Mod13-A QA/QC for Environmental Measurement
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Transcript Mod13-A QA/QC for Environmental Measurement
QA/QC FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
MEASUREMENT
Unit 4: Module 13, Lecture 1
QA/QC for environmental measurement
http:/water.usgs.gov/
What is quality
assurance (QA)?
a broad plan for
maintaining quality in all
aspects of a program
- Keith et al. (1983)
establishes the need for
quality control (QC)
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QA/QC for environmental measurement
Quality control refers to
routine technical activities
– the purpose of which is
to control error
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02hud
son/logs/aug29/aug29.html
QC can be considered the
“HOW” of the QA process
applicable to field, lab and
office procedures
http://www.jmg.gov.my/Client_s_Charter/client_s_
charter.html
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QA for environmental measurement
Why do we need quality assurance for
environmental measurement?
understand data reliability
quantify areas of analytical uncertainty
standardize measurement to allow for repeatable
and comparable data across time and place
QA ensures that data will meet defined standards of
quality with a standard level of confidence
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QA for environmental assessment
Need for consistency
- monitoring a copper
impacted stream
Is this problem
getting worse or is
being mitigated?
How can you tell?
Why is standardized
measurement so
important?
http://www.darcnw.noaa.gov/bbpix.htm
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Where is QA applicable?
Who in the environmental arena uses quality
assurance measures and when is it necessary?
nearly all REGULATORY decisions about:
issuing permits, monitoring human health and
environmental quality, pollution investigations
and the progress of site remediation are based
on one thing -- the data gathered from the site.
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Where is QA applicable?
What other
environmental
arenas utilize quality
assurance
measures?
laboratories
universities and
research
organization
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Where is QA applicable?
Non-research areas utilize environmental QA
measures also
business and industry
lobbying groups and special interests
legislators
lawyers
others
http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/pa/News/060297.html
http://gov.state.nv.us/S
pecialSessio
n072902.asp
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Quality assurance vs. quality control
Quality Assurance
(QA)
broad program plan
establishes the need
for QC
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Quality Controls (QC)
individual checks
and balances
the “HOW” of QA
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Where is QC applicable?
Quality control is applicable in all aspects of a
project including:
Field data collection and sampling
Laboratory analysis and processing
Data evaluation and assessment
Reporting and project documentation
QC provides steps that ensure data will meet defined
standards of quality with a standard level of confidence
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QC in the field
QC is particularly critical in filed data collection
often the most costly aspect of a project
data is never reproducible under the exact same
condition or setting
http://climchange.cr.usgs.gov/info/lacs/wate
rsampling.htm
sechi readings
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
field filtration
Updated: June 14, 2005
http://www.fe.doe.gov/techline/tl_
hydrates_oregon.shtml
logging sea cores
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QC in the field
Standardized field
method programs
US Army Corps of
Engineers
ASTM methods
USGS classification
APHA
AIHA
NIST
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QC in the laboratory
Laboratory data analysis, measurement and
acquisition:
Chain of custody forms
Equipment calibration
Storage practices
Analytical methods
Holding times
MDLs
www.odc.gov/noeh/dls
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QC in the laboratory
Standardized
laboratory method
programs
EPA Methods
State Modified
Methods
APHA Methods
ASTM
AIHA
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QC in the office
In office planning, data evaluation and
summation of results:
QAPP – quality assurance
project plan outlines all
project management
assessment and oversight
data validation
http://www.va.gov/optometry/page.cfm?pg=4
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
www.cr.nps.gov/aad/collections/ mgt_pr.htm
Photo from MN DNR
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QC for environmental measurement
Why do we need quality control?
