AQS (Air Quality System) User Guide 2015

AQS (Air Quality System)
User Guide
2015

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This User Guide is designed to familiarize the user with:
•	The look and feel of AQS
•	Running AQS
•	Batch Loading data
•	Creating and modifying site and monitor descriptive information
•	Generating output information encompassing user data
Note] screen images may vary depending on the user's operating system and browser.
Contents
AQS at a Glance	6
Screen Layout	6
Icons	7
Menu Bar, Form Area, and Tabs	8
Status Bar	8
Lists of Values (LOV)	9
Exchange Network Service Center (ENSC) at a Glance	12
Screen Layout	12
Logging On	13
Logon Screen	13
Session Screen	13
User Profile	14
Password	16
Tribal User	16
Batch Submission of Data	18
Batch Data Submission Overview	18
Formats	18
Data Compatible with Batch	18
Batch Data Submissions Flowchart	19
Using the ENSC	20
ENSC Subsequent Uses	27
Loading Files Using AQS	28
Batch Form Overview	29
2

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Stage	34
Load	35
Post	37
When Things Go Wrong	37
Type of Data in AQS	38
Site Data	38
Monitor Data	39
Ambient Air Quality Data	39
Quality Assurance Data	39
Summary Data	40
Correct	41
Correct Overview	41
Correct Raw Data	43
Open Correct Raw Data Form	43
Query Data	45
Edit Data	47
Save the Data	48
Other Correct Features	49
Correct One-Point QC	51
Correct Highlights	53
Submitting Corrected Data	53
On-Line Data Tools - Maintain	54
Maintain Overview	54
Maintain Site	56
Maintain Monitor	57
Maintain Event	58
Maintain Raw Data	59
Maintain Precision	60
Maintain Accuracy	61
Maintain Site	62
How to use Maintain	62
Enter Site Basic Info	63
3

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Status Indicators	65
Enter an Agency Role	66
Create a Monitor	67
Add Site Samplers	70
Adding Events via Maintain	72
Maintain Event	72
Exceptional Event Rule	72
Event Process Workflow	72
Flag Values with Event Qualifiers	73
Flagging Values via Batch Data	73
Flagging Values via Maintain	74
Defining an Exceptional Event	77
Using Maintain Event to Define and Associate Events	77
Associate Raw Data with Event	79
Query by Date	82
Add concurrence flag - Regional Office	83
Data Reports	88
Standard Reports Overview	88
Standard Reports Form	88
Criteria Set Tab	88
Data Selection Tab	92
Sort Order Tab	93
Report Options Tab	93
Retrieve Reports Tab	93
Running a Report	93
Report Submitted for Batch Processing	94
Report Status	94
Report Contents	94
Logging Off	94
Learn more, service, and support	95
Appendix A	96
Quick Reference Guide	96
4

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Tips	96
Changing Passwords	96
Browse Data	96
Changing Raw Data Values	96
Deleting Raw Data Records	96
Changing Site/Monitor Data	97
Using Correct to Change Records in the Staging Tables	97
Uploading Data Using Batch	97
Creating Reports	97
Inputting Raw Values Using Maintain	97
Insert a New Site/Monitor Using Maintain	98
5

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AQ.S at a Glance
Screen Layout
This portion of the guide describes the parts of the AQS application screen.
! iajaqs
0 MM
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification Batch Correct Main Menu
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User Profile
Maintain Security
Security Reference Tables Maintain Roles User History
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First Name
Initial
Street Address 1
City
Last
Street Address 2
State Code
MICHAEL
Phone
109 TW Aexander
27711
Research Triangle Par
Zip Code
County Code
ftQS User ID
ftgencv Code
AQS Contact
EPA Region Code
Tribal User
User Type
MSBROQKS
Status Ind
BROOKS.U CHAELS
EH User ID
EMail
BROOKS. MICH AELS@EP£
Delete Error Tran
Change Your Oracle Passwords
Confirm password
New Password:

~
Enterthe user's Last Name.

Record: 1/1 | | ... |
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Icons
Here is a listing of all Icons and their associated function.

Copy
Paste
Enter Query
0
fcj
0
0
m
m
r>
Save
Print Screen
Exit
Edit
Cut
Copy
Paste
Enter Query
Execute Query
Cancel Query
Calendar
Previous Block
First Record
Previous Record
Next Record
Last Record
Next Block
Insert Record / Row
Remove Record / Row
Duplicate Record
Clear Record
Rollback Record
3 Search and Replace
Help
Note] hovering the mouse pointer over an icon will display its name.
7
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Menu Bar, Form Area, and Tabs
Every menu item in the Menu Bar corresponds to a form within the Form Area. There may be
multiple Tabs within a form. Tabs are used to display additional information related to the
selected menu item.
The screen capture below shows that the Admin menu item was selected from the Menu Bar
and the Security menu items was selected form the drop down menu opening up the Security
form in the Form Area and the User Profile tab is highlighted allowing the user to interface with
the User Profile portion of the Security form.
be! AQS
Action Help Session |
H Si JR 2^ ^ Security
C3Administration -Appli Reference
Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification Batch Correct Main Menu
User Profile
First Hame mich/
Phone 9195.
Zip Code 27711.
. User Statistics
Appl Audits
Export Ca Dump Bucket
Approved Regional Methods
Mantain Monitoring Season
snce Tables Maintain Roles User History
« t < > * » ±x r «v ?
. ~ X
Last |bR00KS
7VV Alexander
County Code |063
AQS User ID MSBROOKS
EH User ID )BROOKS.MICHAELE
Fax f
User Type [h
Status Ind [p
search mangle Park
"J
Street Address 2 |~
State Code F
Agency Code |i 10S
AOS Contact
EPA Region Code
EMail |BROOKS.MICHAELS@EPA Tribal User T
Delete Error Transaction
rj
Change Your Oracle Passwords
AQS New Password: [~
Confirm password: |
OK
Note] Tabs will be located at either the top or right side of the Form Area.
Status Bar
Enter a query; press F8 to execute, Ctrl-i-Q to cancel.

Record: 1/1 Enter-Qu...
|

The first line of the status bar is a message area, and the second line shows the AQS query
status. On forms that allow data to be entered or queried, the status bar shows the query status
of AQS.
8
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Lists of Values (LOV)
Whenever the user is required to populate data in AQS and the field contents must be one of a
specific list of values, AQS presents an LOV (List of Values) icon. The LOV icon is a grey square
with a downward pointing triangle in it.
Til AQS
Action Help Session Adrnin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch correct Main Menu
H a I JL 9C a 3 I ft ft % I ¦ a * < ~ * ~~ ± £ a i] %
[2 Maintain - Monitors (Jennessee)
^2^
State
Project Class
Meas Scale
Probe Location
i-'rote 'vert Dm:
Samp Res Time
Close Date
Sft r*d i—J
Dominant Source
Open Path Num
Probe Height
Surrogate Ind r I
Last Samp Date
:oring Agency (Owner)
Status Ind
Probe Hor Dist
Unrest Air Flow
Last Post Date
LOV (List of Values) Icon
Monitor Basic
Sample Periods
Type Assign.
Network Affiliations |
Agrency Rales
Objectives
Req Frequencies
OA Collocation |
When the LOV icon is clicked the list of valid values is presented. State Code LOV Icon was
selected opening up the Valid Values pop-up window.
lid AQS
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch correct Main Menu
N A JR. ^111 Sfrg, Sh -I 4
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The Valid Values pop-up window allows the user to manually scroll (1) through the list or use the
Find function (2) to narrow down the selection.
Valid values for State Code
«>Valid vali
® r
Find %

State
Code State Name
State
A.
01
Alabama
AL
02
Alaska
AK

04
Arizona
AZ

05
Arkansas
AR

06
California
CA

08
Colorado
CO

09
Connecticut
CT

10
Delaware
DE

11
District Of Columbia
DC

12
Florida
FL

13
Georgia
GA

-------
Valid value" ' ' State Code
JE__
Find|%h
xj
State Code
State Name
State A.
A
15
Hawaii
HI
16
Idaho
ID

25
Massachusetts
MA

26
Michigan
Ml

33
New Hampshire
NH

37
North Carolina
NC

38
North Dakota
ND

39
Ohio
OH

40
Oklahoma
OK

44
Rhode Island
Rl

45
South Carolina
SO wj
-iJ /

i ±r
Find
OK
Cancel

In the example above "h" was typed into the Find field next to "%" (Wildcard Character) (1)
Then the Find button was clicked (2). This brought up only those states that contain an "h"
their name.
Note] the search function executes best with the wildcard, there is no need to remove it from the Find field.
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Exchange Network Service Center (ENSC) at a Glance
All files must be submitted to AQS through the National Environmental Information Exchange
Network (the "Exchange Network"). Typically, they are submitted through a common interface,
the Exchange Network Service Center (ENSC).
Note] the ENSC is provided by the Exchange Network Governing Board to allow files to be submitted to EPA national
regulatory programs. Because it is not part of AQS it has a different look and feel that is described below.
Screen Layout
The first step in any interactive batch data submission to AQS takes place at the ENSC.
Q
Environmental Information
| exchange services center
• Network
Home
LoggAfiUttt"
^ My Profil-
uuktt.i'iilLlm
Mv Profile | Help | Contact Us
KB
I LraouHyy^
Exchange Network Services News & Data Channels
MY SERVICES CENTER
Quickly access the services and queries you use
and check the status of your requests | GO |
EXCHANGE NETWORK SERVICES
Send, get, and download information from
Exchange Network partners | GO |
NEWS & DATA CHANNELS
View news and data feeds from Exchange Network
partners, subscribe to channels of interest, or
contribute your own content to these channels | GO |
1
O

My Quick Links
» Exchange Network
» Check your Submission (OA Services)
» Exchange Network Discover/ Services (ENDS)
» Production CDX Web
Check out our News Feed for the latest
on what's happening with the Exchange
Network Services Center
EPA Home | Privacy and Security Notice | Contact Us
1. ENSC Title Bar
2. Quick Access Links
3. Tabs
4. Interactive Window
Note] details about how to use the ENSC are in the "Batch" section.
12
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Logging On
The AQS application can be accessed through the application website https://aqs.epa.gov/aqs
Note] the user may be prompted with warning messages when attempting to run AQS.
• If prompted to trust or install a certificate the user should click YES.
• If prompted to block potentially unsafe components the user should click NO.
Logon Screen
^ Logon _nj_xj
Username:
Password:
Database: |aqsprod
Connect |
Connect I Exit
The Air Quality System (AQS) is a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) computer system
which may be accessed and used for authorized purposes only. Unauthorized access or use of this computer
system may subject violators to criminal, civil, and/or administrative action. All information on this computer
system may be monitored, recorded, read, copied, and disclosed to and by authorized personnel for
official purposes, including law enforcement. Access or use of this computer system by any person, whether
authorized or unauthorized, constitutes consent to these terms. AQS is exclusively for the use of federal, State,
Territorial, and Tribal environmental agency employees and their delegatees working in their official capacities.
Note] the first time AQ.S runs, the application may take several minutes to load.
The user will enter the User ID into the Username Field (1) and enter the user's password into
the Password Field (2). The Database Field (3) is auto populated with the database that the user
will connect to; normally this will not change.
Once both the User ID and Password have been entered, the user will press the Enter key or click
the Connect Button (4).
Session Screen
After successful logon the user will be taken to the Session Screen where the user will have the
option to continue as Read Only User or Screening Group Access. A screening Group roughly
13
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corresponds to an agency or similar organization. Users may be assigned to more than one
screening group,
Read Only User:
• This allows access to all of the data in production status in the AOS database. It does NOT
allow the user to view any data that is still being processed (i.e., "pre-production" data)
or update any data.
Screening Group Access:
• Allows users of the selected screening group to view both production and pre-production
data for monitors owned by that screening group. Each monitor and all data for that
monitor is owned by only one screening group. Only users with update authority may
insert, update, or delete data for the screening group. While using this mode, the user
cannot view data owned by other screening groups.
IjfcJAQS
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification Batch Correct Main Menu
EI A £ bT X. a -a | % ft % ¦ ] « 7 i ~ * ~~ | ± £ a i I
Select Session Access (Read Only)
0 KM

(* I Read Only User!
f Screening Group Access
C User Support Screening Group Access
AQS Production Database with values from 1957 to present. Earliest raw data that is open for update: January 1, 2009
Method code 600 has been converted to 200 for Oxides of Nitrogen. Method
codes (574, 590, 591, and 599} have been converted to (674, 690, 691, 699)
for oxides of nitrogen. The old method codes are no longer available.
Technical Support is available from the EPA Call Center, via email at
EPACALLCENTER@epa.gov or phone at (866) 411-4372. (Use voice menu pick 9.)
Please ensure you have subscribed to the AQS News Feed at:
http://w w w. epa. gov/ttn/airsj'airsaqsj,aqs_u ser_in fo_rss.xml
Record: 1/1
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From the Menu Bar the user should click Admin. This will open a Dropdown Menu, at this point
the user should click Security. This will open the User Profile Form in the Form Area. The user
should verify that their user information is correct.
Note] required fields are indicated by the holding of the field name throughout AGS.
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification Batch Correct Main Menu
Ha JE « T 4 ~ i ~~ ^! ? 11
(Administration - Application Security (Tennessee)
User Profile Maintain Security I Security Reference Tables
Maintain Roles User History

