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EPA’s QA Protocol/Handbook

Optical Remote Sensing

Dennis K. Mikel

EPA-Office of Air Quality, Planning and Standards

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Outline

• Strategy

• What’s in There?

• Chapter Description• What do I need from you!!

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What do we mean by Remote Sensing?

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Strategy For several years, Industry, Researchers and State/Local/Federal agencies have been requesting EPA guidance

EPA hosted several international workshops on Remote Sensing

Recommended guidance

Create a new Handbook: Volume VI!

Create a comprehensive, but living document!!

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What’s in there? All kinds of stuff!!!

• Instrument Descriptions• Method Descriptions• QA and QC • Data Validation• and….

• Wisdom!!!

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Chapter 1 - Introduction

• Purpose

• Evolution and Updates

• EPA Quality System Summary

Range, Sensitivity, Measurement Errors and Uncertainty

Selecting the Right Tool for Program Objectives

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Chapter 2 – Instrument Description

LIDAR Systems

Thermal Imaging Cameras

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Chapter 3 – Measurement Approaches

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Chapter 4/5 - Ancillary Data

• Meteorological Measurements

•Collection and Extrapolation

•Data Validation and Verification

•Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs)

• Method Protocols

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Timeline

• OAQPS – requested 2010 fiscal year funds

• Work Assignment in Progress

• Section 1 and 2 are currently being written

• Section 3 will commence this summer

• Sections 4 and 5 this fall

First Draft must be finished by December 2010

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What I need from you!

As forecasters:

What do you need?

How can this document help you?

What information is critical for you to complete your mission?

Let’s Talk!!!

Mikel.dennisk@epa.gov