expertise were used during the collection of river stage
and water quality data. MCD, a regional agency formed in 1915, worked with
the USGS and YSI, Inc. to retrofit existing gauge houses for use as water quality
monitoring stations. Wright State University's Institute for Environmental
Quality (IEQ), in conjunction with MCD, USGS, and YSI, Inc., oversaw the
field activities for the project.
In addition, the City of Dayton used its experience and expertise in developing
the communication materials for the project, and Wright State University's
Center for Urban and Public Affairs (CUPA) designed and implemented pre-
and post- random telephone surveys to assess the effectiveness of the communi-
cations component of the project. Finally, approximately 32 percent of the costs
of the River Index Project was obtained through in-kind services.
1.3 Of her Local Monitoring Efforfs
The Miami Valley has always been on the cutting edge of managing valuable
water resources. Management projects include the early formation of the Miami
Conservancy District for flood control, the development of the City of Dayton's
world-renowned Wellfield Protection Program, and the federal designation of
the Great Miami/Little Miami Sole Source Aquifer. Today, the region is host to a
number of programs aimed at evaluating, protecting, and managing the water
resources of the basin. Some examples are:
Introduction
-------
The Lower Great Miami Watershed Enhancement Program (WEP)
As previously mentioned, this program, coordinated by the MVRPC, seeks to
bring together stakeholders in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed to identi-
fy and prioritize needs and to take actions to protect and improve water quality.
For more information on the WEP, go to .
Wolf Creek Watershed Project
This is a WEP program that focuses on raising local awareness about water
quality threats and protection strategies in the mixed urban and rural Wolf
Creek watershed.
The Honey Creek/Great Miami River Watershed Protection Program
The objective of this program is to protect the water resources of the Honey
Creek watershed and the Great Miami River watershed in Montgomery, Miami,
Champaign, and Clark Counties north of Dayton.
The Stillwater River Watershed Protection Project
This is a program that facilitates the identification of water quality problems and
the implementation of protective measures for the state-designated scenic
Stillwater River in Darke and Miami Counties. It focuses primarily on rural areas.
The National Water Quality Assessment Program
This is a USGS program that assesses the status of and trends in the quality of
the Nation's water resources. A long-term study is underway that focuses on the
Great and Lower Great Miami River Watersheds. For more information on this
study, go to .
Numerous Locally-Based Well Field Protection Programs
More than 95 percent of the Miami Valley's population depend on groundwater
for their drinking water supply. Many County, City, and Village water suppliers
have implemented strategies to protect their wellfields from possible contamina-
tion.
1.4 Abouf I his Handbook
Several communities throughout the United States have expressed interest in
projects similar to the River Index Project. The purpose of this handbook is to
help interested communities and organizations learn more about the River
Index Project and to provide them with the technical information they can use
to develop their own programs. The Technology Transfer and Support Division
of the EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORD) National Risk
Management Research Laboratory initiated the development of this handbook
in collaboration with EPA's Office of Environmental Information. ORD, work-
ing with the River Index Project partners, produced the handbook to leverage
EMPACT's investment in the project and minimize the resources needed to
implement similar projects in other areas.
Introduction
-------
Both the print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct
online ordering from ORD's Technology Transfer Web site at
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2. How To Use This
Handbook
This handbook provides you with step-by-step information in an easy-to-under-
stand format on developing a program that provides timely water quality infor-
mation to your community. Using the River Index Project for the Lower Great
Miami River Watershed in southwest Ohio as a model, the handbook contains
information on how to:
Design, site,
operate, and
maintain a
system to gather
real-time water
quality data.
Design, operate, and
maintain a system
to retrieve, manage,
and analyze your
real-time water
quality data.
Develop a
water quality
index and
a river index
using those
data.
Chapter 3 provides detailed information on water quality monitoring. The
chapter begins with an overview of water quality monitoring in freshwater
systems and then focuses on the manual and automated water quality moni-
toring done in the River Index Project. It provides step-by-step instructions
on how to install, calibrate, and maintain the automated equipment used in
the River Index Project to gather real-time water quality data.
Chapter 4 provides information on how to operate and maintain an auto-
mated system to transmit, store, retrieve, and analyze water quality data col-
lected using automated equipment. The chapter focuses on the software used
by the River Index Project Team.
Chapter 5 provides information on how to present the water quality data in
an understandable format. It focuses on the water quality and river indexes
developed in the River Index Project, including the weighting factors and
measures used to rate the water quality parameters. You might want to use
these measures and weighting factors in developing indexes to communicate
your real-time water quality data to the public.
Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan to
communicate information about the quality of your community's rivers. It
also provides information about the outreach efforts for the River Index
Project. The chapter includes a list of resources to help you develop easily
understandable materials to communicate information about your real-time
water quality monitoring program to a variety of audiences.
Chapter /addresses how water quality monitoring can be sustained over
time. It discusses building on existing programs, housing of a database and
Web server, obtaining public support for water quality monitoring, and
determining the information that can be collected with respect to fund avail-
ability.
Develop a plan to
communicate
information about
water quality to
residents in your
community.
How to Use This Handbook
-------
This handbook is designed for decision-makers considering whether to imple-
ment a real-time water quality monitoring program in their community and for
technicians responsible for implementing these programs. Managers and deci-
sion-makers likely will find the initial sections of Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 most
helpful. The latter sections of these chapters are targeted primarily at profession-
als and technicians and provide detailed "how to" information. Chapter 7 is
designed for managers.
The handbook also refers you to supplementary sources of information, such as
Web sites and guidance documents, where you can find additional guidance
with a greater level of technical detail. Interspersed throughout the handbook
are discussions of some of the lessons learned by the River Index Project Team
in developing and implementing its real-time water quality monitoring, data
management, and outreach programs.
CHAPTER 2
-------
3. Water Quality Monitoring
This chapter provides information about water quality monitoring—the first
step in the process of generating timely information about water quality and
making it available to the public. Each section's contents are as follows:
• Section 3.1 provides a broad overview of water quality monitoring. The
chapter then focuses on the remote real-time water quality monitoring con-
ducted as part of the River Index Project.
• Section 3.2 discusses factors to consider when designing a remote real-time
water quality monitoring project.
• Sections 3.3 and 3.4 explain how to select remote real-time monitoring fre-
quencies and parameters, respectively.
• Sections 3.5 and 3.6 discuss selecting monitoring equipment and the loca-
tion of your remote real-time water quality monitoring stations, respectively.
• Sections 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9 explain how to install, calibrate, and maintain the
remote real-time water quality monitoring equipment used in the River
Index Project.
Readers primarily interested in an overview of water quality monitoring might
want to focus on the introductory information in Sections 3.1 and 3.2. If you
are responsible for the actual design and implementation of a monitoring proj-
ect, you also should review Sections 3.3 through 3.9. They provide an introduc-
tion to the specific steps involved in developing and operating a remote
real-time water quality monitoring project and information on where to find
additional guidance.
3.1 Wafer Qualify Monitoring: An Overview
Water quality monitoring provides information about the condition of streams,
lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastal waters. The information reveals whether
these waters are safe for swimming, fishing, or as a source for drinking water.
The Web site of EPA's Office of Water (www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring) pro-
vides essential background information on water quality monitoring. Another
good source of information on water quality monitoring is the Web site for the
River Index Project (www.riverindex.org). Information presented in the follow-
ing paragraphs is summarized from these Web sites.
The following parameters often are measured to evaluate the quality of
surface waters:
1. Chemicals. These include both inorganic and organic chemicals.
Inorganic chemicals include metals such as iron, calcium, and magne-
sium, and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Organic chemi-
cals include a wide range of carbon-containing compounds. Some
organic chemicals originate from natural sources, while others, such as
pesticides and solvents, are synthetic.
Water Quality Monitoring
-------
2. Physical parameters. These include general conditions such as water
temperature, clarity, and flow rate. Water temperature has a direct effect
on biological activity and growth of aquatic organisms, while clarity is
related to the concentration of total suspended solids in the water. Flow
rate is a measure of the volume of water that flows past a location over a
period of time.
3. Biological populations. Typically, insects living on the bottom of a
water body (benthic macro invertebrates) and fish are the two biological
populations monitored to evaluate water quality. To address human
health, the density of either fecal coliform or E. coli bacteria is meas-
ured. These bacteria are indicators of the presence of human and animal
wastes in surface waters that might cause human disease.
4. Habitats. Aquatic organisms need good habitats in which to hide, feed,
and reproduce. A good habitat consists of many features including:
• Coarse stream bottoms that contain sand, gravel, and cobbles with
smaller amounts of clay and silt.
• Combinations of deep pool and shallow riffle areas that allow for
either slow or fast water conditions.
• Tree limbs, boulders and debris piles that provide places for crea-
tures to hide, spawn, and forage for food.
• Stream banks covered with vegetation to prevent erosion and pro-
vide food.
• Overhanging trees and fringing plants to provide shade and a source
of leaves and other organic matter that serve as a food source for
aquatic species.
You can conduct several kinds of water quality monitoring projects, such as those:
• On a continuous basis at fixed locations.
• On an as-needed basis or to answer specific questions at selected locations.
• On a temporary or seasonal basis (such as during the summer at swimming
beaches).
• On an emergency basis (such as after a spill).
Many agencies and organizations conduct water quality monitoring, including
state pollution control agencies, Indian tribes, city and county environmental
offices, EPA and other federal agencies, and private entities, such as universities,
watershed organizations, environmental groups, and industries. Volunteer moni-
tors—private citizens who voluntarily collect and analyze water quality samples,
conduct visual assessments of physical conditions, and measure the biological
health of waters—also provide important water quality information. EPA pro-
vides specific information about volunteer monitoring at .
Water quality monitoring primarily is conducted to:
• Characterize waters and identify trends or changes in water quality over time.
• Identify existing or emerging water quality problems.
10 CHAPTERS
-------
• Gather information for the design of pollution prevention or restoration
projects.
• Determine if the goals of specific programs (such as the implementation of
pollution prevention strategies) are being met.
• Respond to emergencies such as spills or floods.
EPA helps administer grants for water quality monitoring projects and provides
technical guidance on how to monitor and report monitoring results. You can
find a number of EPA's water quality monitoring technical guidance documents
on the Internet at . EPA's
"Surf Your Watershed" Web site (www.epa.gov/surf3) also contains information
on water quality monitoring.
In some cases, special types of water quality data (e.g., real-time data) or special
water quality monitoring methods (e.g., remote monitoring) are needed to meet
a water quality monitoring program's objectives. Real-time environmental data
are data collected and communicated to the public in a time frame that makes
them useful for making day-to-day decisions about public health and the envi-
ronment. They may be displayed immediately after the data are collected or
after a time delay depending on the equipment used to process the data.
Monitoring is considered "remote" when the operator collects and analyzes data
from a location different from the monitoring site itself.
Remote Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring: The River Index Project
The River Index Project Team uses state-of-the-art automated monitoring
equipment to collect daily data for flow and key water quality parameters, while
data for other water quality parameters such as E. coli bacteria are collected
manually. Remote monitoring is conducted at six locations—the Englewood
Dam station on the Stillwater River, the Huffman Dam station on the Mad
River, the Wolf Creek station in west Dayton, the Taylorsville Dam Station on
the Great Miami River, and the Miamisburg Station on the Great Miami River
(see Figure 3).
WaterQualityMonitoring 11
-------
Figure 3. Location of Water Quality Monitoring Stations
for the River Index Project
Existing MCD and USGS gauge houses are used to house the monitoring instru-
mentation at the Englewood Dam, Miamisburg, Huffman Dam, and Taylorsville
Dam sites. A phone line and an electric line were installed at the Englewood
Dam, Miamisburg, and Huffman Dam sites. A cell phone powered by a solar
panel is used at the Taylorsville Dam site. In addition, river intake pipes were
installed at each site, and tanks, pumps, and monitoring sondes were installed in
each of the existing gauge houses at the Englewood Dam, Miamisburg, and
Huffman Dam monitoring stations. Because there is no electrical service at the
Taylorsville Dam station, the monitoring sonde was placed directly into the river
intake pipe, and batteries are used to power the sonde.
At the Downtown Dayton site, a monitoring station was established in a City of
Dayton storm sewer pump station. For the Wolf Creek monitoring station,
MCD relocated an out-of-use concrete gauge house from a site south of Dayton
and modified it so that it could be used in the River Index Project (see Figure 4).
1 2
CHAPTER 3
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Figure 4. Water Quality Monitoring Station at Wolf Creek
The diagram in Figure 5 illustrates the water quality monitoring set-up at the
Englewood Dam, Miamisburg, Huffman Dam, Downtown Dayton, and Wolf
Creek monitoring stations. As shown in the diagram, water flows continuously
from the river to a flow-through (see Figure 6) tank in the monitoring station.
Water is pumped through a 3-foot long pump screen using a 3/4-hp Prosser
Model 9-01011-28FK submersible pump. This pump has two advantages: it can
be used when the suspended solids concentration in the water is high, and it is
reliable when installed in the horizontal position.
To Utility Pole
Drain Hose
Pump Intake Hose
Power Cable (continuous)
Corrigated Steel 'Junction' Box
with 1/4-inch Steel Lid
10-inch Ribbed
PVC Pipe Support
Clamp
Low Flow
Pump
Figure 5. Diagram Illustrating the Water Quality Monitoring Set-up
Water Quality Monitoring
1 3
-------
To ensure that the water quality monitoring probes are completely submerged,
water fills the flow-through tank to a depth of 10 inches. The water drains by
gravity through an overflow pipe and is discharged back to the river several feet
downstream of the pump intake. If operated during winter, heaters can be
placed in the monitoring stations to keep the equipment warm.
The set-up illustrated in Figure 5 offers the following advantages:
• It reduces the probability of vandalism because monitoring equipment is kept
in a secure building.
• It reduces the probability of losing equipment during high flow events.
• It facilitates field calibration of equipment during bad weather conditions.
Figure 6. Flow-through Tank at the Wolf Creek Monitoring Station
Data for several parameters were collected at each monitoring station and
used to calculate river indexes during the first monitoring season in 2000.
The parameters included:
Ammonia-Nitrogen
Atrazine
Chlorpyrifos
Dissolved Oxygen
E. coli Bacteria
Fish Toxicity
Flow (River Discharge)
Nitrate - Nitrogen
Polycyclic hydrocarbons
PH
Specific Conductance
Turbidity
Water Temperature
Fish and Benthic Communities
Habitat
1 4
CHAPTER 3
-------
Real-time data for ammonia-nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, flow rate, nitrate-nitro-
gen, pH, specific conductance, turbidity, and water temperature were collected
hourly, and retrieved automatically three times per day. The data were then
uploaded automatically to a central database. In addition, concentration data for
pesticides (i.e., atrazine and chlorpyrifos), E. coll bacteria, and polycylic aromat-
ic hydrocarbons (PAH) were collected weekly, and fish toxicity data were col-
lected monthly; those data also were entered into the central database. Data for
all of these parameters were used to calculate the river indexes for each monitor-
ing station. Fish and benthic communities and habitat data also were collected
seasonally, but were not used to calculate the indexes.
During and following the first monitoring season, the monitoring parameters
were evaluated with respect to importance in characterizing overall water quality
and cost-effectiveness. Based on the results of those evaluations, the number of
monitoring parameters was reduced during the second and third monitoring
seasons.
Parameters that were deleted include: ammonia-nitrogen, atrazine, chlorpyrifos,
fish toxicity, nitrate-nitrogen, PAH, fish and benthic communities, and habitat.
Data for these parameters were not cost-effective with respect to providing sus-
tainable and timely information to characterize water quality and river condi-
tions. Parameters for which data currently are collected in the River Index
Project include:
• Dissolved Oxygen
• E. co//Bacteria
• Row (River Discharge)
. pH
• Specific Conductance
• Turbidity
• Water Temperature
3.2 Designing a Real-Time Wafer Qualify Monitoring
Project
The first step in developing any water quality monitoring project is to define
your objectives. Keep in mind that remote monitoring might not be the best
method for your organization or community. For example, you would not likely
require a remote real-time monitoring capability when conducting monthly
monitoring to comply with a state or federal regulation.
Here are some questions to help determine if remote monitoring is appropriate
for your monitoring objectives:
• What types of questions about water quality do you want to answer? Do you
need real-time data to answer these questions? For example, do you want to
know more about how rapid events, such as urban or agricultural runoff
from storms, might affect water quality in your area by stimulating algal
blooms?
WaterQualityMonitoring 15
-------
If you already have other water quality monitoring projects in place, how
does the addition of real-time data enhance them? For example, does the
frequent review of real-time data allow you to tailor your other monitoring
projects to yield more representative water quality data or conserve your
organization's labor and analytical resources?
How does your community or organization benefit from a real-time moni-
toring project? For example, do real-time data provide you with a better
opportunity to communicate water quality issues to your community?
Making the Most of Your Real-Time Water Quality Data
Currently, your organization will find a limited number of cost-effective
real-time monitoring technologies available. Also keep in mind that real-
time data might not be as accurate, precise, or consistent as "conven-
tional" laboratory data. You should carefully consider how your project
uses real-time data and make the most of data for the real-time moni-
toring parameters you select.
In designing your program, think about how you could use real-time
measurements of certain parameters as indicators of the phenomena
you wish to document. For example, depending on your water body's
characteristics and the location of your monitoring equipment, you could
use turbidity and dissolved oxygen measurements as indicators of an
algae bloom. Then you could learn more about the bloom by conduct-
ing manual monitoring of parameters that might not currently be avail-
able to you on a cost-effective, real-time basis (e.g., atrazine and
chlorpyrifos). Another example might involve using real-time measure-
ments of turbidity and conductivity to estimate the impact of a storm
event on the concentration of paniculate matter (as indicated by turbidi-
ty) and dissolved solids (as indicated by conductivity) in a stream or river.
Designing the River Index Project
The River Index Project Team's decision to collect near real-time water quality
data grew out of an interest to make the public better informed about water
quality in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed. The objectives of the River
Index Project are presented in the box on page 17.
After you define the objectives of a water quality monitoring project, the fre-
quency of monitoring, parameters for which data are collected, and the equip-
ment used to monitor water quality have to be selected. The sites where
monitoring occurs also have to be selected.
1 6
CHAPTER 3
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The River Index Project Objectives
The economic vitality and public health of the Miami Valley are tied
closely to the quality of the region's water resources. The success of
efforts to stimulate economic growth and activity along the rivers also
relies on the condition of the rivers and the public's perception of the
river condition.
Although the quality of the rivers in the Lower Great Miami River
Watershed has improved greatly over the last 25 years, public percep-
tion is that the rivers are not clean and are not safe places on which to
recreate. For the public to be better informed, they need to have access
to understandable timely information regarding river water quality. For
this reason, the objectives of the River Index Project are to:
1. Provide the public access to clear and understandable information
regarding the quality of the area's rivers.
2. Enhance initiatives by other groups and agencies that seek to
heighten access to and awareness of the region's waterways.
3. Support efforts to stimulate economic growth and activity along
the rivers.