First Hame MICHAEL
Phone I
Initial k
Zip Code 27711
County Code |p63
Street Address 1 1109 TO Alexander
City [Research "riangle Part
Last [BROOKS
Street Address 2
State Code I
AOS User ID | MSB ROOKS
EH User ID IbROOKS.MICHAELE
Fax
User Type [h
Status Ind [p
) 110S
Agency Code HQS
AOS Contact EM
EPA Region Code |
EMail | BROOKS. MICH AELS@EP.A Tribal User T
Delete Error Transaction rl
Change Your Oracle Passwords
AQS New Password:
Confirm password: |
OK
15
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Password
At the bottom section of the User Profile Form there is a change password area. To change the
password the user will type the new desired password into the New Password field and then
retype it in the Confirm password field. Clicking the OK button will implement the change.
Change Your Oracle Passwords
AOS New Password: | Confirm password: OK
Note] passwords must be at least 8 characters, contain one upper case character, contain one number, contain no
special characters, not be a dictionary word, and cannot start with a number. For security reasons passwords must be
changed at least every 90 days. It is important that AQS users maintain their passwords in an active status. Inactive
passwords will be locked if they are not used within 30 days.
Tribal User
If the user prefers to have the geographic portion of the site ID in AQS presented in terms of
Tribal ID rather than Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) State - FIPS County ID, the
user can set that preference in the User Profile Form.
User Profile
Maintain Security Security Reference Tables
Maintain Roles
User History
First Name MICHAEL
Phone
Zip Code 27711
County Code 063
J
Initial
Street Address 1
City
|s
109 TW Alexander
|Research Triangle Park
AQS User ID | MSB ROOKS
EH User ID BROOKS.MICHAELS
User Type
Status Ind
"J
Fax
r
Last
Street Address 2
State Code
Agency Code
AQS Contact
EPA Region Code
Tribal User
EMail BROOKSMICHAELS@EPy5
Delete Error Transaction
BROOKS
Select the checkbox labeled Tribal User.
After making the Tribal User selection the user must click the Save button or press F10 on their
keyboard to save the selection.
Tribal users are not required to do this, however any user may opt to be a tribal user. This option
can be deselected at any time.
16
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Being a Tribal user will change the format of Site IDs on all AQS forms and reports. Instead of the
default geographic format of:
State FIPS Code - County FIPS Code - Site Number
Sites will be displayed in the following format:
TT - Tribal Code - Site Number
The "TT" is an indicator that the next field is a tribal code and not a county code. The Tribal Code
is the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Tribal code. AQS is not allowed to establish non-BIA codes for
tribes.
17
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Batch Submission of Data
Batch Data Submission Overview
Batch submission is loading a batch of data records all at the same time.
The advantages of batch loading data are:
• It allows for mass entry of data
• Processing of valid data happens without human interaction
• The system will notifies the user when the process is complete
• Provides the user with results detailing the outcome
There are a number of steps used to submit data from a text file into the AQS database, those
steps depend on the type of data involved. The big picture process involves:
• Transfer - move a data file to the EPA using the Exchange Network (node or ENSC)
• Load - Run a batch process to Load this data into the AQS database
• Post - For raw data only, after reviewing the results of load, flag data as production-ready
(available to all)
• The process described here is for completing a batch submission using AQS interactively.
An alternative is to use an organization's node on the Exchange Network. For
instructions on how to do that, see the AQS Flow Configuration Document on the
Exchange Network website.
Formats
There are two data formats that may be submitted:
• AQS transactions - the AQS pipe delimited transaction format introduced in 2001
• XML - structured text data with
The format used will depend on what data acquisition system and/or analytical labs is available
to the user. The vast majority of users take advantage of the AQS transaction format.
Data Compatible with Batch
Not all data in AQS can be loaded via the batch process. Flere is a list of the types of data
that can be loaded via batch:
• Site data
• Monitor data
• Raw (sample) data
• Quality Assurance data
Flere are the types of data that cannot be loaded via batch:
• Comments (describing sites, monitors, audits, events, etc.)
• Exceptional event definitions, data associations, and concurrence (for EPA staff only)
18
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Batch Data Submissions Flowchart
The following explains the data flow to AQS.
Diagnose and fix
Correct
problem
Transfer
ENSC
Error?
LOAD
STAGE
Error?
Load Summary and Errors
Statistical and Critical Review (Stat CR)
Raw
POST
DONE
Data?
Raw Data Inventory
Step 1 (File):
Create file of ambient air data. Valid options are either text files (.txt) using the familiar delimited
"Data Input Formats" or XML files (.xml) using the AQS Schema.
19
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Step 2 (ENSC):
Transfer the file to AQS using the Exchange Network Services Center (ENSC).
There are two process control options from the ENSC:
Option 1 - Manually process: logon to AQS, choose the Screening Group, and proceed to
the Batch screen.
Option 2 - Automatically process: use the ENSC exclusively, bypass AQS and process all
data via the ENSC.
Step 3 (STAGE):
Processes the file into AQS.
Step 4 (LOAD):
For anything other than Raw Data (i.e. sample measurements) if there were no errors in the file
the processing is complete. For Raw Data, the LOAD step also performs STAT/CR (Statistical and
Critical Review).
Step 5 (POST):
Moves data from where it can only be seen by members of the relative screening group to
where it can be seen by any AQS user (and any EPA web application, and thus the public). It also
updates all of the summary values (e.g., NAAQS durations, Daily, Annual, and Design Value if
applicable) that the raw data contributes to. This also means that it will be used by EPA in any
calculations (completeness, compliance, etc.).
Using the ENSC
The ENSC is at https://enservices.epa.gov/login.aspx. There is also a button on the AQS Batch
Form Area that will open this web page.
0416
20141125 12:25
CRST-COM PLETED
10416
I o
I 9
20
|20141120 15:05
|CRST-CCMPLETED
| 20
0
1
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|20141117 15:43
LOAD-COMPLETED
21
0
I
10416
Post
Post File
Other
Show User Log
Goto ENSC
Stat CR Report
Raw Data Inventory
Refresh Sessions
20
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A file can be submitted through an organization's node to AQS via the Exchange Network with
processing instructions (The user's IT department will have to set this up) or a file can be
submitted manually.
For manually submitting a file the following instructions are provided.
The user will login to ENSC with the production Exchange Network account and password.
Environmental Information
ejfchange services center
Network
SERVICES CENTER
The Exchange Network Services Center is a web-based tool designed to allow Exchange Network
users to easily send: get. and download information from other partners on the network.
Note: to access this tool, you must already have an Exchange Network user account assigned to
you.
Request an Account
O ^
Help | Contact Us
default * Not sure?
Login
Forgot Username or Password
Warning Notice
This application is part of a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) computer system, which is for authorized use only. Unauthorized access or
use of this computer system may subject violators to criminal, civil, and/or administrative action. All information on this computer system may be monitored,
recorded, read, copied, and disclosed by and to authorized personnel for official purposes, including law enforcement. Access or use of this computer system by
any person, whether authorized or unauthorized, constitutes consent to these terms.
EPA Home | Privacy and Security Notice | Contact Us
21
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The first time a user logs into the ENSC they will need to add the AQS connection service to their
list of services. In order to add the AQS connection the user will select the Exchange Network
Services tab or click the 'Go' button on the Interactive Window area labeled EXCHANGE
NETWORK SERVICES.
Environmental Information
exchange services center
Network-
Logged In: brooks.michaels@epa.gov
My Profile | Help | Contact Us | Logout
- Network
Home
Exchange Network Services News & Data Channels
MY SERVICES CENTER
Quickly access the services and queries you use
and check the status of your requests | GO |
1
EXCHANGE NETWORK SERVICES
Send, get, and download information from
Exchange Network partners | GO |
O
NEWS & DATA CHANNELS
View news and data feeds from Exchange Network
partners, subscribe to channels of interest, or
contribute your own content to these channels | GO |
My Quick Links
E>:change Network
Check your Submission (OA Services)
Exchange Network Discovery Services (ENDS)
Production CDX Web
Check out our News Feed for the latest
on what's happening with the Exchange
Network Services Center
EXCHANGE NETWORK SERVICES
Send, get, and download information from
Exchange Network partners GO
22
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At this point the user will type AQS into the search field of the Express Request box.
Exchange Network Services
News & Data Channels
Mv Quick Links ~
Use either the Step-by-Step OR Express approach to send. get. or download information from the Exchange Network.
CHOOSE
Guide Me Step-by-Step Q
(recommended for novice users) Express Request Q
(recommended for advanced users)
Step 1: Choose the Type of Transaction to Perform (?)
• Send information to a system on the Exchange Network
Get information that is stored on the Exchange Network
Download a document from the Exchange Network. You must know
the Transaction ID or Document ID to perform a download
OR
Search for a Service by Keyword
AQS|
OR
Browse our entire Services Directory
Browse Services Directory
The Service Directory window will open displaying a list of choices. The user will click the Send
Info link for the AQS Submit service.
Services Directory
This directory runs from Exchange Network Discovery Service (ENDS) metadata. It requires the commitment of our Network to keep it up to date and useful. For
the BETA version, the Services Directory contains only services that support Submit. Query: Solicit, and Download operations. Select the name of the Service
you wish to use.
Filter By: Keyword(s)
AQS
Get Info AQDE
AQDERawData

1-13 of 13
< Previous 1 Next >
Service
Dataflow
Service Name
Service Description
Node
Service
Transaction

Provider
Queries or Solicits the Raw Data for the
AQDE Flow. The return is an XML file that
conforms to the AQS Version 2.0 Schema.
NewJersevNodeVI Prod NJDEP
Send Info AQS
Send Info AQS
Get Info AQS
ProcessAQSDoc
AQS Submit
Air Quality System Document Submissions NetNode2
AQS Submit: Send files to the Air Quality
System (AQS).
GetAQSRawDatalnsertByDate AQS - GetAQSRawDatalnsertByDate
Service
NGNProd2.0
NV
U.S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
U.S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
Nevada
Division of
Environmental
Protection
(NDEP)
23
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The user will then complete the Express Request form.
Express Request: AQS Submit

ielect a Document to Upload (max. size 1 GB}:
Choose File No file chosen
Enter Sender's Email Address to Notify of Transaction Status Changes:
AQS User ID:
)
)
)
:
Additional Data Flow Specific Information:
Screening Group:
rileType:
rinal Processing Step:
Stop On Error:
Provide information (metadata) about this Document (recommended)
Cancel
SEND DATA
50 Test User Screening Group
1. The Choose File button allows the user to select a document from their local computer or
network.
2. File transfer information will be sent to the email address the user inputs into this field.
The user can input one or multiple email addresses (this field is optional). Multiple email
addresses must be seperated by commas.
3. The user must input the AQS User ID assigned.
4. The user will select, from a drop down menu, the screening group the user is submitting
data for.
5. The user will select the appropriate file type (format) from the drop down menu.
a. AQS text transactions (MA, RD, etc.) are flat files.
24
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6. The Final Processing step is where the user provides AQS with instructions on how far to
process the file before stopping and waiting for the user to log on and review/complete
processing.
a. Stage copies the data from the submitted file into the AQS database, but does no
processing of the contents of the file. If an error is reported during the stage
process, the problem must be fixed in the user's data file and resubmitted.
b. Load moves the submitted data into the AQS database and performs field
validation (i.e. is each field on each transaction valid) and relational checks (i.e. is
pre-requisite data present). If errors occur during the load process, the user can
fix the error in AQS via the Correct Forms or the user can correct the problem in
their own database and start the process over.
i. Some data can complete the load process while other data has errors.
ii. For Raw Data Only: AQS runs a variety of statistical tests on the data to
look for statistical anomalies (outliers). The user will receive warnings (not
errors) if the data is flagged by a statistical check.
c. For Raw Data Only: Post changes the status of the data from where it can only
be seen by members of the user's screening group to where it can be seen by any
AQS user. Also, all of the relevant summary values will be updated in this step.
i. The user cannot have an error during the Post process.
ii. To process the file as far as possible, select Post.
7. The user will select either 'Yes' or 'No' for the Stop on Error processing command.
a. Yes prompts AQS to examine the results of the stage and load programs (both for
errors and warnings) and stop any additional processing of the file if there are any
errors or warnings in the data.
b. No prompts AQS to process all the data it can through the final processing step
you selected.
8. The user can optionally provide additional data by expanding the Provide information
(metadata) about this Document but it is not necessary. AQS will not store this additional
metadata.
9. After the user has entered values for all of these fields the user should click the Send
button to begin the AQS submit process.
25
-------
After the user clicks the Send button the 'Request Received!' screen will appear.

