News
New Case Study: City of Redmond — Wellhead Protection Program, EQuIS Implementation
July 29, 2010
Project Overview
The City of Redmond (City) has several water quality related programs (e.g., Groundwater Monitoring, Drinking Water, Surface Water) responsible for contributing to the protection and management of ground and surface water resources. These water quality programs (Programs) have either regulatory responsibility authorized by state or county oversight agencies or, have local authority through ordinances. Each Program has different reporting needs internally, to the public, and for meeting regulatory requirements. However, all the water quality Programs have a common need to understand the hydraulic connections between surface, storm, and groundwater. They also need to understand the potential risks to surface and groundwater resources. The primary source of risk is through contamination, however, there are also risks to the built environment, such as excessively deep foundations being inundated by groundwater. Currently, each Program collects, stores, and analyzes data independent of the other Programs to meet their basic operational and regulatory needs. However, the ability to combine data from the Programs in a centralized system would greatly enhance overall watershed management, provide significant efficiencies in reviewing/analyzing data, and help reduce risks.
Solution
In order to provide a central water quality repository, the City implemented the EQuIS Professional (Version 5.3, SQL 2000) software solution in May 2008. The EQuIS software, in conjunction with other technical software (such as ArcGIS) and some custom features, allowed the City to manage, track, store, and report water quality data at the Program level as well as provide a city-wide view of all water quality information that facilitated expanded analysis and water resource protection.
Approach
The City teamed with GeoEngineers, Inc. (GEI), an earth science and technology consulting firm, to implement the EQuIS solution. The City needed to collect historical analytical data (hardcopy reports), water level data (pressure transducers and manual measurements) and map sample locations within ArcGIS.
GEI created a path to add the historical data used through a combination of custom data entry templates and custom electronic data deliverable (EDD) formats. They also complimented the out-of-the-box capabilities of EQuIS with additional custom tools through MS Access and ArcGIS that provided the City with the means to efficiently manage and analyze the City’s data. GEI also provided a method to track the sample data back to a specific hardcopy report by adding a new bibliography table within the EQuIS framework.
Results
As a direct result of the project, the City’s ability to detect contamination and declines in the water table before a supply well is adversely impacted has dramatically improved. The City can also complete public data requests more efficiently and with greater detail than before the EQuIS system was in place.
Facts
The following lists project details as of May 2009:
- Entered analytical and spatial data from nearly 250 environmental reports.
- Approximately 130,000 water level measurements (recorded from manual measurements and data loggers) in EQuIS.
- Over 40,000 analytical records stored in EQuIS and available for analysis.
- Approximately 1,250 sampling locations that stored in EQuIS can now be easily mapped within GIS.
To download and view the case study in it’s entirety, please click here.
EarthSoft has a new Facebook page!
July 26, 2010
Be sure to follow us on our new Facebook page by clicking the “Like” button! You’ll see our status updates, with information on news, events and other exciting EarthSoft and EQuS updates (including photos!)
Northeast Regional EQuIS User Group Meeting – August 20, 2010
July 26, 2010
You are invited to join EarthSoft, NYSDEC, and Walden Associates for the first Northeast US Regional EQuIS User Group Meeting. The meeting will highlight NYSDEC’s EQuIS implementation, which features the WQX and Vapor Intrusion modules. Participants will also get a sneak preview of what’s next in EQuIS and have the opportunity to share ideas, tools, and custom applications, as well as data management success stories and challenges.
Location and Time
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Training Room 629
625 Broadway, Albany, New York
Friday, August 20, 2010
9 AM – 4 PM
Registration is required and space is limited.
Registration is Free – Register now to reserve a spot!
Snacks and lunch will be provided.
For EQuIS power users, note that the Northeast US Regional EQuIS User Group Meeting follows another opportunity: the EQuIS 5 Advanced User Workshop, August 17 – 19 at the Hotel Indigo, Albany – Latham.