4. Increase the use of the river corridors (e.g., for canoeing and
fishing) and areas adjacent to the river corridors (e.g., parks
and bikeways).
5. Foster a sense of public ownership of the rivers.
6. Generate long-term data that can be used to evaluate changes in
water quality because of water quality improvement initiatives.
7. Sustain the River Index Project beyond the life of the EMPACT grant
by incorporating it into existing programs and activities.
As you will read in this chapter, information obtained through remote
real-time monitoring helps the River Index Project Team achieve
these objectives.
3.3 Selecting Your Monitoring Frequency
The frequency of monitoring you select for your remote real-time water quality
monitoring project depends on your project's objectives. For example, if you
want to determine the effects of storm-related nonpoint sources on water quali-
ty in your area, you could tailor your monitoring frequency to collect data dur-
ing storm events. If you want to study a water body affected by tidal flow, you
could tailor your monitoring frequency to collect data during tidal events. It is
appropriate to experiment with different monitoring frequencies to optimize
your ability to fulfill your project's objectives.
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River Index Project Monitoring Frequency
Data for several of the water quality parameters monitored in the River Index
Project are collected hourly and are retrieved three times per day. This monitor-
ing frequency allows the river index for each monitoring station to be updated
every eight hours. To insure the quality of the data collected, the data's accuracy
and precision have to be certified. See the discussion on Data Quality Assurance
and Quality Control (QA/QC) in the box below.
Data Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)
QA/QC procedures ensure that collected data are accurate, precise,
and consistent. QA/QC involves following established rules in the field
and in the laboratory to ensure that samples are representative of the
water you are monitoring, free from contamination as a result of the
sampling activity, and analyzed using standard procedures.
Two types of water quality data were collected in the River Index Project:
1. Real-time data collected using YSI, Inc. water quality sensors.
2. Data obtained from the collection and analyses of weekly and
monthly water samples by trained staff. In addition, fish and benth-
ic community samples and habitat samples were collected and
analyzed seasonally.
To ensure the QA/QC of data collected using YSI sensors, the River
Index Project Team follows the manufacturer's instructions for sensor cali-
bration and maintenance (See Sections 3.8 and 3.9 for more informa-
tion on the calibration and maintenance procedures). To ensure QA/QC
of the other data collected, the River Index Project Team follows guide-
lines set forth by EPA and the American Public Health Association.
The team also has several years of experience identifying systematic
errors associated with sensor deterioration, or biofouling, that occurs
when algae, bacteria, and fungi grow on the sensor when it is sub-
merged continually in water.
EPAs publication The Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance
Project Plans provides more information on QA/QC plans for monitor-
ing projects. For information on this guide, visit .
3.4 Selecfing Wafer Qualify Paramefers for
Monitoring
Your selection of real-time water quality monitoring parameters depends on
your project's objectives and on the remote real-time technologies available to
you. To satisfy the objectives of the River Index Project, the project team chose
to monitor parameters important to aquatic life. In selecting those parameters,
the project team considered information such as EPA's water quality criteria,
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency water quality and biocriteria standards,
existing water quality in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed, the cost-
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effectiveness of data for each parameter, and the expense and availability of the
monitoring equipment.
Six parameters were chosen to be monitored on a real-time basis: dissolved oxy-
gen, flow rate, pH, conductivity, turbidity, and water temperature (ammonia-
nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen also were monitored at the Taylorsville and
Miamisburg stations during the first year of the project). A brief description of
these parameters is presented in the box below.
River Index Project Real-Time Water Quality
Parameters
Dissolved Oxygen. The concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in
water affects the number and type of aquatic organisms that live in the
water. Dissolved oxygen must be present at a concentration high enough
to sustain these organisms. It is important to measure DO frequently. For
example, some streams impacted by wastewater discharges have a fluc-
tuating DO. An average DO of eight is not acceptable if there are
episodes where the DO is zero, even for short periods.
Flow Rate. The volume of water that flows past a monitoring station
over a period of time (e.g., cubic feet per second). River stage data were
collected during the River Index Project and then converted to flow rate
data.
pH. pH is a measure of the acidity of the water. A pH of seven is neu-
tral. Values lower than seven are acidic and higher than seven are
basic. Many important chemical and biological reactions are strongly
affected by pH. In turn, chemical reactions and biological processes
(e.g., photosynthesis and respiration) affect pH. Low pH values increase
the concentration of some dissolved metals in the water, increasing the
toxicity of these metals.
Conductivity. Conductivity is an estimator of the amount of total dis-
solved salts or total dissolved ions in water. Many factors influence the
conductivity of water, including the watershed's geology, wastewater from
point sources, runoff from nonpoint sources, atmospheric inputs, evapo-
ration rates, and some types of bacterial metabolism. Conductivity also
is a function of temperature; therefore, the data have to be standardized
to 25° C. Conductivity corrected to 25° C is specific conductance.
Turbidity. Turbidity describes the clarity of water. Turbidity increases as
the concentration of total suspended solids in the water increases.
Water Temperature. Water temperature has a direct effect on biologi-
cal activity and the growth of aquatic organisms because most aquatic
organisms are "cold-blooded" (i.e., they cannot regulate their core body
temperature). Temperature also affects biological activity by influencing
water chemistry. For example, because warm water holds less oxygen
than does cold water, warm water might not contain enough oxygen to
support some types of aquatic life.
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In addition to the real-time parameters, measurements were taken for atrazine,
chlorpyrifos, E. coli bacteria, and PAH on a weekly basis during the first moni-
toring season. Also, fish toxicity was measured monthly, and habitat and benthic
community analyses were conducted seasonally during the first monitoring sea-
son. Results of the habitat and fish and benthic community analyses were not
included in the calculation of the river indexes.
3.5 Selecting Monitoring Equipmenf
Your selection of remote real-time water quality monitoring equipment also
depends on your project's objectives. When selecting monitoring equipment,
you should consider equipment lifetime, reliability, and maintenance require-
ments.
River Index Project Monitoring Equipment
The automatic water quality monitoring equipment selected by the River Index
Project Team includes a data acquisition system, water quality sondes, and water
quality probes manufactured by YSI, Inc. The table below contains the model
numbers for the equipment.
Description
Data Acquisition System (DAS) and
Data Collection Platform (DCP)
Water Quality Sonde
Temperature Probe
pH Probe
Conductivity Probe
Dissolved Oxygen Probe
Turbidity Probe
Ammonium-Nitrogen Probe
Nitrate- Nitrogen Probe
Model Number
YSI 6200 DAS with Ecowatch™
DCP
YSI 6820
YSI 6920 (Taylorsville station only)
YSI 6560 (all stations)
YSI 6561 (all stations)
YSI 6560 (all stations)
YSI 6562 (all stations)
YSI 6026 (all stations)
YSI 6883 (Taylorsville and
Miamisburg stations only)
YSI 6884 (Taylorsville and
Miamisburg stations only)
A water quality sonde is a device that houses program software and the electron-
ics used to calibrate sensors and communicate data collected by the sensors. A
probe is a device that contains one or more water quality sensors (the device that
actually collects the data). For example, YSI Model 6560 is a probe that contains
both a water temperature sensor and a conductivity sensor.
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The ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen probes require additional calibra-
tion steps that are cumbersome to do in the field. For this reason, extra sondes
were purchased at the beginning of the River Index Project. This allowed sondes
to be calibrated in the laboratory and then switched with the sondes in the field.
3.6 Siting Monitors
You should select monitoring locations that best fulfill the objectives of your
remote real-time water quality monitoring project. You should consider several
factors when making your final siting decisions. See the checklist of questions
below when choosing your location.
Monitoring Site-Selection Checklist
Q Are the real-time data you collect at these locations likely to fulfill
your project's objectives? Specifically, what questions can you
answer with your data, and how do the answers help you to meet
those objectives?
Q Do people in your community support equipment installation and
remote real-time monitoring at your locations?
Q Does the monitoring equipment pose a potential danger to the
people in your community? For example, are your monitoring loca-
tions near a heavy traffic area?
Q Is monitoring equipment safe at your locations? For example, is the
equipment susceptible to vandalism or tampering?
Q What local, state, or federal regulations do you need to consider
when choosing your locations?
Q Is flexibility important to your project? Do you want the option to
move your monitoring equipment to different locations, or do you
want to monitor at several locations concurrently?
Q Do you foresee any site-specific problems with installing, operating,
and maintaining your monitoring equipment at these locations? Do
these locations pose any safety hazards to your personnel?
[_j Can you adequately survey and access your locations? What
equipment-specific considerations do you need to make?
The River Index Project Monitoring Locations
Six monitoring stations are used in the River Index Project to collect water qual-
ity data in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed (see Figure 3). The selected
locations are near recreational areas, key habitat areas, and population centers.
Several of these locations allow the water quality monitoring station to be locat-
ed in an existing MCD river gauge station.
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One station is located at each of the three flood control dams in the Dayton
area. The dams, which are the location of popular nature reserves, are on the
Stillwater River (Englewood Dam), the Great Miami River (Taylorsville Dam),
and the Mad River (Huffman Dam). Another monitoring station is located in
the downtown Dayton area, immediately downstream of the confluence of the
Stillwater, Great Miami, and Mad Rivers in the middle section of a popular
downtown bikeway. A fifth monitoring station is located on Wolf Creek, which
runs through a highly populated portion of West Dayton. Another monitoring
station is located on the Great Miami River in Miamisburg, several miles south
of the Downtown Dayton area.
3.7 Insfailing Monitoring Equipmenf
This section summarizes the basic procedures for installing the water quality
monitoring equipment used in the River Index Project. These procedures were
taken from the YSI Environmental Operations Manual available from YSI, Inc.,
1725 Brannum Lane, Yellow Springs, OH 45387. Consult the YSI, Inc. manual
for detailed step-by-step installation, calibration, and maintenance guidance.
You also may contact YSI, Inc. at .
The monitoring equipment used at each monitoring station in the River Index
Project includes a water quality sonde, a temperature probe, a pH probe, a con-
ductivity probe, a dissolved oxygen (DO) probe, and a turbidity probe. In addi-
tion, ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen probes were used during the
first year of the River Index Project at the Taylorsville Dam and Miamisburg
monitoring stations.
Connecting the Water Quality Sonde
A water quality sonde is a torpedo-shaped monitoring device that is placed into
the water to gather water quality data (see Figure 7). Sondes support multiple
probes. Each probe may have one or more sensors that collect water quality data.
Figure 7. Water Quality Sonde
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A sonde may be connected to a computer, data collection device, or to a dis-
play/logger. In the River Index Project, a field cable connects a sonde to a Data
Collection Platform (see Figure 8).
Sonde to Data Collection Platform
Field Cable
Sonde
You will need:
Sonde
Field Cable
Data Collection Platform
Figure 8. Connecting sonde to data collection platform (DCP)
Preparing the Sonde for Use
To prepare the sonde for calibration and operation, you first need to install a new
membrane on the DO probe and then install the probes with the sensors into
the connectors on the sonde bulkhead. It is recommended that you install the
DO membrane before placing the DO probe into the sonde bulkhead. For sub-
sequent membrane changes, you might be able to install the membrane without
removing the probe. This depends on whether the other installed probes interfere
with your ability to install a membrane. The four steps for getting your sonde
ready for use are:
• Install the membrane on the DO probe
• Place the probes in the sonde bulkhead
• Connect the power
• Connect the field cable
Step 1: Install the DO probe membrane (see Figure 9)
1. Unpack the YSI 6562 DO Probe Kit.
2. Open the membrane kit and prepare the electrolyte solution. Dissolve the
potassium chloride (KCl) in the dropper bottle by filling it to the neck with
Water Quality Monitoring
2 3
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deionized or distilled water and shaking until the solids are fully dissolved.
After the KCl is dissolved, wait a few minutes until the solution is free of
bubbles.
3. Remove the protective cap from the DO probe and the dry membrane from
the DO sensor. Be careful not to scratch or contaminate the sensor tip.
4. Hold the probe in the vertical position and apply a few drops of KCl solu-
tion to the tip. The fluid should completely fill the small moat around the
electrodes and form a meniscus on the tip of the sensor. Be sure no air bub-
bles are stuck to the face of the sensor. If necessary, shake off the electrolyte
and start over.
5. Secure a membrane between your left thumb and the probe body. Always
handle the membrane with care, touching it only at the ends.
6. With the thumb and forefinger of your right hand, grasp the free end of the
membrane. With one continuous motion, gently stretch it up, over, and
down the other side of the sensor. The membrane should conform to the
face of the sensor.
7. Using the thumb and forefinger of your left hand, secure the end of the
membrane.
8. Roll the O-ring over the end of the sensor, being careful not to touch the
membrane surface with your fingers. No wrinkles or trapped air bubbles
should be in the membrane. Small wrinkles can be removed by lightly tug-
ging on the edges of the membrane. If bubbles are present, remove the mem-
brane and install again using Steps 4 through 9.
9. Trim off any excess membrane with a sharp knife or scissors. Rinse off an
excess KCl solution, but be careful not to get any water in the connector.
TIP: You may find it more convenient to mount the probe vertically in a vise
with rubber jaws while applying the electrolyte and membrane to the sensor tip.
24 CHAPTERS
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Figure 9. Installing the DO probe membrane
Step 2: Place the probes in the sonde bulkhead
1. Remove the transport clip from the sonde by hand to expose the bulkhead
(see Figure 10).
Transport clip
Bulkhead with
probe port plugs
Figure 10. Probe with transport clip
2. Using the probe installation tools provided, remove the port plugs. Save all
port plugs for possible future use. In place of the tool provided for port
removal, you may use a 7/64" hex key.
3. Apply a thin coat of O-ring lubricant to the O-rings on the connector side
of each probe that is installed. Make sure there are no contaminants between
the O-ring and the probe. Contaminates under the O-ring may cause the O-
ring to leak when the sonde is placed in use.
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2 5
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4. Before installing a probe, be sure the probe port is free of moisture. If
moisture is present, you may use a can of compressed air to blow out
the moisture.
5. Place a probe into the correct port and gently rotate the probe until the two
connectors align. With the connectors aligned, tighten the probe slip nut
with the probe installation tool provided. Do not cross thread the probe nut
and do not over tighten the slip nut.
6. A turbidity probe should be installed first due to its center position in the
sonde bulkhead.
7. Ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen probes do not have slip nuts and
should be installed without tools. Use only your fingers to tighten.
8. After the probes are placed in the bulkhead, install the probe guard by align-
ing it with the threads on the bulkhead and turn the guard clockwise until it
is secure. The probe guard protects the probes during calibration and meas-
urement procedures (see Figure 11).
Caution: Be careful not to damage the DO membrane during installation of the
probe guard.
Turn clockwise by hand
to secure
Probe guard
Bulkhead
(probes installed)
Figure 11. Sonde with probe guard
Step 3: Connect the power
1. Connect the sonde to an external power source.
2. For the YSI 6920 sonde, place the batteries into the sonde using the follow-
ing procedure (see Figure 12):
• Position the bail so that it is perpendicular to the sonde and use it as a
lever to unscrew the battery cap by hand. Then slide the battery lid up
and over the bulkhead connector.
• Insert eight AA-size alkaline batteries into the sonde, paying special
attention to polarity. Labeling on the sonde body describes the proper
orientation of the batteries with respect to polarity.
26 CHAPTERS
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Check the O-ring and sealing surfaces for any contaminants that could
interfere with the O-ring seal of the battery chamber. Contaminants
under the O-ring may cause the O-ring to leak when the sonde is
placed in use.
Lightly lubricate the O-ring on the outside of the battery cover. DO
NOT lubricate the internal O-ring.
Replace the battery lid and tighten by hand. DO NOT OVER
TIGHTEN.
Bulkhead
connector
with cap
Sonde body
(not shown)
Bail
Screw on
battery cap
\
AA batteries
(note polarity)
Figure 12. Location of sonde batteries
Step 4: Connect the field cable (see Figure 13)
1. Remove the waterproof cap from the sonde connector and set it aside for
later reassembly during storage.
2. Connect the field cable to the sonde connector. A built-in "key" ensures
proper pin alignment. Rotate the cable gently until the "key" engages and
then tighten the connectors together by rotating them clockwise.
3. Attach the strain relief connector to the sonde bail. Rotate the strain relief
connector nut to close the connector's opening.
4. The other end of the field cable for all sondes is a military-style 8-pin con-
nector (MS-8). Through the use of a YSI 6095B MS-8 to DB-9 adapter, the
sonde can be connected to a computer for setup, calibration, measurement,
and uploading files.
5. For laboratory use, a YSI 6067B calibration cable can be used instead of a
field cable. This cable is not waterproof and should not be submersed in
water. To use, plug the proper end of the cable into the sonde connector and
attach the DB-9 connector of the cable to the COM port of your computer.
Water Quality Monitoring
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Field cable
connector
Remove
waterproof
cap
Sonde
connector
Strain relief
connector
Figure 13. Connecting field cable
3.8 Calibrating fhe Monitoring Equipmenf
The following general calibration procedure is used for the most commonly used
sensors. Consult the YSI, Inc. manual to determine whether a different proce-
dure is used for a specific sensor. Calibration can be done using either the cali-
bration cup that comes with the sonde or laboratory glassware. Follow the
instructions in the text box on page 29 when the calibration cup is used in the
general calibration procedure. If you do not use the calibration cup, you are cau-
tioned to do the following:
• Perform all calibrations with the probe guard installed. This protects the
probe from possible physical damage.
• Use a ring stand and clamp to secure the sonde body to prevent the sonde
from falling over. Some laboratory glassware has convex bottoms.
• Insurer that all sensors are immersed in calibrations solutions. Many of the
calibrations factor in readings from other probes (e.g., temperature probe).
The top vent hole of the conductivity sensor also must be immersed during
calibrations.
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The following are the steps in the general calibration procedure:
Using the Calibration Cup to Calibrate Sensors in YSI
6820/6920 Sondes
/ Ensure that a gasket is installed in the gasket groove of the cali-
bration cup bottom cap and that the bottom cap is tightened.
/ Remove the probe guard from the sonde, if installed.
/ Remove the sonde O-ring, if installed.
/ Inspect the installed gasket on the sonde for obvious defects and,
if necessary, replace it with the extra gasket (supplied).
/ Screw calibration cup assembly into place on the threaded end of
the sonde and securely tighten, but do not over tighten.
/ Sonde calibration can be accomplished with the sonde upright or
upside down. A separate clamp and stand, such as a ring stand, is
required to support the sonde in the inverted position.
/ To calibrate the DO sensor, loosen the bottom cap or cup assem-
ble to allow pressure equilibration before calibration. The DO cali-
bration is a water-saturated air calibration.
/ Follow the general calibration procedure to calibrate a sensor
unless a different procedure is used for a specific sensor.
/ To ensure more accurate results, you can rinse the calibration cup
with water, and then rinse with a small volume of calibration solu-
tion for the sensor that you are calibrating. Discard the rinse solu-
tion and add fresh calibration solution. Consult the YSI, Inc.
manual for the correct volume of calibration solution for a sensor.