Env
e
ironmental Information
Xphange
Network
SERVICES CENTER

r ^
My Services Center
r ^
Exchange Network Services
r
News & Da
Request Received!
Your File AMP501_1280016-0.txt has been received.
The following Transaction ID has been assigned to this request:
_299d b c2f-62c4-4f 8f-8c5d -115362017425
Current Status of Request:
Transaction Status
Service Name
Transaction Type
Date
Processing
AQS Submit
Send Information
3/2/2015 2:58 PM
What would you like to do next?
View the Status of this request in My Activity
Complete another Transaction using this same Service
Complete another transaction using a different Service
Add this Service to My Quick Links
Log out of the Services Center
The screen will display the status and a transaction ID. From here the user can select a link under
the 'What would you like to do next?' header. An email, from cdx@epa.gov, containing the file
transfer information will be sent to the email address or addresses the user input into the 'Enter
Sender's Email Address to Notify of Transaction Status Changes:' field. AQS will also send the
user (to the address AQS has on record) an email summarizing all processing with links to
reports.
26
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ENSC Subsequent Uses
After the initial submittal all subsequent submittals can be processed through the 'My Service
Center' interactive window. After logging into ENSC the user will select the My Service Center
tab or click the 'Go' button on the interactive Window area labeled MY SERVICE CENTER.
Environmental Information
exchange services center
V Network
immmm
Logged In: brooks.michaels@epa.gov
My Profile | Help | Contact Us | Logout
News & Data Channels
MY SERVICES CENTER
Quickly access the services and queries yon use
and check the status of your request! | GO |
EXCHANGE NETWORK SERVICES
Send, get, and download information from
Exchange Network partners | GO |
1
O
My Quick Links
E>:change Network
Check your Submission (OA Services)
Exchange Network Discovery Services (ENDS)
Production CDX Web
Check out our News Feed for the latest
on what's happening with the Exchange
Network Services Center
NEWS & DATA CHANNELS
View news and data feeds from Exchange Network
partners, subscribe to channels of interest, or
contribute your own content to these channels | GO |
This will open the My Service Center interactive window.
27
-------
Environmental Information
exchange
Network
SERVICES CENTER
Logged In: brooks.michaels@epa.gov
Mv Profile | Help | Contact Us | Logout
My Service

0
tv I Mv Ch.
Exchange Network Services News & Data Channels
My Services | Mv EPA Activity | Tvlv Channels
Make this my Start page
Mv Quick Links T
Ei Add this page to Mv Quick Links
My Services
Access services you have used before. Use a New Service
a>
All Send Info Get Info Download My Queries
Find a Service:
• My Services Services Directory
Service Name
Service Description
\|£y
Publisher
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enabled

NGNProd2.0/AQS/AQS
AQS Submit: Send files to the Air Quality System
U.S. Environmental Protection
No
3/2/2015 2:58:04
Submit
(AQS).
Agency

PM
1. To send data to AOS the user will select the 'Service Name' ending in AQS Submit.
a. The user should verify that the 'Service Description' shows AQS Submit: Send files
to the Air Quality System (AQS).
2. The user can see previous submissions by selecting the 'My EPA Activity' link.
3. The user has the option to make this page the Start page, reducing the necessary steps
for submitting data.
Loading Files Using AQS
This section covers the file processing functions available within AQS. This section assumes that a
file that has been through the stage process, but has gone no further in AQS. (This would be the
case if the Final Processing Step from the ENSC was Stage.)
28
-------
Batch Form Overview
After logging in to AQS the user will select Batch from the Menu Bar.
Si aqs
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification correct Main Menu
B a m -ft I! 3113 llli I ¦ « t < ~ * ~~ X * "3. ±] P ^ ?
^ BATCH (Tennessee)
Process by File | History
-Jnj_x|
HISTORY AND STATUS
LOAD-
Recs
-POST-
1 Submission
Date File Name User Name
Records Process ' Recs
In File Date (last) status Loaded
Failing Finding
to Load Count
Records Skip'd Records
to Post Monitors Posted
20141218 16:28 EastmanNovember14 txt zip lisilUMsJIMSI
10806 |20141218 16:39 |POST-COMPLETED |10798
0 | 5
| 10792
0 |10792
(20141212 15:53 (TNOctPrecision.txt.zip |BILLY PUGH
| 28 (20141212 16:10 |LOAD-COMPLETED | 28
on
I
I I
(20141211 11:08 |TNOct2014continuoustxtzip (BILLY PUGH
| 14136 (20141211 11:31 (POST-COMPLETED (14136
0 1 0
m
I 0 |14136
|20141202 12:05 lNYRStarOct2014.txt.zip iBILLY PUGH
2991 |20141202 12:33 |POST-COMPLETED | 2991
0 I 0
| 2986
| 0 | 2986
|20141202 12:15 fTN AQSReport Sep 2014.txt (BILLY PUGH
| 13680(20141202 12:33 |POST-COMPLETED |12960
o) o|
| 12960 | 0 (12960
|20141202 11:58 |PbTnq3.txt.zip ]BILLY PUGH
| 32 120141202 11:59 (POST-COMPLETED | 32
0 I 0
|l 30 |
I 0 I 30
|20141125 14:42 |TDEC_AQS PM2 5_Septemt |EVELYN HASKIN
f 657 (20141125 14:49 |POST-COMPLETED | 587
18lj o]
I 571
[ 0 | 571
(20141125 12:09 |Eastman Oct 2014AQSRepo ]BILLY PUGH
11166(20141125 12:27 |POST-COMPLETED |11166
0 I 6
| 126
| 0 |11160
(20141125 12:24 lResoluteFP102014.txt.zip |BILLY PUGH
| 10416(20141125 12:25 (CRST-COMPLETED |10416
01 9
| 10416 | 0 |
(20141120 15:04 |Exide October 2014 Data.txt. |BILLY PUGH
20 |20141120 15:05 (CRST-COMPLETED [ 20
0 | 1
| 20
I o|
(20140807 10:47 jRAQ22014.txt.zip jBILLY PUGH
45(20141117 15:43 (LOAD-COMPLETED | 21
or
j
\~r~i
r
PROCESS CONTROL Load Post
Process selected file through: Load File | Post File |
Results and Reports. Load Summary and Errors | Stat CR Report Raw Data Inventory
Other
Show User Log
Goto ENSC
Refresh Sessions
r
PROCESS FLOW

RLE
Errors?
Post
Jr.ventory ~"j
(Stal CRi j
ENSC
29
-------
Process by File Tab
The "Process by File" tab shows a summary of all of the processing that has been performed by
AQS for a submitted file.
The AQS Batch "Process by File" tab has 5 main areas.
1, File processing History and Status area.
UIPTnDV A Kin OTATI IC
Submission
Date
File Name User Name
Records
In File
Date (last)

Process
Status
20141218 16:28
EastmanNovember14.txt.zip
IsllllTJallFdSi
10806
20141218 16:39
POST-COMPLETED
|20141212 15:53
TN Oct Precision.txt.zip BILLY PUGH
28
20141212 16:10

LOAD-COMPLETED
|20141211 11:08
TNOct2014continuous.txt.zip
BILLY PUGH
| 14136
20141211 11:31
POST-COMPLETED
|20141202 12:05
NYRStar Oct 2014.txt.zip
BILLY PUGH
2991
20141202 12:33
POST-COMPLETED
(20141202 12:15
TN AQSReport Sep2014.txt. jBILLY PUGH
13680
20141202 12:33

POST-COMPLETED
|20141202 11:58
|PbTnq3.txtzip BILLY PUGH
32
20141202 11:59
POST-COMPLETED
|20141125 14:42
|TDEC_AQS PM2.5_Septemt
EVELYN HASKIN
657
20141125 14:49
POST-COMPLETED
|20141125 12:09 (Eastman Oct 2014AQSRepo BILLY PUGH
| 11166
|20141125 12:27

The History and Status area shows a list of the files that have been submitted and the most
recent action performed. There is one row per file.
There are six columns in this area, and they are:
• Submission Date: This indicates the original date and time the file was staged to AQS (the
format: YYYYMMDD HH:mm where HH is on the 24 hour clock and Eastern Time).
• File Name: The name of the file.
• User name: The name of the last user in the agency who initiated a processing step for
this file.
• Records in file: The total number of transactions in the file (records if it is a flat file, the
equivalent for XML).
• Date (last): The last time an action was performed on this file.
• Process Status: The most recent process initiated for this file and the status of that
process.
o Process can be:
¦ Stage = Converting data from submitted format to AQS database format
¦ Load = Loading data into AQS database
¦ CRST = Critical Review and Statistical Tests
¦ Post = Incorporate data in to summaries and make data public.
30
-------
o Status can be:
¦ Submitted (meaning it is waiting to execute)
¦ Active (actively processing)
¦ Error (completed with errors)
¦ Completed (completed with no errors)
2. Load processing results summary.
LOAD
Recs Stat/CR
Recs Failing Finding
Loaded to Load Count
10798
o
5
28
o
I
14136
I o
o
2991
0

12960
0
I 0
32
0
0
587
18
0
11166
0
6
10416
0
9
20
o
1
21
o
I

The Load processing results summary. This area provides a summary of what happened to each
record (transaction) in the file during all of the load processes.
There are three columns in this area, and they are:
• Recs Loaded: The total number of records from this file that have been successfully
loaded into AQS. Keep in mind, Load means different things for different types of data.
For everything but raw data, it means it is now fully into AQS. Raw data: the data still
needs to be posted.
• Recs Failing to Load: The number of records that could not be loaded into AQS due to
some kind of error. The "Recs Loaded" plus the value in this column should equal the
number of records in the file.
• StatCR Finding Count: The number of records that raised concern during Statistical and
Critical Review process (StatCR). The StatCR process is run automatically every time the
load process is run with Raw Data. It compares new data to old data and expected
ranges, etc. and presents any "findings" of possible outliers or other problematic data.
These are not errors, they are oddities in the data flagged for user information.
31
-------
3. Post processing results summary.
POST
Records Skip'd Records
to Post Monitors Posted
| 10792
0 pl0792
im
|
1
~~0 |14136
| 2986
0 | 2986
| 12960
0 |12960
30
c.
n
| 571
0 I 571
126
0 |l 1160
| 10416
0 r
20
o r
d
I II 1
The Post processing results summary area provides a summary of the file with respect to the
POST processes.
There are three columns in this area, and they are:
• Records to Post: The total number of Raw Data records from this file that need to be
posted (the number of successfully loaded raw data records). If this number is more than
zero, the Post process needs to be executed to complete the submission of this data to
AQS.
• Skip'd Monitors: The number of monitors for which the posting of data was skipped
during processing. This should only happen if another user is editing or submitting data
for the same monitors.
• Records Posted: The number of records for which post processing completed
successfully. When this number matches the "Records to Post" column for the file,
processing is complete.
32
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4. Process control - where results can be reviewed and additional processes performed on
files.
PROCESS CONTROL
Load
Post
Other

Show User Log
Process selected file through:
Load File
Post File
Goto ENSC

Results and Reports:
Load Summary and Errors | Stat CR Report
Raw Data Inventory
Refresh Sessions |

The Process control area allows the user to review results of earlier processed files and perform
additional processing. The process control area only acts on the file (row) that is highlighted on
the top part of the form.
Depending on the status of the file, certain areas will be unavailable (grayed out). The processing
of files is controlled on the horizontal row labeled "Process selected file through"
The user can select either load or post. Selecting post will perform load processing on the file if
necessary.
The available reports generated by each process are shown below the process. For example, the
load process generates two reports, the Load Summary and Errors report and the Stat CR Report.
The post process generates only one report, the Raw Data Inventory report.
Raw Data Inventory
Load Summary and Errors
Stat CR Report
PROCESS CONTROL
Results and Reports:
Load
Post
Refresh Sessions
Show User Log
Other
Note] Reports can only be retrieved within two weeks of the Submission Date.
The last group of buttons in the Process Control area are labeled 'Other', they perform the
following actions:
• Show User Log: This opens the same file that was emailed to the user (summarizing the
most recent processing on the file) in a browser window.
• Goto ENSC: This opens an ENSC (file submission) window in a browser window.
• Refresh Sessions: This updates all of the information on the top part of the screen. If the
user is waiting for a job to finish, the user can press this button rather than reloading the
entire form to get updated information.
33
-------
5. Process flow - A reminder of how AQS processes a file.
PROCESS FLOW
ENSC
Load
Post
DONE
Summary^
and Errors
Row Data Inventc
fix problem
IStatistical and Critical Review (Stat CR)
Stage
The first step is to Stage the data file. This means to transfer the file to AQS via the Exchange
Network and then to convert the data to the AQS database format.
The following are the most common errors that can occur with Stage:
1. If the file never shows up on the Batch form, then there was a transfer error and AQS
never received the file.
a. To diagnose: Review the status email from the Exchange Network and contact
the Exchange Network Node Help Desk. (Email: nodehelpdesk@epacdx.net.
Phone: (888) 890-1995).
2. All Stage failures where AQS actually receives the file result in the status, "UPLOAD-
FATAL" on the batch form. The email from the Exchange Network will provide a status
that can be interpreted as follows:
a. "E_AccessDenied: Access Denied" This means that the AQS user-id provided on
the ENSC submission form is not authorized for the Exchange Network user-id
that submitted the file. The user can configure this on the AQS Admin/Security
form.
b. "E_LoaderNoProcess: AQSLOAD process is not active." This means that the AQS
batch process started, but did not finish. Contact the EPA Call Center (Email:
epacallcenter(5)epa.gov, Phone: (866) 411-4372) for assistance.
c. "E_LoaderStartLimitExceeded: AQSLOAD start time limit has been exceeded."
This means that the user's account is not set up properly for batch submissions.
Contact the EPA Call Center for assistance.
d. "E_AccessDenied: Unknown AQS User Id specified. Access Denied." This means
that an invalid AQS user-id was provided on the ENSC submit form.
e. "EJnvalidScreeningGroup: Invalid Screening Group" This means that the user is
not authorized for the selected screening group. The user should check the
screening group provided and correct if incorrect, or contact the EPA Call center if
the user needs access to that screening group.
34
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Load
After the file has been staged, it can be loaded. Loading the file moves the submitted data into
the main AQS database and performs field validation and relational (e.g., is pre-requisite data
present) checks.
PROCESS CONTROL
Load
Process selected file through:
Load File
The Statistical Tests and Critical Review (sometimes abbreviated StatCR or CRST) process is also
performed at the end of the load step for Raw Data.
This process compares data to other values and expected ranges, etc. and presents any
"findings" of possible outliers or other problems. These "findings" are not errors, they are really
indications of a data point that is an outlier. The data may be fine, but the user should be alerted
to any potential problems.
— load
Recs Stat/CR
Recs Failing Finding
Loaded to Load Count
10793
Note] the results of the StatCR process can change over time. For example, the data representing an incomplete
calendar quarter may be different from a complete calendar quarter (this includes data in the submitted file plus any
data already in AQS).
The Load process generates the "Load Summary and Errors" report and the "Statistical and
Critical Review" report.
Also, the fields in the Load Status area at the top of the form will be updated and the system will
send the user an email with a summary of processing and links to all reports that were
generated. This includes a link to a file that only contains the records in error.
Results and Reports: Load Summary and Errors | Stat CR Report
Load Summary and Errors Report
This report contains two parts. Load Summary and Load Detail.
The first is a table summarizing, by transaction type, the number of records in error and the
number of records loaded (in the column labeled "Pre-Production") and the number of records
posted. Recall, raw data records will be loaded (to pre-production) and any records that are not
raw data will be posted if they are not in error.
35
-------
The second part of this report details any errors in the data on a record by record basis. The
data, in transaction format, will be presented along with the error related to that record. If there
are more than a few thousand errors in the file, the system stops listing them so the report will
not include all of them.
Statistical and Critical Review report
The second report generated by the load process contains information about irregularities in the
processed data. These are not errors, but warnings (or "findings").This report will list the
monitor, the date/time, and the problem with any data values.
Load Errors?
The "Records Failing to Load" column at the top of the screen or the Load Summary and Errors
report will show the user if there are load errors.
13392
Load Summary and Errors
Recs
Failing
to Load
Results and Reports:
Clicking the Load Summary and Errors button will open the LOAD Report in a separate browser
window. The third page of this report is where the Load Detail can be found.
Q CDA United states Air Quality Subsystem
V/LlM Environmental Protection Agency L03d Report
Load Detail
File Name : Jd_test_pm-1.txt.zip
Screening Group: Idaho
Jul. 23,2013
Site/Monitor ID: 16-041-0001-88101-4 Table Name: ST_RWV_DATA ^—
TransactionRD|l|16|041 |0001 |88101 |4 |111051181120130401 100:00 15200.0111111 111111111 \
Column Error Description

