Using field data analysis for environmental decision making and subsequent remediation at two example sites.

One of the major challenges in remediating contaminated sites is having quick access to quality data on which to base remedial decisions as onsite work progresses. Case studies are presented at two Superfund sites where field screening and field analyses are used to provide these data. Emphasis is placed on the importance of high quality field data, as these data are the basis for remedial decisions prior to receipt of offsite laboratory confirmation. The decision-making processes for remediating contaminated soils and structures are presented in addition to project specifics including data quality objectives, field data collection procedures, quality assurance/quality control procedures, and comparisons of the field data with offsite laboratory results.     

Quality - Key factor for high value in professional patent, technical and scientific information

An effective and efficient innovation process needs reliable scientific, technical and patent information of high quality. To obtain information of high quality, specific quality criteria during the entire information workflow have to be followed. This article focuses on quality criteria for database producers, information providers and information specialists. In particular, STN International^® is used as an example to describe in detail the quality criteria for information providers, and the value they add through a comprehensive information offer. This includes value-add patent databases; quality assurance of databases; a standardized host environment; a transparent and sophisticated retrieval system; ensured data security and privacy; and professional and qualified customer support.     

Data standards are back seat drivers! Methodology for incorporating information quality into quality assurance project plans.

Quality assurance project plans for environmental data collections consider user requirements for the measurements and express these in the form of data quality objectives. User requirements now may include capture of measurements and associated information in prescribed formats to facilitate entry into computerized information systems. Establishing ahead of time that the data requirements may be an important "back seat driver" for an environmental collection effort can save considerable resources for an organization. Also, the planning may need to accommodate unique requirements associated with the entry of data into data collection systems.     

The role of field auditing in environmental quality assurance management.

Environmental data quality improvement continues to focus on analytical laboratoryperformance with little, if any, attention given to improving the performance of field consultants responsible for sample collection. Many environmental professionals often assume that the primary opportunity for data error lies within the activities conducted by the laboratory. Experience in the evaluation of environmental data and project-wide quality assurance programs indicates that an often-ignored factor affecting environmental data quality is the manner in which a sample is acquired and handled in the field. If a sample is not properly collected, preserved, stored, and transported in the field, even the best laboratory practices and analytical methods cannot deliver accurate and reliable data (i.e., bad data in equals bad data out). Poor quality environmental data may result in inappropriate decisions regarding site characterization and remedial action. Field auditing is becoming an often-employed technique for examining the performance of the environmental sampling field team and how their performance may affect data quality. The field audits typically focus on: (1) verifying that field consultants adhere to project control documents (e.g., Work Plans and Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs]) during field operations; (2) providing third-party independent assurance that field procedures, quality assurance/ quality control (QA/QC)protocol, and field documentation are sufficient to produce data of satisfactory quality; (3) providing a defense in the event that field procedures are called into question; and (4) identifying ways to reduce sampling costs. Field audits are typically most effective when performed on a surprise basis; that is, the sampling contractor may be aware that a field audit will be conducted during some phase of sampling activities but is not informed of the specific day(s) that the audit will be conducted. The audit also should be conducted early on in the sampling program such that deficiencies noted during the audit can be addressed before the majority of field activities have been completed. A second audit should be performed as a follow-up to confirm that the recommended changes have been implemented. A field auditor is assigned to the project by matching, as closely as possible, the auditor's experience with the type of field activities being conducted. The auditor uses a project-specific field audit checklist developed from key information contained in project control documents. Completion of the extensive audit checklist during the audit focuses the auditor on evaluating each aspect of field activities being performed. Rather than examine field team performance after sampling, a field auditor can do so while the samples are being collected and can apply real-time corrective action as appropriate. As a result of field audits, responsible parties often observe vast improvements in their consultant's field procedures and, consequently, receive more reliable and representative field data at a lower cost. The cost savings and improved data quality that result from properly completed field audits make the field auditing process both cost-effective and functional.     

Development of an Air Quality Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Interdisciplinary curricula, such as environmental engineering, are faced with the challenge of developing unified sets of courses for students from a variety of academic backgrounds. In addition to providing a rigorous technical education, engineering education should foster development of the professional skills that students need in the future, such as laboratory, computer, communication and teamwork abilities, and independence and creativity. This program improvement project integrated traditional lectures with carefully designed assignments, experiments, and demonstrations to teach principles of air quality in environmental engineering. Computer simulations helped students develop a better intuitive understanding of fundamental air quality phenomena. Field trips served to illustrate applications of classroom concepts, and an instructional laboratory was developed to teach students the essential techniques of air quality monitoring. The classroom and laboratory were also used as a supportive environment in which students learned professional skills applicable to graduate studies or professional employment. Students wrote “journal articles,” complete with peer review and revisions as part of a term project. Laboratory projects were used to introduce students to the techniques of writing proposals, and a professional style “class conference” gave students practice in making scientific presentations.     

Peer Review as a QA Tool in Environmental Applications.