Step 1:
Carefully immerse the probes in the calibration solution. It is recommended
that the sonde be supported with a ring stand and clamp to prevent the
sonde from falling over.
Step 2:
With a field cable connecting the sonde to a personal computer (PC), access
EcoWatch for Windows and proceed to the Main menu. From the Main
menu, select number 2-Calibrate.
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29
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Step 3:
From the Calibrate menu, select the number of the sensor that you are cali-
brating. A number in parenthesis appears next to the selected parameter.
This is a default value that is used during calibration unless you input a dif-
ferent value. For parameters for which no default value is shown, you must
type in a value. After you are satisfied with the default value, press "enter."
Step 4:
After you press "enter," a real-time display appears on the screen. Carefully
observe the stabilization of the readings for the parameter that is being cali-
brated. When the readings are stable for approximately 30 seconds, press
"enter" to accept the calibration.
Step 5:
Press "enter" to return to the Calibrate menu, and proceed with the calibra-
tion for the other sensors.
Calibration Tips
• Temperature sensors do not require calibration.
• The key to successful calibration is to insure that the sensors are com-
pletely submersed when calibration values are entered.
• For maximum accuracy, use a small volume of previously used cali-
bration solution to pre-rinse the sonde. You may wish to save old cal-
ibration standards for this purpose.
• Fill a bucket with water at ambient temperature to rinse the sonde
between calibrations using different solutions.
• Have several clean, absorbent paper towels or cotton cloths available
to dry the sonde between rinses and calibration solutions. Shake the
excess rinse water off the sonde, especially when the probe guard is
installed. Dry off the outside of the sonde and probe guard to reduce
carry-over contamination of calibration solutions.
• If you use laboratory glassware instead of a calibration cup, you do
not need to remove the probe guard to rinse and dry the probe
between calibrations using different solutions. The inaccuracy result-
ing from just rinsing the probe compartment and drying the outside
of the sonde is minimal.
• Make certain that port plugs are installed in all ports where probes
are not installed. CAUTION: It is extremely important to keep these
electrical connectors dry.
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River Index Project
For the River Index Project, the probes were calibrated initially on a weekly basis.
After several weeks of testing the equipment, the calibration frequency was
decreased to biweekly.
The ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen probes require additional calibra-
tion steps that are cumbersome to do at a monitoring site. For this reason, extra
sondes were purchased at the beginning of the River Index Project. This allowed
sondes to be calibrated in the laboratory and then switched with the sondes at
the monitoring site.
3.9 Maintaining Monitoring Equipment
Most of the maintenance activities for the monitoring equipment focus on
cleaning the sondes and the probes. The activities vary by the type of probe
used.
The YSI 6570 Maintenance Kit is available for a sonde. The kit includes two
types of O-rings (for probes and cable connector), probe installation and
replacement tools, two cleaning brushes for the conductivity sensor, O-ring
lubricant, and a syringe for cleaning the depth sensor port. These items are
helpful in performing routine maintenance on your sondes.
To prevent water from entering a sonde port, it is extremely important that the
entire sonde and all probes be thoroughly dried prior to the removal of a probe
or probe plug. If moisture is present inside a probe port when either a probe or
plug is removed, use compressed air to completely dry the connector inside the
port. Remember, you will never a need to gain access to the interior circuitry of
a sonde during cleaning, because the sonde is sealed at the factory.
Maintenance activities for the cable connector port and the different sensors are
discussed below.
Cable Connector Port
The cable connector port at the top of the sonde should be covered at all times,
and the cable should be tightened at all times. This assures that a proper con-
nection is made and prevents moisture and contaminants from entering the
sonde. If moisture enters a connector, dry the connector completely using com-
pressed air, a clean cloth, or a paper towel.
When a communications cable is not connected to the cable connector port,
the pressure cap supplied with the instrument should be tightened. Apply a thin
coat of the lubricant that comes in the maintenance kit to the O-ring inside the
cable connector cap prior to each use.
DO Probe
For best results, the KCl solution and the membrane on the tip of the DO
probe should be changed prior to each time the sonde is used and at least every
30 days during use. The KCl solution and membrane also should be changed
if 1) bubbles are visible under the membrane, 2) if significant deposits of dried
WaterQualityMonitoring 31
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electrolyte are visible on the membrane or O-ring, or 3) if the probe provides
unstable readings.
• Dry the probe tip completely with lens cleaning tissue.
• Hold the probe in a vertical position and place one of the sanding disks sup-
plied by manufacturer under your thumb.
• Stroke the probe face in a direction parallel to the gold electrode (located
between the two silver electrodes). The motion is similar to that used to
strike a match.
• Usually, 10 to 15 strokes of the sanding disk are sufficient to remove the
black deposits on the silver electrodes. In extreme cases, more sanding may
be required to regenerate the original silver surface.
• After completing the sanding procedure, rinse the probe face with clean
water and wipe with lens cleaning tissue to remove any grit from the sanding
disk.
• Rinse the entire tip of the probe with distilled or deionized water and install
a new membrane.
• Be sure only to use the fine sanding disk provided by the manufacturer and
sand in the direction of the gold electrode. Not adhering to both of these
instructions can damage the electrodes.
Conductivity/Temperature Probe
The openings that allow liquid access to the conductivity electrodes must be
cleaned regularly. Dip a small cleaning brush (provided in the maintenance kit)
in clean water and insert it into each hole 15 to 20 times. In the event that
deposits are on the electrodes, adding a mild detergent in the cleaning water
might be necessary. After cleaning, check the response and accuracy of the con-
ductivity cell with a calibration solution.
The temperature portion of the probe requires no maintenance.
pHProbe
Cleaning of the pH probe is required whenever deposits or contaminants are on
the glass surfaces of the probe, or whenever there is a slow response. Several pro-
cedures are used to clean the pH probe after it is removed from the sonde.
The initial procedure is to use clean water and either a saturated soft clean
cloth, lens cleaning tissue, or cotton swab to remove all foreign material from
the glass bulb. Then, use a moistened cotton swab to carefully remove material
that may block the reference electrode junction of the sensor. Be careful not to
wedge the swab tip between the guard and the glass sensor. If necessary, remove
the cotton from the swab tip so that the cotton can reach all parts of the sensor
tip without stress.
32 CHAPTERS
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If good pH response is not restored using the initial procedure, perform the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Soak the probe for 10 to 15 minutes in clean water containing a few drops
of commercial dishwashing liquid.
2. Gently clean the glass bulb by rubbing with a cotton swab soaked in clean-
ing solution.
3. Rinse the probe in clean water, wipe with a cotton swab saturated with clean
water, and then rinse again with clean water.
If good pH response still is not restored, perform the following additional
procedures:
1. Soak the probe for 30 to 60 minutes in one molar hydrochloric acid solu-
tion. Be sure to follow the safety instructions that come with the acid solu-
tion.
2. Gently clean the glass bulb by rubbing with a cotton swab soaked in the acid
solution.
3. Rinse the probe in clean water, wipe with a cotton swab saturated with clean
water, and then rinse again with clean water. To be certain that all of the acid
solution is removed from the probe crevices, soak the probe in clean water
for about an hour with occasional stirring.
If good pH response is not restored through the above procedures or if biologi-
cal contamination of the reference junction is suspected, perform the following
additional cleaning step.
1. Soak the probe for approximately one hour in a one-to-one dilution of com-
mercially available chlorine bleach.
2. Rinse the probe with clean water and then soak for at least one hour in clean
water with occasional stirring to remove residual bleach from the junction. If
possible, soak the probe for longer than one hour to be certain that all traces
of chlorine beach are removed. Then rinse the probe with clean water and
retest.
If good pH response is achieved at the end of any of the above procedures, dry
the sonde port and probe connector with compressed air and apply a thin coat
of lubricant to all O-rings. Then place the pH probe in the sonde. If good pH
response is still not achieved, consult the manufacturer.
Turbidity Probe
The turbidity probe requires minimal maintenance. After each use, the optical
surface of the tip of the turbidity probe should be inspected for fouling. If nec-
essary, clean the surface by gently wiping the probe face with moist lens-clean-
ing paper. The wiper assembly might have to be replaced periodically depending
on the quality of water that is monitored.
WaterQualityMonitoring 33
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River Index Project
Initially, maintenance activities were performed weekly in the River Index
Project. After several weeks of testing, the maintenance frequency was reduced to
biweekly.
As mentioned previously, extra sondes were purchased at the beginning of the
River Index Project so that sondes could be maintained in the laboratory and
then switched with sondes at the monitoring sites. Approximately one hour is
needed to clean, service, maintain, and calibrate a sonde in the laboratory. The
time required for maintenance of each sonde and any problems encountered with
the sonde are recorded in a log book.
Field maintenance includes cleaning of the flow-through tank wall, back flushing
of the monitoring system by turning off the pump, cleaning pipes, and confirm-
ing the pump is in good working condition by recording the time it takes to
refill the flow-through tank. All field activities are recorded on a sheet that
remains at the monitoring station.
34 CHAPTERS
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4. Collecting, Transferring,
and Managing Real-Time
Water Quality Data
To effectively assess the water quality of a river, it is necessary to collect repre-
sentative field samples over a time span that takes into account as many influ-
ences on the water body as possible. Conducting a comprehensive manual
sampling program that covers different times of the day and different seasons
and seasonal events presents distinct challenges. As a result, many agencies
responsible for water quality monitoring rely on automated systems in which
remote water sampling units collect data at programmed intervals and then
transmit the collected data to a project headquarters for storage, retrieval, and
analysis. Automated systems measure a variety of water quality parameters that
are laborious to monitor manually on a daily basis (e.g., pH, temperature, con-
ductivity, and flow rate). A commitment to automation gives an agency the free-
dom to focus their resources on collecting samples for measurements that
usually are not made using automated systems: bacteria counts, chemical analy-
ses, and broad ecological assessments, for example.
Using the River Index Project as a model, this chapter provides you and your
community with information on how to operate and maintain automated data
collection systems:
• Section 4.1 provides introductory information as an overview of the system.
• Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 explain technical information on implement-
ing this system, such as processing information, calculating a river index, and
lessons learned in the River Index Project.
4.1 Sysfem Overview
An automated data collection, transfer, and management system benefits your
community in two ways: it enables you to automate the collection of water
quality data and it allows you to control the resulting data easily. By using the
system's software, you can program your remote data acquisition system (DAS)
to collect water quality data at specified intervals and store them. Then you can
program a computer in your headquarters to call the DAS at specified times and
download recent data. With little or no need for human intervention, the infor-
mation can be exported to a database, set in a standard format, and merged
with manually collected data. After the data are available in a database, they can
be used in a wide variety of applications. They can be:
• Manually inspected for quality control purposes
• Plotted using graphing software
• Mapped using a geographical information system (GIS)
• Processed and combined with other data
• Made available to the public via a connected Web server
WaterQualityData 35
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River Index Project
Various components make up the automated data collection, transfer, and man-
agement system for the River Index Project. They are:
• Data Acquisition System (DAS). This is a small, rugged computer located
at each of the monitoring stations in the Lower Great Miami River
Watershed (see Figure 14). It receives data directly from the water quality and
flow sensors, provides short-term storage for the data, and periodically trans-
mits the data to computers that call in. The DAS is set up for either cellular
or land-line telephone service. Each DAS is controlled by proprietary soft-
ware developed by the manufacturer:
- Data Collection Platform (DCP). DCP is software designed specifical-
ly by the DAS manufacturer. It controls the operation of the DAS
instruments, causes data to be stored, and uploads data to computers
that dial the DAS.
Figure 14. Data acquisition system at Downtown Dayton monitoring station
• The project headquarters Station, located in Dayton, Ohio, contains a
computer that runs different software programs:
- Procomm Plus software. This is a general purpose telecommunications
program that can be set to automatically dial the DAS and download
recent river stage data. This program also is used to upload river stage
and water quality data to the database server at the distribution station.
For more information on Procomm Plus software, go to
.
3 6
CHAPTER 4
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EcoWatch for Windows. This software, which was developed by YSI,
Inc., calls and downloads data collected using the dissolved oxygen, pH,
conductivity, turbidity, temperature, and nitrogen sensors.
• The Distribution Station, located at CH2M HILL's office in San Francisco,
California, receives data, stores them in a database, and distributes data to
the public over the Internet. Most of the computer hardware and software
needed for the River Index Project is used to provide information to the
public through the project's Web site. The distribution station runs the fol-
lowing software:
- Microsoft SQL Database Server. This software formats, quality checks,
and stores the collected data. The server responds to queries (either
directly from users or from other software programs) by providing
appropriate records from its database.
- Microsoft IIS Web Server provides Internet users with a graphical user
interface (i.e., a "Web site"). When the server needs real-time data to
send to an Internet user, it obtains the data from the database server.
The Distribution Station in California collects data from the project headquar-
ters Station to save money on long distance calls. It cost less to make one long
distance call to the project headquarters Station than to make six long distance
calls to the monitoring stations.
WaterQualityData 37
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DAS
Monitoring
Systems
Modem
connection over
cell phone or
landline
Dial-in
Computer at
Project
Headquarters
Telephone
connection with
distribution
station
Database
Server at
Distribution
Station
Network
connection
within
distribution
Web Server
at
Distribution
Station
station
Runs DCP
Software to
collect data
Runs Procomm Plus
and EcoWatch for
Windows to gather
data collected at
monitoring stations
Runs Procomm Plus
to upload data to
database server at
distribution station
Runs Microsoft SQL
to format and store
data, and to do
quality checks on
data
Runs Microsoft IIS
to retrieve data
from database
server and display
data on Web site
To learn more about how to use the software products, consult the manufactur-
ers' documentation.
How often should you collect data?
Given the system's flexibility, communities are able to establish sampling
and data transmission protocols based on their specific monitoring
needs. For example, one community might program its DAS to sample
every hour, seven days a week to monitor general trends over time.
Another community might collect only event-specific samples relevant to
the period of a nonpoint source event. This might involve continuous
monitoring at a single depth before, during, and after a storm.
The River Index Project Team programmed their computers to collect
water quality and flow data every eight hours. Each eight-hour reading
is itself an average of eight hourly readings collected by the DAS.
Manually collected water quality data, such as E. coli bacteria density
measurements, were collected less frequently (either once a week or
once a month) during the first year of the River Index Project. When a
river index is calculated, the most recent data, both automated and
manual, are used in the calculation. Graphs of the dissolved oxygen,
pH, temperature, turbidity, and specific conductance data collected in
the River Index Project during 2000 are presented in Appendix B.
3 8
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4.2 Processing fhe Information
In the River Index Project, data processing includes quality control and format-
ting. For quality control, checks are performed to determine the accuracy of the
data. For formatting, data are modified so that they can be stored together in a
database.
Quality Control Checks
One of the most important data processing functions is to perform quality con-
trol checks of data collected automatically. The primary quality control check
used by the River Index Project Team is to validate data by comparing them to
data collected using a hand-held probe. During the biweekly maintenance oper-
ations, the River Index Project Team collects data manually and compares them
to data collected automatically.
A judgement was made that if the values of the data collected automatically are
within 10 percent of the values of the data collected manually, they are consid-
ered valid. If the values for the automated data are different from the data col-
lected manually by more than 10 percent, the automated data are considered
suspect.
A Web-based tool allows field personnel to qualify data uploaded to the master
database as valid, suspect, or invalid. The "invalid" flag is used in cases where
there is an obvious problem with the data (e.g., low pH data at a monitoring
station). Periodically, the River Index Project Team also compares the data col-
lected from the same probe (e.g., pH) at the different monitoring stations. If the
data at one monitoring station vary significantly from the data at another moni-
toring station, further reviews are conducted to determine why those data vary.
Data Formatting
Three types of data are transmitted to the database at the distribution station:
• Real-time water quality data collected by the DAS at the monitoring stations.
• Water quality data collected manually by field staff and keyed into a data col-
lection program.
• River flow data collected automatically.
A computer procedure at the distribution station formats these three data sets so
that they "fit together" in the same database.
4.3 Calculating a River Index
An innovative risk communication tool of the River Index Project is its indexing
system. The indexing system converts measurements into a single, easy-to-under-
stand index that is disseminated to the public on the River Index Project Web
site (www.riverindex.org).
A key concern for the River Index Project Team as they developed the index and
other risk communication tools was that the tools meet, and be perceived as
meeting, the highest professional and scientific standards. Yet generating a river
WaterQualityData 39
-------
index involves making judgement calls about where to set cutoffs between differ-
ent categories of environmental quality (i.e., between "excellent" and "good" river
quality). It involves similar judgement calls about how to weight and combine an
array of dissimilar measurements into a single measurement of water quality. To
this end, the River Index Project Team recruited eight internationally-recognized
water quality experts to serve on a peer review panel for the project.
Drawing on their own expertise and that of the members of the peer review
panel, the River Index Project Team developed the following indexes:
• A Water Quality index that synthesizes and summarizes data for these water
quality parameters:
- Ammonia-nitrogen
- Atrazine
- Chlorpyrifos
- Dissolved oxygen
- E. coli bacteria
- Fish toxicity
- Nitrate-nitrogen
- pH
- Conductivity
- Water temperature
• A River index that synthesizes and summarizes data for the parameters in the
water quality index, plus data for two additional parameters:
- Flow rate
- Turbidity
While the water quality index focuses on those issues pertaining to the health of
the river, the river index provides a broader sense of whether river conditions are
right for recreation. Flow rate (river stage) is a particularly important parameter
for determining river safety. A very high flow rate not only indicates strong,
potentially dangerous currents, but it warns of possible flooding. For the sake of
safety, the river index is set up to automatically take the "poor" rating (regardless
of how good the other parameters are) if flow rate approaches a level characteris-
tic of flood activity. Under these circumstances, the River Index Project Web site
also displays a special flood warning.
Index Definitions
General vs. specific ratings. The river index is a mathematical procedure for
"rating" a stretch of water in terms of its current suitability for recreational pur-
suits. The index system does not specify which particular recreational activities
are likely to be safe or advisable—it is simply a statement about whether the river
40 CHAPTER4
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conditions are favorable for recreation in general. The River Index Project Team
originally considered issuing use-based advisories (e.g., the river is safe for boat-
ing, swimming, and fishing) but ultimately decided against this strategy because
they felt it called for overly subjective judgements and exposed the Project to
potential legal liability. It remains the responsibility of individual users to make
their own judgments about whether a particular river activity is wise. The Web
site for the River Index Project also provides the raw data on which the river
index is based to assist the user in making such decisions.
What the ratings mean. The rating used to describe the river index at each
monitoring station varies from "excellent" to "poor." The point range assigned to
each rating and the meaning of the rating are presented in the table below.
Ratings Used to Describe River Index
Point Range
Some measurements meet or exceed
water quality standards. Conditions
marginally favorable for recreation.
