Document ID: EPA-HQ-OEI-2005-0006-0007
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2005-08-11T04:00Z

Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standards
Overview
of
Component
Data
Standards
Standard
No.:
1­
XXX
Version
1­
FINAL
DRAFT
July
26,
2005
This
standard
has
been
produced
through
the
Environmental
Data
Standards
Council
(
EDSC).

The
Environmental
Data
Standards
Council
(
EDSC)
is
a
partnership
among
EPA,
States
and
Tribal
partners
to
develop
and
agree
upon
data
standards
for
environmental
information
collection
and
exchange.
More
information
about
the
EDSC
is
available
at
http://
www.
envdatastandards.
net.
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
Overview
of
Component
Data
Standards
Std.
No.:
1­
XXX
Version
1
 
Final
Draft
July
26,
2006
Page
2
Foreword
The
Environmental
Data
Standards
Council
(
EDSC)
identifies,
prioritizes
and
pursues
the
creation
of
data
standards
for
those
areas
where
information
exchange
standards
will
provide
the
most
value
in
achieving
environmental
results.
The
EDSC
involves
Tribes
and
Tribal
Nations,
state
and
federal
agencies
in
the
development
of
the
standards
and
then
provides
the
draft
materials
for
general
review.
Business
groups,
non­
governmental
organizations,
and
other
interested
parties
may
then
provide
input
and
comment
for
Council
consideration
and
standard
finalization.
Draft
and
final
standards
are
available
at
http://
www.
envdatastandards.
net.

1.0
INTRODUCTION
The
development
of
a
Laboratory
Results
Data
Standard
was
commissioned
by
the
EDSC
in
January
2003.
The
EDSC
agreed
that
development
of
a
data
standard
to
enable
the
sharing
and
integration
of
laboratory
results
data
was
critical
for
emergency
response,
public
health
assessment,
environmental
effects
and
trends
analyses.
A
multidisciplinary
team
developed
the
draft
standard.
As
the
standard
evolved
it
was
decided
that
in
order
to
adequately
exchange
the
information
the
standard
should
follow
the
business
processes
of
sampling,
analysis
and
results.
As
a
result,
the
name
was
changed
from
Laboratory
Results
Data
Standard
to
the
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
(
ESAR).
ESAR
completed
a
technical
review
in
February
2004.
Media
specific
reviews
in
water,
waste
and
air
followed
in
2004
through
the
spring
of
2005.
These
reviews
resulted
in
the
development
of
nine
supporting
standards;
a
more
generic
renaming
of
titles
for
the
standards
and
names
for
the
data
elements;
and
division
of
the
primary
standard
into
four
separate
component
data
standards:
1)
ESAR
Project
Data
Standard,
2)
ESAR
Monitoring
Location
Data
Standard,
3)
ESAR
Field
Activity
Data
Standard,
and
4)
ESAR
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard.
The
EDSC
envisions
that
this
approach
of
using
small
flexible
component
parts
will
enable
developers
to
pick
and
chose
those
elements
needed
and
make
implementation
easier.
The
EDSC
approved
the
suite
of
ESAR
Draft
Data
Standards
for
public
review
in
July
of
2005.

The
ESAR
Draft
Data
Standards
follow
the
business
processes
used
to
collect,
analyze
and
report
environmental
data.
The
standards
are
meant
to
encompass
the
foundation
or
base
amount
of
material
needed
to
exchange
environmental
sampling,
analysis,
and
results
data.
If
additional
data
elements
are
required,
they
can
be
added
to
the
standardized
base.
Conversely,
if
data
elements
or
data
groupings
contained
in
the
base
are
not
required,
they
do
not
have
to
be
used.
The
ESAR
standards
are
designed
in
flexible
small
components
that
can
be
arranged,
rearranged,
used
and
reused
as
needed.