Peer Review is commonly applied during the final stage of a project and is used in the science community to determine the soundness of a conclusion and if the quality of information meets the standards of the scientific and technical community. Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedures are most effective when applied to planning, then during the process stage of a project, and during the review of a product. The gold standard for validating the quality of a study's results is comparison with a referenced data set, model, or result (Azouzi, 1999). However, costs can severely limits this approach for many applications. This article proposes an additional means for quality assessment using peer review as a quality assessment tool during the planning, process, and review of a project.     

An integrated system for optical imaging of ice cores

An end-to-end system for optical image acquisition and data processing for ice cores has been developed for the United States National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL). The components of this system include highly integrated, automated methods for image capture in the cold-room environment and subsequent analysis by scientists. These components seamlessly manage the various aspects of physical scanning, metadata capture, image processing tests for data quality assurance, database integration and file management, processing of raw data to standard products, data distribution, and image processing and annotation tools for end-users in the ice core science community. The system has been tested operationally on cores retrieved from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide drilling project during the core processing lines at NICL in 2006 and 2007.     

Accreditation at the US EPA-NEIC. National Enforcement Investigations Center.

The US Environmental Protection Agency-National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) of Denver, Colorado is the specialty technical arm of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) within the US EPA. NEIC is a center for technical support nationwide to state, local, tribal, and federal environmental enforcement and compliance assurance programs. NEIC is a source of expertise for technical analysis, compliance monitoring, engineering evaluations, forensic laboratory activities, information management, computer forensics, and witness testimony. Effective 1 February 2001, NEIC was granted accreditation for overall environmental measurement activities that include field sampling, field measurements and monitoring, and laboratory measurements. NEIC became the first and only environmental forensic center in the United States to be granted this type of accreditation. The accreditation criteria incorporates nationally and internationally accepted forensic and quality management standards. Awarded by the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC), the NEIC Accreditation Standard was developed for conducting environmental measurements while adhering to forensic requirements in specific areas. The NEIC Accreditation Standard is based on ISO/IEC Guide 25 and ANSI/ASQC E4-1994, and it references specific aspects of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) Manual.     

How good are my data?: Information quality assessment methodology.

Quality assurance techniques used in software development and hardware maintenance/reliability help ensure that data in a computerized information management system are maintained well. However, information workers may not know the quality of data resident in their information systems. Knowledge of the quality of information and data in an enterprise provides managers with important facts for managing and improving the processes that impact information quality. This paper presents quality assessment methodology to assist information workers in planning and implementing an effective assessment of their information data and quality. The areas covered include: identifying appropriate information quality indicators; developing assessment procedures; conducting information quality assessments; reporting information assessment results; tracking improvements in information quality.     

输水管道的阴极保护

按照SY／T0019－1997标准和ISO9001质量管理体系，对成都自来水六厂BOT项目输水管道阴极保护进行设计和施工管理，在满足使用寿命和标准规范要求的前提下采用合理的最小保护电流参数设计和技术质量保证措施，使阴极保护工程成本和效益尽可能达到优化。     

New materials adoption study: some contributions to design knowledge

Because it is difficult to study professional designers directly, other ways of getting information are worth consideration. Research into the adoption of new materials by industry provides an encouraging example. Here, data on materials adoption were collected in two ways: by questionaire and by case history compilation. Six known models of designer behaviour were found to hold for adoption; there were no contrary instances. Many of those who make decisions on materials adoption are designers. Features which were found to be significant in materials adoption are argued to be important in designing: small group decisions throughout a project, the influence of management attitudes, the kind of industry involved, low levels of awareness of information and of potential consequences of decisions. These conjectures await refutation.     

温湿度独立控制空调系统案例技术经济性分析

节能,正在成为国家和地方政府建筑设计的政策导向.本文分别以公共建筑A项目和B项目温湿度独立控制空调工程的施工图数据及工程量预算清单为依据,通过专业技术经济分析方法,分别通过对采用溶液循环除湿温湿度独立控制空调系统的A项目与A项目对应常规空调系统对比,以及对采用冷凝除湿温湿度独立控制空调系统的B项目与B项目对应常规空调系统进行技术经济性比较对比,阐述了节能型空调工程的经济效益与预算控制的内在联系.     

The radiochemist's role in the quality evaluation and assessment of radiological data in environmental decision making.

The quality evaluation and assessment of radiological data is the final step in the overall environmental data decisionprocess. This quality evaluation and assessment process is performed outside of the laboratory, and generally the radiochemist is not involved. However, with the laboratory quality management systems in place today, the data packages of radiochemical analyses are frequently much more complex than the project/program manager can effectively handle and additionally, with little involvement from radiochemists in this process, the potential for misinterpretation of radiological data is increasing. The quality evaluation and assessment of radiochemistry data consists of making three decisions for each sample and result, remembering that the laboratory reports all the data for each analyses as well as the uncertainty in each of these analyses. Therefore, at the data evaluation and assessment stage, the decisions are: (1) is the radionuclide of concern detected (each data point always has a number associated with it?); (2) is the uncertainty associated with the result greater than would normally be expected; and (3) if the laboratory rejected the analyses is there serious consequences to other samples in the same group? The need for the radiochemist's expertise for this process is clear. Quality evaluation and assessment requires the input of the radiochemist particularly in radiochemistry because of the lack of redundancy in the analytical data. This paper describes the role of the radiochemist in the quality assessment of radiochemical data for environmental decision making.     

