Environmetrics of the Gasifier-in-Industry program. III. Decision-support systems for quality-assurance controls. Environmental Sciences Division publication No. 1637

Environmental research involved in the assessment of new coal conversion technologies must evaluate many biological, physical, and chemical variables to determine environmental acceptability. Inherent in these studies is the use of quality assurance controls to evaluate data-base entries, analytical procedures, and program productivity. However, quality assurance controls implemented at the project level are seldom known in detail or evaluated when making resource management decisions at the program level. We describe a computer-based decision support system that assists in management level integration of complex environmental research. A subsection of the system documents quality assurance controls used in specific research programs. For each analysis/procedure, the decision support system provides appropriate information on the following: technique (including references), instrument design/model, upper-lower detection limits, instrument precision, analytical precision, sampling methodologies and frequencies, sampling precision, specifics of quality assurance controls, EPA/RCRA standards for ambient concentrations or rates, and other site related information. By interfacing the decision support system with the research data base management system, more appropriate statistical measures can be formulated to provide decision support functions for generic evaluations.