1.1
Scope
This
overview
describes
the
primary
and
supporting
data
standards
that
may
be
used
in
the
exchange
of
environmental
sampling,
analysis
and
results
data.
It
explains
how
the
components
can
be
combined
and
reused.

1.2
Component
and
Referenced
Data
Standards
The
ESAR
Draft
Data
Standards
is
a
suite
of
supporting
component
standards
that
are
based
on
the
business
processes
used
by
collectors
of
environmental
data
for
project
planning,
sample
collection
or
monitoring,
analysis,
and
reporting
results.
The
suite
is
comprised
of
four
primary
standards
and
nine
supporting
components:
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
Overview
of
Component
Data
Standards
Std.
No.:
1­
XXX
Version
1
 
Final
Draft
July
26,
2006
Page
3
Primary
Data
Standards
 
Project
 
An
environmental
data
collection
effort
that
has
a
stated
purpose
and
puts
a
series
of
samples/
results
into
a
meaningful
context.
The
project
section
provides
information
about
the
identification,
contacts,
dates,
study
areas,
reasons,
and
quality
constraints.
The
level
of
information
provided
for
a
project
will
be
determined
by
parties
that
have
to
collect
and
manage
the
data.

 
Monitoring
Location
 
An
identifiable
location
where
an
environmental
sample,
onsite
measurement,
and/
or
observation
is
determined.
The
monitoring
location
section
provides
information
about
the
identification,
the
contacts,
dates,
study
areas,
reasons,
and
quality
constraints.
There
may
be
many
monitoring
locations
that
are
utilized
by
a
project.
It
is
also
possible
that
a
monitoring
location
is
not
associated
with
any
project.
A
monitoring
location
could
have
many
field
activities
occurring
at
it
over
time.

 
Field
Activity
 
Field
monitoring
activities,
include
the
collection
of
a
physical
sample,
measurement,
and/
or
observation
where
one
or
more
of
the
results
will
be
described
or
quantified.
The
field
activity
section
provides
information
about
the
contacts,
collection
method,
sample
identification,
collection
times,
depth/
altitude,
observation
notes,
sample
characteristics,
and
batch
and
shipping
activities.
There
may
be
many
field
activities
at
a
monitoring
location.
A
field
activity
may
be
categorized
as
sample
collection,
which
may
have
many
results
produced
from
an
original
collection.

 
Analysis
and
Results
 
The
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
defines
the
elements
required
for
describing
analysis
and
results
information.
It
provides
information
about
the
laboratory,
laboratory
batch
receipt,
laboratory
sample
receipt,
sample
preparation,
laboratory
analysis,
and
quality
control
data.

Supporting
Data
Standards
 
Attached
Binary
Object
Data
Standard
­­
Describes
digital
items
(
e.
g.,
pictures,
documents)
that
are
attached
to
the
transmitted
data.

 
Bibliographic
Reference
Data
Standard
 
Library
cataloging
descriptors
for
identifying
material
referenced
in
the
data
transmission
(
e.
g.,
reference
for
a
published
report).
Adopted
from
the
international
standard.

 
Compositing
Data
Standard
 
Describes
the
combining
of
several
sample
results
or
units
to
produce
a
single
entity.

 
Equipment
Data
Standard
 
Describes
equipment
or
instruments
used
in
the
field
or
laboratory
and
activities
associated
with
calibration
information.

 
Measure
Data
Standard
 
Identifies
the
values
and
the
associated
units
of
measure
for
measuring/
recording
the
observation
or
analytical
result
value.

 
Method
Data
Standard
 
Identifies
the
procedures/
processes
used
or
references
standard
methodologies
used
to
obtain
the
result.

 
Quality
Assurance
and
Quality
Control
 
Identifies
quantitative
statistics
and
qualitative
descriptors
that
are
used
to
interpret
the
degree
of
acceptability
or
utility
of
data
acquired
during
field
or
laboratory
analysis.