Error Code
Relational Standard value falls outside absolute value range for the parameter.
-20723 |
SiteMonitor ID: 16-041-0009-88101-4 Table Name: ST_RA/V_DATA ,—s
Transactional! |161041 |0009|88101 |4 |11105|181120130401 |01:00|2.1 111111111111111 9
Column Error Description
Error Code
Multiple Columns Monitor ID (State, County, Site, Parameter. POC) not in database
-20405 |
SiteMonitor ID: 16-041-0009-88101-4 Table Name: ST_RWV_DATA
Transactions |l |16|041 I0009188101 |4 |11105|181120130401 |02:0014.51111 III I 11II II I
Column Error Description
Error Code
Multiple Columns Monitor ID (State, County, Site, Parameter, POC) not in database
-20405 |
Site Monitor ID: 16-041-0009-88101-4 Table Name: st_r/w_data
Transactions |l |161041 |0009188101 |4 |11105 |181120130401 |03:001-0.9111111111111111
Column Error Description
Error Code
Multiple Columns Monitor ID (State, County, Site, Parameter, POC) not in database -20405 I
1. The raw data value is outside the acceptable values (the wrong unit code in the file).
2. An incorrect site ID on the raw data transaction.
36
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If errors occurred during the load process, there are two ways that the data can be fixed. The
first is to fix it in AQS via the Correct option in the Menu Bar. (How to use Correct to edit the
data is covered elsewhere.) The second option is to use the link to the file of error transactions
from the batch job email, to download the file, fix the errors, and resubmit.
Raw Data?
If the user's file contains raw data the user must complete the Post process. If the file contains
no raw data the data has been placed in the public part of the AQS database and the file process
is complete.
Post
The post process is necessary for raw data. It moves data from where it can only be seen by
members of a select screening group to where it can be seen by any AQS user (and any EPA web
application, and thus the public). It also updates all of the summary values (e.g., NAAQS
durations, Daily, Annual, and Design Value if applicable) that the raw data contributes to.
It is built into the process as a stopping point to allow for review of any load errors or statistical
findings before making the data public.
Note] when the user Posts a file, it is run through both the Load (including the StatCR) and Post processes in AQS. This
is to ensure that all the data in a file is processed together and no "stragglers" are left behind in our multi-step
process. The unfortunate side effect of this is that older Load Summary and Error and Stat CR reports will be
overwritten with new (and perhaps empty) results. If a prior version of these reports is needed, it can be obtained
using the history tab. (All reports are deleted from AQS after two weeks.)
Raw Data Inventory report
The Post process generates the Raw Data Inventory report. This report is a count by monitor and
calendar quarter of the types of data actions (insert, update, and delete) that were taken by
AQS.
PROCESS CONTROL
Load

Post
Process selected file through:
Load File

Post File

Results and Reports:
Load Summary and Errors |
Stat CR Report
[ Raw Data inventoiy i

After running the Post process the submittal of raw data is complete.
When Things Go Wrong
Unfortunately, not all files will be submitted in one step from the ENSC. Files may have an error
that causes batch processing to stop (whether the entire file stops processing or just the records
in error depends on the "Stop on Error" setting at the ENSC).
Note] in the second quarter of 2013:
• 7,800 files, containing 50 million transactions total, were submitted to AQS.
• 25% of files with Raw Data transactions had a raw data error.
• 50% of files without Raw Data had an error (e.g., site, monitor, or QA data error).
37
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• A file with an error was re-processed (corrected and re-loaded) an average of 1.5 times.
When things go wrong the user can use the AQS 'Correct' (which is covered in the Correct
section of this document) or the user can fix the data on the user's end either in the file or in the
database and regenerate the file.
Type of Data in AQS
Site Data
Site information refers to the geographical location where monitoring occurs. This includes the
following types of information: latitude and longitude coordinates, what geopolitical entities at
location (e.g. county, city, EPA Region, etc), local site name, and street address. Information
about nearby roads is also stored with the site information.
Identified by:
AQS generally list site IDs in the following way:
SS-CCC-NNNN
SS is the State FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) Code, CCC is the County FIPS
Code, and NNNN is the Site Number within the county.
Note] leading zeros are always included.
Example:
01-089-0014
Alabama, Madison County, Site Number 14.
Tribal site IDs do not list state and county. They are listed in the following way:
TT-BBB-NNNN
TT is two capital Ts to denote Tribal, BBB is the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) Tribal code,
and NNNN is the Site Number within the tribal lands.
Example:
TT-007-7002
Tribal, St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York, Site Number 7002.
38
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Monitor Data
For the purposes of AQS, a monitor does not refer to a specific piece of equipment. Instead, it
reflects that a given pollutant (or other parameter) is being measured at a given site. Monitor
description information covers several different types of information about how the monitor is
configured. Such as:
When was the monitor operational? How high is the probe? Where is the probe located? How
close is this monitor to the highway? What monitoring networks does it belong to? What is the
objective of this monitor? Who owns and operates this monitor?
Identified by:
The site where the monitor is located, the pollutant code, and POC (Parameter Occurrence
Code), which is used to uniquely identify a monitor if there is more than one device measuring
the same pollutant at the same site.
For example monitor IDs are usually written in the following way:
SS-CCC-NNNN-PPPPP-Q
Which is the Site ID plus, PPPPP being the AQS 5-digit parameter code, and Q is the POC.
For example:
01-089-0014-44201-2
Alabama, Madison County, Site Number 14, ozone monitor, POC 2.
Ambient Air Quality Data
Raw data, also called sample data, is by far the most abundant data in the database. The raw
data are the individual ambient air quality measurements collected from the monitors.
Identified by:
The monitor where the measurement was taken and the time when the sample was taken.
Quality Assurance Data
Quality Assurance (QA) data consists of the set of audits that are utilized to verify that the
measurement uncertainty (error) associated with sample measurements (raw data) is within
acceptable limits. For the regulatory pollutants, the process is defined by Title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, Part 58, Appendix A. Other specialized programs, such as the Chemical
Speciation Network (CSN) have their own QA requirements. AQS supports a set of QA
transactions for submitting this information.
Identified by:
The monitor or lab where the quality check was taken and the date-time of the check.
39
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Summary Data
All of the data is submitted to AQS for one primary purpose: to determine the exposure of
populations to certain pollutants. Since most of the health-related measurements are couched
averages of various time lengths, the system creates multiple levels of summaries of the raw
data. The data is summarized on a daily, quarterly, and annual basis. Additionally, if there is a
national standard for pollutant with a special averaging time (such as a running 8-hour average
for example), the system will create these summarized averages as well.
40
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Correct
Correct Overview
Correct within AQS is used to modify data that has been staged (uploaded) but not yet fully
loaded into the AQS database. Correct only works on data that has been staged and not yet
loaded.
L=d AQS
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch |CQrrect| Main Menu
When data is submitted it is first placed in an area of the system call the "Staging Tables". Once
data has been successfully processed by the AQS Load program it is no longer available to
Correct.
Since each transaction is formatted differently (has a different number of fields with different
content), there is a Correct form for each transaction type.
To access a correct form the user will click the Correct link in the Menu Bar, this will open a drop
down menu. Here the user will select the particular form from the menu or sub-menu.
Main Menu
Site Data ~
Monitor Data ~
Raw
QATransactions ~
Blanks
Composite
Delete by Screening Group
Main Menu
Under Site Data:
• Site
• Open Path
• Tangent Road
• Site Sampler
• Sampler Channel
Under Monitor Data:
• Monitor
• Samp Period
41
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• Types
• Objectives
• Samp Schedule
• Probe Obs
• Reg Compliance
• Collocation
• Protocol
• Agency
• Tangent Road
• Monitor Network Affiliations
• Primary Monitor Period
• Monitor Channel
• Monitor Method
• Monitor Exclusion
Under QA Transactions:
• One Point QC
• Annual Performance Evaluation
• Semi Annual Flow Rate Audit
• Flow Rate Verification
• PM-Coarse Flow Rate Verification
• PM Coarse Semi Flow Rate Audit
• Performance Evaluation Program
• NPAP
• Field Proficiency Test
• Duplicate
• Replicate
• Speciation Flow Rate Verification
• Speciation Semi Annual Flow Rate Audit
• Pb Analysis Audit
• Lab Proficiency Test
• Ozone SRP and Standard Transfer Verifications
• Ambient Air Protocol Gas Verification Program
42
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Correct Raw Data
This section covers how to correct Raw Data.
Note] correcting other transaction types (with the exception of OA, which is described later) will work identically.
Procedure Overview
1. The user will select the correct form from the menu or sub-menu
2. The user will query the data requiring correcting from the AQS database
3. The user will edit the data
4. The user will save the data back to the AQS staging area
Open Correct Raw Data Form
To access the Raw Data Form the user will click the Correct link in the Menu Bar, this will open a
drop down menu. Flere the user will click the Raw link from the menu.
Main Menu
Site Data ~
Monitor Data ~
|Raw|
QATransactions ~
Blanks
Composite
Delete by Screening Group
Ma|n Menu
43
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This will open the Raw Data Form.
JAQS
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch COrrect Main Menu
3 ffl I H ^ 111 1 ¦ I a t < ~ 4 ~~ ± * m & jp i ^ 11?
C2 Correct - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
State County Site Parameter Action Session Duration Reported Method
Code Code Id Code POC Ind Date Code Unit Code
Coll Rpt Samp Null Data G
Time Value Code G
Cc
3
Delete All Selected
Error Code Error
. ~ X
44
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Query Data
The user will query data from the database in to the form.
IjjAQS
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch COrrect Main Menu
J8.1 B II ifl
B
« t < ~ * ± X; "S I
Correct - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
The principle buttons used for query operations are:
(1) Enter Query (2) Execute Query (3) Cancel Query
Enter Query
When the form opens it defaults to query mode as evidenced by "Enter Query" in the status bar
at the bottom. It assumes the user wants to bring data from the AQS database into the form and
allows the user to query all data or limit the data by inputing specific parameters. If the user
would prefer to enter data manually then the user must click the cancel query button. However,
once the user has begun to enter data manually the query function is no longer available unless
the user clears the form.
The purpose of the Enter Query function is to bring data from the database into the form, edit it,
and save it back into the AQS database.
Entering values into any field will allow the user to narrow searches. For example, if the user
wanted only data for a specific state, the user would enter the corresponding a state code. If the
user wanted data for just one parameter in a specific state the user would enter the state code
and a parameter code.
A correct form will never bring back data not loaded by the user's screening group.
Once the user has entered query criteria the user will execute the query to bring the data from
AQS into the form.
45
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Execute Query
This button retrieves all of the user's screening group data, matching the query criteria, into the
Correct form. If no query criteria was entered all data from the screening group will be returned.
Note] all records in the staging tables the match the query criteria will be returned. In the old-style correct forms,
there is no way to retrieve only the data that was submitted in a specific file.
To retrieve all the queried data to the form the user will click the Last Record button, otherwise
the data is retrieved on screen/page at a time.
i=i) AQS
Action Help Session Admi
~ ft | JR | -A ^ H
n Retrieval Maintenance
Critical Rev CErtificatio
-------
Edit Data
Once the data is in the form changes can be made to it. There are two ways to do this.
Edit options
1. Type Over
Edit the data field by field (box by box) on the screen. The user will select text or place the
cursor where necessary and insert, delete, or replace text.
2. Global replace
Perform a "search and replace" in a single column. The user does this by placing the cursor in
the value to be replaced.
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification Batch Correct Main Menu
o a < ~ * ~~ ?||
Correct - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
State
County Site
Parameter
Qualifier

Qualifier
Qualifier

Qualifier

Code
Code
Id
Code

POC Five
Six
Seven

Eight
Nine
Ten

MDL
Unc
A.
06 T
1029
T || 0007
|42601
\JL
1

dl
-

ill

_J5

06 t
|o29
*|o007
(42601
\
1 dl

dl
-

dl
_L
'N 1

06 _2.
[o29
^||0007
|42601
-
1 dl

dl
-

d
-
'
U L

06 ^
1029
- [|0007
|42601

ft jr
-

dl
dl
dl
.1

06 *
|029
Jo007
(42601
-
r dr

1 B
-
5

06 '
|o29
"joi}07
|42601
|jR
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5

06 -
|029
* j|0007
|42601
*
1 dl

dl
*

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5

06
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T|oQQ7
|42601
-
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-

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5

06 T
1029
- || 0 0 07
|42601
Lr
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-

-
5
~
06
|029
dl0007
(42601
_Ji dl
-

d
-

dl
-
-
5
d I d
Then presses the Search and Replace icon.
l&J AQS
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification Batch COrrect Main Menu
e
a
m