Averaging parameter values. Because the value for some of the parameters in
the river index change frequently, the river index also changes frequently. It is
updated every eight hours using an average of the previous eight hourly auto-
mated readings and the most recent manual readings. Web site visitors can "drill
down" to the most recent automated readings from the monitoring stations if
they wish. One reason for updating the index every eight hours (rather than
hourly) is to prevent it from fluctuating in a seemingly random and confusing
manner.
It is conceivable that, depending on the values for particular water quality
parameters, the river index might be on the borderline between two different
ratings—for example, "good" and "fair." If the index is updated every hour,
insignificant variation (i.e., "noise") in the values for the water quality parame-
ters might cause the rating to flip-flop between good and fair. This phenome-
non might undermine public confidence in the index's reliability. This potential
pitfall is averted by reliance on averaged data, which are more likely to reflect
significant changes in water quality.
Water Quality Data
4 1
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Calculating the River Index
Except in the special case of flood danger, the procedure for calculating a River
Index is described below.
Step 1: Rate individual water quality parameters. Each of the water quality
parameters that contribute to the River Index has a different value. The River
Index rates these values as either poor (1 point), fair (2 points), good
(3 points), or excellent (4 points). The advantage of this system is that it places
values in a standardized form—there are only four possible ratings for each
parameter.
Take the case of dissolved oxygen as an example. Based on Ohio EPA regula-
tions and the judgement of several water quality experts, dissolved oxygen con-
centrations greater than 9 mg/1 are considered "excellent," and those between 5
and 9 mg/1 are considered "good." The range from 2 to 5 mg/1 is "fair" and any
value below 2 mg/1 is "poor." Therefore, a value of 5.6 mg/1 for dissolved oxygen
translates into a good rating, which receives three points as shown below. The
ratings for the other water quality parameters are presented in Appendix C.
Ratings Used to Describe River Index
Dissolved Oxygen
Concentration (mg/1)
>9
5-9
2-5
<2
Rating/Points
Excellent / 4
Good / 3
Fair/ 2
Poor / 1
Step 2: Weight and score the points from Step 1 and add the scores for each
parameter to obtain the total score for a monitoring station.
Not all of the parameters measured are equally important in describing water
quality. To address this issue, the River Index Project Team developed the
weighting factors presented below for each of the parameters. Those factors and
the points for a parameter from Step 1 are used to calculate a score for the
parameter. The total score for a monitoring station is obtained by adding the
scores for all of the parameters:
• Points for a parameter from Step 1 x weighting factor for the parameter =
score for the parameter.
• Total score = sum of the scores for all of the parameters.
4 2
CHAPTER 4
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Weighting Factors for Parameters
Parameter
Dissolved oxygen
E. co// bacteria
pH
Conductivity
Water temperature
Flow rate
Turbidity
Weighting Factor
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
Step 3: Assign a final rating based on the total score for the parameters.
The final step in developing a river index for a monitoring station is to assign a
rating to the total score from Step 2. As mentioned previously, the River Index
Project Team used the following ratings and point ranges for the ratings.
Ratings for Total Score and Corresponding Point Ranges
One important caveat for the river index rating system is that it has a limited
ability to convey information about extreme deviations from the norm for any
particular parameter. For example, if the rating for pH is poor (e.g., pH = 1),
the score for pH would be 1 (point value of 1 for poor rating times weighting
factor of 1 for pH). Thus, out of a possible total score of 40, only one point
would be lost because of low pH. If the total score for all other parameters is
between 32 and 39, the rating for a river with a poor rating for pH would still
be excellent.
This, of course, is a highly unlikely scenario because there is no practical reason
why the pH of a river in the greater Dayton area would suddenly drop in such
an extreme fashion. The scenario merely demonstrates the logical limitations
inherent in an empirically weighted, linear indexing system. The River Index
Project Team addressed this issue for flow rate by instituting a safety override to
Water Quality Data
4 3
-------
prevent extremely high flow rates from getting "hidden" in the index's scoring
system.
4.4 Lessons Learned
Over the course of the first year, the River Index Project Team encountered a
variety of minor obstacles that it had to work around to provide uninterrupted
access to real-time water quality data:
• Lightening strikes. The computers at the project headquarters occasionally
lost communication with the DAS at the monitoring stations because of
lightening strikes. Power surges resulting from the lightening strikes traveled
along the telephone lines, damaging the modem at the monitoring station.
This problem can be solved by equipping the monitoring stations with effec-
tive surge protectors.
• Clock synchronization problems. The Taylorsville Dam monitoring station
is powered by solar energy due to its remote location. To conserve this highly
limited energy, the station only turns on its cell phone for a few brief periods
each day. The dial-in computer at the project headquarters is scheduled to
call the DAS at precisely the moments when the DAS is "awake" and ready
to be called. However, from time to time the clock on the DAS and the
clock on the dial-in computer get out of synchronization. When this hap-
pens, the two computers do not communicate—the dial-in computer calls
during times when the DAS is not answering the phone. This problem was
addressed by using a newer version of EcoWatch that synchronizes the dial-
in computer and DAS clocks every time the project headquarters computer
connects with the DAS.
• Interpreting unreliable data. Some of the instruments used in the River
Index Project reported values that deviated—inexplicably—from normal
ranges without a corresponding change in values for other parameters.
For example, the pH sensor at the Downtown Dayton monitoring station
reported values that were highly erratic and generally much lower than those
at the other stations. In one year, for example, this station reported values
ranging from pH 2 to pH 8 while the other stations reported values ranging
from 6.5 to 8.5. Certain dissolved oxygen sensors experienced similar prob-
lems. These problems can be addressed initially by replacing the sensors.
If this does not solve the problem, the underlying causes should be investi-
gated further.
44 CHAPTER4
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5. Depicting Real-Time
Water Quality Data
Now that your water quality monitoring network is in place and you have col-
lected the resulting data, you can turn to the next step in providing your com-
munity with timely water quality information: using data visualization tools to
graphically depict this information. By using the types of data visualization tools
described in this chapter, you can create graphic representations of water quality
data that can be used on Web sites, in reports and educational materials, and in
other outreach and communication initiatives.
• Section 5.1 provides an overview of data visualization.
• Section 5.2 contains an introduction to the data visualization tools used by
the River Index Project Team.
If you are interested in a basic introduction to data visualization, you might
only want to read the initial section. If you are responsible for choosing and
using data visualization software to model and analyze data, you also should
consult Section 5.2
5.1 What Are Data Visualization Tools?
In this handbook, data visualization tools are any graphic representations that
communicate environmental information. Presenting data in a visual format
enhances your audience's understanding of and interest in the data. Data visuali-
zation tools discussed below include maps, color coding, icons, graphs, and
Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Maps. Maps are one of the most basic and familiar data visualization tools
used to communicate timely environmental information. If kept simple
(e.g., clutter-free) and a good key explaining the different map symbols is
provided, maps are one of the easiest data interpretation and visualization
tools to develop and use.
• Color coding. Like maps, color coding is a data visualization tool that is
already familiar to many people, and thus its message can be easily under-
stood. The use of color coding to indicate "good" or "poor" environmental
conditions (and ranges between those extremes) has been combined success-
fully with maps, graphs, indexes, icons, and other tools for risk communica-
tion. Appropriate choices of colors (and ranges of colors) enhance a viewer's
understanding. For example, using well-known color coding schemes, such as
green to represent "go" (i.e., it is safe to swim in a particular beach based on
water quality conditions) and red to represent "stop" (i.e., do not swim in this
beach today because of poor water quality conditions) is recommended.
• Icons. The term "icon" is used here in a very general sense to describe any
visual cue or image used to communicate information—anything from a
physical placard (e.g., a beach closure symbol or sign) to a symbol on a com-
puter screen. Although words may be added, an icon ideally should be able
to convey at least its basic meaning without relying on language.
DepictingReal-TimeWaterQualityData 45
-------
• Graphs. Graphs are another commonly used and relatively easy-to-under-
stand data visualization tool. They are often used to convey information
about how several variables are related or compare. Some projects allow users
to generate graphs as needed by specifying which variables they want plotted
and how they would like them plotted.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS are effective data visualization
tools for displaying, analyzing, and modeling spatial or geographic informa-
tion. GIS maps, animations, and two-and three-dimensional models can be
generated after the detailed data are input into the system by skilled staff,
which can be labor-intensive and fairly expensive. Two key advantages of GIS
are the ability to quickly overlay and view several different data layers simul-
taneously, such as open space lands, water resources, and population, and to
view and compare different future scenarios (e.g., future land uses) and their
possible impacts (e.g., on environmental resources).
By applying these tools to water quality data, you can help your community's
residents gain a better understanding of factors affecting water quality in area
rivers and streams. Once you begin using data visualization tools, you will
immediately be impressed with their ability to model and analyze your data for a
variety of purposes, from making resource management decisions to supporting
public outreach and education efforts.
5.2 Data Visualization Tools Employed In the River
Index Project
On the home page of its Web site (see Figure 15), the River Index Project
displays a schematic map of the Miami River Valley, centered on the city of
Dayton, Ohio. The purpose of this map is to provide an "at-a-glance" summary
of water quality for all the rivers covered by the project. The most prominent
features of the map are the area's rivers and streams, colored in light blue. The
name of each river is written on the map. The background color of each river's
label changes to match the river's current index—a key on the map reminds the
viewer of what each color means. The map also displays the boundaries of the
Lower Great Miami River Watershed and of local counties. In addition, the home
page has an image of the River Index's "happy fish' that the River Index Project
Team created to provide the public with an easily recognizable mascot for the
River Index.
46 CHAPTERS
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Figure 15. Home page for the River Index Project Web site
Color-Coded Index Ratings
Each of the river index ratings is paired with a color. The color scheme chosen by
the River Index Project Team and the cultural significance of each color are pre-
sented below. The color scheme amplifies and coincides with the explanatory text
for each rating. This is particularly important because some people might not
bother reading or thinking about the carefully-crafted text that explains each rat-
ing. They may simply note the color of the rating and make their conclusions
about the river based on their intuitive understanding of that color. Other people
might actually read the explanatory language but be confused about its practical
significance (e.g., the difference between "favorable" and "highly favorable condi-
tions') . Colors with a known cultural significance help to communicate the level
of risk reflected by the different ratings.
Depicting Real-Time Water Quality Data
4 7
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Color-Coding System Used in the River Index Project
Rating
Excellent Green
Cultural Significance of Color
affic signals, the green light says "go ahead." Similarly, this rating
vely entices the index user to "go ahead" and use the river for recre-
n. Green also connotes environmental well-being. It suggests that
Good
Fair
Yellow
3 the other three colors, blue is not used in traffic signals. Good
s, therefore, the direct impact of the other ratings possess. In aes-
c terms, however, it is widely accepted as the normal color of water.
veil though "good" is not the best possible rating, the color blue reas-
ures the user that the water is still clean and safe.
Yellow is the caution light in traffic signals. Without forbidding passage,
it exhorts the viewer to exercise discretion and maintain a heightened
state of awareness. Similarly, a yellow rating encourages the user to
think twice about his or her plans for using the river. The color encour-
ages the user to learn more about the specific nature of the river's
problems
affic, the color red commands the viewer to stop. In an environ-
ital context, it also conveys an impression of danger, emergency,
i authority. The color red anchors "poor" at the bottom of the rank-
system, and indicates that there is, at present, a serious problem
"Dial" Displays of River Index
Before the widespread use of digital readouts, scientific instruments typically
presented their readings by means of analog dials. In automobiles, these dials
remain the principal technology for communicating real-time information (e.g.,
speed, RPMs, oil pressure) to the driver. Thus, for many people the idea of
reading a value off a dial is quite intuitive.
In the River Index Project, each dial has four sections, one for each of the four
ratings. The needle of the dial always points squarely in the middle section of
the dial. The sections of the dial are labeled (poor, fair, good, excellent) but only
the one that the needle is pointing to is illuminated. These dials do not repre-
sent continuous variation in index values. Because the needle simply "jumps'
from one state to the next, the dial does not distinguish between a "good" rating
that is very close to "fair" and one that is very close to "excellent." An interested
user can make this distinction by looking at the total numerical score for the
index.
4 8
CHAPTER 5
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6. Communicating Real-Time
Water Quality Data
As your community develops its real-time water quality monitoring and report-
ing systems, you need to think about the best ways to communicate the infor-
mation these systems yield. This chapter discusses how to communicate that
information.
• Section 6.1 outlines the steps in creating an outreach plan for real-time water
quality data.
• Section 6.2 discusses the elements of the River Index Project outreach plan.
• Section 6.3 provides guidance for communicating information effectively,
including resources for water quality monitoring and promoting awareness that
you can incorporate into your own communication and outreach materials.
6.1 Creating an Oufreach Plan for Real-Time Wafer
Qualify Dafa
Outreach is most effective if you plan it carefully, considering such issues as:
Whom 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 consider important elements of an outreach project before you
begin. The plan itself provides a blueprint for action.
An outreach plan is most effective if you involve a variety of people in its devel-
opment. Where possible, consider involving:
• A communications specialist or someone who has experience developing 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 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 out-
reach effort. Potential partners might include local businesses, environmental
organizations, schools, boating associations, local health departments, local
planning and zoning authorities, and other local or state agencies. Partners can
participate in planning, product development and review, and distribution.
Partnerships can be valuable mechanisms for leveraging resources while enhanc-
ing the quality, credibility, and success of outreach efforts.
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. As you answer the questions, you might want to revisit and refine the
decisions you made based on answers to earlier questions until you have an inte-
grated, comprehensive, and achievable outreach plan.
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 49
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Whom Are You Trying To Reach?
Identifying Your Audience (s)
The first step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify the target
audience or audiences for your outreach effort. Outreach goals often define the
target audience. You might want to refine and add to your goals after you have
specifically considered which audiences you want to reach.
Target audiences for a water quality outreach program might include, for exam-
ple, the general public, local decision-makers, land management agencies, edu-
cators and students (high school and college), and special interest groups (e.g.,
homeowner associations, fishing and boating organizations, gardening clubs,
and lawn maintenance/landscape professionals). Some audiences, such as educa-
tors and special interest groups, might serve as conduits to help disseminate
information to other audiences you have identified, such as the general public.
Consider whether you should divide the public into two or more audience cate-
gories. For example: Are you providing different information to certain groups,
such as citizens and businesses? 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 is appropriate to consider these groups as separate audience
categories.
Profiling Your Audience (s)
Outreach is most effective if the type, content, and distribution of outreach
products are tailored specifically to the characteristics of target audiences. After
you identify your audiences, the next step is to develop a profile of their situa-
tions, interests, and concerns. This profile helps you identify the most effective
ways of reaching the audience. For each target audience, consider:
• What is their current level of knowledge about water quality?
• What do you want them to know about water quality?
• What information is likely to be of interest to the audience? What informa-
tion will they want to know once they develop some awareness of water
quality 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 typi-
cally engage in that might provide avenues for distributing outreach prod-
ucts? 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 colleges who have suc-
50 CHAPTER6
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cessfully developed other outreach products for the audience, and using your
imagination.
What Are Your Outreach Goals?
Defining your outreach goals is the next 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.
What Do You Want To Communicate?
The next step in planning is to think about what you want to communicate. In
particular, think about the key points or "messages' you want to communicate.
Messages are the "bottom line" information you want your audience to walk
away with, even if they forget the details.
A message usually is phrased as a brief (often one-sentence) statement. For
example:
• The River Index allows you to track daily changes in river water quality.
• The River Index helps you plan river-related recreational activities.
Outreach products often have multiple related messages. Consider what mes-
sages you want to send to each target audience group. You might have different
messages for different audiences.
What Kinds of Outreach Products Will You Develop?
The next step in developing an outreach plan is to consider what types of out-
reach products are the most effective for reaching each target audience. There
are many different types of outreach products: print, audiovisual, electronic,
events, and novelty items. The table below provides some examples:
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 51
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Outreach Products
Print
Brochures
Educational curricula
Newsletters
Posters
Question-and-answer
Editorials
Fact sheets
Newspaper and magazine articles
Press releases
Utility bill inserts sheets
Audiovisual
Cable television
Exhibits and kiosks
Videos
Public service programs
announcements(radio)
Electronic
Events
Novelty Items
• E-mail messages
• Web pages
• Briefings
• Fairs and festivals
• One-on-one meetings
• Public meetings
• Banners
• Buttons
• Floating key chains
• Magnets
• Subscriber list servers
• Community days
• Media interviews
• Press conferences
• Speeches
• Bumper stickers
• Coloring books
• Frisbee discs
• Mouse pads
The audience profile information you assembled earlier is helpful in selecting
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 know now? The simplest, most straightforward product
generally is most effective.
• Is the product likely to appeal to the target audience? How much time does
it take to interact with the product? Is the audience likely to make that time?
• How easy and cost-effective is the product 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?
• How much does it cost to develop the product? Do you have access to the
talent and resources needed for development?
5 2
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• What other related products are already available? Can you build on existing
products?
• When will the material be out of date? (You probably want to spend fewer
resources on products with short lifetimes.)
• Is it 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
is more likely to be rapidly and widely disseminated by the media.
How Will Your Product Reach Your Audience?
Effective distribution is essential to the success of an outreach strategy. There are
many avenues for distribution. Some examples are:
• Your mailing list • TV
• Partner's mailing list • Radio
• Phone/Fax • Print media
• E-mail • Hotline that distributes products on request
• Internet • Meetings, events or locations (e.g., libraries)
where products are made available
• Journals or newsletters
You should consider how each product is distributed and determine who
is responsible for distribution. For some products, your organization might
manage distribution. For others, you might rely on intermediaries (such
as the media or educators) or organizational partners who are willing to partici-
pate in the outreach effort. Consult with an experienced communications pro-
fessional to obtain information about the resources and time required for the
various distribution 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?
• Does the mechanism you are considering really reach the intended audience?
For example, the Internet can be an effective distribution mechanism, but
certain groups might have limited access to it.
• How many people is the product likely to reach through the distribution
mechanism you are considering?
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 53
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What Follow-up Mechanisms Will You Establish?
Successful outreach might generate requests for further information or concern
about issues you introduced to the audience. 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)?
What is the Schedule for Implementation?
Once you have decided on your goals, audiences, messages, products, and distri-
bution channels, you need to develop an implementation schedule. For each
product, consider how much time is needed for development and distribution.
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 target
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 contains suggestions for presenting technical information to the public. It
also provides information about online resources that provide easy to under-
stand background information that you can use in developing your own out-
reach projects.
6.2 Elemenfs of fhe River Index Projecf Oufreach
Program
With the assistance of the other project team members, the City of Dayton took
the lead in developing and implementing mechanisms to communicate timely
water quality information—as well as information about the project itself —to
the public in the Lower Great Miami River Watershed area. Elements of the
project's communication program are highlighted below.