To prevent errors from happening
To identify and correct errors that have taken
place
QC is used to PREVENT and CORRECT ERRORS
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QC: Internal vs. external measures
Internal quality control
“controllable” by those responsible for
undertaking the project or directly “involved in
the program”
External quality control
a “set of measures” established for and
conducted by those people and organizations
“outside of the program”
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Quality control (QC): Internal
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/fnrb1001.htm
Internal Quality Control:
Equipment calibration
Proper training and
certification of participants
Proper sampling and
containment techniques
Proper data documentation
http://il.water.usgs.gov/adcp/photos/class_apr99.html
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Quality control (QC): External
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/fnrb1001.htm
External quality
control:
Performance audits
Split sample analysis
Replicate (duplicate)
sample analysis
http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/novdec98/seven.htm
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP)
A quality assurance
project plan (QAPP) is a
project-specific QA
document.
The QAPP outlines the
QC measures used in
implementing the
project.
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP)
The QAPP governs work conducted in the field,
laboratory, and the office.
The QAPP:
guides the selection of project parameters and
procedures
guides data management and analysis
provides steps to determine the validity of
specific sampling or analysis procedures
designates both internal and external QC
measures
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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QA/QC: Data objective and key concepts
Successful data collection and analysis is
dependant upon “The PARCC Parameters”:
Precision
Accuracy
Representativeness
Completeness
Comparability
The key concepts of QA/QC are the
“PARCC” Parameters – the WHY of the QAPP
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Key concepts of QA/QC:
Precision degree of agreement there is
between repeated
measurements of the same
characteristic
can be biased – meaning there is
a consistent error in the results
Accuracy measures how close data results
are to a true or expected value –
does not allow for bias
http://www.d.umn.edu/faculty/ UMD med school
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Key concepts of QA/QC: Accuracy
accuracy = (average
value) – (true value)
precision represents
repeatability
bias represents
amount of error
low bias and high
precision = statistical
accuracy
http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/qappexec.html
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Key concept QA/QC: Representativeness
Representativeness extent to which measurements actually represent
the true environmental condition or population at
the time a sample was collected.
Representative data should result in repeatable
data
Does this
represent this??
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-0058-99
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Key concepts of QA/QC: Completeness
Completeness comparison between the amount of data
intended to be collected vs. actual amount of
valid (usable) data collected.
In the design of the QAPP – will the goals of the
plan meet assessment needs?
Will sufficient data be collected?
Would this give usable data ??
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Key concepts of QA/QC: Comparability
Comparability the extent to which data can be compared
between sample locations or periods of time
within a project, or between projects
Will similar data
from these sites be
Comparable ??
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/publicaffairs/bac
kgrounders/backgrounder_ww.html
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cta/ctasummary.html
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Review: QA vs. QC
Quality Assurance
(QA)
broad program plan
establishes the need
for QC
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Quality Controls (QC)
standardized tests
and methods
the “HOW” of QA
Updated: June 14, 2005
U5-m13a-s28
Review: Quality Assurance Project Plans
The QAPP is a
project-specific QA
document.
The QAPP outlines
the QC measures to
be taken for the
project.
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
QAPP guides:
the selection of
parameters and
procedures
data management
and analysis
steps taken to
determine the
validity of specific
sampling or analysis
procedures
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Elements of a QAPP
The QAPP governs work conducted in the field,
laboratory, and the office.
QAPP can be broken out into four areas of the
project
Project management (office)
Measurement and data acquisition (field and lab)
Assessment and oversight (field, lab, and office)
Data validation and usability (field, lab, and
office)
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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Review: QA/QC key concepts
“The PARCC Parameters” are the WHY of
QA/QC and assure successful data analysis:
Precision
Accuracy
Representativeness
Completeness
Comparability
The key concepts and WHY of QA/QC are the
“PARCC” Parameters
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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References
EPA 1996, Environmental Protection Agency Volunteer
Monitor’s Guide to: Quality Assurance Project Plans. 1996.
EPA 841-B-96-003, Sep 1996, U.S. EPA, Office of Wetlands,
Washington, D.C. 20460, USA
http://www.epa.gov/owowwtr1/monitoring/volunteer/qappexe
c.htm
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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•http://waterontheweb.org/index.html
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin
Updated: June 14, 2005
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