%
a %
¦
a t
4 ~ * ~~

?
12 Correct - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
47
-------
This will bring up a window that will allow the user to replace every occurrence in that column
for all data retrieved by the query.
Note] this operation does not work like any other program; "Replace" and "Replace All" replace every value in that
column with the new value, not just the ones with the "Current Value".
Action Help Session Admin (Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch Correct Main Menu
Ha h I -a* k a a I @ ¦ % a « t < ~ * ~~ ±*1^^ ^ ? 1
| Correct - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
State
Code
06 J
06~j
106 f
STj
06 J
06~J
06 j
06 J
06~J
06 '
County Site Parameter
Code kt Code
029 ' ll0007 142601
02S~ - |10007 [42601
029" - ll0007 [42601 -
029 ^ 1|0007 |42601
029 "J 0007 |42601
029" " |0007 |42601
029 -¦ 10007 |42601
02S - ||0007 |42601
i 0CC7 42=01
10007 |42601
Qualifier Qualifier Qualifier Qualifier
Qualifier Qualifier
Six
if
Seven
"if
Eight
Nine
a .if
m—m
—-i
"Ji—Jr
"Ji—•
jr
"jr
- -r
jr
"jr
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12 Search and Replace
Column Name
Replace Item |ra
Current Value ]$
New Value ||
jr
"jr
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Ten
-j
;

Replace All

Replace

Cancel
MDL
m—*
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"ji JF
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Save the Data
After the data has been edited it is still only in the form until it is saved. Clicking the save icon will
save the changes to the database.
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch COrrect Main Menu
Correct - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
48
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Other Correct Features
LifelAQS
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification
fa 11 I |§ « t i ~ *
B
U. i
Batch Correct Main Menu
* "a
^ ?
Correct - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
O—0—CV~w
i x i
(1) Insert Record (2) Remove Record (3) Duplicate Record (4) Clear Record
Insert Record: Inserts a new blank record after the highlighted one.
Remove Record: Deletes the highlighted record.
Duplicate Record: Duplicates a record.
Clear Record: Deletes all of the contents of the fields, but not the record.
Note] when transactions are inserted, they are associated with an "on-line" session rather than a previously submitted
file. On the Batch form they will be in a file named "ONLINE_UUU_NNNN"; where "UUU" is the user's AQS user-id and
'NNNN' is a unique number.
49
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The Delete Ail Selected button
S3 Correct - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
State County Site Parameter Action Session Duration Reported Method Coll Coll RptSamp Null Data C
Code Code kl Code POC Ind Date Code Unit Code Date Time Value Code C

Delete All Selected
Column Name Error Code Error Message
II
; i—: i
This button deletes all records that were returned by the query.
Note] this deletes all records that are listed in the display not just the selected records on the screen.
50
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Correct One-Point QC
This section covers how to correct 1-Point QC transactions. The procedure will be identical for
all other QA transactions.
Select the Correct / QA Transactions / One-Point QC menu pick.
Correct
Main Menu
Site Data
Monitor Data
Raw
OA Transactions
Blanks
Composite
Delete by Screening Group
Main Menu
ment Assessment
Performiru
Number

Agency

I—1

i
i

One Point QC
Annual Performance Evaluation
Semi Annual Flow Rate Audit
Flow Rate Verification
PM-Coarse Flow Rate Verification
PM Coarse Semi Flow Rate Audit
Performance Evaluation Program
NPAP
Field Proficiency Test
Duplicate
Replicate
Speciation Flow Rate Verification
Speciation Semi Annual Flow Rate Audit
Pb Analysis Audit
Lab Proficiency-Test
Ozone SRP and Standard Transfer Verifications
Ambient Air Protocol Gas Verification Program
51
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HSR
lAction Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintain Critical Rev CErtification Batch Correct Main Menu
Tg|a a asf a is % a % I ¦ « t < ~ * »i± * sii
fg| GENERIC CORRECT FORM (National Air Data Group)

^ ?
I
Select file to view errors:
Submission
Date
Filfi Nnmn
_cac u- Jata
|1 -Point QC
State Codel County Tribal
Tribe Ind Code Code
Site Parameter Poc AssessmentAssessment Performing
Number Code Date Number Agency
ibi—
.

"ij
J

—

l
~lp
M

l
mi

1
)

1
nip i

1
IB

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—

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V
1

|
10=

Monitor
Method
Reported
Unit
Monitor
Cone.
Assessment
Cone.
¦r
o
1
ROW ERRORS
r
FRM-40350: Query caused no records to be retrieved.
. |ListofValu...
1. The User will select the file with errors to be corrected
2. Error Messages for the selected transactions will show up in the Row Errors section
3. Then click the 'Load Q.A Data" button
4. Edit the data retrieved (and/or insert new records)
5. Click the Save icon
52
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Correct Highlights
• Only data that has not yet been loaded into AQS (the staging tables).
• The user can only see data in the user's respective screening group.
• All changes must be saved (including deletes).
Submitting Corrected Data
After the user has made the changes and saved them using the correct forms the data will need
to be loaded into AQS. In order to do this the user will:
1. Go back to the Batch form.
2. Highlight the records associated with the file whose data was being corrected.
3. Press the Load File or Post File buttons, depending on what processes needs to be ran.
The process status and the Load and Post record counts will update just as for any other batch
process.
53
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On-Line Data Tools - Maintain
Maintain Overview
Maintain allows the user to:
1. Enter new data into the database (without having to go through the batch load process)
2. Edit data in the database (i.e. Insert, Update, or Delete)
Correct and Maintain are very similar in operation - they are a series of forms that allow you to
edit data.
There are also a few important differences between Correct and Maintain:
Correct
Operates on data not yet loaded into AQS
Forms mirror the structure of the text
transactions
Generally one row for each transaction
Data not checked for errors until it is Loaded
User can only see data in respective screening
group
Maintain
Operates directly on the AQS database
Forms mirror the structure of the AQS
database
Forms are laid out to be easier to read and
contain more data
Data checked for errors when it is saved
If logged in as read only, the user can see any
production status data
Maintain is useful for the following tasks:
1. Creating site and monitor records.
1. Lists-of-values make it unnecessary to know codes
2. Site form has Check Completeness and Create Monitor buttons
3. Monitor form has Check Completeness and Duplicate monitor buttons
4. Each "subordinate" record is displayed as a separate tab
5. The user can close monitor by entering a close date and saving the record - all
subordinate records will automatically be populated with end dates.
54
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2. Entering small amounts of data into AQS.
1. Data you would rather type than create a transaction and use the load process for
2. Data that you don't have transactions for
3. Entering data for which there are not transactions defined
1. E.g. Events
55
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Maintain Site
I Basic Site Data ;
Additional Site Data
Agency Roles
Tangent Roads
Open Paths
Comments
Primary Monitor Periods
_[~ x
Site Identification
State Code 01
County Code [055 | ]Etowah
Site Id |ooQ3
Status Ind
F
User Coordinates
Horizontal Datum NAD27
J
Latitude 34.011111
IITM Zone he
UTM Easting E37031
Longitude]-S5.0575
UTM Northing|3763E-90
Lookup Geography
1*
Standard Coordinates: Datum
Latitude
Longitude
Horizontal Method |o27 _1 |unknown
Horizontal Accuracy IT
(Meters) '
Vertical Measure I-17H
(Meters) I"3
Source Map Scale (Non-GPS) jo~
Vertical Method [000 | (UNKNOWN
Vertical Accuracy [n-
(Meters) '
Vertical Datum |UNKNOWN
Street Address |WALNUT PARK FIRE STATION
Land Use Type | INDUSTRIAL J
City Code [28686 j [Gadsden
Location Setting J URBAN AND CENTER CfTY
Urban Area C
AQCR Code |o03
|003
J | EAST ALABAMA

|19720101
Time Zone Name |CENTRAL
_j
Owning Agency |q01 3
I |AI Dept Of Env Mgt ( Kj ) f

Check Completeness

Create Monitor
D
The Maintain Site form is used to enter or edit all data relating to a site. This includes data from
the site basic transaction and all of the site subordinate transactions.
(1) On this form, data from each transaction type is included under a separate tab.
(2) Lookup Geography button allows the geographic coordinates in either latitude and
longitude or UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) to be entered. When this button is
clicked, the EPA standard coordinates (lat/lon in the NAD83 datum) are calculated and
populated. Also, much of the other geographic data is populated (city, zip, etc.)
(3) The Check Completeness button can help the user determine if AQS thinks that data
needed to make a site "complete" is present. This is a convenience to help the user keep
track of what to do next, but does not have to be used.
(4) Once the user has completely entered (and saved) site data, the user may create a
monitor with as much data as possible pre-populated in the Maintain Monitor form by
clicking the Create Monitor button.
56
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Maintain Monitor
| Maintain - Monitors (National Air Data Group)
State
Code
l°r _j
Parameter
Code
|12105

POC
F
Project Class
Meas Scale
Probe Location
Probe Vert Dist
Samp Res Time
Close Date

Ej
Dominant Source
Open Path Num
Probe Height \s~ Probe Hor Dist
Surrogate Ind | T | Unrest Air Flow
Last Samp Date 119881QQ1 Last Post Date
"Jfu^P^Iational Exposure Research
Monitoring Agency (Owner) 1106
I
Chorlr fVimplotonacc

i~* -nt a M n n if n

Monitor Basic
Sample Periods
Type Assign.
Network Affiliations
Agency Roles
Objectives
Req Frequencies
QA Collocation
Methods
Exclusions
Pollutant Area
Tangent Road
Probe Obs.
Reg Compliances
Protocols
Channels
Comments
The Maintain Monitor form is used to enter or edit all data relating to a monitor. This includes
data from the monitor basic transaction and all of the site subordinate transactions.
(1) On this form, data from each transaction type is included under a separate tab.
(2) The Check Completeness button can help the user determine if AQS thinks that data
needed to make a monitor "complete" is present. This can be more convenient than
attempting to save the record and getting a series of errors.
(3) Once the user has completely entered (and saved) data for a monitor the user may
create a duplicate of that monitor with as much data as possible pre-populated in the
Maintain Monitor form by clicking the Duplicate Monitor button. This is convenient for
creating a collocated monitor, or series of speciation monitors, etc.
57
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Maintain Event
3Maintain Exceptional Events (National Air Data Group)
Define Event Associate Raw Data with Event
_ ~ x
Screen Grp Name [National Air Data Group
Qualifier Code Qualifier Description
I I
Event Begin Date
Event End Date
Event
Description
Comment
Exceptional events do not have a transaction type in AQS. Therefore the Maintain Event form
must be used to enter and update event information that will be used to apply for exclusions.
58
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Maintain Raw Data
gMaintain - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
Raw Data Comments

State County

Site Parameter POC

Begin Date: End Date:
Standard Units

"H
L
M
L
i- r

a r

¦iiSHi

Raw Data

Stat

Reported
Standard
EPA Actio nExclusion Null

Uncertainty

Mp ID
Date Time
Ind
Sample Value
Sample Value
Ind
Ind

Ind Data Code
Description
Value

1
1
1
1
1

r |
Ibf
1

r
1
I
1
1 1

r r

r
1 1

r
r
1
1
rr

r 1

i
1

i
r
1
1
r r

r r

r
r
1
1
r

r r

i
i
1
1
I I

r i

r
['
1
1
i ¦
i

r 1

1
1

i
r
1
1
r
r

r r

1
1

i
r
1
1
r
r

r r

1
1

l
i

1
i

r l

1
1 J

c
lualrfierCode
Qualifier Desc

>
Qualifier Type

•A.

¦
I

Event Description

r
r
m

Event Comment
f

Monitor
Method Unit
Duration
Coll Frequency
Alt Mdl

Event URL
Protocol

L_ 1

1
J

Select Sample Values from the Maintain menu item then select Raw Data from the Select Sample
Values sub-menu item. This is very similar to the Correct Raw Data screen except that instead of
an area for displaying errors there is an additional area for qualifier, protocol, and event
information.
59
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Maintain Precision
^Maintain Precision Data (National Air Data Group)

State County
Precision Date
Site Parameter POC Begin Date End Date
r

i
i
m
i
i
¦
i i
i
j

~
j

i
Precision a
Precision Sample Id
Precision Data Type
m
Indicated Method Indicated Unit Indicated Duration Indicated Value
i—I
Actual Method Actual Unit Actual Duration Actual Value
I M\ JJI Jl
The user will likely use this form to enter or edit QA data.
60
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Maintain Accuracy
^Maintain Accuracy Data (National Air Data Group)

Accuracy Data
State County Site Parameter POC Begin Date End Date
r^j i i i j i _d i
Audit Type
r
Auc Audit Class Acc Date
"J I _J I
Year Qtr Accuracy Type
i r i _j
Local Pri Std
Audit Sample Id Expiration Date Audit Scheduled Zero Span Value
"J I I I I
Monitor Protocol
Method
Unit
Duration
Jd r
id r
'J
Accuracy Audits
Audit Id
Previous jUI— JJ Next
Level Number
Actual Value Indicated Value
The user will likely use this form to enter or edit QA data.
61
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Maintain Site
This section describes how to use the maintain forms to create a new site in AQS.
How to use Maintain
The procedure for using Maintain is the same as for Correct.
1. The user will open the maintain form
2. Query the data to edit from the AQS database into the form
3. Edit the data
4. Save the data back to the AQS database
To enter new data (rather than query old data) the user will click the Cancel Query icon and
begin entering new data.
\M AQS
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval |Maintenance| Critical Rev Certification Batch Correct Main Menu
To access a maintain form the user will click the Maintain link in the Menu Bar, this will open a
drop down menu. Here the user will select the particular form from the menu or sub-menu.
1 Critical Rev
Site
Monitor
Event
SarnPle Values ~
Blanks
Concurrence Ind
Sile Sampler
OA Assessments ~
Monitoring Seasons
Main Menu
Under Sample Values:
• Raw Data
• Composite Data
• Delete Production Data
Under QA Assessments:
• 1-PointQC
• Field Proficiency Tests
62
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• Flow Rate Verification
• PEP
• Semi Annual Flow Rate Audit
• Annual Performance Evaluation
• NPAP Assessment
• Duplicate Assessment
• Replicate Assessment
• PMc Flow Rate Verification
• PMc Semi Flow Rate Audit
• Speciation Flow Rate Verification
• Speciation Semi Annual Flow Rate Audit
• Lead Analysis Audit
• Lab Proficiency Test
• AA-PGVP Assessment
• Ozone SRP Assessment
• Audits of Data Quality
• Technical Systems Audits
• QA Project Plans
• Quality Management Plans
Enter Site Basic Info
To access the Site form the user will click the Maintain link in the Menu Bar, this will open a drop
down menu. Flere the user will select Site from the drop down menu.