 
Representation
of
Date
and
Time
Data
Standard
 
This
standard
indicates
a
particular
day
within
the
Gregorian
calendar
month
and
specifies
an
instance
of
time
in
the
day.
It
adds
Coordinated
Universal
Time
(
UTC)
data
elements
to
the
existing
EDSC
Date
data
standard
and
is
adopted
from
an
international
standard.

 
Sample
Handling
Data
Standard
 
Specifies
the
standard
characteristics
associated
with
sample
preservation
and
treatment
in
the
laboratory
and/
or
in
the
field.
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
Overview
of
Component
Data
Standards
Std.
No.:
1­
XXX
Version
1
 
Final
Draft
July
26,
2006
Page
4
Other
EDSC
data
standards
may
need
to
be
used
in
support
of
ESAR
suite
of
data
standards.
The
ESAR
standards
provide
notations
to
reference
specific
standards
where
they
may
be
needed.
These
standards
include:

 
Biological
Taxonomy
[
1­
9937­
2]
Data
Standard
 
Chemical
Identification
[
Version
2
Draft]
Data
Standard
 
Contact
Information
[
1­
88433­
2]
Data
Standard
 
Facility
Site
Identification
[
1­
9936­
2]
Data
Standard
 
Latitude/
Longitude
[
Version
2
Draft]
Data
Standard
1.3
Terms
and
Definitions
For
the
purposes
of
this
document,
the
following
terms
and
definitions
apply:

Term
Definition
Field
Activity
Field
monitoring
activities,
including
the
collection
of
a
physical
sample,
measurement,
and/
or
observation
where
one
or
more
of
the
results
is
described
or
quantified.

Laboratory
A
fixed
lab,
mobile
or
field
facility
equipped
for
testing
and
analysis.

Laboratory
Analysis
Analytical
results
that
are
generated
either
in
the
field
from
continuous
or
discrete
observation
/
monitoring
or
from
mobile
or
fixed
laboratory
facilities.

Project
An
environmental
data
collection
effort
that
has
a
stated
purpose
and
puts
a
series
of
samples/
results
into
a
meaningful
context.

Monitoring
Location
An
identifiable
location
where
an
environmental
sample,
onsite
measurement,
and/
or
observation
is
determined.

1.4
Implementation
Each
component
standard
consists
of
data
elements
and,
where
appropriate,
groupings
of
data
elements.
The
primary
components
describe
the
four
major
business
processes
and
the
supporting
components
are
activities
or
information
used
multiple
times
within
the
primary
components.
For
example:

 
Many
projects
may
be
included
in
a
set
of
exchanged
data.

 
Many
monitoring
locations
maybe
utilized
by
a
project
or
monitoring
locations
may
not
have
a
project
association.

 
Many
field
activities
may
occur
at
a
monitoring
location.

 
Many
sample
analyses
may
be
performed
during
a
field
activity.

 
Measurements
can
be
taken
at
the
monitoring
location,
in
the
field,
in
the
laboratory,
or
in
the
reporting
of
results.
In
each
instance,
the
Measure
Data
Standard
would
be
used.
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
Overview
of
Component
Data
Standards
Std.
No.:
1­
XXX
Version
1
 
Final
Draft
July
26,
2006
Page
5
The
Modular
and
reuse
concepts
are
illustrated
in
Figure
1.

Figure
1:
Relationship
between
ESAR
Component
Data
Standards
1.5
Document
Structure
The
structure
of
this
document
is
briefly
described
below:

a.
Section
2.0
ESAR
Primary
Data
Standards,
illustrates
the
principal
data
groupings
contained
within
this
standard.
b.
Section
3.0
ESAR
Primary
Data
Standard
Table,
provides
information
on
the
high
level,
intermediate
and
elemental
Measure
data
groupings.
Where
applicable,
for
each
level
of
this
data
standard
a
definition,
XML
tag,
note(
s),
example
list
of
values
and
format
are
provided.
The
format
column
may
include
the
required
number
of
characters
for
the
associated
data
element,
where
"
A"
specifies
alphanumeric
and
"
N"
designates
numeric.
c.
Section
4.0
ESAR
Supporting
Data
Standards,
illustrates
the
principal
data
groupings
contained
in
the
ESAR
Supporting
Data
Standards.
d.
Data
Standard
Numbering:
For
purposes
of
clarity
and
to
enhance
understanding
of
data
standard
hierarchy
and
relationships,
each
data
group
is
numerically
classified
from
the
primary
to
the
elemental
level.
e.
Code
Metadata:
Based
on
the
business
need,
additional
metadata
may
be
required
to
sufficiently
describe
a
code.
A
note
regarding
this
additional
metadata
is
included
in
the
notes
column
for
code
elements.
Additional
metadata
for
codes
may
include:
 
Code
List
Identifier,
which
is
a
standardized
reference
to
the
context
or
source
of
the
set
of
codes
 
Code
List
Version
Identifier,
which
identifies
the
particular
version
of
the
set
of
codes.
 
Code
List
Version
Agency
Identifier,
which
identifies
the
agency
responsible
for
maintaining
the
set
of
codes
 
Code
List
Name,
which
describes
the
corresponding
name
for
which
the
code
represents
Primary
Components
Supporting
Components
Laboratory
Data
Flow
Lab
Data
MOR
Lab
Data
Project
MOR
Project
Monitoring
Location
1­

_

Result
Result
Monitoring
Location
Monitoring
Location
Monitoring
Location
Field
Activity
Field
Activity
Field
Activity
Field
Activity
Sample
Analysis
Sample
Analysis
Sample
Analysis
Sample
Analysis
1­

_
1­

_

1­

_
1­

_

Result
Result
1­

_
1­

_

1­

_
1­

_
Bibliographic
Reference
Date
and
Time
Equipment
Measure
Method
Sample
Handling
Compositing
Binary
Object
QA/
QC
Other
EDSC
Standards
Contact
Facility
Lat/
Long
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
Overview
of
Component
Data
Standards
Std.
No.:
1­
XXX
Version
1
 
Final
Draft
July
26,
2006
Page
6
2.0
ESAR
PRIMARY
DATA
STANDARDS
ESAR
Primary
Data
Standards
Figure
2
 
Structure
of
ESAR
Primary
Data
Standards
3.0
­
ESAR
Primary
Data
Standards
and
Data
Groupings
Table
1.

Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Primary
Data
Standards
1.
ESAR
Project
­
Data
Standard
Definition:
ESAR
environmental
data
collection
effort
that
has
a
stated
purpose
and
puts
a
series
of
samples/
results
into
a
meaningful
context.

The
following
data
groups
may
be
used
to
specify
the
ESAR
Project:

Project
Point
of
Contact,
Project
Identification,
Project
Duration,
Project
Reason,
Project
Data
Collection
Area,
Project
Collection
Facility
Site
Identification,
Data
Collection
Quality,
Project
Reference,
Attached
Binary
Object,
Bibliographic
Reference.

2.
ESAR
Monitoring
Location
­
Data
Standard
Definition:
An
ESAR
identifiable
location
where
an
environmental
sample,
onsite
measurement,
and/
or
observation
is
determined
The
following
data
groups
may
be
used
to
specify
the
ESAR
Monitoring
Location:

Monitoring
Location
Point
of
Contact,
Monitoring
Location
Identification,
Geographic
Monitoring
Location,
Monitoring
Location
Attached
Binary
Object,
Monitoring
Location
Influences,
Air
Emission
Release
Point
Identification,
Air
Open
Path
Monitoring
Location,
Well
Identification.

3.
ESAR
Field
Activity
­
Data
Standard
Definition:
ESAR
field
monitoring
activities,
including
the
collection
of
a
physical
sample,
measurement,
and/
or
observation
where
one
or
more
of
the
results
is
described
or
quantified.

