1. A Streamlined Approach to Data Management with EQuIS
Dan McCarthy, Valerie Kull
Imagine the result

2. Presenter Bio M. A. Geophysics, B. S. in Mathematics and Physics
6 years at ARCADIS, 19 years as a consultant
Currently Sub-discipline Lead for Data Management and Reporting in U.S.
Based in Newtown, Pennsylvania office
Presenter Bio

3. Outline of Presentation
Brief Overview of EQuIS footprint at ARCADIS US
Our Information Management Philosophy and how EQuIS fits in
Gap Analysis and Solutions
Data Collection
Document Management
Data Validation/Verification
Reporting
Case Study

5. EQuIS Footprint Using EQuIS since 1997, EQuIS 5 since 2008.
EQuIS 5 sits on a 2-blade SQL Server 2008 R2 cluster
EQuIS Enterprise highly leveraged for loading data (80-90%) and reporting by main staff
EQuIS Pro for data management staff
SPLA in very limited use
EQuIS Footprint
Database Statistics (as of 4/23/2012)
Total Facilities
940
Total Results
14,106,403
Total Enterprise Users
197
Total Power users 38
Total SSRS Users
2,600
Facilities using validation form 60

6. A successful Information Management (IM) strategy is at the core of every successful project.
IM is a key area for quality, efficiency and cost saving improvements.
A streamlined flow of data to and from a database best supports quality, efficiency and cost savings.
How does EQuIS fit into this?
What’s our philosophy?

8. EQuIS Schema
We believe that the EQuIS database schema is the critical part of the equation.
Because data in the EQuIS database can be accessed by several methods, add-ins and customizations are more easily integrated, and so can be more streamlined.
Changes to the database schema have to be modular to allow for upgrades from EarthSoft and have to make business sense.

9. Gap Analysis
We did a gap analysis and identified four areas for improvements
Data Collection from the field
Document management
Validation/Verification
Project-level Summary reporting

10. Focuses on building and deploying tools for field staff to record the data at the point of collection
Spatial and Non-Spatial Data Collection
Produce paper field forms
Make data available for use in other IM tools.
Data Collection

11. EDGE Solution Electronic Data Gathering Environment (EDGE)
Ruggedized field equipment
Database on an ARCADIS server
Desktop connection to server to support development and data review
Internet to transfer data
Standard applications
Custom-built applications for specialty services
EDGE Solution

12. Example Output

13. Business case for EDGE 1021 boreholes drilled in 7 months
2050 analytical samples collected
Stored and tracked field photos
0.75 hours spent per log produced
Traditionally 1-3 hours are spent per log
Includes field support, data quality checking, draft and finalized logs
Based on lessons learned future projects could expect 0.4 to 0.5 hours per log

14. Document Management – The Challenge
Problem
What did we do?
The tools available in EQuIS just generate data files for LogPlot. Compiling the logs requires manual intervention – inefficient for this scale. We needed a way to batch generate boring logs and well construction logs efficiently.
We wrote a EQuIS plugin that allows us to batch compile LogPlot logs and upload the completed logs with metadata to our Project Portal solution (SharePoint).

15. LogPlot Compiler

16. Validation/Verification - The Challenge
Problem
What did we do?
ARCADIS was an early adopter of DQM (for EQuIS 3) and ADR. ADR is not currently in use due to differences between ADR and common project workflow. The most streamlined approach is to enter qualifiers directly into EQuIS. Pro offers too much access to the database and is a significant cost burden and learning curve for project chemists.
We designed a webform in ASP.NET that leverages Enterprise login credentials. We extended the schema to allow rollback to unvalidated state. We automated the qualifier transfer. We developed a report to be included with a data validation summary report.

17. Validation Form

18. Project-level Summary reporting – The Challenge
Problem
What did we do?
A Project team needed a high-level status summary. Although it includes information stored in EQuIS, the format was not covered by the existing report library. It needed to include pie charts and a tabular summary. Since data is in constant flux, regenerating data and graphics must be automatic.
We leveraged SSRS and a custom stored procedure to query, format and deliver these reports.

19. Project Summary Report Screenshot

20. Case Study
We were asked to develop a solution that allowed us to collect, manage and report remediation system data for a large portfolio in the US.
Systems in play at the moment are Air Sparging, Soil Vapor Extraction, Multi-Phase Extraction. Other treatment options are coming on line shortly.

21. Case Study – O&M - Challenges
Problem
What did we do?
Every system is different. There was significant pressure to design custom application for each system. Some of the data to be collected didn’t really fit into the EQuIS standard schema. One requirement was complex reports with calculated fields.
We came up with a consistent approach to inconsistent designs with respect to the data model. The tool combines data collection/verification with EDGE, management/validation with EQuIS and reporting with SSRS.

22. EDGE O&M – Task Management

23. EDGE O&M – System collection points

24. EDGE O&M – Collection Point Data

25. EDGE O&M - Reporting

26. EDGE O&M – System Performance Reports

27. Summary No data management system is perfect right out of the box.
Adaptability is key to streamlining. Both the project team and the data flow must be able to respond to changing conditions.
EarthSoft’s approach to their schema allows us to integrate customizations which streamline the data flow.
Additionally, opportunities like the Advanced User Training have allowed us to develop tools like these. EarthSoft staff have also been receptive to our ideas about their products.
Summary
Not all field procedures may currently be the most efficient.

28. April 20, 2017
Imagine the result