Li) aqs
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval
j Critical Rev £
b a 1 m M e is b I %
|Site |
[21 AQS (National Air Data Group)
Monitor

Event

SamPle Values ~

Blanks

Concurrence Ind

Sije Sampler

QAAssessments ~

Monitoring Seasons

Ma|n Menu
To create a new Site the user will first click the Cancel Query icon.
63
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Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification Batch correct Main Menu
Ha H M * H B % &[W] ¦ a t < ~ * ~~ ^|?
^Maintain Site (National Air Data Group)
¦ilnlx
Basic Site Data
Additional Site Data j Agency Roles |
langent Roads | Open Paths j
Comments
Primary Monitor Periods |
The user then needs to fill in all of the required fields. Required fields are indicated by the
holding of the field name.
Note] on this form, there are very few non-bolded fields.
^ Maintain Site (Read Only. Update/Insert not allowed.)

- Inl x|
Basic Site Data
Additional Site Data ] Agency Roles
Tangent Roads ] Open Paths
Comments
Primary Monitor Periods ]
Site Identification
State Code ||
County Code i—_ir
Site Id [
Status Ind r
Lookup Geography
Standard Coordinates: Datum
Latitude
Longitude
User Coordinates
Horizontal Datum
UTMZone
UTM Easting
Latitude
Longitude
UTM Northing[
Horizontal P.1ethod
Horizontal Accuracy
(Meters)
Vertical Measure
(Meters)
Vertical Method
Street Address
Land Use Type
City Code
Urban Area Code
AQCR Code
Site Established Date
(YYYYMMDD)
Owning Agency
_ir
Source Map Scale (Non-GPS)
J
Vertical Accuracy
(Meters*
Vertical Datum
_1
Location Setting

¦T
_ir
B
Time Zone Name
B
B
Check Completeness
Create Monitor
Once all of the required fields are populated the user should click the Save icon.
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev CErtification Batch correct Main Menu
flala m & x. m b 1 % a Ml b « t < ~ * ~~ ^ l ? 11
^Maintain Site (National Air Data Group) - !~! xj
Basic Site Data j Additional Site Data | Agency Roles | Tangent Roads | Open Paths | Comments | Primary Monitor Periods |
The status bar (at the bottom left of the screen) should indicate that a record has been applied
and saved.
64
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At this point the site is still incomplete as additional information is required, such as Supporting
Agency Role and at least one Monitor record.
Status Indicators
On the Basic Site Data tab the Status Ind(icator) field will show a value of "F".
^Maintain Site (National Air Data Group) - I~ I x|
i Basic Site Data i| Additional Site Data | Agency Roles | Tangent Roads | Open Paths | Comments | Primary Monitor Periods |
Site Identification
|Alabama
State Code 01
County Code fool | [Autauga"
Site Id [Tool [status Ind _F
Status Indicators are very important in AQS. Every time data is put into AQS the system performs
a variety of checks on that data:
1. Is each value a valid value (within acceptable ranges)?
2. Is the format correct (e.g., number versus text)?
3. Are mandatory fields present?
4. Is prerequisite data present (e.g., a monitor must exist before raw data can be loaded)?
5. Is co-requisite data present (e.g., a site must have a Supporting Agency Role, a raw data
value must have a Sample Begin Time)?
6. Did raw data undergo the Statistical and Critical Review checks?
Depending on the answers to these questions, (almost) all incoming data is assigned a Status
Indicator. This value may change as the data progresses through software checks.
65
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Status Indicators and their meanings:
Status Indicator
Status
Meaning
F
Fields Valid
The individual data elements (fields) are valid (ranges,
formats, etc.).
R
Relationally
Valid
Prerequisite and co-requisite data is present and
complete.
S
Stats Checked
This data has been through the Statistical and Critical
Review process.
1
Inactive
This data is no longer relevant. We inactivate some
data rather than delete it to keep audit trails.
P
Production
This data is has successfully been submitted to AQS.
The reporting requirement has been met. This data is
available to anyone.
Enter an Agency Role
The user will click the Agency Roles tab. This will open up the Agency Roles form. The user will
populate the Agency Role, Agency Code, and Begin Date fields. Once this is complete the user
should click the save icon and verify that the save was successful on the status bar.
Agency Role
Agency Code
Agency Desc
Begin Date
RBSRRI
End Date
± 1 SUPPORTING

|1103

|US EPAJOAQPS
I "I
ll

I
i
I
66
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Create a Monitor
To create a monitor the user will click the Create Monitor button at the bottom of the Basic Site
Data tab from the Maintain Site form or access the Maintain Monitor from the Maintenance
menu.
^Maintain Site (National Air Data Group)

-\°M
i Basic Site Data j
Additional Site Data | Agency Roles
Tangent Roads
Open Paths | Comments
Primary Monitor Periods

Site Identification
State Code ]oi |Alabama
County Code fool J |Autauga
Site Id 1001
Status Ind
F
User Coordinates
Horizontal Datum |NAD27
UTM Zone [~
J
Latitude 132.5367
UTM Easting [
Longitude]-S6.64S3
UTM Northing
Lookup Geography
Standard Coordinates: Datum NAD83
Latitude
32.536872
Longitude | -B6.648285
Horizontal Method 1103
_l
Horizontal Accuracy [7T"
(Weters) l3U
Vertical Measure
(Meters)
Vertical P.1ethod loos
3 PS
Source Map Scale (NDn-GPS)
[so-
Vertical Accuracy Icq
(Meters) 1
J [other
Vertical Datum |meaN SEA-L _l
> Ln
City Code [
Urban Area Code
AQCRCode |o02
|COMMERCIAL

Location Setting |rural

_]
I 1

1
H
li

_l
Site Established Date
(YYYYMMDD)
20010101
|COLUMBUS-PHENIXCiri'
Time Zone Name |CENTRAL
B
Owning Agency |Ri0S
Jf
US EPA/OAQPS
Check Completeness
Create Monitor
67
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Once this button is clicked either of these will cause AQS to open the Monitor Basic tab of the
Maintain Monitors form.
[2 Maintain - Monitors (National Air Data Group) -1~ I xl
Monitor Basic
Sample Periods
Type Assign.
Network Affiliations
Agency Roles
Objectives
Req Frequencies
OA Collocation
Methods
Exclusions
Pollutant Area
Tangent Road
Probe Obs.
Reg Compliances
Protocols
Channels
Comments
Once all mandatory data is entered in this tab (by adding Parameter Code and POC (Parameter
Occurrence Code)) then remainder of the tabs become available for editing (go from grayed out
to selectable).
Note] on this form, the Save icon is grayed out (not selectable) until you enter all mandatory fields.
Note] that the Check Completeness button stays grayed out even though the required Monitor Basic information is
populated. To activate the Check Completeness button the user must navigate away from the Monitor Basic tab and
back to it.
To complete data entry for the monitor the user can either click on each of the tabs and fill in
the required fields (indicated with bold field names) or click the Check Completeness button for
a to-do list. Once all required fields are populated the user should click the Save icon.
The following are a brief description of each of the tabs on the form:
Sample Periods: Sample periods are the time periods (date ranges) of operation of a monitor.
(Required for all monitors)
Type Assign: The Type Assignments is the administrative classification of the monitor. (Required
for all monitors) Possible values are:
SLAMS: State and Local Air Monitoring Station: Regulatory monitor operated by a
state or local agency.
SPM: Special Purpose Monitor: A monitor for a regulated parameter but that is
not used for meeting the minimal requirements of Part 58.
TRIBAL: Regulatory monitor operated by a recognized Native American tribe.
Project Class
Meas Scale
Probe Location
Probe Vert Dist
Samp Res Time
Close Date
State County
Code Code Site Id
isrj |001 jJ I1001

Dominant Source
Open Path Num
Probe Height
Surrogate Ind
Last Samp Date
Monitoring Agency (Owner)
Parameter
C ccle
Status rid
Probe Hor Dist
U_ Unrest Air Flow
Last Post Date
Check Completeness Duplicate Monitor
68
-------
INDUSTRIAL: Monitor operated by an industrial organization (rather than a
governmental organization)
EPA: Monitor operated by the EPA itself.
NON-EPA FEDERAL: Monitor operated by another Federal Agency.
OTFIER: Monitor for a pollutant/parameter not required by Part 58. (i.e. not
addressed by the Clean Air Act)
Network Affiliations: Optional. Network program under which the monitor is operated, e.g.
NCORE or PAMS.
Agency Roles: The real-world organizations/agencies with specific responsibilities for a monitor.
(Required for all monitors) Possible values are as follows:
• PQAO: Primary Quality Assurance Organization - Agency responsible for QA of the
monitoring process at the monitor. Required
• Reporting: Agency responsible for submitting the sample measurements for the
monitor to AQS. Required
• Collecting: Agency that collects samples from the monitor (if different from the
above) Optional
• Analyzing: Agency that analyzes samples from the monitor (if different from the
above) Optional
• Certifying: Agency responsible for sending an annual letter to the EPA that the data
submitted to AQS for the monitor is complete and correct. Required for monitors
required by Part 58.
• Audit: Agency responsible for submitting Quality Assurance audits to AQS.
Objectives: The purpose for measuring air quality data by the monitor. (Required for monitors
defined in Part 58)
Req Frequencies: For manual method monitors (e.g. filter based monitors), how often the
monitor collects samples. Required for all manual method monitors.
QA Collocation: If the monitor is paired with another monitor for Quality Assurance (as defined in
Part 58 Appendix A), this provides the date range and defines whether the
monitor is the primary monitor or the QA monitor. Optional.
Methods: This defines the sampling and analysis method used to analyze monitor data.
Required.
Exclusions: Used to indicate that the monitor is excluded from Design Value calculations.
Optional
Pollutant Area: Used to indicate the administrative area (e.g. Monitor Planning Area) associated
with the monitor. Optional
69
-------
Tangent Road: Used to indicate the distance to roads that are adjacent to the monitoring site.
Optional
Probe Obs: Used to indicate that there is an external object that obstructs the free flow of air to
the monitor. Optional
Reg. Compliance: Used to indicate the date when the monitor met the requirements of each of
the appendices of Part 58. Optional
Protocols: Informational Only. Used to indicate if there is an alternate method detection limit
for the method used by the monitor. Optional
Channels: For monitors associated with speciation analysis (i.e. analysis of the chemicals on a
filter), this indicates which sampler and channel on the sampler is used by the
monitor. Optional
Comments: Free form test. Optional
Add Site Samplers
To access the Site Samplers form the user will click the Maintain link in the Menu Bar, this will
open a drop down menu. Flere the user will select Site Samper from the drop down menu.

Action Help Session Admin Retrieval
j Critical Rev £
b a 1 m M s 1 h l
-------
The user then needs to fill in all of the required fields. Required fields are indicated by the
holding of the field name.
|H Maintain Site Samplers (National Air Data Group)
Site Sampler

Sampler Owner Agency I—J
State Code
J' 1
County Code
Tin ¦
Sampler Id

-IU

Begin Date
End Date \~

Number of Channels |~
Site Number
Manufacturer |
Model Number |~
Serial Number f
SamplerChannels
Channel
Target
Flow Begin End