EQuIS 5 Advanced User Workshop, August 17-19, 2010 in New York
July 13, 2010
The EQuIS 5 Advanced User Workshopwill be an in-depth, interactive workshop lead by EarthSoft’s Development team. The content of this workshop will be determined primarily by topics of interest expressed by participants. Rather than following a typical training agenda, attendees will be expected to submit specific questions or issues pertaining to the advanced use and/or customization of EQuIS 5.
Following successful completion of this three-day workshop, attendees will be prepared to better address the specific needs of their users. Hands-on activities targeted toward each person’s questions and interests will result in a better knowledge and understand of EQuIS 5 and how the system can more fully serve its intended purpose. The Advanced User Workshop is a great opportunity for administrators, developers, and power users to gain the expertise necessary to turn the EQuIS 5 system into a customized solution to satisfy the needs of end users. There are only 12 seats available for this exciting and insightful workshop, so register now!
Depending on participant requests, the course may cover such topics as:
Database:
- st_ tables
- Adding New Fields and Tables
- Creating Views and Functions
- Optimization Customizing EDD
Formats:
- Customizing Format Files
- Roles of .xsd, .vb, .rvf and Enumeration Files
- Implementing Business Rules
- Resolving ‘Clean Data’ Problems
Reporting:
- Aggregate and Crosstab Reporting in EZView
- Creating Active Reports
- Using Functions
Procedures Enterprise:
- Accessing Multiple Databases
- Establishing Application Level Security
- Configuring and Using Enterprise EDP
- Setting up an Enterprise Information Agent (EIA)
Requirements
Attendees will be expected to bring their own laptop computer (see the MSDN forum link for system requirements). Attendees must also have a working version of EQuIS 5 Professional installed on their laptop, as well as an understanding of EQuIS 5 applications, database administration, and architecture.
A development tool such as Visual Studio as well as Syncfusion and Infrastructures are also strongly suggested so as to be utilized during class report and form creation exercises. A list of qualified versions of each software will be distributed to each participant prior to class participation.
Cost and Registration
- Early Registration Deadline: July 17, 2010.
- Early Registration Fee: US $1,800
- Late Registration Fee: US $1,900
The Registration Fee includes expert instruction, hands-on use of EQuIS, and class notes or other training materials.
To register for the course, fill out the attached Registration form and return to us at:
- E-mail: training@earthsoft.com
- Fax: to 503-345-0212
To inquire about student prices or discounts for multiple attendees, email us at the address above.
Class Times: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Daily
Location Information: The Training facility will be located in New York. We will have more information later.
EarthSoft announces a Calgary, Alberta, Canada Open Training from August 3rd to August 5th, 2010
July 13, 2010
The training will be presented by Emily Mulford and Jennifer Rea. Emily Mulford has been a part of EarthSoft’s Help Desk and Training Team for over 2 years and has provided several training sessions across the United States. Jennifer Rea has been a member of EarthSoft’s Help Desk and Client Management teams for 9 years. Jennifer has led many EQuIS trainings and assisted in the implementation of numerous systems.
During the Training, users will gain confidence managing their environmental data efficiently using EQuIS. Trainees will also gain hands-on experience with data reporting and exporting data to widely used third party modeling and graphics programs.
The full Agenda and Registration pages may be found at the following links:
There may be modifications to the agenda up to 15 days prior to the training.
This training is open to all EQuIS clients, so please book early. Space is limited.
Discounted prices for Early Registration are available until July 20th.
Additionally, EarthSoft is hosting a User Group Meeting in Calgary, Alberta on August 6th, 2010.
The agenda and registration pages for the User Group Meeting will be posted to the EarthSoft website and Community Center soon.
EarthSoft is Excited to Announce New Online Training Courses!
July 8, 2010
EQuIS Online Training Classes have been designed to help you develop the skills and techniques necessary to manage and analyze environmental data using EQuIS, EarthSoft’s Environmental Quality Information System.
EQuIS Training attendees gain hands-on experience working with environmental, geologic and analytical chemistry data.
