Webinar: AIR Now and Air Quality System (AQS) July 13, 2011

Agenda Introductions –Sarah Swenson, EPA (facilitator) –John E. White, EPA (presenter) Format –EPA speaker (15 minutes) – overview of Air datasets –Lines are muted - submit questions as the speakers talk –Questions and Answers (15 minutes) See the website: epa.gov/appsfortheenvironment 1

Background about the Challenge Apps must use EPA data and address one of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s Seven Priorities Judged based on usefulness, innovativeness, and usability Submissions are due by September 16 Winners and runners up for Best Overall App and Best Student App, plus People’s Choice Recognition from EPA in Washington, D.C. in November Get more details at epa.gov/appsfortheenvironment 2

AIRNow Web Services Overview of Available Data Prepared by Steven A. Ludewig, Timothy S. Dye Sonoma Technology, Inc. Petaluma, CA John E. White U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Park, NC 3800

AIRNow Program Overview AIRNow is the National system for acquiring and distributing air quality observations and forecasts to the public Voluntary participation 130 federal, state, local, and tribal air quality agencies) Standardized Air Quality Index (AQI) Partnerships with national media Air quality education and outreach Emergency response (e.g., wildfires) Exceptional Event tools EnviroFlash

The Air Quality Index

7 AIRNow Web Services: Why Are They Needed? Web Services provide a way to retrieve data and information ‘on demand’ from the AIRNow system. –Forecasts –Action days –Observed data –Multiple format options including maps –Agency, reporting area, and monitoring site information Uses –Agency websites, web developer access –Local news organizations –Other agencies –Schools and researchers –Spreadsheets and other applications –The public

8 A few potential uses AIRNow Web Services

9 Where we’ve been –Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP): not as simple or clean as it sounds Progress in 2009 –A RESTful approach The future – an AIRNow Application Programming Interface (API) –Additional services, data sets, and formats useful for building applications –An easier to use, well-documented interface

10 AIRNow Web Services: A RESTful Approach Example question: “What is the current air quality forecast for my home town ZIP Code?” –URL: REST/Gateway.svc/forecastbyzipcode?key=43321E- F56Q-B612-68FBN&zipcode=95401&format=csv Looks complicated, but let’s break it down –ForecastByZIPCode = the name of this request* –Key = unique user key –ZIPCode = ZIP Code of interest –Format = payload options (CSV, JSON, KML, XML, etc.) –Optional: Date = any date of interest (defaults to the current date) *a companion service exists for observed data: ObservedByZIPCode

11 AIRNow Web Services (example) Use of ForecastByZIPCode and ObservedByZIPCode services by the EPA MyEnvironment website: and other state web sites

12 AIRNow Web Services Use of a geospatial Web Coverage Service (WCS) by Shasta County, CA: KML file

13 AIRNow Web Services ForecastByZIPCode ObservedByZIPCode ForecastsByIssueDate ActionDaysByDate Ozone24HourAQI PM25Mid24HrAQI ReportingAreaMax- AverageAQI SiteMaxAverageAQI SiteInfoByAQSCode AgencyGetSites GetReportingAreas Geospatial: WCS – point WCS – time series Coming Soon: WCS – grid WMS – mapping service Demonstration Tool

14 AIRNow Web Services – The Future AIRNow API –Expanded library of services –Additional geospatial services –More payload options –Improved standardization –Extensive documentation –Online query generator tools

15 AIRNow Web Services Thank You! Contact: Steven A. LudewigJohn E. White (707) (919)

Questions and Answers Potential topics: Questions about accessing or using AIR Now or AQS data How to submit ideas for apps Ideas for future webinars – what datasets do you want to learn about? 3

Next Steps Check out our new webinar site to catch up on any you’ve missed! Weekly webinars for the next 6 weeks – 2 PM EST –The next webinar is on Wednesday, July 20 at 2 PM eastern –Topic: EPA’s Water data! Check the website for registration info Submit your apps by September 16 Check the website for the latest news and sign up for the listserv (EPA App Developer Community) Follow us on Twitter: #greenapps us at 4

Additional Resources Apps for the Environment: epa.gov/appsfortheenvironment AIR Now – – – your questions to Air Quality System – – your questions to Other Air Data – 5