_J
i

i
Once all of the required fields are populated the user should click the Save icon.
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch correct Main Menu
£ m & jp % ?
b a m
3 %
44 J 4 ~ 4 »
The status bar (at the bottom left of the screen) should indicate that a record has been applied
and saved.
71
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Adding Events via Maintain
Maintain Event
This section will describe how to use the maintain forms to create a new exceptional event and
associate it with raw data. This section of the document is separate from the Maintain section
because it is a special case - there are currently no AQS transactions for events, so the only way
to enter this data is via the maintain forms.
Exceptional Event Rule
The Exceptional Event Rule (EER) was published March 22, 2007 and became effective May 21,
2007. The EER allows the ambient air quality data which is submitted to AQS and used in making
regulatory decisions, to be, in some cases, flagged and, where appropriate, excluded from
calculations in determining whether or not an area has attained the standard. The data flagged
as "exceptional" must have been affected by an exceptional event, which is defined as an event
that affects air quality, is not reasonably controllable or preventable, is an event caused by
human activity that is unlikely to recur at a particular location or a natural event, and is
determined by the EPA in accordance with 40CFR 50.14 to be an exceptional event.
Event Process Workflow
This section outlines exceptional event related steps occur and in what order. Not all of these
steps involve AQS. Steps that are performed within AQS are in italics. How to use AQS to perform
these functions is covered next.
1. Event happens. The real-world exceptional event occurs.
2. Event affects data. Ambient air quality is affected by the exceptional event and measured
by monitor reporting to AQS.
3. Should data be excluded? Reporting agency investigates and determines that there is
cause to suspect exceptional event influence on the sample measurement(s)
4. Data is flagged. Reporting agency adds a Request Exclusion qualifier to the affected
sample measurements in AQS to flag the data in AQS as suspected of being influenced by
the exceptional event (note: the flagging of data can occur either before or after the data
is submitted to AQS; reporting agency has until July 1st of the year following the year in
which the flagged measurement occurred to add an exceptional event qualifier flag)
5. Event is defined. Reporting agency enters the initial Event description; AQS responds by
creating the event record (note: reporting agency has until July 1st of the year following
the year in which the flagged measurement occurred to add an initial description of the
exceptional event)
72
-------
6. Associate data with event. Reporting agency accesses AQS to associate the appropriate
flagged values with the Event (AQS saves date of association;
7. Justify exclusion request. Reporting agency can take up to 3 years from the time of the
event to conduct analysis, hold public review, prepare justification documentation and
submit documentation to the EPA. For appropriate flagged measurements, the reporting
agency develops documentation that the exceedance was caused by the exceptional
event.
1. A clear causal relationship exists between the event and the measurement;
2. The measurement is in excess of normal historical fluctuations, including
background;
3. There would not have been an exceedance or violation if the event had not
occurred;
4. The required public comment process has been followed;
5. The documentation package includes references to specific exceedances of a
specific NAAQS.
8. Submit package. Reporting agency submits (via hardcopy or electronic means) the
required justification documentation for affected measurements to their EPA Regional
Office
9. Regional Review. EPA Regional Administrator reviews documentation with respect to:
1. Validity of event occurrence;
2. Causal relationship to the monitoring data (exceedances) under consideration
10. Concurrence Indicator Updated. Regional administrator accesses AQS to Concur or Deny
with the exclusion request, with respect to the specific NAAQS
11. Exclude Data. AQS re-computes affected summaries.
Flag Values with Event Qualifiers
Sample values (raw data) can be flagged using either the Batch process or Maintain forms.
Flagging Values via Batch Data
1. Create transactions that have Request Exclusion Qualifiers (see the Data Coding Manual
for details) appropriate to the event type.
1. The transactions can be Insert transactions for new data or Update or Replace
transactions for data already in AQS.
2. Load this data using the Batch process.
73
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Flagging Values via Maintain
1. The reporting agency user determines that a specific sample measurement (or small
of measurements) is affected by an exceptional event.
2. The user decides whether to flag the sample measurement with the Informational
Qualifier ("INFORM") or the Request Exclusion Qualifier ("REQEXC") for the event.
3. The user queries the measurement. In AQS, Maintain -> Sample Values -> Raw Data
Critical Rev CErtification Batch COrrs
Site
Monitor
Event
Raw Data
Blanks
Concurrence Ind
Sile Sampler
OA Assessments
Monitoring Seasons
Composite Data
Delete Preproduction Data
Maintain
SamPle Values
-------
4. The user will then use the Query tool to select the sample measurement to which the
user wants to add (or modify) the qualifier code. (State, County, Site, Parameter and/or
Begin and End Dates. Then Execute Query)
|=] Maintain - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
Raw Data | Comments |
Standard Units
ISTjJ (oiT^J
Raw Data
Mp ID Date
Time
Stat Reported Standard EPA ActionExclusion Null
Ind Sample Value Sample Value Ind Ind Ind Data Code
Description
Uncertainty
Value
A.
F

I2014022D 00:00
|P b
|2
rr

r I
H
I
I

h
-
|20140214 00:00
|P |3
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|2014020S00:00
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Qualifier Code
Qualifier Desc
Qualifier Type
4z:-
f
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I
I

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I ¦

Monitor
Protocol
Method Unit Duration Coll Frequency AltMdl
pM6 " [ToT |t
Event Description
I
Event Comment
Association Date]
m
Event URL
75
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5. The user will then add an exceptional event qualifier to the raw data record.
The user will select the record to add the exceptional event to by clicking the record field,
the respective record should now be highlighted.
¦^Maintain - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
Raw Data I Comments
Parameter POC Begin Date:
|8810<"jj fT~ |
End Date:
Standard Units
[ios
Raw Data
Stat Reported
Standard
EPA ActionExclusion Null
Data Code
Mp ID
Date Time
Ind
Sample Value
Sample Value
Ind
Ind

Ind
.1

120140220 00:00
lp
12
|2
|

-
r
!1

20140214100:00
IP

~
|r-

|2(i 4(268
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1
1
1
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1
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r
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1
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1
1
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1 1

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1
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1
1 1

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1

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Description
Uncertainty
Value
zjrji
Qualifier Code Qualifier Desc
if
Qualifier Type
Monitor
Protocol
Method Unit Duration Coll Frequency Alt Mdl
fTie pToi- [7
Event Description
Association Date [~~
"J
Event Comment
Event URL
At this point the user will select the appropriate code from the (1) Qualifier Code drop
down menu. This will open a (2) pop up, for the user to select the exceptional event.
.-JSlxjl
$ Maintain - Raw Data (National Air Data Group)
Raw Data
Comments
hi a"':
County
063
Begin Date: End Date:
Standard Units
Raw Data
Mp ID Date Time
_ 120140220 00:00
Stat Reported
Ind Sample Value Sample Value In
FF
Valid values for Qualifier Code

(20140214 00:00 |p~~ j3
120140208 00:00
Qualifier Cesc
Qualifier Type
Method
Duration Coll Frequ en cy
Alt Mdl
Monitor
Protoco
Find) %
Code
|QualifierDesc
| Qualifier Type
J
RA
African Dust
REQEXC

RB
Asian Dust
REQEXC

RC
Chem. Spills & Indust. Accidents
REQEXC

RD
Cleanup After a Major Disaster
REQEXC

RE
Demolition
REQEXC

RF
Fire - Canadian
REQEXC

RG
Fire - Mexico/Central America
REQEXC

RH
Fireworks
REQEXC

Rl
High Pollen Count
REQEXC
1
RJ
High Winds
REQEXC
—J
RK
Infrequent Large Gatherings
REQEXC
zi
^1

1
iT
OK
Cancel

1
Note] Exclusion Qualifier ("REQEXC") codes all begin with the letter 'R\
76
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Then, the user will save the changes by clicking the Save icon.
The sample value now has an exceptional event qualifier. Before this sample is visible to
the Regional Office for concurrence purposes, the sample values must be associated with
an Exceptional Event. (See the next section.)
Defining an Exceptional Event
Exceptional events must be described and documented in order for EPA regional office to concur
on affected data requests. This documentation must be completed in AQS via online forms.
Users do not have to define an exceptional event as a prerequisite to flagging measurement data
with the qualifier code. However, if a user requests concurrence from EPA for flagged data to be
excluded, then the exceptional event needs to be defined before the concurrence flags can be
set.
In order to add exceptional events the user must be in the screening group that "owns" the data
and the user must have the authority to edit raw data and event data.
The event can be defined either via Maintain Exceptional Events (recommended if it is anticipate
that this event will affect many sample values) or via Maintain Raw for each sample value.
Using Maintain Event to Define and Associate Events
The user will click Maintain on the Menu Bar. This will open the drop down and the user will then
select Event. This will open up the Maintain Exceptional Events form.
Critical Rev C
Site
Monitor
SamPle Values
Blanks
Concurrence Ind
Sile Sampler
OA Assessments
Monitoring Seasons
Main Menu
Required information to define an exceptional event:
• Qualifier Code (this is the type of event and are selected from the drop down -
these map to the REQEXC type qualifiers).
• Event Description.
77
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Optional information:
• Event Begin Date.
• Event End Date.
• Comment.
• URL.
3Maintain Exceptional Events (National Air Data Group)
Define Event Associate Raw Data with Event

Screen Grp NamejNational Air Data Group
Qualifier Code Qualifier Description
m
Event Begin Date
Event End Date
Event
Description
Comment
'm
Url
On the Define Event tab the user will:
1. Use the drop down on "Qualifier Code" to select the type of exceptional event - required
1. The "Qualifier Description" field will be populated with the description matching
the Qualifier Code selection.
2. Add an "Event Begin Date" and "Event End Date" in YYYYMMDD format - optional
1. Usually exceptional events have a distinct begin and end date.
3. "Event Description" - comment field - required
4. "Comment" - comment field - optional
5. "URL" - add a link to a webpage to add additional explanatory materials - optional
78
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liJAQS
Action Help Session Admin
H S I H
Maintenance Critical Rev Certification Batch Correct Main Menu
<1 | ¦ | « T < ~ *
^Maintain Exceptional Events (National Air Data Group)
_ n x
Define Event
Associate Raw Data with Event
Screen Gt»~*1"sne
q
;National Air Data Group
Qualifier Tnrlp rinalifipr r>pgrrintinn
RH
M
Fireworks
Event Begin Date
|20140214
Event End Date
120140214
Event
Description
Comment
Firework display
m
Url
If there is an existing Exceptional Event, then the user can query the event by:
1. Entering the qualifier code and/or the event description.
2. Submitting the query using the "Execute Query" icon.
The events that match the query criteria will display on the Define Event tab.
Associate Raw Data with Event
To associated raw data with an event the user will select the Associate Raw Data with Event tab.
^Maintain Exceptional Events (National Air Data Group;
Define Event
Associate Raw Data with Event
79
-------
To see which monitors are associated with this event, or to associate a monitor with this event,
the user will select "Query Affected Monitors."
^Maintain Exceptional Events (National Air Data Group)

Define Event
Associate Raw Data with Event;

Event Description
I Firework display
Screen Grp Name Qualifier Code Qualifier Description Event Begin Date Event End Date
|National Air Data Group [rH (Fireworks [20140214 |20140214

State Code County Code Site ID

Parameter

POC

—

Query Affected Monitors

~
r

Query By Date Range Associate All Disassociate All Reset Actions

Monitor Key
# #
Begin Date End Date Associated Unassociated Action

Jk.
r
i 1 1 1

1 III

1 1 1 1

1 III.

1 III
~

1 III

80
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In order for the user to associate any unassociated monitors with the event, the Action LQV
button must be clicked for the respective row.
State Code Co
Monitor Key
37-063-9999-88101-1
r
r
Find %
Action
Associate
Disassociate
No Action
Find
*
OK
Cancel

Query Affected Monitors
e All
Disassociate All
Reset Actions
ociated Unassociated
Action
This will open a pop-up that allows the user to select 'Associate' to associate the affected
monitor/s. Then the user will click 'OK'.
df"
Find %
Action
Associate
Disassociate
No Action
Find
OK
Cancel

81
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At this point the user will notice that the monitor will now display in the '# Associated' column.

#
#
Monitor Key
Begin Date End Date
Associated
Jnassociated Action
* |l 2 7-063-&&&9-SS101-1
120140214 (20140214
1 I
) ILVti-MMU
Once the user verifies that all information is correct the 'Save' icon should be clicked.
The sample measurements that match these criteria and that were flagged with the qualifier flag
are now available for the Regional Office to set the concurrence indicators via the Maintain
Concurrence menu in AQS.
Query by Date
The user can also query the events by date. After the monitor data has been retrieved by the
'Query Affected Monitors' button, the user can change the Begin Date and/or End Date values.
Then click the 'Query By Date Range' button. The flagged data available will be limited to that
which falls between these new dates.
Associate All
Reset Actions
Disassociate All
37-063-&&99-B8101-1
Monitor Key
120140214
Begin Date
Query By Date Range
120140214
End Date
Associated Unassociated
Action
82
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Add concurrence flag - Regional Office
An EPA Regional Office AQS user can add a concurrence flag to signify that they concur with the
exclusion of sample measurements due to an exceptional event. This concurrence can only be
done via online forms.
A "Concur" flag means that the Regional Office concurs with the exclusion. A "Deny" means that
the Regional Office does not concur with the exclusion.
Certification is preserved when data is Concurred or Non-Concurred. The Certification of a
Monitor-Year is only removed when the concentration value of a sample measurement is
updated, but not when other fields are updated.
Sample values can be concurred/non-concurred based on different existing standards:
Pollutant
Standards
03
8-hour 2008
1-hour Daily 2005
8-hour 1997
so2
24-hour 1971
3-hour 1971
Annual 1971
no2
Annual 1971
CO
8-hour 1971
1-hour 1971
Pb
Quarterly 1978
PM10
24-hour 2006
PM2.5
24-hour 2006
Annual 2006
83
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Work Flow
1. The Regional Office user evaluates the documentation for a sample measurement that was
flagged as being affected by an exceptional event.
2. The Regional Office user will use the Maintain Concurrence form in AQS to query the
affected sample measurements and to set the concurrence flag. To access this portion of
AQS, the user must have the correct authorization. An authorized Regional Office user would
have access to all the monitors in that region. From the Menu Bar, the user will click
'Maintain' then select 'Concurrence Ind'.
Maintain
Critical Rev (
Site
Monitor
Event
SamPle Values
Rlanks
~
i

Concurrence ind

Sile Sampler
OA Assessments ~
Monitoring Seasons
84
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3. Query the affected sample measurements:
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintain Critical Rev CErtification Batch Correct Main Menu
h a ra a* x. i li l %SI % I ¦ 11* t < ~ * ~~ ± m p ^ i ?
| Maintain - EPA Concurrence indicator (Region 4 Atlanta)
State County site Parameter
J37 [063~ 19999 "J! SSI 01
Screening Group Name
End Date Applicable NAAQS Standard
Concur All
Begin Date
tvsnilype
Deny All
Clear All
"_l
Concur
Ind
Monitor
Samp Begin
Date-time
Std Samp
Value
Std
Unit
Qualifier
Code
Qualifier Description
Applicable NAAQS
Standard
a.

