In a time when all companies and agencies are focusing on efficiency and cost effectiveness, it is important to note that cost savings of 50% or more can be documented resulting from more efficient data management and tools on environmental projects.

This course follows a project through the data management process from planning sampling events, field management, managing lab and field data, selecting data for output, and final data use. Attendees will pay particular attention to the specific problems of managing laboratory data, as well as to issues related to managing various types of water, soil, air, and related data.

Attendees will learn:

• How to determine the best overall approach to data management.
• Economic analysis of data management approaches.
• How to plan a sample event to maximize quality and efficiency.
• How preparation in the office can improve activities in the field.
• How to work with laboratories to get quality data in a format that can easily be managed, while minimizing cost.
• How to maximize the quality during the import and checking process while minimizing time spent.
• Handling environmental data problems like non-detects, other flagged data, multiple dilutions, results by multiple methods, extracted results, and many others.
• Data management issues specific to different types of environmental data, such as different matrices and different analyte types.
• Maintaining quality through data selection and display.
• Types of output formats and related issues - reports, graphs, maps, and exports.
• How improved output can contribute to overall project success.

Intended Audience: This course is intended for people who need to manage environmental quality data for various types of environmental projects. It is also for managers who oversee this type of work, or people who need to make financial and staffing decisions about data management projects. It is appropriate for people working on public and private sector projects such as site investigation, remediation, and monitoring; water supply, wastewater and municipal solid waste projects; and other project types involving laboratory and field data.

Course Materials: Attendees will receive a binder containing workshop proceedings and reference material.

Please review what to bring!

Continuing Education Units: 1.3 CEUs

Reduced tuition is available to employees of Native American tribes, government agencies, and nonprofits; students; and NAEP, NEBC, NWAEP members. You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at 425-270-3274.

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.