Title: Data Management Tools (1 of 2) Text: Groundwater sample collection at NWS Charleston SWMU 12 is required on a quarterly basis at 37 monitoring wells. Recently this effort was streamlined to incorporate a paperless process of collecting the data and entering it into the project database maintained at SOUTHDIV. A small tablet computer was used to collect real time data in the field and commercial software packages were used to check, store, and analyze the groundwater analytical laboratory results. The use of paperless or electronic data management has saved time and labor and has also expedited many site management decisions. Visual Description: Aerial photograph of NWS Charleston SWMU 12.

Title: Data Management Tools (2 of 2) Text: The data collected at SWMU 12 is organized into an electronic data management system using commercially available software. The data management software provides an organized database structure that can query the complete data set and export the desired records to various programs that aid in the visualization of the selected data. The data management tools used at the site include a tablet computer, a standard electronic data deliverable (EDD) format, a Geographic Information System (GIS) linked database, and reporting and charting software. This Web data sheet describes each of these paperless or electronic data management tools.

Title: Tablet Computer Text: A small tablet computer is used to collect real time data from the water quality meter used in the field. The field data was previously written by hand on paper every three minutes until the water in the formation stabilized (typically 30 minutes). This data includes dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, temperature, water level, and flow rate. The stabilized (last) data are saved in a file for that well that is recognized by the database software program EQUIS. Field kits are then used to test for redox sensitive water quality parameters (e.g., ferrous iron, etc.) that are entered into the computer using a computer pen stylus. Macro programs automatically extract data entered for each well into a summary file that contains the data for all wells. This seamless process does not require transcription of the data to a computer once the field crew is back in the office. This has the effect of saving a several days of effort in the office. In addition transcription errors are reduced since data from the water quality meter is automatically downloaded and redox sensitive field parameters are entered only once in the computer. Visual Description: Rotating photos of a field crew at a measurement site and a tablet computer.

Title: Electronic Data Deliverable Format Text: All laboratory data from a site must be imported into the database in a consistent Electronic Data Deliverable (EDD) format. The EDD specifies a naming convention that describes how chemical names, results, and lab qualifiers are to be entered in the database. An inconsistent data format can lead to mistakes and missing data when a query or export is performed. The SWMU 12 groundwater sampling results were provided by the laboratories in the EPA Region 5 EDD format. The laboratory first checks the data with a tool that checks for errors in the data file that are inconsistent with the EPA format. If the file contains errors, the lab has the opportunity to correct any errors before the data is submitted. When the lab provides a file free of errors, the data is then imported directly into the data management system software. Visual Description: Rotating graphic showing example EDD format and lab data checker software.

Title: EPA Region 5 Data Format Text: The EPA Region 5 EDD Web site provides the Electronic Lab Data Checker for download and use, along with instructions and example EDD datasets.

Title: Geographic Information System Text: Once the data has been loaded into the database structure, an export tool populates the data in a GIS. GIS is a useful tool for displaying and storing data associated with a particular location. Sample data and results are stored in tables and linked to locations on a map. Query tools within the GIS allow the users to specify which locations, sampling events, and chemical constituents are to be displayed within the GIS window. The query tool also displays a separate table showing only the data specified by the query. Rollover the figure for more information on the GIS example. Visual Description: Screen shot of a geographic information system software.

Title: Example GIS Window Text: This figure shows the results for trichloroethylene (TCE) at direct push locations in July 2001 and at monitoring wells in August 2001. The sample results are categorized by TCE concentrations at each location. The highest TCE concentrations are shown in red, the mid-ranges are shown in pink, and the white represents low- to non-detect concentrations. A layout for printing this map could then be generated using standard Arcview GIS tools.

Title: Reporting Tools Text: Tools are also available to speed up the process of creating data reports. The figures on the left show a cross-tab report being constructed. In this example, the well locations and sample dates are shown in the first and second columns, and the analytical method, chemical, and units are shown in the first three rows. The query form allows the user to select criteria for each type of record. The advantage of this program is it allows the user to select specific data to report and to build a custom format to display the data. The custom formats can be saved and used again in future reports. These custom tools can be created using a variety of commercially available software including, but not limited to, Excel, Access, and or ArcView GIS. Visual Description: Rotating graphic showing reporting tool screen shots: query form, cross-tab form, and results.

Title: Charting Concentrations (1 of 2) Text: It is often beneficial to generate charts that track the trends in chemical concentrations over time. The use of charting tools interfaced with a database can be helpful at sites with large data sets that span extended time frames, multiple contaminants, and/or multiple locations. The figure on the left shows the concentrations of 1,1,1-TCA and its daughter products at SWMU 12 (Well 3S) over time. As shown, the concentrations appear to peak with the December 2001 sampling event. Visual Description: Rotating graphic of charting tool screen shots: graph trend plot criteria screen and plot result screen.

Title: Charting Water Levels (2 of 2) Text: Graphs of the water levels at wells may also be generated using this query tool. The figure on the left shows how water levels in the same well vary over time. A comparison of concentration and water level graphs might suggest that the increase in concentrations over time is related to the rise in water levels. Visual Description: Graph of water levels at wells.

Title: Summary Text: Data management is an important process for ensuring that quality data is provided to those responsible for decision-making at a site. There are many electronic data standards available that allow the laboratory to provide a more useable data format to the contractor and the project manager. A data format should be decided upon early in the process to save time and money in the later stages of the project. Depending on the complexity and data needs of a site, tools from commercial software may also improve the efficiency and cost of managing, charting, and reporting data. An initial investment in these tools may lead to more valuable information that improves decision-making throughout all stages of the project.