-
37-063-9999-88101 -1
120140214 00:00
|3
1105
|rh |
|Fire works
|PM25 24-hour 2006

-
37-063-9999-88101-1
|20140214 00:00
|3
1105
|rh
J Fireworks
|PM25 Annual 2006

-
37-063-9999-88101-1
|20140214 00:00
|3
1105
|rh
| Fireworks
|PM25 24-hour 2013

-
37-063-9999-88101-1
|20140214 00:00

1105
|rh
(Fireworks
|PM25 Annual 2013

I
I I II I

I
I I I I I

I I III I

I I III I
~

i ii r i I i
Event Description
Concurrence Comment
1 Fire work display
Event Comment
Event Url
Open URL
Concurrence Date 1
85
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4. Where applicable, the concurrence flag can be set for a particular standard.
Action Help Session Admin Retrieval Maintain Critical Rev CErtification Batch Correct Main Menu
y a i m * i m I % & % ¦ I m 7 < ~ » ~~ ^ 1 ?
Maintain - EPA Concurrence Indicator (Region 4 Atlanta}

State County site Parameter poc
Begin Date
End Date
Applicable NAAQ.S Standard

|37 Y | |063 ^ | |9999 * ||SS101
- | |1

1
1
i 1
Screening Group Name Event Type Evert Description

_LI ilJ

Concur All Deny All Clear All

Concur
Samp Begin
Std Samp
Std
Qualifier

Applicable NAAQS

Monitor Date-time
Value
Unit
Code
Qualifier Description
Standard

-
37-063-9999-8S101-1 |20140214 0 0:00
13
105
|rh |
I Fireworks

|PM25 24-hour 2006

-
37-063-9999-88101-1 |20140214 00:00
|3
105
|rh
| Fireworks

|PM25 Annual 2006

-
37-063-9999-88101-1 |20140214 00:00
|3
105
|rh
| Fireworks

| PM25 24-hour 2013

-
37-063-9999-88101-1 |20140214 00:00

105
]rh
(Fireworks

|PM25 Annual 2013

I
I I I I
J

I
III | 1

I I III I

I I I I I | I

1 11 II II 1 1

Event Description

Concurrence Comment
Concurrence Date
|Fir(
5work display

Event Comment

Event Url

Open URL

5. If the region agrees with the exclusion they will enter 'Y' in the 'Concur Ind' field.
Concur
Ind
Monitor
A.
Y
137-063-95

|
37-063-99

Note] a "Concur" flag means that the Regional Office concurs with the exclusion. A "Deny" means that the Regional
Office does not concur with the exclusion.
86
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6. The Regional Office will save the changes using the "Save" icon.
The addition of an exceptional event qualifier flag to sample values initiates (during the POST
process) the re-computation of all of the summaries:
• At monitor-level:
o NAAQS Averages
o Daily Summaries
o Quarterly Summaries
o Annual Summaries
• At site-level:
o Daily Summaries
o Quarterly Summaries
o Annual Summaries
87
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Data Reports
Standard Reports Overview
In AQS, the most common way to view data is via Standard Reports. These are pre-defined
reports that show most of the data in AQS.
This chapter gives a brief overview of how to use the reports function of AQS. It does not cover
the contents, formats, and options available for each report.
Standard Reports Form
Criteria Set Tab
AQS Standard Reports are under Retrieval in the Menu Bar. To navigate to them, the user will
click 'Retrieval' form the Menu Bar then select 'STandard Report Selection' from the drop-down.
Action Help Session Admin
|I 7^ Ik)
H Standard Report Criteria Sele
Criteria Set
Data Sele
QUALIFIER COUNTS BY MOt
MERGE PDF FILES
QUALIFIER CODE
CONCURRENCE STATUS
QUALIFIER TYPES
Retrieval
Maintain Critical Rev CErt
Browse Annual Summary
Browse Approved Regional Methods
BRowse Monitoring Season
BrOwse Sample Methodology
BroWse State Threshold
BrowSe Parameter
BrowsE Audits
Summary Data Extraction
STandard Report Selection
Main Menu
This will open the 'Standard Report Criteria Selection' form.
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The user will click the LOV associated with the Report Code field.
Standard Report Criteria Selection (National Air Data Group)
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Criteria Set
Data Selection Sort Order Report Options Retrieve Reports
Criteria Set ||
Owner |tJ|CHAEL |BROOKS
• | Desc [~
Type [p
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Report Code |~
C Run Online
C Send via Email
1\\ Report Name
r
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Report Outputs
Generate Report
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This will open a pop-up providing the user with a list of reports to choose from.
Reports x]
Find[%
Rep_Report_Code
Report_Name
Jk.
AMP410
AIR QUALITY INDEX REPORT

AMP410S
AIR QUALITY SUMMARY REPORT

AMP60G
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION AND CONCL

AMP355
COMBINED SITE SAMPLE VALUES

G74
CR RAW DATA

AMP435
DAILY SUMMARY REPORT

AMP430
DATA COMPLETENESS REPORT

AMP255
DATA QUALITY INDICATOR REPORT

AMP480
DESIGN VALUE REPORT

AMP 50 2
EXTRACT P/A DATA

AMP504
EXTRACT QA DATA

AMP501
EXTRACT RAW DATA

AMP503
EXTRACT SAMPLE BLANK DATA

AMP500
EXTRACT SITE/MONITOR DATA

AMP230
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION REPORT

AMP440
MAXIMUM VALUES REPORT
1
AMP390
MONITOR DESCRIPTION RFPORT
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Find
OK
Cancel

1 1
Once the user has done this the mode the report will run in needs to be determined.
Report Code |AMP410
(* Run Online
C Send via Email
If the user selects 'Run Online' the report will be delivered to the user's browser and the user
must stay on-line to retrieve the report.
If 'Send via Email' is selected, AQS will email the report to the address in the user profile. This is
called a "batch" report (just like batch load, it can be working while the user is not logged in).
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After the user selects a Report Code the Print Format will be show. Also, if the user selected
'Send via Email' then the File Name will be shown.
Report Outputs
P REPORT
Print Format I^F

T WORKFILE

r
File Name \
r

Output Formats
There are generally two Report Output options available, however there may sometimes be
more.
Report
This is a formatted report designed to be read. It is associated with the PDF format.
Workfile
This is a text file of tabular data (with a header) for things like spreadsheets to read. Each AQS
report has its own distinct workfile format.
XML
This is a tagged text file of nested data designed for computers to read.
The user may select as many of the Report Outputs as desired. If multiple selections are made,
the same data will be sent in different formats.
File Name
If Send via Email was selected the user must give it a short file name in order to have AQS email
the report when it is complete.
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Data Selection Tab
Criteria Set
Data Selection
Sort Order | Report Options Retrieve Reports
Monitor I Geographic Criteria
State County
CDde Code
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r
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~
r
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Parameter City
Code POC Code
—jr
AQCR UAR CBSA
Code Code Code
CSA
Code
EPA Region
Code

Protocol Criteria
Pollutant Type
Parameter
Date Criteria
Start Date End Date
YYYY MM DD YYYY MM
iF
DD
~rr
~nr
"rr
"rr

Agency Role |pqao

Monitor Network

Agency
*
1
*

*
1

1 ¦

I-
JL

_lJ
1
Generate Report
The form is divided up into several blocks, each with their own bold header: Monitor/Geographic
Criteria, Protocol Criteria, Date Criteria, Monitor Network, and Agency Role. Some blocks may
have default values populated depending on the report you have selected.
Each of these blocks allows the user to enter selection criteria for the selected report. Only data
that matches criteria will be included in the report. There are a few things to keep in mind when
entering selection criteria:
• Certain minimum criteria are required. These vary by report, so the fields are not bolded
(like correct and maintain forms). If not have enough criteria have been entered, an error
message will be generated.
• The more criteria entered the less data will be returned, and the faster the report will
run.
• Entering a criteria means produce those values. Leaving a criteria blank means produce
all values.
o For example, entering a state code will return data for all monitors in the state,
o Entering a state code and a county code and a parameter code will return data for
just that parameter in that county.
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o Entering a pollutant type or parameter code will return data just for it. Leaving it
blank will return data for all parameters.
Sort Order Tab
Each report in AQS includes a default sort order (usually the order of display). For some reports,
this can be altered using the Sort Order tab. Sort columns can be moved up or down in the sort
order by highlighting them and pressing the up or down arrow buttons. Columns may not be
added to the sort order.
Report Options Tab
Each report in AQS includes a default set of options that can be changed. To change the options,
the user will select different values for the options by using the LOV (drop down) associated with
each.
Some reports (with NAAQS related data) will also include some information (that is not
adjustable) about which standards will be represented in the data.
Retrieve Reports Tab
This tab keeps a history of recent reports that have been run (going back 30 days). This tab can
be used to check on the status of a long-running batch report. It can also be used to download
the output of previous reports that may have been misplaced.
Running a Report
After the report and output options have been chosen and all of the selection criteria (and
optionally adjusted the sort order and changed options) have been entered, the report is ready
to be run.
Note] every tab on the Standard Reports form (except Retrieve Reports) has a Generate Report button.
After the Generate Report button has been clicked the application may jump back to where the
user last had his cursor or to the Criteria Set tab - this is normal.
At this point one of two pop-ups will display:
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Report Submitted for Batch Processing
If the report was run in batch mode (emailed to the user when completed), this is the pop-up
that will be displayed.
Report Status
If the report was run on-line, the pop-up will display the stage and percent complete of the
report. The report can be canceled if an error was made or it is taking too long. When the on-line
report is done it will be delivered to the user's browser. If the output is a Report it will appear in
a new tab. If the output is a workfile or XML the browser will prompt the user to download a
zipped file.
Report Contents
All reports contain a PDF cover page echoing the selection criteria.
If the only output is PDF files, this page will be added to the beginning.
If the output includes non-PDF output, all files will be zipped into a single archive that includes
the cover page echoing the selection criteria and one or more files with the results (depending
on the report and the outputs). All of the files will begin with the File Name entered on the
Criteria Set tab and include suffixes and extensions.
Logging Off
AQS can be closed (and logged off) by clicking on either the usual window close button (the red X
on the top right for windows users) or the Exit icon.
The user may be asked whether to commit/save changes or exit. The user should answer
appropriately.
The user may also exit AQS by closing the browser window that AQS is running in, however it
should be noted that this closes AQS without it prompting if the user would like to save any
changes.
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Learn more, service, and support
Refer to the following resources to get more AQS support.
To learn about
Do this 1
General Use
Password Reset
Reporting problems
Contact the AQS Help Desk
M-F 8am-6:30pm EST 866.411.4372 opt 9
epacallcenterPepa.Rov
M-F 6am-9pm EST
Quick Reference
Go to AQS Quick Ref Guide
Data Retrieval
Go to AQS Data Retrieval Manual
Loading Data
Go to Loading Data in AQS
Detailed information
about data in the database
Go to AQS Data Dictionary

AQS related material
Go to Manuals and Guides
Updating the User's Guide
Contact Mr. Michael S. Brooks
User Updates
Go to AQS RSS feed
AQS XML file construction
Go to Exchange Network
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Appendix A
Quick Reference Guide
Tips
• Passwords must be changed every 90 days.
• When using reports, be as specific as possible in providing criteria.
• "%" is the wildcard for Oracle queries.
• Date format is: YYYYMMDD
• Under Maintain, if you are logged on in a screening group, you can only access records
assigned to your screening group.
Changing Passwords
1. From the Main Menu, click Admin, then Security.
2. Enter new AQS password and Confirm password, click 'Ok'.
Browse Data
1. From the Main Menu, select Maintain.
2. Select the type of data you want to browse: Site, Monitor, Sample Values (Raw Data)...
3. Enter criteria for limiting the data (For example, state, county, site...).
4. Click the Execute Query button.
Changing Raw Data Values
1. From the Main Menu, click Maintain, Sample Values, and then Raw Data.
2. Enter monitor identifying information, date range, and click Execute Query.
3. Click on field in Raw Data area to change.
4. Change incorrect value.
5. Click Save icon.
Deleting Raw Data Records
1. From the Main Menu, click Maintain, Sample Values, and then Raw Data.
2. Enter monitor identifying information, date range, and click Execute Query.
3. Click on field in Raw Data area to delete.
4. Click Remove Record icon.
5. Click Save icon.
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Changing Site/Monitor Data
1. From the Main Menu, click Maintain, then Monitor.
2. Enter Site/Monitor identifying information.
3. Click Execute Query.
4. Make changes.
5. Click Save icon.
Note] changing site data is the same except you would specify Site from the Maintain option.
Using Correct to Change Records in the Staging Tables
1. From the Main Menu, click Correct, then Raw.
2. Enter identifying information, then Execute Query.
3. Correct errors.
4. Click Save icon.
5. Navigate to Batch screen.
6. Click the'Load File'button.
Uploading Data Using Batch
1. Select Screening Group Access and Screening Group.
2. From the Main Menu, select Batch.
3. Click 'Goto ENSC' and login to the Exchange Network.
4. Click'My Service Center'.
5. Select the 'Service Name' ending in AQS Submit.
6. Select a Document to Upload.
7. Fill in all other fields and then click 'SEND DATA'
8. After clicking the Send button the 'Request Received!' screen will appear.
Creating Reports
1. From the Main Menu click Retrieval then Standard Reports Selection.
2. Provide Report Code on Criteria Set tab.
3. Choose to run the report online or have it sent via Email.
4. Provide selection criteria on Data Selections tab.
5. If necessary, complete Sort Order and Report Options tabs.
6. Click 'Generate Report' on Criteria Set tab.
Inputting Raw Values Using Maintain
1. From the Main Menu, click Maintain, Sample Values, and then Raw Data.
2. Enter monitor identifying information and then click Execute Query.
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3. On Raw Data tab, click on one of the records in the 'Raw Data' area of the screen.
4. Click Insert Record icon in top menu and enter new information.
5. Click the Save icon.
Insert a New Site/Monitor Using Maintain
1. From within Screening Group, click Maintain, and then Site.
2. Click Cancel Query button.
3. On Basic Site Data tab, provide State, County Code, and Site ID.
4. Complete information on Required and Optional tabs of Maintain Site Data screen (Basic
Site Data, Agency Roles...).
5. Click Save.
6. Click Create Monitor button.
7. Provide information on Monitor Basic tab as well as other tabs. (Several required fields).
8. Click Save button.
9. Verify that Site & Monitor have been entered by clicking from Main Menu, Maintain, Site
and Monitor.
10. Enter State, County, Site ID, and then click Execute Query.
11. Site/Monitor should be displayed.
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