Random telephone surveys. Wright State University's Center for Urban and
Public Affairs designed and conducted a random telephone survey to assess citi-
zens' attitudes and behaviors toward the Great Miami River and other water-
ways in Montgomery County. A core set of questions on the survey was
administered as a pre-and post-test that included a set of questions to evaluate
citizens' awareness of the River Index Project communication strategy. By asking
the same set of attitude and behavioral questions in the pre- and post-test, it
was possible to determine whether the River Index Project communicated time-
ly information about water quality in a user-friendly manner. Computer Aided
Telephone Interview equipment was used to minimize human data entry error
and to manage the telephone interviewing process. The telephone survey form is
presented is Appendix D.
54 CHAPTER6
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Newspapers. During the 17-week high-use period beginning in mid-May and
ending in late-September, the river index for each monitoring station is present-
ed daily on the weather page of the area's largest newspaper. Indexes are not
reported during the remainder of the year.
The newspaper published the river index information in color, which meant
that a different scale did not have to be developed to portray the river index in
the newspaper. Weather staff at the newspaper simply obtained the river index
information from the Web site and used it in the newspaper.
Television. The goal of the River Index Project Team was to have the river
index for each monitoring station presented during weekend weather forecasts
on major television stations during the 17-week high-use period. However,
because of the time required to obtain the information, only one station pre-
sented the river index during the weather cast, and this was done infrequently.
Web site. The River Index Project Web site, designed and maintained by
CH2M HILL, Inc., is the primary vehicle for communicating timely informa-
tion to the public. For this reason, the River Index Project Team concluded that
the site should:
• Be nonmechanical looking.
• Be easy to navigate.
• Contain the most important and easy to understand information up front.
• Contain detailed information for the technical user at deeper levels within
the site.
The Web site was developed on a Microsoft IIS server running Windows NT
using Fireworks, Cold Fusion, Cold Fusion Studio, Chart FX, ASP, and
Microsoft SQL 7. It contains a summary sheet with the current index for each of
the water quality monitoring stations and explains how an index is calculated.
The site also contains information on the River Index Project and the Lower
Great Miami River Watershed as well as general information on water quality
monitoring. In addition, the site contains a page with a "Search The Index'
graphing feature.
Automated sampling data are uploaded three times per day into a master
Microsoft SQL database, which resides on the Web server. After the data are
loaded, a stored procedure is automatically initiated within SQL that runs the
most current data through the river index calculation. The updated river indexes
are available immediately for viewing through the River Index Project Web site
(www.riverindex.org).
Because not all of the River Index Project data are collected daily, a Web-based
data entry application was developed to facilitate data entry. All data collected
manually are entered into the database using the entry application. After they
are entered into the database, the most recent data are used to calculate the river
indexes.
Brochures and flyers. Several brochures and flyers were created with varying
degrees of technical information, and distributed to the public.
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 55
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Signs and banners. A River Index advertisement sign was developed and
installed on several Regional Transit Authority buses that serve downtown
Dayton. A large River Index banner also was developed and used at a booth
during local and regional events.
Free promotion items. Pens, can koozies, and refrigerator magnets with the
"happy fish" logo, River Index name, and Web site address were developed and
distributed at various local and regional events.
6.3 Resources for Presenting Wafer Qualify
Information fo fhe Public
As you begin to implement your outreach plan and develop the products select-
ed in the plan, you want to make sure that these products present your messages
and information as clearly and accurately as possible. You might want to review
available resources on the Internet to help you develop your outreach products
or serve as additional resource materials (e.g., fact sheet).
How Do You Present Technical Information to the Public?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature, and water quality is no
exception. Nevertheless, this information can be conveyed in simple, clear terms
to nonspecialists, 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 headings and other format devices to provide a very clear, well-organ-
ized structure. You may 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 Internet at .
• The Web site of the American Bar Association (www.abanet.org) has links to
important online style manuals, dictionaries, and grammar primers.
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 infor-
mation accordingly. Provide only information that is valuable and interesting to
the target audience. For example, environmentalists in your community might
be interested in why turbidity is important to aquatic life. However, it's not
likely that school children are interested in this level of detail.
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 people who speak little or no English, you should prepare communication
materials in their native language.
The rest of this section contains information about online resources that provide
easy to understand background information that you can use in developing your
own outreach projects. Some of the Web sites listed contain products, such as
56 CHAPTER6
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downloadable fact sheets, that you can use to support your education and out-
reach efforts.
Federal Resources
EPA's Surf Your Watershed
www.epa.gov/surf3
EPA provides this service to locate, use, and share environmental information on
watersheds. One section of this site, "Locate Your Watershed," allows the user to
enter the names of rivers, schools, or their zip code to learn more about the water
resources in their local watershed. Users also can access the Index of Watershed
Indicators (IWI) from this site. The IWI is a compilation of information on the
"health" of aquatic resources in the United States. The index uses a variety of
indicators that point to whether rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas
are "well" or "ailing."
EPA's Nonpoint Source Pointers
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts
This Web site features a series of fact sheets on nonpoint source pollution.
Topics covered by the fact sheets include: programs and opportunities for
public involvement in nonpoint source control, managing urban runoff, and
managing nonpoint pollution from various sources (e.g., agriculture, boating,
and households).
U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/frame/wqam
Go to this site and click on "Guidance Documents." The resources there include
a simple tool to estimate water body sensitivity to nutrients, a procedure to eval-
uate the conditions of a stream based on visual characteristics, and information
on how to design a monitoring system to observe changes in water quality associ-
ated with agricultural nonpoint source controls.
Education Resources
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
www.montana.edu/wwwwet
The goal of Project WET is to facilitate and promote awareness, appreciation,
knowledge, and stewardship of water resources by developing and disseminating
classroom-ready teaching aids and establishing state and internationally spon-
sored Project WET programs. This site includes a list of all the State Project
WET Program Coordinators to help you locate a contact in your area.
Communicating Real-Time Water Quality Data 57
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Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN)
www.earthforce. org/green
The Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) helps people
protect the rivers, streams, and other vital water resources in their communities.
This program merges hands-on, scientific learning with civic action. It contains
extensive information on water quality monitoring.
Adopt-A-Watershed
www.adopt-a-watershed, org/about. htm
Adopt-A-Watershed is a K-12 school-community learning experience. Adopt-A-
Watershed uses a local watershed as a living laboratory in which students engage
in hands-on activities. The goal is to make science applicable and relevant to stu-
dents' lives.
National Institutes for Water Resources
http://wrri.nmsu.edu/niwr/niwr.html
The National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) is a network of 54 research
institutes throughout the United States. They conduct basic and applied research
to solve water quality problems unique to their area and establish cooperative
programs with local governments, state agencies, and industry.
Other Organizations
The Watershed Management Council
www.watershed.org
The Watershed Management Council is a nonprofit organization whose mem-
bers represent a broad range of watershed management interests and disciplines.
Membership includes professionals, students, teachers, and individuals whose
interest is in promoting proper watershed management.
58 CHAPTER6
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7. Sustaining Timely Water
Quality Information
This chapter discusses how real-time water quality monitoring can be sustained
over time. This is necessary to insure that the public and interested groups con-
tinue to have information on which to base decisions on how and when to use
an area's water resources.
• Section 7.1 discusses using existing programs to collect real-time water
quality data.
• Section 7.2 discusses where to house the database and Web server for a water
quality monitoring project.
• Section 7.3 addresses public support for water quality monitoring.
• Section 7.4 discusses the water quality data that can be collected given
a certain level of funding.
7.1 Building on Existing Programs
A key aspect of a water quality monitoring program is the ability to sustain the
program over the long term. This can be done by building on existing pro-
grams, whenever possible, by using existing infrastructure, and by using low
maintenance automated equipment to collect data. This approach reduces the
funding needed to continue a water quality monitoring program and at the
same time helps ensure full use of existing facilities.
River Index Project
One of the existing programs that was leveraged in the River Index Project is
the program for collecting and analyzing river stage data. MCD currently main-
tains the existing river gauge houses throughout the Great Miami River Basin,
and collects river stage data at those locations. MCD's experience and expertise
were used to collect river stage data and water quality data at the six water quali-
ty monitoring stations for the River Index Project.
MCD also worked with the USGS and YSI, Inc. to retrofit existing gauge hous-
es so that they could be used in the River Index Project. In addition, Wright
State University's Institute for Environmental Quality (IEQ) in conjunction
with MCD, USGS, and YSI, Inc. oversaw the field activities for this project as
well as the laboratory analyses that were conducted. IEQ has extensive experi-
ence in the assessment of contamination of freshwater ecosystems.
The communication component of the River Index Project also relies on an
existing program. The City of Dayton, the River Index Project partner responsi-
ble for this component, used its expertise and experience in developing the
communication materials for this project and in implementing the communica-
tions component. In addition, Wright State University's Center for Urban and
Public Affairs (CUPA) designed and implemented pre- and post- random tele-
Sustaining Timely Water Quality Information 59
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phone surveys to assess the effectiveness of the communications component for
this project.
Another example of leveraging existing programs is in-kind services. Approx-
imately 32 percent of the costs for the River Index Project was obtained through
in-kind services. In-kind services also are expected to be approximately 30 per-
cent of the annual budget to sustain the River Index Project in the future.
7.2 Housing of Database and Web Server
The database and Web server for a water quality monitoring project can be
located at several locations or at one location. When deciding where to house
your database and Web server, consider the advantages of one location. The
benefits of one location include better administrative control, easier manage-
ment, and less expense. In addition, less software and licensing agreements are
needed when the database and Web server are housed at one location. One dis-
advantage is that redundancy has to be included at the single location. Housing
the database and Web server at multiple locations provides this redundancy.
River Index Project
The River Index Project Team concluded that the database and Web server for
the River Index Project should be housed physically at one location. The select-
ed location is CH2M HILL's office in San Francisco, California. Even though
the server is outside of CH2M HILL's network at that location, it is still under
their direct control, connected to the Internet through a dedicated telephone
line and DSL.
7.3 Public Supporf
Public support is critical to sustaining a water quality monitoring program. It
keeps decision-makers informed of the public's level of interest in the quality of
an area's rivers and streams. This knowledge is important when decisions are
made on project funding. Without public support, there is little to no impetus
to either initiate or continue a water quality monitoring program.
River Index Project
Several new initiatives in the greater Dayton area are aimed at reviving econom-
ic development along the river corridors. Along with the new economic focus,
citizens and local organizations are demonstrating increasing interest in environ-
mental issues, which rallies great public support for the River Index Project.
Because of this, several organizations expressed an interest in supporting the
River Index Project. The presence of partnering agencies such as the City of
Dayton along with letters of support received from a wide variety of organiza-
tions in the area are evidence of this interest.
60 CHAPTER?
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Sustainable Support for the River Index Project
Letters of support, including pledges of in-kind services in some cases,
were received from the following:
• Five Rivers MetroParks
• League of Women Voters
• Dayton Power & Light
• General Motors Corporation
• Miami Valley Project GREEN
• Dayton Daily News
• WKEF-TV NBC 22
• Rhine McLin, Ohio State Senator
• Dixie J. Allen, Ohio State Representative
• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
• Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
• Downtown Dayton Partnership
• Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Interest in the River Index Project was greatest when projects funds were
obtained through the EMPACT grant. The project's strength has waned since
funds have been provided by local agencies. One approach that might secure
continued collection of river stage and water quality data is to incorporate the
River Index Project monitoring stations into MCD's surface water monitoring
program. MCD would maintain the monitoring equipment and monitoring
stations and would make the data collected available to the River Index Project
partners. The project partners then would communicate the data to the public
through the project Web site. If this approach is not accepted, the River Index
Project may not be able to continue until after another source of funding is
obtained. Other water quality monitoring projects may experience similar prob-
lems in obtaining the long-term funding needed to sustain the projects.
7.4 Determining Data To Collect
Data that can be collected in a real-time water quality monitoring program
depend on the available funding. When funds are limited, the critical water
quality parameters for a water body should be determined, and the monitoring
effort should focus on collecting data for those parameters. Any seasonal varia-
tion in the critical parameter should be considered when designing the monitor-
ing program.
Sustaining Timely Water Quality Information
61
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River Index Project
The parameters monitored in the River Index Project represent important aspects
of water quality. While developing the list of parameters, the project team con-
sidered information such as EPA's water quality criteria, Ohio EPA's water quality
criteria and biocriteria standards, peer-reviewed scientific literature, natural back-
ground conditions of the rivers and creeks, and the expense and availability of
manual and automatic data collection methods.
During the first year of the River Index Project, daily real-time data were collect-
ed for ammonia-nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, flow rate, nitrate-nitrogen, pH, spe-
cific conductance, and water temperature. Data for atrazine, chlorpyrifos, E. coli
bacteria, and PAH were collected weekly, and fish toxicity data were collected
monthly. These were the initial parameters that the project team selected to
describe water quality in Lower Great Miami River Watershed.
Based on the experience obtained during the first monitoring season, several
changes were made in the monitoring program for the River Index Project. These
changes, which were made to reduce the monitoring costs, include eliminating:
• Monitoring at the Taylorsville Station because of problems associated with
the cell phone modem.
• Automated monitoring of ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen because
of the high cost and maintenance of the probes.
• Sampling and analysis for atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and PAH because the low
concentrations for these pollutants during the 2000 monitoring program did
not affect the rating for the river indexes.
• Sampling and analysis for fish toxicity.
As a result of the above changes, the parameters used to calculate the river
indexes in 2001 and 2002 included: dissolved oxygen, E. coll bacteria, flow rate,
pH, specific conductance, turbidity, and water temperature. The project team
concluded that the monitoring data for these parameters are adequate to
describe water quality conditions at the River Index Project monitoring stations.
62 CHAPTER?
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Appendix A: Glossary of Terms
Algae: Small plants that lack roots, stems, flowers, and leaves; living mainly in
water and using the sun as an energy source.
Algal bloom: Rapid growth of algae on the surface of lakes, streams, or ponds;
stimulated by nutrient enrichment.
Alkalinity: A measurement of water's ability to neutralize acid.
Ammonium: A nitrogen compound, NH^, having the chemical relations of a
strongly basic element like the alkali metals.
Aquifer: A soil or rock formation saturated with water.
Atrazine: An herbicide used extensively for weed control for corn, sorghum,
and sugarcane, and found frequently in streams and rivers, particularly follow-
ing floods and periods of heavy rain; designated a "possible human carcinogen"
by EPA.
B
Basin: The geographic area drained by a stream; also referred to as Drainage
Basin or Watershed.
Benthic: The environmental setting and organisms associated with the bottom
of a water body.
c
Chlorpyrifos: A broad-spectrum, organophosphate insecticide used to control
foliage- and soil-borne insect pests on lawns and a variety of food, feed and
ornamental crops; in residential settings it is used for lawn care, termite and
mosquito control, indoor foggers and pet collars.
Conductivity: A measure of the ability of water to conduct an electrical current
as measured using a 1 -cm cell and expressed in units of electrical conductance
(i.e., Siemens - S or ohms) at 25° C. Conductivity is related to the type and
concentration of ions in solution and can be used to approximate the total dis-
solved solids (TDS) content of water by testing its capacity to carry an electrical
current; conductivity corrected to 25° C is specific conductance.
D
Dissolved Oxygen (DO): The amount of oxygen dissolved in water. Adequate
concentrations of dissolved oxygen are necessary for the life of fish and other
aquatic organisms and the prevention of offensive odors. Dissolved oxygen levels
are considered the most important and commonly employed measurement of
water quality and indicator of a water body's ability to support desirable aquatic
life. Generally, proportionately higher amounts of oxygen can be dissolved in
colder waters than in warmer waters.
GlossaryofTerms 63
-------
Drainage basin: The total land area drained by a stream. A drainage basin may
be composed of many small watersheds; see also Basin and Watershed.
E
E. coli (Escherichia coli): A bacterium of the intestines of warm-blooded
organisms, including humans, that is used as an indicator of the presence of dis-
ease causing organisms.
Erosion: The wearing away of the land surface by physical and chemical
processes.
Eutrophication: The process by which water bodies are enriched with nutrients
(usually phosphorus and nitrogen) that generally result in excessive aquatic plant
growth. Eutrophication can lead to low levels of dissolved oxygen. Natural
eutrophication is the process of water body aging. Cultural eutrophication
occurs when nutrients are added from agricultural runoff, sewage, or other
sources.
Fecal coliform bacteria: The portion of the coliform group that is present in
the gut or feces of warm-blooded animals. The presence of fecal coliform bacte-
ria in water is an indication of pollution and potential human health problems.
G
Groundwater: Water in the pores and cracks in soil and rock below the land
surface.
H
Habitat: The environmental setting in which an organism lives.
I-L
Inorganic compound: Any compound not containing carbon.
M
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The allowable concentration of a
compound in drinking water; EPA considers the properties of the compound,
the known human health effects of the compound, the likely occurrence in
drinking water, and the detection limit for the analytical method used to ana-
lyze a sample of drinking water when developing a MCL for a compound.
N
Nitrogen: An often limiting nutrient for plant growth in the aquatic environ-
ment. When nitrogen is present in a water body in high concentrations, algae
can grow quickly, resulting in a depletion of dissolved oxygen.
NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Units: a unit of measurement that indicates
the depth that light can penetrate a water sample.
64 APPENDIXA
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Nutrient: Any substance necessary for growth of living things.
o
Organic material: Any compound containing carbon.
P
Pesticide: A chemical agent used for the control of specific organisms, such as
weeds and insects.
pH: The measurement of acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 0 - 14. A pH of 7 is
neutral while a pH lower than 7 is acid and a pH higher than 7 is alkaline
(basic).
Phosphorus: An essential plant nutrient that in excessive quantities can con-
tribute to the eutrophication of water bodies.
Photosynthesis: Process by which green plants use sunlight to produce food or
energy.
Point source pollution: Pollutants originating from an identifiable "point"
source, such as a pipe, vent, or culvert.
Probe: A device that contains one or more sensors that collect water quality
data; a probe usually is placed in a sonde.
Q
QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control): The process by which data
accuracy and precision are evaluated in a scientific inquiry. In laboratory water
analyses, the process often includes performing duplicate tests and testing sam-
ples that contain a known concentration of a compound.
R
Real-time data: Data that depict conditions in the present. These data may be
displayed immediately after they are collected or after a short time-delay depend-
ing on the eouinment used to nrocess the data.
vjioijiaycvj iiiiiiicvjidLciy CIILCI Lucy cue V^WIICV^LCVJ ^
ing on the equipment used to process the data.
River corridor: Land areas with physical characteristics, such as vegetation, that
show the direct influence of a body of water. Steam sides, lake borders, and
marshes are typical river corridor areas.
Runoff: Water from rain, snowmelt, or irrigation that flows over the ground sur-
face and runs into a water body.
s
Sediment: Soil, sand, and minerals deposited in a water body.
Sonde: A torpedo-shaped device placed in water to gather water quality data.
Sensors that collect water quality data are placed in probes that are then placed
in a sonde.
GlossaryofTerms 65
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Stormwater: The water and associated material draining into streams, lakes, or
sewers as the result of a storm.
Storage: The volume of water detained in a drainage basin in groundwater,
channel storage, and depression storage. The terms "drainage basin storage" and
"basin storage" sometimes are used to describe the volume of water in natural
storage in a drainage basin.