Attendees learn how to use EQuIS Professional with industry-standard reporting, visualization and analysis tools – such as Microsoft Excel, LogPlot, EnviroInsite, RockWorks, GMS, EVS, Surfer, Google Earth and other packages.
Additionally, a site characterization exercise gives users experience accessing data in the ArcView GIS spatial environment. Automation and web techniques are covered using EQuIS Enterprise.
Want to hear more?
Contact us at training@earthsoft.com or 503-345-0212 or visit our EQuIS Online Training Course List and Registration Form for complete details and to register for classes!
EnviroInsite Data Sheet Added to Products Page
June 30, 2010
Please visit the EnviroInsite product page to download the full data sheet.
EQuIS for ArcGIS & ArcGIS Server Supports ArcGIS 10
June 30, 2010
EarthSoft announced today support for ArcGIS 10 for the EQuIS for ArcGIS extension for ESRI’s ArcMap and ArcScene 3D Analyst applications and ArcGIS Server. In addition to supporting all of the existing EQuIS for ArcGIS features on the ArcGIS 10 platform, the next release of EQuIS (v5.5) will support these new ArcGIS 10-specific features:
ArcGIS 10 Time-Aware Layers
- The EQuIS EZView LayerBuilder creates time-aware layers – using the new ArcGIS 10 time slider control for creating temporal animations
ArcGIS 10 BaseMap and Templates
- Support for the new ArcGIS 10 locations for styles and map templates
- The Springfield tutorial site now includes ArcGIS 10 map template documents using the new basemap layers concept
ArcGIS 10 Metadata
- In addition to writing FGDC metadata for ArcGIS 9.3 users, EarthSoft supports the new ArcGIS 10 metadata description and updated the custom ‘Metadata’ layer properties tab using the new ArcGIS 10 styles
ArcGIS 10 User Interface
- 3D Preview Window for visualizing and interacting with a 3D scene of your layers in ArcMap
- Automatic setup of the Default Geodatabase when new EQuIS layers are added to documents
ArcGIS 10 Query Layers
- EQuIS EZView now supports creating ArcGIS 10 Query Layers – this creates ArcGIS layers with a live connection to EQuIS databases without any of the limitations with previous versions of ArcGIS
EQuIS for ArcGIS Server integrates the latest and most powerful ArcGIS Server web GIS tools with the EQuIS Enterprise EZView, making it easy to share mapping services and applications across the web. Web map viewers can build queries and generate graphs, charts, tables, crosstabs, statistics, graphics and other EZView exports, with intuitive web mapping and services tailored to the specific audience.
Combined with EarthSoft’s sophisticated EQuIS for ArcGIS module, these two EarthSoft modules extend ESRI’s product line with decision support and data analysis schemas and applications focused on groundwater, limnology, hydrology, geotechnical and other environmental and sample data management markets. EQuIS database schemas and EZView Pick Lists are available to the ESRI GIS users for vapor air, landfill gas, discharge water and other very specific sample types and markets tied to environmental and geotechnical samples.
EQuIS for ArcGIS Server demonstration videos are available at EarthSoft’s Community Center and their YouTube channel – http://community.earthsoft.com/ and www.youtube.com/earthsoft.
EarthSoft Part of PROTECT Project in Puerto Rico
June 24, 2010
EarthSoft is participating in the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT), a NIEHS SRP P42 Research Program. Click here for a project overview and more information regarding this initiative.
EQuIS Mentioned in ArcUser Magazine Article about Barrick Gold
June 23, 2010
EQuIS mentioned in ArcUser Magazine article about Barrick Gold, “Organizing a Century of Data — Spatial data infrastructure created by world’s leading gold company.”
Quote: “Future work will include incorporating spatial data stored in other repositories, such as acQuire from acQuire Technology Solutions for geochemical and drilling data and EQuIS from ESRI business partner EarthSoft for environmental data.”
Click here to read the entire article online.
