Why use ESdat for your Environmental and Groundwater Data?
Single data repository and standard data format
Historically, data is often spread around in multiple files, directories, and file formats. This can make it difficult to
obtain all site/project data, and understand how it all ties together.
ESdat consolidates all data into a single database, making it easy to locate,
and consistent in it's arrangement.
Efficiency
Most organizations receive the majority of their environmental data from
consistent sources on an ongoing basis (i.e. laboratories or the field), and
perform the same checks on that data each time; these might include:
- QA Checks
- against what is expected in terms of completeness
- for any sampling issues (i.e. RPD values for duplicates, detects in blanks)
- for any laboratory issues (i.e. holding times, ionic balance, surrogate
recoveries)
- Produce a Chemistry Exceedance Table,
- typically in Excel, in a custom branded format.
- highlight exceedances of environmental standards.
- Analyze the data in terms of time-series graphs, complete a trend analysis, or
view data on a map.
ESdat automates all these tasks, eliminating the time required to do it
manually and allowing professionals to focus on assessing the data, rather than
cutting and pasting. In a recent survey most users saved over 40% of their
office time working with their data (see User Survey).
Accuracy
Excel based methods of data management involve extensive cutting and pasting of
data. Cutting and pasting of data is usually tedious and errors inevitably
creep in. Often multiple copies of the data are needed to produce map,
graph and table outputs.
ESdat can import laboratory data automatically, eliminating the need to
manually manipulate the data. Field data can be manually entered or
automatically downloaded from a PDA.
Combining new data is easy.
Traditionally, whenever additional data is received it is necessary to update two or three copies of existing data, such as tables, graphs
or maps. This is error prone and the multiple copies of the data lead to
possible inconsistencies.
ESdat combines all data into a single database, and outputs are easily
re-generated or updated automatically.
Easy to share data among users/organizations
Within any single team there is typically a variety of methods used to manage
environmental data, which reflects each individuals skill levels in Excel or
Access. Thus, sharing of data between team members is usually time
consuming and imperfect as people need to learn how to find and use data managed
by others.
If all data is stored in ESdat people know where to find it, and how to use it.
Regulatory and Standards Compliance
Many site holders have a regulatory obligation to be able to access their
environmental data quickly, easily, accurately, and demonstrate an audit process
to confirm the accuracy of that data. ISO 14001 also requires
organizations to have systems in place to manage their data. Clearly,
copying and pasting data in Excel is not consistent with those obligations.
ESdat can store a complete audit trail of the data, including Certified
Laboratory, Calibration, or other certificates, as well as track edits and
deletions through the Change Tracker. The data is quick to access and
present in required formats.