The
following
data
groups
may
be
used
to
specify
the
ESAR
Field
Activity:

Field
Activity
Point
of
Contact,
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis,
and
Results
Project
Monitoring
Location
Field
Activity
Analysis
and
Results
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
Overview
of
Component
Data
Standards
Std.
No.:
1­
XXX
Version
1
 
Final
Draft
July
26,
2006
Page
7
Field
Activity
Identification,
Field
Activity
Date
and
Time,
Field
Activity
Equipment,
Field
Activity
Observation,
Field
Activity
Attached
Binary
Object,
Sample
Collection
Description,
Sample
Event
Depth/
Height,
Field
Sample
Collection
Method,
Field
Sample
Handling,
Sample
Batch
and
Shipping,
Sample
Chain
of
Custody.

4.
ESAR
Analysis
and
Results
­
Data
Standard
Definition:
ESAR
Analysis
and
Results
information
for
a
sample
about
the
laboratory,
laboratory
batch
receipt,
laboratory
sample
receipt,
the
sample
preparation,
the
laboratory
analysis,
and
the
quality
control
data.

The
following
data
groupings
may
be
used
to
specify
the
ESAR
Data
Analysis
and
Results:

Laboratory
Identification,
Laboratory
Batch
Receipt,
Laboratory
Sample
Receipt,
Laboratory
Sample
Handling,
Sample
Preparation,
Analysis
Information,
Substance
Identification,
Analysis
Results
Identification,
QA/
QC,
Analysis
Results
Attached
Binary
Object.

4.0
 
ESAR
Supporting
Data
Standards
and
Data
Groupings
Table
2
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Supporting
Data
Standards
1.
Attached
Binary
Object
Definition:
Reference
documents,
images,
photos,
GIS
data
layers,
laboratory
materials
and
other
electronic
objects
attached
within
the
data
exchange,
as
well
as
information
used
to
describe
those
objects.

ESAR
Binary
Object
Exchange
Characteristics
ESAR
Binary
Object
Bibliographic
Reference
(
reference
Bibliographic
Reference
Information
Data
Standard)

2.
Bibliographic
Reference
Definition:
The
descriptors
used
to
identify
and
catalog
an
object.

ESAR
Bibliographic
Reference
Descriptors
3.
Compositing
Definition:
The
attributes
related
to
the
combining
of
several
samples,
sub­
samples,
results
or
units
to
produce
a
single
entity
Compositing
Activity
Compositing
Date
and
Time
Environmental
Sampling,
Analysis
and
Results
Data
Standard
Overview
of
Component
Data
Standards
Std.
No.:
1­
XXX
Version
1
 
Final
Draft
July
26,
2006
Page
8
Compositing
Component
4.
Equipment
Definition:
Information
needed
to
uniquely
identify
the
apparatus,
instrument,
or
equipment
used
for
the
activity.

Equipment
Identification
Equipment
Characteristics
Equipment
Calibration
5.
Measure
Definition:
Identifies
the
value
and
the
associated
units
for
measuring
an
observation
or
analytical
result
value.

Measure
Measure
QA/
QC
6.
Method
Definition:
Identifies
the
procedures/
processes
and
references
required
to
determine
the
methods
used
to
obtain
a
result.

Method
Identification
Method
Reference
7.
Quality
Assurance
and
Quality
Control
Definition:
The
quantitative
statistics
and
qualitative
descriptors
that
are
used
to
interpret
the
degree
of
acceptability
or
utility
of
data
to
the
user.

Data
Quality
Indicator
8.
Representation
of
Date
and
Time
Definition:
Representation
of
a
point
in
time
in
the
Gregorian
calendar
and
portion
thereof.

Date
Time
9.
Sampling
Handling
Definition:
Identifies
sample
handling
procedures
including
sample
treatment
and/
or
sample
preservation.

Sample
Handling
Sample
Preservation