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Web ServicesWeb ServicesUSGS/EPA USGS/EPA

CollaborationCollaboration

November 27, 2007November 27, 2007

Dwane Young, U.S. EPADwane Young, U.S. EPANate Booth, USGSNate Booth, USGS

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USGS NWIS* & STORET Over TimeUSGS NWIS* & STORET Over Time

1999: Modern STORET

2003:USGS / EPAAgreement 2007:

Water-QualityData Exchange

1960s: NWPCA(WATSTORE)

NWIS*

LegacySTORET

Data copied from NWIS to STORET

1972EPA created

* USGS National Water Information System

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Why Now?Why Now?

Business: Business: Water-quality data standards (NWQMC)Water-quality data standards (NWQMC) Move towards monitoring network partnershipsMove towards monitoring network partnerships

Technical: Technical: Industry move towards data and process Industry move towards data and process

sharingsharing Technology standardsTechnology standards

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OverviewOverview

EPA and USGS are working together to EPA and USGS are working together to develop a commons suite of web servicesdevelop a commons suite of web services

These services will allow for sharing of These services will allow for sharing of water monitoring data via a common water monitoring data via a common format and common terminologyformat and common terminology

The initial project is underway, and the The initial project is underway, and the new web services are now available, some new web services are now available, some work remains to accommodate WQX 2.0 work remains to accommodate WQX 2.0 and to ensure final compatibilityand to ensure final compatibility

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What is a Web Service?What is a Web Service?

USGS

EPA

Internet (XML)

•Computer-to-computer

•Uses Input parameters and outputs XML

•Can be used in multiple ways by many applications

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A common web service A common web service exampleexample

Input Parameter: Zip Code

Weather Network

Returns XML

Weatherbug translates XML into information for the task bar

Weatherbug is an example that many are familiar with

This is all done via a Web Service

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An example using Monitoring DataAn example using Monitoring Data

88

NWIS Water-Quality Web ServicesNWIS Water-Quality Web Services

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XML XMLXML XML

1010

XML XLSXML XLS

1111

XML Google Earth (KML)XML Google Earth (KML)

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What Web Services are planned?What Web Services are planned?

Four core services are being developed:Four core services are being developed: Stations service Stations service – – provides specific station provides specific station

informationinformation Results service Results service – – provides results for modeling, provides results for modeling,

analysis, and decision makinganalysis, and decision making Watershed/Station Catalog service Watershed/Station Catalog service – –

provides summary information on what data are provides summary information on what data are availableavailable

Project Catalog service Project Catalog service – – provides summary provides summary information by projects based on an input of min/max information by projects based on an input of min/max latitude/longitudelatitude/longitude

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So What?So What?

Web Services allow for more accessibility Web Services allow for more accessibility to the data. You are no longer limited to to the data. You are no longer limited to EPA or USGS interfaces for interacting EPA or USGS interfaces for interacting with the data.with the data.

Web Services makes a STORET/NWIS Web Services makes a STORET/NWIS collaboration possible.collaboration possible.

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So What? (cont’d)So What? (cont’d)

Web services can:Web services can: potentially serve as feeds for other state potentially serve as feeds for other state

reporting or analysis databasesreporting or analysis databases provide a commonly formatted dataset for provide a commonly formatted dataset for

data analysis and modelingdata analysis and modeling serve as the backbone for project data serve as the backbone for project data

applications (mashups)applications (mashups)

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A Theoretical ApplicationA Theoretical Application

A user zooms into an area of interest

The Stations Web Service returns the list of stations with lat/longs for that area of interest

The Application draws the stations on the map and then callsthe catalog web service to get summary information

The Application also calls the Projects catalog web service so that it can display project summary information

The user can then interact with the data, retrieving data by:StationDate RangeChemical Nameetc.

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STORET/NWIS CollaborationSTORET/NWIS Collaboration

A USGS/EPA workgroup has been formed A USGS/EPA workgroup has been formed to work through collaboration issues:to work through collaboration issues: Mapping the Parameter Codes to EPA’s Mapping the Parameter Codes to EPA’s

Substance Registry SystemSubstance Registry System Defining common site characteristics and Defining common site characteristics and

sample mediasample media Identifying a common schema (based on Identifying a common schema (based on

WQX)WQX) Developing common web services with Developing common web services with

common input parameterscommon input parameters

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ScheduleSchedule

EPA services are now available and EPA services are now available and USGS services are in testingUSGS services are in testing

Some final work needs to be done to Some final work needs to be done to ensure final compatibilityensure final compatibility

Expect full implementation by early next Expect full implementation by early next yearyear

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What’s Next?What’s Next?

A common portal for interacting with these A common portal for interacting with these services will need to be developedservices will need to be developed

Expanding the net:Expanding the net: These methodologies could grow beyond the These methodologies could grow beyond the

current collaboration, and potentially include:current collaboration, and potentially include:• Sharing data with other countries (Canada, Sharing data with other countries (Canada,

Mexico)Mexico)• NOAANOAA• Army Corps of EngineersArmy Corps of Engineers• National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation• Other EPA offices running monitoring operations Other EPA offices running monitoring operations

(Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay)(Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay)

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What’s Next? (cont’d)What’s Next? (cont’d)

Define a common spatial framework:Define a common spatial framework: Streams: NHDStreams: NHD Groundwater: AquiferGroundwater: Aquifer

Choose a common methods dictionary (NEMI)Choose a common methods dictionary (NEMI) Expand schema to better describe suspended Expand schema to better describe suspended

sediment and groundwater datasediment and groundwater data Deal with duplicated dataDeal with duplicated data USGS considering Exchange Network node USGS considering Exchange Network node

(2.0)(2.0) USGS “closing loop” with faster data refreshUSGS “closing loop” with faster data refresh Other USGS web services: Daily, Unit valuesOther USGS web services: Daily, Unit values

2020

Q&AQ&A