1. CyAir Briefing Terry Keating Tim Dye 1 and S tefan Falke 2 Steve Ludewig 1, Uma Shankar 3, Shawn McClure 4, Glynis Lough 5 1 Sonoma Technology, Inc., 2 Northrop Grumman, 3 University of North Carolina, 4 Colorado State University, and 5 Battelle Memorial Institute Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Park, NC October 6, 2010 3992

2. 2 Introduction – CyAir Effort CyAir is a project to contribute to the planning, development, maintenance and coordination of systems to help the air quality community better utilize air quality information. Funded by EPA’s Office of the Science Advisor through the Advanced Monitoring Initiative under EPA GEO

3. 3 Introduction – Data Summit Effort (2008) Method –Air quality, U.S.-focused –2-day meeting –87 people (47 from EPA) –Assessment report Findings –Need a plan/roadmap –Sustained, multi-year efforts –Connect with other efforts

4. 4 Introduction – GEOSS Effort Method –Build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) (2005-2015) –Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is coordinating efforts to build GEOSS Resources –Developing standards –Creating components –Building community

5. 5 Introduction – CyAir Effort Method –Identify gaps/problems –Develop a plan –Build out AQ Cyberinfrastructure Initial CyAir effort –Input from community –Identify gaps in infrastructure based on envisioned layout and guiding principles –Generate recommendations Focus Areas AQ Forecasting and Public Information AQ Trends and Events Analysis AQ Model Evaluation Emissions Inventory Development and Evaluation

6. 6 CyAir Methods Community input –Interviewed Data Providers (59 people) –Interviewed Data Users (48 people) Input from other efforts –Reviewed past cyberinfrasructure assessment efforts –Consulted with government technology experts

7. 7 CyAir Methods – Community Input Data ProvidersData Users

8. 8 CyAir Methods – Input from Other Efforts

9. 9 CyAir Findings Data access is not easy “too many user interfaces require knowledge of databases/coding and have limited help available” “too many one-off systems” “data archives are bulky, they take a lot of time and knowledge to access them”

10. 10 CyAir Findings No coordinated plan to achieve interoperability “not enough time to plan since things are always changing” “lack of conventions/standards is a major barrier to sharing more data more broadly.” “we need guidance on approach; it needs to be good, practical, easy” “worried about interoperability burnout”

11. 11 CyAir Findings Funding “data sharing activities get second priority” “difficult to transition projects to long-term operational, sustainable programs” “will it be reliable and around for the future” Coordination “lots of efforts, not well organized within and outside EPA” Lack of understanding “too many terms and a lack of clarity” “changing landscape and terminology”

12. 12 How Can We Make It Better?

13. 13 Usage. It’s easy to learn about, acquire, and use data, related metadata and analysis tools from many different data centers. It's easy to participate in the community infrastructure. A suite of accepted standards, methods, guidelines, code samples and utilities exist to facilitate sharing and using data/information. Conventions and best practices for commonly used data exchange standards exist to meet the needs of the air quality community. Community. A shared understanding exists within the community regarding the path to implement data sharing, methods to acquire and use data, and the benefits of participating in the community. There is an ongoing focus on education and outreach to raise awareness of these benefits. The community is buffered from rapid technology shifts and changes in organizational policy. Organizational. Agencies align funding requirements and incentives to support infrastructure development in the short term, and to promote data exchange, increase data usage by the community, and maintain the viability of the infrastructure in the long term. Organizational policies and procedures that inhibit data exchange are minimized or removed. A governance model exists allowing funding organizations and data providers to steer the implementation and operation of the Air Quality Cyberinfrastructure. The governance seeks community input with a focus on action, implementation, and long-term viability of the infrastructure. Aligned with Principles of GEOSS. Utilize the methods, protocols, and systems developed as part of GEOSS. CyAir Guiding Principles It’s easy Conventions and best practices A shared understanding exists It’s easy

14. 14 CyAir Recommendations 8 major recommendations, including: Development (1-time effort) Operations & maintenance (ongoing)

15. 15 CyAir Recommendations Develop, distribute, and update guidance and best practices Develop guidance on how to become interoperable –Small, focused team that seeks community input –Delivers guidance in 4 months Gather lessons learned after 2 years Create best practices reference document

16. 16 CyAir Recommendations Hire/designate an air quality community organizer/EPA liaison Responsibilities would include: Facilitate communications within EPA and other agencies and community groups Link groups and people Lead efforts to plan and organize conferences and workshops Report interoperability status to EPA management

17. 17 CyAir Recommendations Generate outreach and education information Create an AQ CI management briefing Create an AQ CI 101 course –Based on guidance –In-depth for program managers and developers Create and conduct AQ CI workshops –One per year on various topics –In person or virtual

18. 18 CyAir Recommendations Create a cyberinfrastructure of core air quality data systems Use guidance Start with high value systems Fund data providers to build interoperability components Require data providers to participate in educational effort and website Publish progress and status updates on the CyAir Resource Website AQS & AQS Data Mart AIRNow RSIG VIEWS EIS & NEI DataFed

19. 19 CyAir Recommendations Create a cyberinfrastructure of core air quality data systems ( continued ) After one year, review and publish status Incorporate other operational data systems within EPA and other agencies via workshop, mentor program, etc. Operate and maintain systems

20. 20 CyAir Recommendations Add cyberinfrastructure requirements to EPA contracts, grants, and procurements Add cyberinfrastructure requirements to solicitations Inform program managers of requirements Evaluate effectiveness of requirements

21. 21 CyAir Recommendations Create CyAir resource website Develop and maintain a website –CyAir information and status –Education and outreach materials –Resources (code, tools, documents) –Directory of online resources –Feedback/discussion forum Provide ongoing management, maintenance, outreach, and operation of the website

22. 22 CyAir Recommendations Provide cyberinfrastructure-building tools and resources for data providers and data users Create the following resources: –Data sharing and data access code library –Interoperability compliance validation tools –Metadata creation tools –Data discovery and catalog tools –Feedback mechanisms and guidelines

23. 23 CyAir Recommendations Develop a simple governance structure and leverage other communities Create a small, focused steering committee to direct and carry out these recommendations. Members would include: EPA and other funders with input from other groups (data providers, data users, and state/local representatives) Get input from other communities at ESIP, GEO AQCoP, Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) Work with NOAA to establish an air quality point-of-contact

24. 24 Terms AQS = Air Quality System CASTNET = Clean Air Status and Trends Network CMAQ = Community Multiscale Air Quality model EIS = Emissions Inventory System ESIP = Federation of Earth Science Information Partners GEO = Group on Earth Observations GEO CoP = GEO Air Quality Community of Practice GEOSS = Global Earth Observation System of Systems HTAP = Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollutants MADIS = Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System NACAA = National Association of Clean Air Agencies RSIG = Remote Sensing Information Gateway VIEWS = Visibility Information Exchange Web System