Surface water: Waters that are exposed naturally to the atmosphere. Examples
include rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams, impoundments, seas, and estuar-
ies.
Total dissolved solids (TDS): A measure of the concentration of material
(mostly inorganic salts) dissolved in water. High concentrations of TDS can lead
to discolored water with unpleasant tastes or odors and can sometimes affect the
quality of drinking water. TDS cannot be removed by filtering.
Total suspended solids (TSS): Whole particles, such as silt, sand, or small algae
or animals that are carried or suspended in the water and cause discoloration of
the water. These substances can be removed from the water by a filter.
Toxicity: A measurement of how harmful a substance is to plants and animals.
Turbidity: Dissolved or suspended solids in water that make the water unclear,
murky, or opaque.
u-v
Urban runoff: Water that drains from the surfaces such as roofs, paved roads,
and parking lots in subdivisions.
w-z
Water chemistry: The study of the chemical reactions in surface water and
groundwater. The study of microbial activity and its effect on surface water and
groundwater often is included in water chemistry studies.
Water quality: The condition of the water with regard to the presence or
absence of pollution.
Watershed: The surface drainage area that contributes water in a stream or river
at a specific location. Also see "basin" and "drainage basin."
66 APPENDIXA
-------
Appendix B: Graphs of Water
Quality Data Collected in 2000
O)
E.
o
a
Dissolved Oxygen
The results from the Miamisburg, Dayton, and Wolf
Creek stations are all questionable
# f
&&&&.&.&&.&J&&
rOrOrOrOrOrOrOrOrO
v-* CY-* CY-* CV^ fV CY-* CY-* CV^ CV^
-> .n'O .n'O .nV .nV .n'O .n'O .n'O .rN>
T ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ '
Date
Graphs of Water Quality Data Collected in 2000
6 7
-------
PH
Q.
Date
Te mpe ratu re
<^<^rv<^<^<^<^<^rvrv<^<^<^<^rvrv<^<^<^<^rv
-------
Turbidity
800 i
700
Date
o
u
u
1C
8
Q.
Specific Conductivity
Specific conductivity data from Dayton
^
/-W /-W pSJ pSJ pSJ pSJ
Date
Graphs of Water Quality Data Collected in 2000
69
-------
Appendix C: Ratings for Water Quality
Parameters
Parameter
Ammonia- Na
Atrazine3
Chlorpyrifos3
Dissolved
oxygen
E. co//
Fish Toxicity3
Flow Rate
Nitrate - Na
PAHa
pH (upper)
pH (lower)
Conductivity
Turbidity
Temperature
(upper)
Temperature
(lower)
Units
mg/l
ppb
mg/l
#/100ml
% survival
cfs
mg/l
ppb
standard
units
standard
units
MS/cm
NTU
Celsius
Celsius
Range for
"Excellent"
Range for
"Good"
Range for
"Fair"
0.6 - 0.8
20 -50b
2 - 5
576 - 850
60- 70
Specific
0.6 - 0.8
50-100
8.5 - 8.9
8.5 - 8.9
0.6 - 1
Specific
32.79 - 34.43
10.01 - 15.56
Range for
"Poor"
' Parameter only monitored during the first monitoring season.
' Combined rating for atrazine and chlorpyrifos.
7 0
APPENDIX C: Ratings for Water Quality Parameters
-------
Appendix D: Telephone Survey Form
MIA.MI VALLEY RIVER INDEX
ytJKSTIONNAIKK
_ calling from Wrighl Stale University, t'm calling to find OUT
what citizens from lh= Msami Va]l*y region, like ynursell', ihmk about our rivers. May 1
speak to a person who is IS or older and who mosl recently celebrated his or her
birthday?
1. Yes
Helta,
is
No ft& tip a time to tail back)
I know your time: is valuable, so I wpn'i keep you lonj Do >-
-------
Now, I'm going lo nsk you abuul Mime aspects of river walcr quality of the rbirr major
rivcra in tfus area. The F'tiu say ihty are:
1. Excellent
2.
3.
4.
7,
9.
7 How
Fair, or
Poor
Don't Knovw'Nci Opini
Refused
1 .
2-
3 .
4.
7.
9,
;LTE ytrj ab&ui how clear the water is for (heac four rivers? Arc vuu
Very concerned
fiorucwlial ccinecnscd
Sornewhnt mil goncernwl, CT
Not at all concerned
Don't know/No
Refused
1 2
APPENDIX D
-------
S. How satisfied sitt ymi wirti how clear liie rivers *re7 Are
I , Very
2.
3.
9
Somewhat dissatisfied,. or
Very di Esat i sikd
Don't Know.'No- Opinion
Refused
9. I low would you rale the clearness of [he rivers? Would you say Lhey ;
1.
3.
4.
7
9.
Excellent
Good
Fair, or
Pwr
[>™ri Know/Nti
Refiiscd
] n. Da you. fee] that fish caught from the river* are aafe for people to can?
I. Yes
No (Why? )
Dor*'I knowi'No rtpininn
5. Relused
11, Do you havt- sctpfin dtaiio-'calcli basins i
I
2
7
9.
Yes
Don't know
Rflusu-J
12. Whsc do you shink
of these stanm drains go?
phnl-;
Rivert wilhuul liealmen.1
Rvvicrs wilh rrcalrnun.1
Refused
I'ju going io ask you ac-iiw qutstiorts about Ihc cnvircjiuiicoL Altluugh
County haa a waatewaler trealmcnt plum, not all water is treated. Rain wato aiid tuber
sub^laricca Ihat enter slorm 4wins *nd sewers are carried back to 1he rivers wiihuut
trcatmcnl
Telephone Survey Form
7 3
-------
1 .1. Dei yciu ihink inii« people are aware aflhc fact dial not all wader is
I. Yea
2. No
Dnn't VniywrTJa cipmmr,
9. Refused
] 4. DM! yav lu».w that Lawn fertilizer is washed into ihc rivers by rain?
Yes
No
Don't tn»w.i"ND Cfuiuun
I
2,
7.
9.
IS. Now thai you know thai rain washes pollutants into the river, what do you feel are the
woisl poLlulauts Bflectinig our four rivera?
16. Da you feel thax locaJ officiils should spend money 1o better educate citizens, like
>xiui fjiendi and neighbors abo'iit how our rivers b«jcm»e polluted?
I. Yes
2, No
7. [Xin'L knOwi'No Opinion
9. Kefuscd
Now, I am going to *sk you about recrearteno nprwrtumitics involving the i»« of rivers and
river corridors in the Miami Valky.
IT. Wluth nver d* yciu HMKU often visit?
I, Great Miwni Valley River (skip to £?/ 9J
1 $ti»l Waler River ^jtfaJB fa Ql 9)
3, Mnd River {skip to
4. Wolf Creek (skip to
5. Olher _ _ (skip to
6. Hooe
7. Don'( know
9. Refused
7 4
APPENDIX D
-------
J S. What keeps. you from gMrag to the rivers?
I . Safely
2. Its iniajttrnctivene.u
3>. Nnlhing in i5i> Ihiire
4. I'm TQU busy
5. li is COG far aiid'of out ofiltc way
6. Other _
Dorfl know/No opinion
9 Refcsed
19. Have >\TJ been Ui a FIVK Rivers MLLTU t'urk ur C'iiLj of Daylan park in the l.igt
Yes
No ftirip to Q22)
Don't knawi'Na
L.
7.
9.
20. Wen any of the parks you visited Locaied aJong a river?
I .
2.
7.
9,
Yes
Don'
Refused
21 . 'was IliE rive- an jJdiliuijal (LaCUif lit' why you viSated the park?
Yes
No
Dcin1!
].
2.
7.
9-
22. Ttiinking back over dw Lasi twelve months, how often have )XJti or
incnilben used the river recreation opportunities offered *1 1he rivers?
family
2.
3.
J.
J.
6,
a.
10.
I L
9.
Ni'ViT '-i.lV,' !:...!
] lime a year nr less
23 limtnii'vear fi*r/r to
J - 1 1 (Lme^'yeai (skip iv Q24)
I uoTG'inonlh fskip w Q2fy
2-3 lim«a<'momh (dip to
Weekly (step t« Q24)
More than OIK* a weds fskip
Daily fsktp fo Q24)
Don'1 know/no opinion
Telephone Survey Form
7 5
-------
23.. What a lite key reason why >iou u« river lecrcaHkm less Lhen oiwe a ysar?
Now f'm £ain$10 read a Jb£ uf activities irtOSt ptoplL L-iijuy.
*j arty cjf ihcra
24. Do ywi fisli in (he rivers?
I Vo
1 Nfl.
7. Don 't Rntiw.'No Opinion
9.
IL[| I:IL- wl-.tlhtr
25. Do you canoe on the riven?
1. Yes
2. No
7. Don't Kj»w.''No Opinion
9. Refused
26. Da you picnic along the riven:"?
I, YES
2. No
7. Dou'l Know/No Opinion
•'. Refused
27. Do you bike, jo&. rollertitade, or wilk aUing Hie rivers?
I Yes
2. K*
T.
5.
fi'E KJMWI"NO Opinioti
Reftiacd
. Is (here anything else you enjoy in ar jloaj;. ihe
7 6
APPENDIX D
-------
tiow wmuld you rule HIE recreational opportunities available on Ihc fiver
in Lhe Miami Valley region'/
Excellent
Good
Fair
Row
Dtw 'l Know/No Opinion
I
?
3.
4
9.
. How dk» you receive most of your information aboui ihu ijualuj uC nveis m the
Miami Vilky Region? Select oil I
11.
12.
13.
M
1 5
! !:•
17.
I ft.
19.
20.
21.
IJa.viwi Daily Ntws
Other newspaper
T.V. ads
T.V.news
Radix* wfe
Radio ivcwii
Othw
Don '1 knowNo opinkm
Refused
from
31. I tnve von received mfonnalmn uhi>ut the River Qiialily
I Y«
2. No
[bocTt knowj'No opinion
Refused
12 Have you roccivid informulian abuut the RJVGT Quality Index ftorsi UlC
I. Yes
2. No
Don'1 know/No opiraon
9. R*f««J
Telephone Survey Form
7 7
-------
33. H&VE you received information aheml ihe River Qualily Index from the Internet?
].
:•
7.
Yes
'tkjiuvt/Na upinidrt
Refused
.14. Da you usu the River Quality Index when dividing to use lite invert's)
activities?
I. Yes
2. No
Dori'1 Vnira'''Nn njvn r.n
9. RdusoJ
35 On a scale of I 1o 1 0,. wilh I mr.nninii I don 't mjoy *1 *ll and 1 0 meaning E enjoy
very mucli^ lui* much da ytya cnjay river water acth'ilies?
i
10 »
1 enjoy very much Dan'l know Refused
I draft enjoy al all
36. Most of the iLnre, where do you go for river wader activities? Do you go
-------
40. On JKW rani i5n*l
L.
2,
3.
4.
5,
6.
S.
44 XSTint WOK the Jas.'. grade i: I' :Lb:iol jnau
I . Lew 1hjm Hi^h Sttioc-l
2. Ihgh School <;«d
3. Sonw Colkg&Tech School
4. Coltege Graduate
5, PrMt Graduale Work nr
Etan'l know
*. fteiuwd
Telephone Survey Form
7 9
-------
45. How lung havt _yuu livttl M ytnui pCL'Stnl aJJrLsaV
I I.LIH lhan 1 VLUF
2. I vL-at. liui IML ilian 2
3. 2 to 3 yiean
4. 4 1n (4 ytus
i. 7 ID L
-------
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
-------
Disclaimer
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.
-------
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.
-------
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
-------
CONTENTS
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
-------
-------
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
-------
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
-------
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
-------
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.
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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
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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. EPA's 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
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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.
RAMS NETWORK DESIGN
EXTREME
DCWNWND SITE
URBANIZED
FRINGE
PRIMARY AFTERNOON
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.
OZO N E MON ITO Rl NG
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SPECIAL PURPOSE MONITORS
Obtaining Additional Data for Ozone Mapping and Outreach
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.
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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.
Extraction Equipment
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 Equipment
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.
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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 Monitors
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.)
Additional Equipment
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.
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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.
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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).
Calibration Transfer Standards
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.
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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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Quality Assurance
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).
Equipment Maintenance
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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3.7 ANNUAL NETWORK REVIEW
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 within the ADTS
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
-------
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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Obtaining and Installing ADTS and Other Software
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
\bin
\config
\convert
\data
\transfer
Files
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
Description
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 ius_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. ius_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
-------
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
SHC Initiated
DCC Initiated
Status of Transfer
End User
Data Collection Center
User Incoming
Data
Incoming Data
QA/QC
Database
(archived)
Outgoing Data
DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
35
-------
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 polling 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-enu 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
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• 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.
Presentation of Forecast Data
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.
Processed Data
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.)
DCC's QA/QC 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
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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
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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
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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.
•
£te
12 am September 14,1MB
Purple
Rnt
Qrango
•Ye lo*
Ye4law
Gntn
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
Very unhealthy
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
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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).
Setting Up Your Computer
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 PvAM (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.
Obtaining and Installing MapGen
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
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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
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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 file(s)
Look jn:
_j| obs
~T|
I
File name:
I
Files of type: | Observation data fiies (*.obs)
Cancel
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 ,
lttltf,
COTKE W9E WED SSHPLE «f5_-n
n. i hi M MM .. VV'I .! .V-l. IWI-4.:<
-------
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.
.Plot Animate Help
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
I import J_op 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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d I'M ftiHrt | njf, ot DM MM be adwM he MMh IN* fcilUl)
* Center Coordinates: MapGen automatically recalculates this when
you change a corner coordinate. However, you can adjust the center
coordinates to recenter the plot on the new coordinate(s) position.
• Reference Coordinates: MapGen automatically recalculates this when
you change a corner coordinate. However, you can change the refer-
ence coordinates to recenter the map view at the center of the grid
and reduce distortion.
If you are unfamiliar with reference coordinates and projections, we suggest that
you let MapGen recalculate them automatically.
Regenerating the Map
1. Once you are satisfied with the plot area displayed, click on the OK button.
Then, when prompted, click on the O^Tbutton in the Confirm Clear Plot pop-
up window. (Alternatively, you can click on the Cancel button to continue
adjusting the plot area displayed.) Selecting O^will return you to a blank
screen.
2. At the blank screen, regenerate the map by clicking on the Plot menu and
choosing Draw Plot.
Fine-Tuning the View of Your Map
1. Go to the Customize menu and choose Set Plot Size.
2. At the Set Plot Size window (shown at right), type over the
current values in the Width field and the Height field to
adjust the dimensions of the map.
Set Plot Size
Width. |EiiT
Height: |443
pixels
pixels
OK
Cancel
MAKING OZONE MAPS
53
-------
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.
fcl Map Generator HI*1E1I
File
Hv Plot Animate JH elp
Delect Plot Area and Projection Params...
Set Plot Size
Other Map 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
-------
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).
Hap ("scrim*
Uf-Wdh [T
f**i±
T Show Ur
F GtMenra ftakr*
r
p
r FW*I!
(?
56
CHAPTER 5
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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.
Adding I mages and Text
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
-------
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.
Saving Custom Settings and Still-Frame Image Maps
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
-------
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: CREATING AND SAVING ANIMATED MAPS
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
-------
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.
4 I •» '.'inn
Choose Ihe lime span Jot your animation
>^v J.>
1996
•„,,!
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.
60
CHAPTER 5
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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
-------
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.
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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.
What Are Your Outreach Goals?
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.
Who Are You Trying To Reach?
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.
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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.
What Do You Want To Communicate?
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?
66
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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?
What Follow-up Mechanisms Will You Establish?
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) ?
What Is the Schedule for Implementation?
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.
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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.
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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 Nature Of Ozone Pollution
• 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 Health Effects of Ozone
• 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.)
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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.
Ozone and the Clean 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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The Ozone Map
• 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.
The Air Quality Index
• 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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Actions to Reduce Ground-Level Ozone
• 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.
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP 81
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82
CHAPTER 6
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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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Cover- Click Anywhere on Image to View Contents
Unilnri Stales
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Ozone Monitoring, Mapping,
and Public Outreach
Delivering Real-Time Ozone
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\
E M P A C T
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access
& Community Tracking
Click Here or Anywhere on Imaae to View Contents
file:///P|/...DProject/625C03007/040120_1341%20(J)/Ak%20Quality%20Monitoring/Ozone%20Mapping%20AirNow/html%20files/start.htm[5/20/2014 2:48:53 PM]
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Table of Contents
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
3. OZONE MONITORING
3.1 Ozone Monitoring—An Overview
3.2 Siting Your Ozone Monitoring Network
3.3 Selecting Monitoring Equipment
3.4 Installing Monitoring Equipment
3.5 Calibrating Monitoring Equipment
3.6 Maintaining Your Monitoring Equipment and Ensuring Data Quality
3.7 Annual Network Review
4. DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
4.1 Overview of the Automated Data Transfer System fADTS^)
4.2 Getting Ready to Use the ADTS for Data Collection and Transfer
4.3 Using the ADTS for Data Collection and Transfer
4.4 Operations at the Data Collection Center
5. MAKING OZONE MAPS
5.1 Understanding MapGen's Capabilities
5.2 Getting Started
5.3 Generating and Managing Maps
5.4 Advanced Features
5.5 Technical Support
6. COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Ozone
6.2 Successful Ozone Outreach Programs
6.3 Guidelines for Presenting Information About Ozone to the Public
APPENDIX A
Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
APPENDIX B
file:///P|/...DProject/625C03007/040120_1341%20(J)/Ak%20Quality%20Monitoring/Ozone%20Mapping%20AirNow/html%20files/toc.htm[5/20/2014 2:48:53 PM]
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Table of Contents
Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
APPENDIX C
Automated Data Quality Checks
Disclaimer
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 recommendation
of their use.
file:///P|/...DProject/625C03007/040120_1341%20(J)/Ak%20Quality%20Monitoring/Ozone%20Mapping%20AirNow/html%20files/toc.htm[5/20/2014 2:48:53 PM]
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Acknowledgements
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
Tsbls of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
file:///P|/...ojecV625C03007/040120J341%20(J)/Air%20Quality%20M
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Acknowledgements
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
file:///P|/...ojecV625C03007/040120J341%20(J)/Air%20Quality%20M
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Chapter 1- Introduction
1. INTRODUCTION
'zone, 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
respiratory health effects. People who live in communities with high ozone levels can use timely and accurate
information to make informed decisions about how to protect their health from ozone exposure and when to take
actions to reduce local ozone levels.
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
environmental information.
• Provide their residents with easy-to-understand
information they can use in making informed,
day-to-day decisions.
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
BAD 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."
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.
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
consistency in measuring environmental data, managing the information, and delivering 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 metropolitan 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. To find out how to apply for a Metro Grant, visit the EMPACT Web
site at http://www.epa.aov/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.
