EPA's Interoperable Watersheds Network: A New Approach for Publishing Continuous Monitoring Data
Data Management and Review
Oral Presentation
Prepared by
Contact Information: young.dwane@epa.gov; 202-566-1214
ABSTRACT
Water quality agencies at many levels (local, state and national) deploy water quality sensors and collect continuous data. Some agencies already make their data available publicly via web services. However, unless these data providers and available datasets are known to the individual seeking data, this information can be difficult to discover and access. The purpose of EPA’s Watersheds-based Monitoring and Interoperable Data Platforms project was to pilot the development of a centralized catalog for discovering sensor data. This could provide a single portal, where participants could register their sensors, and be included in data searches based on parameters collected or geographic attributes.
The project centered around three main components:
• Developing a metadata catalog and associated web services.
• Aiding identified partner agencies in making data from their deployed sensors available through web services.
• Building a web-based data discovery tool that illustrates the capabilities of the catalog and services.
This project was initiated as part of EPA’s E-Enterprise initiative which is a transformative 21st century strategy to modernize how government agencies deliver environmental protection. The states, EPA, and tribes are collaboratively streamlining business processes across agencies and programs. These changes will improve environmental results and enhance services to the regulated community and the public by making government more efficient and effective. This project is a key component of the E-Enterprise strategy in that it is a step towards standardizing data collected using advanced monitoring techniques which will improve the efficiency in which EPA, states, and tribes are able to conduct business and provide the public with a more transparent view of water quality and water quantity.
Data Management and Review
Oral Presentation
Prepared by
Contact Information: young.dwane@epa.gov; 202-566-1214
ABSTRACT
Water quality agencies at many levels (local, state and national) deploy water quality sensors and collect continuous data. Some agencies already make their data available publicly via web services. However, unless these data providers and available datasets are known to the individual seeking data, this information can be difficult to discover and access. The purpose of EPA’s Watersheds-based Monitoring and Interoperable Data Platforms project was to pilot the development of a centralized catalog for discovering sensor data. This could provide a single portal, where participants could register their sensors, and be included in data searches based on parameters collected or geographic attributes.
The project centered around three main components:
• Developing a metadata catalog and associated web services.
• Aiding identified partner agencies in making data from their deployed sensors available through web services.
• Building a web-based data discovery tool that illustrates the capabilities of the catalog and services.
This project was initiated as part of EPA’s E-Enterprise initiative which is a transformative 21st century strategy to modernize how government agencies deliver environmental protection. The states, EPA, and tribes are collaboratively streamlining business processes across agencies and programs. These changes will improve environmental results and enhance services to the regulated community and the public by making government more efficient and effective. This project is a key component of the E-Enterprise strategy in that it is a step towards standardizing data collected using advanced monitoring techniques which will improve the efficiency in which EPA, states, and tribes are able to conduct business and provide the public with a more transparent view of water quality and water quantity.
