Query Manager Importing Data Into Query Manager Format

Importing Data Into Query Manager Format

Adding New Data to Query Manager

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Response and Restoration (NOAA/ORR) are cooperating in the tasks necessary to automate procedures and to populate the NOAA/ORR, Query Manager (QM) sediment database with sediment data from GLNPO’s contaminated sediment database. NOAA has developed a standard data entry template that facilitates putting existing data in a consistent format, which will improve the efficiency of importing the data into the QM database. The data template will provide ARD partners, contractors and grantees better direction for future data deliverables. Two versions of the template are available, one in Microsoft Excel^® and one in Microsoft Access^®.

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This project will support Watershed Database and Mapping Projects across the country. ARD and partners will benefit from increased volume and accessibility of the data as well as the technical input provided by the coordinating agencies.

These data will be used in assessment, remediation planning, technical review of sediment data and dredging planning, and other management activities. Access to the sediment data is essential to the performance of these agencies and the use of the existing NOAA database will prevent duplication of effort in data entry and data management.

This effort will also provide ongoing consistency with the NOAA National Status and Trends program data, EPA's National Sediment Inventory database and EMAP data as well as with other site-specific data already available in the QM database.

While NOAA typically will be responsible for importing the data into the database and producing the Query Manager project files, these tools will greatly improve the process of making these data available and usable. The products from this effort are summarized below.

Documentation

Improve existing documentation (more user-friendly reference)
Describe use of Excel and Access templates
Document table structures for conversion and master db systems
Tips and troubleshooting notes

Data import enhancement tools

Data import from Access
Access-based template
Routines to allow for import from either Excel or Access template
Methods for the import of tissue data
Improve method for editing/viewing dictionary and lookup tables. Allow for appending new records with validation rules and use of chemical synonym table
Incorporate NOAA summing methods for PAHs (low molecular weight, high molecular weight, and total), PCBs (sum of congeners or Aroclors), and DDTs (sum of 6 DDT isomers)
Develop method to document summing method in study notes
Develop routine to check bioassay replicates against mean results
Store results from checks of import data into a “data check” table
Import start page directly into study notes
Unit conversion/standardization
Miscellaneous other tasks related to improving data conversion tools

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