2009 A Year of AIRNow Changes and Milestones

2009: A Year of AIRNow Changes and Milestones Prepared by John E. White, Phillip G. Dickerson, and Scott A. Jackson U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Park, NC Alan C. Chan, Patrick H. Zahn, Jessica A. Johnson, and Dianne S. Miller AIRNow Data Management Center Sonoma Technology, Inc. Petaluma, CA Presented at the 2010 National Air Quality Conferences Raleigh, NC March 15 -18, 2010 3804

Outline • • • Introduction AIRNow migration New AIRNow maps AIRNow. gov changes Social networking New web services Enviro. Flash Forecasting training videos AIRNow-International New data format What’s on the horizon? 2

Introduction Since its inception over 10 years ago, AIRNow has evolved continuously. Over the past year, several changes have occurred. • An overhaul of the system architecture including new mapping and data software • A new layout for AIRNow. gov • Several new web services • Enviro. Flash upgrades 3

AIRNow Migration Overhauled system architecture • New SQL database • New software programs for the management of real-time and historical air quality data – Data Management System (DMS): ingest, quality control, and validate real-time air quality data – Information Management System (IMS): generate maps and files, exchange data through web services 4

New AIRNow Maps • Interpolated maps of air quality forecasts and observations at national, regional, and local scales • Maps update automatically as new data or forecasts are received Forecasts: Observations: 5

AIRNow. gov Changes • Easier navigation to local air quality conditions and forecasts • Improved air quality maps— forecasts, observations, and animations old website new website 6

Social Networking Twitter: http: //twitter. com/airnow Facebook: http: //www. facebook. com/airnow 7

AIRNow Web Services (1 of 2) • • Forecast. By. ZIPCode (new) Observed. By. ZIPCode (new) • Site. Info. By. AQSCode • Agency. Get. Sites Forecasts. By. Issue. Date Action. Days. By. Date Ozone 24 Hour. AQI PM 25 Mid 24 Hr. AQI Reporting. Area. Max-Average. AQI Site. Max. Average. AQI • Get. Reporting. Areas Geospatial: (new) • WCS – point • WCS – time series • WCS – grid 8

AIRNow Web Services (2 of 2) 9

Enviro. Flash Upgrades • • • Sign-up page Web page customization Twitter functionality Real-time alerts RSS feeds 10

Enviro. Flash Growth During the past year • Number of subscribers have grown from 21, 168 to 132, 465—an increase of over 600% • Number of participating agencies have grown from 54 to 82 11

Forecasting Training Videos (1 of 2) • Video courses with annotated graphics, examples, and explanations • Topics include basic principles of meteorology and the processes that control air quality 12

Forecasting Training Videos (2 of 2) Available on the AIRNow-Tech resources web page http: //www. airnowtech. org/resources. cfm 13

AIRNow-International (1 of 2) • Goals – Exchange environmental data internationally – Make advances in air quality knowledge and applications – Build a community of people and organizations • Uses DMS/IMS software • Currently running at the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center for the 2010 World Expo 14

AIRNow-International (2 of 2) 15

New Data Format: AQCSV (1 of 2) Supports • • • AQS standards (parameter codes, POC) Any AQS parameters Speciated/lab data Mobile monitors data (changing location) International data Allows for • • Bulk data updates Easy encoding and parsing of data (Excel) Future ingest of AQS data into AIRNow Data exchange 16

New Data Format: AQCSV (2 of 2) Expanded AIRNow data set • Backfilled with AQS data • Support for AQS parameters Expanded data delivery options • AQCSV • XML data exchange node Implementation • Work with vendors to add support for AQCSV • Need to update software • OBS file format will be phased out January 1, 2011 17

What’s on the Horizon? • Improving mapping techniques (data fusion) • Additional forecast cities (National Park Service) • Real-time air quality alerts from Enviro. Flash • Incorporating AQS data into AIRNow-Tech • Expand AIRNow International to include additional countries • Other new features? Future releases of IMS/DMS? 18