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Chapter 1- Introduction
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)f the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA)
(http://www.marama.org)f and the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO) (http://www.ladco.org). In
1998, EPA's Office of Air and Radiation assumed coordination of the project. The ozone maps are found on EPA's
AIRNOW Web site—part of the Ozone Mapping Project (http://www.epa.aov/airnow). AIRNOW displays still-frame
maps that show today's ozone levels, yesterday's peak ozone values, and tomorrow's ozone forecast, 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 limited 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 communities 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
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Chapter 1- Introduction
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.
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, MA-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
Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland,
MI
Greensboro-Winston Salem-High
Point, NC
Greenville-Spartan burg-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, WI
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
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, ME
Portland-Salem, OR-WA
Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-
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
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Chapter 1- Introduction
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI
El Paso, TX
Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN
Fresno, CA
Omaha, NE-I
Orlando, FL
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic
City, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL
Wichita, KS
Youngstown-Warren, OH
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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Chapter 2- How to Use This handbook
2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
iis 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
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 application 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 support.
• Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an ozone outreach 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 understandable, plain-English style, which you can incorporate into your own
communication and outreach materials.
This handbook is designed both for decision-makers who may be considering whether to implement an ozone
program in their communities and for technicians 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.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
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Chapter 2- How to Use This handbook
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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Chapter 3- Ozone Monitoring
3. OZONE MONITORING
3.1 Ozone Monitoring—An Overview
3.2 Siting Your Ozone Monitoring Network
3.3 Selecting Monitoring Equipment
3.4 Installing Monitoring Equipment
3.5 Calibrating Monitoring Equipment
3.6 Maintaining Your Monitoring Equipment and Ensuring Data Quality
3.7 Annual Network Review
iis 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)f 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 provide 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 federal 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.aov/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 concentrations 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 responsibility 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 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.aov/ttn/amtic/codefed.html.
Information provided by your ozone monitoring network is used for a number of purposes:
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Chapter 3- Ozone Monitoring
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, yesterday'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 residents in your community when levels of ozone are unhealthy or expected
to be unhealthy.
Under the State and Local Air Monitoring Stations network, three different subsystems 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 monitoring
stations, with the network size and station distribution largely determined by the needs of state and local air
pollution control agencies to meet their SIP requirements. EPA gives states and localities flexibility 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 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 nonattainment 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
Serious
Severe
Extreme
Ozone Design Value
0.160 parts per million (ppm) to 0.180 ppm
0.180 ppm to 0.280 ppm
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
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Chapter 3- Ozone Monitoring
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. EPA's 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.
I Ozone Precursors
Ground-level ozone forms when various pollutants, such as volatile organic 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.
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
Maximum exposure
elevant
Pollutants
onitoring
Objective
Notes
Ozone
Regulatory compliance
Required as part of the NAMS network. Designed to
measure the highest exposure ozone concentration in
a heavily populated area.
Maximum downwind
concentration
Ozone
Regulatory compliance
Required as part of the NAMS network. Designed to
measure the concentration maximum ozone
concentration expected to occur in an urban area.
Maximum emissions
Ozone precursors
(nitrogren oxides and
VOCs)
Control strategy
development
Designed to measure the concentration of nitrogen
oxides and VOCs in proximity to a source. Data are
used to model ozone formation.
Upwind background
Ozone precursors
(nitrogren oxides and
VOCs)
Control strategy
development
Designed to measure the ozone and ozone precursor
concentrations precursors 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
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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 population 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-combustion source, could affect monitor readings.
Locating Upwind and 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 available from the Support Center for Regulatory Air
Models (SCRAM) within EPA's Technology Transfer Network (TTN) at http://www.epa.aov/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 techniques can be found in EPA's Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations Implementation Manual at
htto://www.eDa.gov/ttnamti 1/parns. html.
PAMS NETWORK DESIGN
EXTREME
DOWNWNDSITE
MAXIMUM
OZONE SITE
CENTRAL BUSINESS
DISTRICT
SECONDARY
MORNING
WIND
U PWIN 3SAC KGROU H D
SITE
f
PRIMARY AFTERNOON
WIND
PRIMARY MORNING WIND
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.
Ul. High ozone day predominant morning wind direction.
U2. Second most predominant high ozone day morning wind
direction
U3. High ozone day predominant afternoon wind direction.
SPECIAL PURPOSE MONITORS
)btaining Additional Data for Ozone Mapping and Outreach
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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 additional
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 permanent 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 downwind 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 vertically and horizontally away from any supporting structure.
• 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, depending upon
the average daily traffic flow). See Table 1 in Appendix E of 40 CFR Part 58 for specific separation distances
between ozone monitors 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 dripping from
a tree might fall.)
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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 concentration 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 different 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.
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 designation.
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.
Extraction Equipment
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 particulate 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 significant losses even in
the most inert probe if the residence time is longer than 20 seconds. EPA requires that sampling probes for
reactive gas monitors at SLAMS or NAMS have a sample residence time of less than 20 seconds.
Calibration Equipment
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 corresponding
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
instrument 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 components 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.
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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 logging (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 complete 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 installation 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.
• Inspect the interior of the instrument for damage, such as broken components or loose circuit boards. Make
sure that all of the circuit boards are completely secured. (Loose boards could short out the motherboard.)
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 Monitors
• Installing an ozone monitor consists of connecting the sample tubing to the sample gas inlet fitting and
connecting the primary power and the recorder. The sample inlet line connection should be made with 1/4-
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Chapter 3- Ozone Monitoring
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 particulate 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.)
Additional Equipment
The recording device, data acquisition equipment, and any monitoring equipment, calibration equipment, or other
ancillary equipment should be installed according to the information supplied in the appropriate manuals.
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 procedure 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.aov/ncerqa/qa/qa docs.html#g-.
Environmental Control for Monitoring Equipment
When you install your ozone monitor, you will need to control any possible physical 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
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.
Light
Shield instrumentation from natural or artificial light.
Electrical voltage
Ensure constant voltage to transformers or regulators. Separate power lines.
Isolate high current drain equipment such as hi-vols, heating baths, and pumps
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Temperature
Humidity
from regulated circuits. The total amps to be drawn should
another instrument is added.
Regulate air conditioning system. Use
heating/cooling only.
Regulate air conditioning system; use
24-hour temperature
24-hour recorder.
be checked before
recorder. Use electrical
Securing Your Monitoring Site
Your monitoring equipment will need to operate unattended for prolonged periods. 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.
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 conditions 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 concentrations.
The photometer that you use for calibration must be dedicated exclusively to calibration 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 transportation, and available to be operated by an experienced analyst under optimum
conditions. This single photometer can then serve as a common standard for all analyzers 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, available on the AMTIC Technical Guidance
Documents Web site at http://www.epa.Qov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.html.
You should conduct a visual inspection of the photometer system prior to use to verify that the system is in order,
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all connections are sound, gas flow is not restricted, and there are no leaks. Next, you should perform a linearity
test of the photometer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Accuracy of the photometric calibration
system can be verified by occasional comparison with ozone standards from other independent organizations,
either directly or using transfer standards. 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 output 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.aov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.htmn.
Calibration Transfer Standards
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 calibration system. A transfer standard is defined as a transportable
device or apparatus that, together with the associated operational procedures, can accurately reproduce pollutant
concentration standards or produce accurate assays of pollutant concentrations which are quantitatively related to
an authoritative master standard. The primary function of a transfer standard is to duplicate and distribute
concentration standards to places where comparability to a primary standard is required.
Because of the nature of ozone, transfer standards must be capable of accurately reproducing standard
concentrations in a flowing system. Ozone transfer standards 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 separated by appreciable distances. Also, these analyzers require recalibration
at periodic intervals. Consequently, a large number of ozone standards will be required at various 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.
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• 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 others are recommended) over the scale
range of the ozone analyzer by adjusting the ozone source.
• Plot ozone analyzer responses versus the corresponding ozone concentrations 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.
Quality Assurance
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 frequency 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 sensitivity to changes in temperature or
parameters other than ozone concentration
• 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 malfunctioned.
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.htmh.
Equipment Maintenance
Each component of your monitoring equipment will have its own maintenance routine. In many cases, the
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equipment manual provided by the vendor will offer detailed maintenance procedures. The table below describes
the essential equipment monitoring and maintenance activities you will need to follow.
Maintenance Issue
Acceptance Limits
Method of
Measurement and
Corrective Action, If
Needed
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 of 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
specific.
• Assess precision by
repeated measurements.
• Check thermograph chart
daily excessive
fluctuations.
• Make weekly visual
inspection.
• Make weekly visual
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.
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Chapter 3- Ozone Monitoring
Developing a Preventive Maintenance Plan
You should develop a preventive maintenance plan to ensure the equipment monitoring 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 measurements
• Documentation showing that maintenance has been performed as required by the maintenance contract, the
Quality Assurance Project Plan, or test plan
You must perform preventive maintenance periodically to maintain the integrity of the instrument. You should keep
a log book with the instrument, since maintenance is performed according to total hours of "instrument on" time.
The following steps are included in preventive maintenance procedures:
• Replace the ozone scrubber cartridge according to the procedures specified by the manufacturer in the
operating manual for the analyzer (typically, every 125 hours of instrument operation). The exact life span
of the ozone scrubber is directly proportional to the level and characteristics of the pollutants flowing
through it. Most manufacturers recommend 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 performing 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
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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.
3.7 ANNUAL NETWORK REVIEW
EPA requires that you conduct an annual network review to determine:
• How well your network is achieving its required air monitoring objectives.
• Whether your network is meeting the needs of the data users.
• How the network might be modified to continue to meet its monitoring objectives and data needs.
Some possible modifications may include terminating existing monitoring stations, 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.aov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.html.)
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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Chapter 4- Data Collection and Transfer for Ozone Mapping
4. DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE
MAPPING
4.1 Overview of the Automated Data Transfer System
4.2 Getting Ready to Use the ADTS for Data Collection and Transfer
4.3 Using the ADTS for Data Collection and Transfer
4.4 Operations at the Data Collection Center
D
uring 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, management, and
distribution. Other data transfer and management systems are commercially 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 interacting
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 responsible 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 concentration data. You can view a map
of the U.S. that shows the locations of these ozone monitors at http://www.epa.Qov/airsdata/mapview.htm. These
monitors 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 collect (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 format and then transfer the data to
the DCC. At many agencies, the State Host Computer is configured to transfer data automatically; at some
agencies, computer equipment limitations require the data transfer to be carried out as a manual 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 developing ozone maps.
The schematic below shows how the ADTS operates.
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Chapter 4- Data Collection and Transfer for Ozone Mapping
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Data Flow within the ADTS
The ADTS collects and transfers ozone monitoring data so that the data are readily 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 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.aov/ozmap/. You will
need a password and user name to access this site. Please contact Phil Dickerson at
dickerson.phi!0)epa.Qov for a password and user name. When you reach the Ozone Mapping System
(QMS) 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 Polls
Ozone Monitor * 2
3
State Host
Computer Must
Process Data by
State Host
Computer Must
Transfer the Data
to the DCC by
DCC Processes
Data by
DCC Transfers
Data to End User
8:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
8:40 a.m.
11:40 a.m.
1:40 p.m.
3:40 p.m.
5:40 p.m.
8:45 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
1:45 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
5:45 p.m.
8:50 a.m.
11:50 a.m.
1:50 p.m.
3:50 p.m.
5:50 p.m.
9:20 a.m.
12:20 p.m.
2:20 p.m.
4:20 p.m.
6:20 p.m.
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Chapter 4- Data Collection and Transfer for Ozone Mapping
7:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
7:40 p.m.
9:40 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
9:45 p.m.
7:50 p.m.
9:50 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 EOT.
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 created 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.
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 monitoring 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 determination 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
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ADTS. Level 1 provides 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 requirements 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.
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 recommend 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 sufficient 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
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 PC
8 MB RAM
100 MB free disk space
VGA video
16 MHz 386 PC
1 MB RAM
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
Connectivity
Network card or ISDN
28.8 K baud modem
Direct Internet connection
Outside firewall or external
access permited
Modem (backup)
14.4 K baud modem
Dial-up Internet connection
Modem (backup)
2,400 baud modem
Modem for Kermit-Lite
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Chapter 4- Data Collection and Transfer for Ozone Mapping
20 MB free disk space
Monochrome monitor and card
Obtaining and Installing ADTS and Other Software
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" below.) 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 instructions below.
Obtaining and Updating ADTS Software
You can obtain the ADTS software (and updates) through the QMS Web site or by FTP. To download ADTS from
the QMS 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 software in Installation and Operation of
the Automatic Data Transfer System for State Host Computers at http://envpro.ncsc.ora/oms/oms-docs.html.
Configuring ADTS Software
Once you have installed the ADTS software, you can configure the files by following the guidance in the ADTS
installation instructions file. You will also need to modify the ADTS configuration to conform with your polling and
data conversion 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.phi!0)epa.Qov.
When you installed the ADTS software, various subdirectories were created under the c:\oms directory as
described in adts-shc.txt. The table below describes the files from these subdirectories that you will most likely use
to configure and operate the ADTS software.
Directory
\bin
omscnvrt.exe
Description
Dummy data conversion program. Provides sample source code that shows you how
to convert from AIRS (Aerometric Information Retrieval System) format to MapGen
format.
\config
download.pif
downldSl.pif
Windows 95 program to download data from the DCC.
Windows 3.1 program to download data from the DCC.
oms-env.bat
ADTS configuration script.
mscustom.ini
Kermit-Lite initialization file.
omscnvrt.inp
Initialization file for the OMS data conversion program. Used only by agencies
without polling software.
shc31.dk
Sample Clocker task schedule.
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\convert
\data
\transfer
shc95.clk
spw.bat
upload. pif
upld31.pif
omscnvrt.bat
airs2oms.exe
\in
\out
\work
upload.bat
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 OMS 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 establish an FTP account with the DCC
with an FTP password. You can obtain a password from Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phi!0)epa.Qov.
After obtaining a password, you can add your password to spw.bat or ws_ftp. It is strongly recommended you use
ws_ftp and not spw.bat to set up your password because ws_ftp encrypts passwords and makes them very secure.
ws_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.html.
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://steay.rtpnc.epa.Qovf the FTP port is 21, and the USER ID is your three-character
agency name. (See http://envpro.ncsc.orQ/oms/pub/SiteInfo/aaency codes.html.)
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 software 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 communications 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.
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Connectivity Software. If your agency uses a dial-up network connection to initiate 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)f 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 information 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 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 provided in Section 4.1.) When developing your polling and transfer schedule, you
may want to consult with Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phi!0)epa.Qov.
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.
Tip!
We strongly recommend that
agencies bordering each
other geographically collect
data from the same
monitoring station. If one
agency is unable to collect
data, the other can collect
and transfer the data. For
example, in northern Virginia,
a few monitoring stations
provide data to two different
agencies. This redundancy
allows one agency to supply
the data when the other
cannot.
Step 2: Converting the Data
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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 QMS 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 QMS conversion software, please contact EPA's Phil Dickerson at
dickerson.phil0)eDa.Qov for user information.
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 QMS Web site contains example quality assurance values that may be incorporated into the
DCC software (http://envpro.ncsc.orQ/oms/pub/SiteInfo/O3-QC-Table.html.) To assign specific 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 conduct 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.ora/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.ora.
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, 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
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station. (Note that dual reporting requires that neighboring agencies incorporate one another's site and
data files in their polling software.) As shown above for AIRS ID 230313002, this redundancy allows
NH1-1 to supply the data to the DCC when ME1-2 is not available. For each station where redundancy
occurs, agencies can specify a priority value that the DCC adds to the station location files. The
priority is used to resolve duplicate station 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 accomplished in one of two transfer
methods:
• The State Host Computer sends a data file to the DCC (agency initiated).
• DCC obtains the data file from the State Host Computer (DCC initiated).
The diagram below illustrates how data are exchanged via these two transfer methods.
Because most agencies choose to initiate data transfer from their State Host Computer to the DCC, the process
described below focuses on an agency-initiated exchange. For information on DCC-initiated data transfers, please
refer to http://envpro.ncsc.orQ/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 establishing 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 CT1, the State Host
Computer will deposit files in the CT1 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
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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 upldSl.pif (Windows 3.1) in the c:\oms\config directory. To
automatically schedule 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 prepares 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 standard
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 forecasting, 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
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 QMS Web site at
http:7/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.phi!0)epa.Qov. Once you reach the QMS 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 I Tip!
A number of air quality agencies have used ozone forecasts to warn the public I YOU should schedule your
about unhealthy levels of ozone and to encourage the public to take voluntary I download an hour or two
Factions to reduce ozone concentrations in their area. For example, in California, the after a routine upload—at
South Coast Air Quality Management District uses forecasts to predict maximum the end of the day, or
ozone concentrations for 40 subregions in the Los Angeles area. I early the next day—to
I ensure receipt of all
Ozone forecasts are usually issued by air quality agencies and reported in local available data. (See the
newspapers or on local television or radio stations. Forecasts are an important part example schedule
of "ozone action day" programs—public health officials rely on ozone forecasts when provided in Section 4.1.)
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.eoa.aov/ttncaaa 1 /.
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Chapter 4- Data Collection and Transfer for Ozone Mapping
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 computer's c:\oms\data\in\{year} directory.
(Observation data and gridded data are discussed in greater detail in Section 4.4.)
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 monitors 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 frequent polling as part of their ozone public information initiative.
Upgrading hardware and software. Since ERMD did not need to add new monitors 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 vendor for support, and test the system. In addition, ERMD decided
to add another computer server at their office to handle the polling and data transfer 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 agencies that had undergone similar changes. Talking with these offices provided 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, presented 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.orQ/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
Workgroup at http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.aov/ozmap/. You will need a user name and password to access the Web
board, which you can obtain from Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phi!0)epa.Qov. When you reach the QMS 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 button.
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 and weekends, or are
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alternafives avaliable?
A: Please contact Phil Dickerson at dickerson.phil0)epa.Qov for information.
Q: What should I do if I miss a polling time for transferring data from the ozone monitor 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 missing. 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 ADTS 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.bat files to make sure your user ID and password entries are correct and
have no leading 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 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 reasonable 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 /. You can
also send the file to dickerson.phi!0)epa.Qov for debugging and analysis.
Q: 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 QMS 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., 082114nf.ctl) on the host computer.
Q: 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.
Q: 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.aov/airnow) for access by agencies and
communities.
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Chapter 4- Data Collection and Transfer for Ozone Mapping
To submit forecast data via the Web or ozone data file, follow the step-by-step instructions in the QMS Web site at
http:7/ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.aov/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.phi!0)epa.Qov. When you reach the QMS 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.orQ, 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 agencies 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.
• Daily peaks based on actual 1-hour averages.
• 8-hour averages derived from 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.
Presentation of Forecast Data
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Chapter 4- Data Collection and Transfer for Ozone Mapping
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.
Processed Data
The DCC uses two different types of indexes and data formats to display processed data. It is important to
understand these indexes and formats to understand the data you will map.
Two different indexes 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 extension). 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 observation 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.)
DCC's QA/QC 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 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 conform to the QMS 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 concentrations. 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.
