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Other Software

Software useful for implementing the Data Quality Objectives Process (DQO) and the Data Quality Assessment Process (DQA) is available for download at this and other EPA and DOE sites. The challenge is to find the right software, or module of a larger software package, that is useful for the particular task at hand. This is a challange because to implement the DQO and/or DQA process many different skills and areas of expertise are invoked.

Some of the DQO elements where software can be useful are:

• Decision Analysis, including decision error calculation and tracking,
• Hypothesis Testing and execution of parametric and non-parametric tests,
• Sample size calculation
• Sample design, placement of samples temporally and spatially
• Optimal search techniques applied to environmental goals
• Data analysis and assessment

Unfortunately, no single software package has all of these components. The best we can do is identify software that has pieces of what we are looking for and run the the pieces separately.

The following is a partial list of government web sites and the useful software on those sites for implementing the DQO and DQA Processes. Most of these sites allow download of an executable version of the software. There are many commercial vendors that provide useful software for implementing the DQO elements listed above. Current URLs can be found by searching the web.

This Site

• VSP

  Placement of samples spatially, sample size calculation: Visual Sample Plan (VSP).
• Sample size and sample design for finding a "hotspot" of a certain dimension: ELIPGRID-PC (download).
• Training tool for exploring relationships among decision errors, sample size, sample location, and type of contamination. SimSITE contains a simulated hazardous waste site, complete with a 1M node dataset of contamination over a 2D grid, and the related ArcView scripts to explore the dataset using alternative sampling designs and statistical tests for making decisions (i.e., contaminated vs. not contaminated) about sub-areas of the site. SimSite is a GIS-based software packaged developed for EPA by Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL). A demonstration of SimSite (link for "a demonstration of SimSite") shows its usefulness as a tool for playing "what if" games using alternative sampling designs.
• Case studies using selected software.

EPA Web Sites

• Decision error tracking and Sample size calculations: Decision Error Feasibility Trials (DEFT).
• Data analysis and assessment, execution of tests: Data Quality Assessment Statistical Toolbox (DataQUEST).
• Library of general site characterization documents and software, including software for placement of samples, data assessment, QA/QC tools, physical modelling tools, and many more. CD-ROM, Site Characterization Library, Vol. 1, Release 2.0 (EPA 600-C-98-001), Currently out of publication.
• Data analysis and assessment, database management, modelling, and sample design integrated into a Geographical Information System (GIS). Fully Integrated Environmental Location Decision Support (FIELDS).

DOE Web Sites

• Department of Energy Portal Search for software, publications, and reports. Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) and the DOE Information Bridge.

Other Sites

• University of British Columbia. Comprehensive list of power analysis software for use with statistical hypothesis testing. Sample size calculations. Power Analysis Software.
• University of Tennessee Research Corporation. Decision Analysis, data analysis, GIS and visualization. Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance (SADA).