You are here:
EPA Geospatial Quality Council Promoting Quality Assurance in the Geospatial Coummunity
Citation:
BRILIS, G., N. W. KOHL, C. MIDDLETON, R. Strohman, N. G. TALLENT-HALSELL, T. Smith, L. M. PETTERSON, JEFFEREY C. WORTHINGTON, AND A. LOWE. EPA Geospatial Quality Council Promoting Quality Assurance in the Geospatial Coummunity . Presented at 2008 Science Forum, Washington, DC, May 20 - 22, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation
Description:
After establishing a foundation for the EPA National Geospatial Program, the EPA Geospatial Quality Council (GQC) is, in part, focusing on improving administrative efficiency in the geospatial community. To realize this goal, the GQC is developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) in a “template” format that can be tailored and adapted by organizational entities in the EPA and its’ extended partners (other Federal, State, local governments and the private sector). Since its’ formation in 1998, the GQC has developed products that provide QA guidance for geospatial activities and research. Two GQC products are references for the EPA National Geospatial Data Policy: EPA Guidance for Geospatial Data Quality Assurance Project Plans, EPA/600/R-01/062; Global Positioning Systems: Technical Implementation Guidance, (GPS-TIG) Revision 2.0, July 2006, [EPA/600/R-03/001]. By implementing the guidance provided by the above-mentioned documents, Region 5 developed a sound GPS SOP and QAPP. The GQC further developed Region 5s’ products and is providing the Guidance for Developing GPS Data Collection SOPs and QAPPs to the greater geospatial community. The GQC has developed this guidance to harmonize the process of collecting, editing, and exporting spatial data of known quality using the Global Positioning System (GPS). This document does not attempt to detail the specific functions of the various GPS receivers since the rapid advancements in GPS technology would necessitate constant, diligent updates to this document. Though the concept of the “Graded Approach” was previously communicated to the Geospatial Community, this document is the first to establish QA Categories for the Geospatial Community. Since “one size does not fit all,” QA Category parameters are suggested for GPS users. This presentation reviews the QA Categories suggested for the Geospatial Community, highlight critical parts of the SOP and QAPP templates, and provide QA Professionals with quality evaluation consideration points.