Situational Awareness in Construction and Facility Management

Engineers and managers involved in construction and facility/infrastructure operations need situational awareness about the as-is conditions when making daily decisions and developing short- and long-term plans. Yet, currently situational awareness of engineers is often challenged due to missing data and the available data not being in a format that is easily accessible and actionable. Advances in reality capture technologies, such as 3-dimensional (3D) imaging, in-situ sensing, equipment on-board instrumentation and electronic tagging, streamline the capturing of the as-is conditions on job sites. The data collected from these technologies, integrated with building information models depicting the as-planned conditions, can help in creating and storing the history of as-is conditions of a facility to support a variety of decisions that engineers and managers need to make. While the opportunities associated with integrating building information models and data capture technologies are compelling, several challenges need to be addressed through research for effective usage of these technologies. Such challenges include assessing the accuracy of the data collected at the field, developing and evaluating data processing and data fusion approaches, formalizing integrated representation of building information models and sensor and other relevant data, and investigating and developing approaches for analyzing and visualizing such integrated information models. This paper provides examples of recent research studies done at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University that demonstrate opportunities associated with integrating building information models and sensor information for facility operations.     

大体积混凝土结构施工的监理控制

现代建筑结构中,随着结构面积的增大,大体积混凝土的应用也更加广泛。商品混凝土发展应用到今天,大体积商品混凝土的配合比已相对成熟。但具体到结构单体的施工,因施工单位质量管理及施工技术的差异,常常会引发不同程度的质量问题。本文从施工监理的角度就如何控制大体积混凝土的施工质量做了相应探讨。     

检定数据网络传输可靠性及安全性的研究

随着互联网技术的发展,计量检定工作也更加科学高效。计量检定的所有管理数据信息和技术数据信息都已经融入到计量检定管理系统当中(如仪器收发信息、设备的期间核查、计量检定的电子原始记录等等)。本文主要对当专业实验室的主机采集到数据后,向计量检定管理系统数据库传输数据的过程中,数据库突然出现中断的处理及数据传输安全性的解决方法。     

Quality assurance reviews: how they differ from peer reviews.

Research papers and reports written by scientists and engineers in the United States Environmental Protection Agency are reviewed by the agency's quality assurance staff. EPA papers and reports are subjected to peer reviews that check for the validity of conclusions and the general agreement with the body of technical knowledge in the subject area. Quality assurance reviews differ from peer reviews in that the focus of the quality assurance review is on the following criteria: Consistency: Were reasonable and consistent units of measurement and generally acceptable formulas used throughout? Are the appropriate number of significant figures reported? Correctness: Were matrix-compatible methods used? Were measurements within the working range of the method? Can measurements be traced to a recognized standard or source (e.g., the National Institute of Standards and Technology)? Can calculations be verified, starting from representative raw data and proceeding to the summary data presented in the paper or report? Coherence: Do the stated conclusions follow from the data presented? Are the assumptions clearly stated? Are inconsistencies between data and conclusions discussed? Clarity: Are special terms and acronyms defined? Can a person with a general technical background in the subject understand the paper or report? Conformance: Did the study follow the test/quality assurance plan, with appropriate calibrations and other quality-control checks, audits, and data validations? If not, is there a discussion of problems? Concordance: Were data quality objectives met? Were the data quality indicator goals achieved for precision, accuracy, representativeness, comparability, and completeness? The importance of these quality assurance review criteria are discussed along with examples from current work.     

浅谈专业化混凝土搅拌站的质量保证

本文针对面向专业化混凝土搅拌站的质量控制，从人员、设备、原材料、生产工艺质量控制等几方面进行了深入讨论，以专业化的角度提出了一些自己的观点和改进方法。作为专业化混凝土搅拌站，是一个具备高技术含量和先进管理体系的公司，质量是企业的生命，应树立服务意识、质量意识，建立完善的质量保证体系，根据工程的要求、用户施工的环境等情况来提供优质产品。     

检测和校准实验室检测数据质量控制关键技术应用探讨

通过分析实验室质量管理系统不同发展阶段的特征,分析了国内外实验室软件的差距和不同软件的优缺点,对现代实验室数据质量保障技术今后的发展方向和应该具备的功能进行探讨,明确指出人工智能型实验室数据质量保障系统是今后发展和应用的唯一方向,为我国检测与校准实验室数据质量控制的发展提供方向性建议。