Developing a State-of-the-Art 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
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Chapter 4- Data Collection and Transfer for Ozone Mapping
Protection (DEP) has assembled an advanced system with several key features 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 1970s 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 implemented this rapid reporting capability so that radiation releases from
any of the state's nuclear power plants could be immediately detected.) To help transfer 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.
I 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
frequent updates of the state's air quality Web site (located at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/airmon).
Customizing data management software. To manage the flow of all this information, the state needed
specialized software for polling data, generating reports, and sending the data to the DCC. New Jersey DEP
asked its software 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 system, 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 comprehensive quality assurance
system. Quality reviews are built into the monitoring system, with software checks that highlight, for staff
review, any data that fall outside New Jersey DEP-specified maximum fluctuations. Any information 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 nearly 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, allowing DEP staff to identify and quickly
correct any data difficulties that may occur.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
5. MAKING OZONE MAPS
5.1 Understanding MapGen's Capabilities
5.2 Getting Started
5.3 Generating and Managing Maps
5.4 Advanced Features
5.5 Technical Support
N
low 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 yesterday'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 monitors 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 below 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.
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
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
shade of yellow.
PPB
12 am September 14,1993
Purple
fled
Orange
Yellow
Yellow
Green
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 8-Hour Ozone Range Air Quality Descriptor
(in parts per billion)
Green
Yellow
Orange
Red
0-64
65-84
85-104
105-124
Good
Moderate (upper end)
Unhealthy for sensitive groups
Unhealthy
•
Purple 125-374 Very Unhealthy
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 effective 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 additional layers of
information—including meteorological, geological, and other pollutant 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 determine if you have the minimum
computer hardware and software needed to run 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).
Setting Up Your Computer
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 of free disk space (more will be needed for large animations)
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
• 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 performance will be.
Because you will need to download MapGen from the Ozone Mapping System (QMS) Web site, you will need a
connection to the Internet and Internet browser software such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape
Navigator.
Obtaining and Installing MapGen
MapGen is obtained through the QMS Web site. To obtain and install the software, follow these steps:
1. Go to the QMS Web site at http://envpro.ncsc.orQ/oms/#niapaen-reQ.
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 directory on your computer. (We
recommend that you accept the default directory, 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.
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 QMS Web site.) To update MapGen:
1. Go to the Web site ftp://envpro.ncsc.orQ/pub/oms/mapaen/.
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 and
Saving Your Maps
Creating and
Saving Animated
Maps
Conducting QA/QC
on Maps
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
5.3 GENERATING AND MANAGING MAPS
This section presents instructions that will guide you through the process of creating, 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)
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 processing 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 file(s)
Look in:
obs
3 Hi .tf] [iiiFM]
3JG913.QBS
JJ0914.QBS
File name:
Files of type: Observation data files (x.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 directory 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
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
(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 below,
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.
* Map Generator - 0914.0BS
File Customize
Animate JHelp
Dfraw Plot
Ctrl+D
-
Slave Plot as Bitmap...
Save Plot as GIF...
Data
Groups
OZONE PREDICTED PEAK AVG_TIME=480 INTERVALS 440 START_REF=-240
OZONE OBSERVED SAMPLE AVG_TIME=60 INTERVAL=60 START_REF=0
OZONE OBSERVED SAMPLE AVG_TIME=480 INTERVAL=60 START_REF=-240
OZONE DERIVED SAMPLE AVG_TIME=480 INTERVAL=60 START_REF=-240
OZONE OBSERVED PEAK AVG_TIME=60 INTERVALS 440 START_REF=0
OZONE OBSERVED PEAK AVG TIME=480 INTERVALS440 START REF=-240
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 INTERVAL=1440 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 concentrations as described in the
above data groups. However, ozone values are standardized to the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale. The AQI is
explained in the section below on Adjusting Contours.
The illustration below and the following table 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.
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
PARAMETER EXPLANATION
Variable
The pollutant measured (for example, ozone)
Characteristic
The data are either observed, derived, or predicted
Measurement
Type
Either sample or peak measurements
Averaging Time
The averaging time in minutes for the variable reported. For example: 60 (hourly averages), 480 (8-hour averages), or
1440 (daily averages)
Interval
The interval between values. For example: 60 (hourly) or 1440 (every 24 hours). Daily peaks have intervals of 1440
minutes.
Start Reference
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 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
httD://envDro.ncsc.ora/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.
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 correctly. The
Animation Start Time
should be set to the first
step (first hour of input
data) and the Animation
End Time should be set to
the last step (last hour of
input 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 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.
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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.
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 display 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.
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.
tt Map Generator
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
northeast 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.
File
.Rot Animate Help
Interpolation Parameters...
S.elect Plot Area and Projection Params...
Set Plot Size ^-^^^—^^^_
Contours..
Other Map Features...
Add Text Label...
Change Font...
Set Text Alignment
Show Text Tags
Import lop Bitmap...
Clear Text/Top Bitmap
Zoom
Features
2. Select the plot area you want by adjusting the map parameters. (See the screen below.) 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 automatically
recalculate the plot and parameter values shown at the bottom of the screen.
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.
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Select Plot Area (size of plot will be adjusted to match this display)
Bottom-Left Corner
Latitude Longitude
Top-Right Corner
Latitude Longitude
Reference Lat 1 Reference Lat 2 f~ Full U.S.
306
-90.5
-66.3
| 34.77500009 [43.12499952
Center Latitude Center Longitude
I 38.94999980 I-78.40000152
• Center Coordinates: MapGen automatically recalculates this when you change a corner coordinate. However,
you can adjust the center coordinates to recenter the plot on the new coordinate(s) position.
• Reference Coordinates: MapGen automatically recalculates this when you change a corner coordinate.
However, you can change the reference coordinates to recenter the map view at the center of the grid and
reduce distortion.
If you are unfamiliar with reference coordinates and projections, we suggest that you let MapGen recalculate them
automatically.
Regenerating the Map
1. Once you are satisfied with the plot area displayed, click on the OK button. Then, when prompted, click on
the OK button in the Confirm Clear Plot pop-up window. (Alternatively, you can click on the Cancel button to
continue adjusting the plot area displayed.) Selecting OK will return you to a blank screen.
2. At the blank screen, regenerate the map by clicking on the Plot menu and choosing Draw Plot.
Fine-Tuning the View of Your Map
1. Go to the Customize menu and choose Set Plot
Size.
2. At the Set Plot Size window (shown at right), type
over the current values in the Width field and the
Height field to adjust the dimensions of the map.
Set Plot Size
Width: (IBS pixels OK
Height: J443 pixels _ .
You've succeeded in showing a specific geographic area on your map! In Step 3, we'll work on customizing and
saving your map.
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
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 programmed into MapGen for interpolating ozone levels between
ozone monitoring stations, and contouring, which allows you to change the default values programmed into
MapGen for the color, number, and ranges of different ozone contours.
Map Generator
.. Plot Animate Help
I interpolation Parameters... -*
S_elect Plot Area and Projection Pararns...
Set Plot Size
Contours.. ^fe^^^^^^^^^^—
Other Map Features...
Add Text Label...
Change Font...
Set Text Alignment
Show Text Tags
Import lop Bitmap...
Clear Text/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.
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.orQ/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 breakpoints. 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
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
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):
Contour Color
Health Descriptor
Breakpoint
(parts per billion)
Range
(parts per billion)
Green
Good
64
0-64
Yellow
Moderate
84
65-84
Orange
Unhealthy for sensitive groups
104
85-104
Purple
Unhealthy
Very Unhealthy
124
105-124
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 below shows the AQI ranges for the 8-hour
and 1-hour data measurements in parts per billion standardized to the AQI common scale.
Contour Color
AQI (Common
Scale)
Equivalent AQI 8-
Hour Ozone
Concentration
(parts per billion)
Equivalent AQI 1-
Hour Ozone
Concentration
(parts per billion)
Air Quality
Descriptor
Green
0-50
0-64
-9
Good
Yellow
51-100
65-84
-9
Moderate
Orange
101-150
85-104
125-164
Unhealthy for
sensitive groups
Red
151-200
105-124
165-204
Purple
200+
125-374
205+
Very Unhealthy
The new 8-hour standard requires agencies to report the 8-hour ozone measurements. 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 determined 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
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1. Go to the Customize menu and select Other Map Features to access the Map Features window (shown
below).
Map Features
State Boundaries
IS how! Line Width IT
County Boundaries
V Show Line Width [T
Transportation Routes
F Show Line Width JT
points
points
points
Show
T Observing stations Station Size pf
Scale Factor
]Legend
R Time and Date
I"" Rivers
F7 Water bodies
Set Color..
Set Lolor...
Set Color..
Missing Data Color
Set...
Choose File(s)...
rj Blank Geography Overlay File(s)
K Area With M issing D ata Color Cnoose ™eW- •
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 selections 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 button.
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.
Adding Images and Text
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
Go to the Customize menu to add an image or text to your ozone map. For example, 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 .wmff\\e
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.
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 caption 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.
Saving Custom Settings and Still-Frame Image Maps
Once you have established your custom settings for a map, you can save the settings 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 initialization file to a
disk. (Such files are usually denoted by the .ini file extension.)
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 .g//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.
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.
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Save Gridded Data (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: CREATING AND SAVING ANIMATED MAPS
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 measurements.
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 parameters 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 below, 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
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.
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It Time Span
Choose the time span for your animation
Firs
0
Animation ^
start time
0
Animation ^
end time
t step Last step
0
>
12 am September 13, 1998
0
>
12 am September 13, 1998
i OK i Cancel
Note!
If you bring in two or more continuous observation files, the Animation Start Time (e.g., 12 a.m. on
September 13, 1998) 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 measurement 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 OK button.
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 animation 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.
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.
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
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.ora/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 information is available in the Map
Generator System User Guide at http://envpro.ncsc.ora/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 animated GIF images. ImageMagick utilities also
recognize over 40 image formats. 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 below.)
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 oms0)ncsc.org or a fax to 919-
248-9245.
Getting Help from EPA's 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 projects
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Chapter 5- Making Ozone Maps
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 1998, 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
I 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.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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Chapter 6- Communicating Information About Ozone and the Ozone Map
6. COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND
THE OZONE MAP
6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Ozone
6.2 Successful Ozone Outreach Programs
6.3 Guidelines for Presenting Information About Ozone to the Public
Ls your community develops its ozone monitoring and real-time mapping systems, you will want to think about
the best ways to communicate the information 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 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 understandable, 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 developing 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 and review, and distribution. Partnerships can be valuable mechanisms for leveraging
resources while enhancing the quality, credibility, and success of outreach efforts.
Developing an outreach plan is a creative and iterative process involving a number 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.
What Are Your Outreach Goals?
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
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Chapter 6- Communicating Information About Ozone and the Ozone Map
established your goals, every other element of the plan should relate to those goals. Here are some sample 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.
Who Are You Trying To Reach?
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, journalists, 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 categories. 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.
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.
What Do You Want To Communicate?
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
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Chapter 6- Communicating Information About Ozone and the Ozone Map
your audience 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.
Outreach products often will have multiple related messages. Consider what messages 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 selecting 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 products include:
• How much information does your audience really need to have? How much does your audience need to
know now? The simplest, most effective, 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?
• 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?
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• 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 AVENUE
Your mailing list
Partners' mailing list
Phone/Fax
E-mail
Internet
• TV
• Radio
• Print media
• Hotline that distributes products upon request
• Meetings, events, or locations
• Journals or newsletters of partner organizations
(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 distribution 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?
• Will the mechanism you are considering really reach the intended audience? For example, the Internet can
be an effective distribution mechanism, but certain groups may have limited access to it.
• How many people is the product likely to reach through the distribution mechanism you are considering?
• Are sufficient resources available to fund and implement distribution via the mechanisms of interest?
What Follow-up Mechanisms Will You Establish?
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:
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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)?
What Is the Schedule for Implementation?
Once you have decided on your goals, audiences, messages, products, and distribution channels, you will need to
develop an implementation schedule. For each product, consider how much time will be needed for development
and distribution. 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 target 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.
I GETTING THE WORD OUT: NORTH CAROLINA'S 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 1996 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
program. 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
businesses 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 1998 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 people 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
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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 programs all
year long.
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
I 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 formation 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 powerful 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
stations 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, developed working
relationships with their meteorologists, and presented information on ozone maps at meetings attended by WSP
staff. AQMD staff expect that at least one WSP will pick up the maps for the 1999 ozone season.
I Recruiting Individual Stations. In addition to working with WSPs, AQMD also began reaching out to the
individual local television stations. AQMD developed high resolution ozone maps, put them on their "Spare The
Air" Web site (http://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
relationships 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 themselves
available whenever television station staff needed anything for their weather-related news reports, and even
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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 selected in the plan, you will want to
make sure that these products present your messages 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 headings 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.plainlanauaae.Qov/.
• The Web site of the American Bar Association has links to important online style manuals, dictionaries, and
grammar primers (http://www.abanet.ora/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 information 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.
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 people who speak little or no English, you will need to prepare
communication materials 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 Nature Of Ozone Pollution
• 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."
o 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.
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Chapter 6- Communicating Information About Ozone and the Ozone Map
• 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 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.
• 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 concern 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.
• 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.aov/oar/oaqps/Qooduphiah) contains additional information about both good and bad ozone.
The Health Effects of Ozone
• 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 experience 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 asthmatics 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. 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 permanently 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.
• Who is sensitive to ozone?
People most sensitive to ozone include children, adults who are active outdoors, people with respiratory
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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 common chronic disease for children and may be aggravated by ozone
exposure.
o Adults who are active outdoors. Healthy adults who exercise or work outdoors are considered a
"sensitive group" because they have a higher level of exposure to ozone than people who are less
active outdoors.
o 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 experience the effects of ozone earlier
and at lower levels than less sensitive individuals.
o 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 below 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 further below on the Air Quality Index contains additional text
about communicating information about the health effects of ozone at different concentration levels.)
•zone 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
What are the possible health effects?
• If you are a member of a sensitive group,! 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.
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What can I do to protect my health?
If you are a member of a sensitive group,! 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.aov/airnow.
Unhealthy
Very Unhealthy
What are the possible health effects?
• If you are a member of a sensitive group,! you have a higher chance of experiencing respiratory
symptoms (such as aggravated cough or pain when taking a deep breath), and reduced lung
function, which can cause some breathing difficulty.
• At this level, anyone could experience respiratory effects.
What can I do to protect my health?
If you are a member of a sensitive group,! avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Everyone else—
especially children—should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Plan 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.
What are the possible health effects?
Members of sensitive groups will likely experience increasingly severe respiratory symptoms and
impaired breathing.
Many healthy people in the general population engaged in moderate exertion will experience some
kind of effect. 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).
People 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.
What can I do to protect my health?
If you are a member of a sensitive group,! 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
1 Members of sensitive groups include children who are active outdoors; adults involved in moderate or strenuous outdoor activities; individuals
with respiratory disease, such as asthma; and individuals with unusual susceptibility to ozone.
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
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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 activity 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.
Ozone and the Clean 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 networks—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.
The Ozone Map
• What is the ozone map?
The ozone map is a tool designed to provide the public with easy-to-understand 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.
o Today's actual ozone levels.
o Forecasts of tomorrow's peak ozone levels.
o Animations that depict the formation and movement of ozone throughout the course of the day.
• What do the map's colors mean?
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The ozone map is color-coded to indicate the level of health concern associated 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 broadcasts 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 pollution data.
The Air Quality Index
• 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 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.
1 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.
• What do the Air Quality Index health descriptors mean?
As shown below, the Air Quality Index scale has been divided into six categories, each corresponding to a
different level of health concern. Each category is also associated with a color. (The same color scheme is
used in the ozone map.)
Color
jr Quality Index Value
Health Descriptor
Green
0 to 50
Good
Yellow
51 to 100
Moderate
Orange
101 to 150
Unhealthy for sensitive groups
Red
151 to 200
Unhealthy
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Chapter 6- Communicating Information About Ozone and the Ozone Map
Purple
201 to 300
Very Unhealthy
Maroon
301 to 500
Hazardous
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 quality 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 sensitive 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, members 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.
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 conditions. 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
particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide several times a day. These raw
measurements are then converted into corresponding AQI values using standard conversion scales developed
by the EPA. For example, an ozone measurement of 0.08 parts per million, 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.
Actions to Reduce Ground-Level Ozone
• What can I do to reduce ozone pollution?
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Chapter 6- Communicating Information About Ozone and the Ozone Map
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 moderate
exertion for one person may be heavy exertion for another.)
o Consider eating lunch at your desk rather than driving to a restaurant.
o Share rides.
o Make sure your car is well-tuned.
o Be careful not to spill gasoline when you fill the tank of your car or lawnmower.
o Refuel your car or lawnmower after dusk.
o Replace your gas-powered lawn mower with a manual or electric-powered unit.
o Don't mow the lawn or use an outdoor barbecue.
o Use water-based paints instead of oil-based paints.
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 voluntarily 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 individuals to change their
behavior can be difficult. Here's how the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region tackled 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 provided
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.
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Chapter 6- Communicating Information About Ozone and the Ozone Map
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 forecast, 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/endzone/ and about other state and municipal ozone action days programs at
http://www.epa.aov/airnow/action.html.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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Appendix A
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 forecast 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 (QMS) Web site at
http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.Qov/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.phi!0)epa.Qov. When you reach
the QMS 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.orgf contains additional
information.
OMS-ENV.BAT
This file contains most of the customization for your system. Please see the installation 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.orQ/oms/pub/SiteInfo/aaency 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 SET FCST. When you edit the code for SET FCST, you will determine whether you want
forecasts to be calculated 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 FCST variable should be set to /V.)
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.ora/OMS/Utility/. Please contact Phil Dickerson at
dickerson.phi!0)epa.Qov for information on obtaining and configuring this file.
AIRS2OMS.EXE
This file converts Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) data format to QMS data format and should be
used by agencies without polling software. To obtain this program, download the convert.exe file from
ftp://envpro.ncsc.ora/OMS/Utility/. Save the file in the c:\oms\convert directory, double click on convert.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.)
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Appendix A
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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Appendix B
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\config\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 initialization 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.af-inter.net/serv03.htm.
Serv-U is available as shareware (registration is $25) from http://www.cat-soft.com/.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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Appendix B
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Appendix C
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 severity. 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 following 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
missing data value)
for the
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 values. The
second line contains QA/QC flags
directly beneath their respective
ozone data values. The flags signify
whether the data value is good,
suspect, estimated, 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.orQ/oms/pub/SiteInfo/O3-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.
8. 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.
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Appendix C
• = 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.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
Chapter 3: OZONE MONITORING
Chapter 4: DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSFER FOR OZONE MAPPING
Chapter 5: MAKING OZONE MAPS
Chapter 6: COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT OZONE AND THE OZONE MAP
Appendix A: Tips on Configuring the Automatic Data Transfer System
Appendix B: Instructions for Installing and Configuring Software
Appendix C: Automated Data Quality Checks
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