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DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES-FOUNDATION OF A SUCCESSFUL MONITORING PROGRAM
Citation:
ACREE, S. D. DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES-FOUNDATION OF A SUCCESSFUL MONITORING PROGRAM. Presented at USDOE Environmental Management Site Specific Advisory Board, Santa Fe, NM, September 06 - 08, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
The data quality objectives (DQO) process is a fundamental site characterization tool and the foundation of a successful monitoring program. The DQO process is a systematic planning approach based on the scientific method of inquiry. The process identifies the goals of data collection, temporal and spatial study boundaries, constraints on data collection, and acceptable limits on errors. Data quality objectives should be site specific and established within the context of an accurate conceptual model for groundwater flow and contaminant transport/fate. All aspects of the monitoring network should be designed with the DQOs in mind. The DQO process is best applied in a flexible iterative fashion allowing for modification of the conceptual model and monitoring network as data are obtained and analyzed over time.