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Project and Data Request Overview

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Terms & Definitions

  1. Western Air Quality Study (WAQS).
  2. Western Air Quality Data Warehouse (WAQDW) or DW.
  3. Project - A grouping of one or more data requests in the WAQDW system.
  4. Data Request - A request for data WAQS data submitted to the WAQDW.
  5. Project Steward - The individual responsible for overseeing projects and data requests through their life cycle in the WAQDW.

Links

  1. Data Request Procedure - A help page that describes how to submit a data request on the DW website.
  2. Projects Overview - The starting point on the WSDW web site for managing and creating projects.
  3. Data Request - A direct link to the WSDW data request form. Users can browse WAQS modeling platforms and other data, and submit data requests.
  4. Data Use Agreement - The document that accompanies each request for data from the WSWD.

Initiating Data Requests

There are two pathways that users can follow to request modeling platforms and other data from the WAQDW: One, via the Projects page, or Two, by submitting a Direct Data Request (see links #2 and #3 above).

Start a new Project

The "Project" path is the preferred approach to obtain WAQS modeling platforms for use in NEPA modeling studies. To initiate a new project, users must be registered on the WAQDW website, and have a "Project Manager" role. Project Managers act as "Stewards" for projects in the WSDW. When a project is created, the Steward agrees to provide basic oversight in a liaison role for the proposed data request and project execution, including the intended use of the modeling data requested from the WAQDW. The Steward can designate DW and regional modeling Team members to be associated with the project. Team members can submit data requests to the WAQDW under the authority of the Project Steward.

Submit a Direct Data Request

This avenue allows general users to initiate and submit data requests to the WAQDW. This is the recommend track for individuals who are affiliated with universities, agencies outside the purview of the WAQS Cooperators, or other interested parties, to request data. Direct data requests will be sent to the WAQS Team for approval. If the data request is approved a new project will be created in the WAQDW, and the request will become part of that project. The requestor will identify a Sponsor, who will be contacted by the WAQDW Team to determine an appropriate Project Steward as part of the data request approval process.

Criteria for Data Request Approval

Data Selection

In order to be approved, data requests must specify the files that are being requested from the WAQDW and the requestor must provide information and documentation about the application of WAQDW data. Use the data browser in the data request form to view available modeling platforms and supporting data. If certain files are not available, the will be flagged as UNAVAILABLE in the left hand panel of the data browser. Requests for unavailable data can be submitted, however such requests will not be approved until the data have undergone final review by the WAQS Cooperators and the data are made available on the WAQDW.

Basic Parameters and Supporting Metadata

In order to be approved, each data request must include basic parameters; for example, the name of requestor, the name of a sponsor, the intended use of data being requested, acceptance of the data use agreement, and other details specified on the data request form. Users providing complete and sufficient supporting information for each data request will expedite processing by the DW team. To give an idea of the type of information and level of detail we are looking for, we have provided examples of supporting documentation from previous WAQDW data requests. Please refer to these examples as a guide when you submit supporting documentation with a data request to the WAQDW.
  1. pdf Routes to Sustainability for Natural Gas Development and Water and Air Resources in the Rocky Mountain Region
  2. pdf Routes to Sustainability for Natural Gas Development and Water and Air Resources in the Rocky Mountain Region: Sensitivity Analysis
  3. pdf Origin of the Reactive Nitrogen in the Greater Yellowstone Area
  4. pdf Work Plan: Modeled Air Quality and Human Health Impacts of Proposed Methane Controls on Oil and Gas Production Activities in the Western U.S.

Project Steward

All WAQDW projects must have an accompanying Project Steward. The Project Stewards are a small group of expert technical and program staff representing the WAQS Cooperating Agencies sponsoring and overseeing the DW and associated regional modeling efforts. Stewards usher data requests through the approval process, and oversee projects through their life cycle in the WAQDW. The Project Steward's role in each data request is straight forward; they agree to act as a technical liaison for individual projects. The Project Steward has a broad role in the overall life cycle of a project; designating Team Members to support the data request, tracking and understanding the results from the modeling studies applying WAQDW data, ongoing communication with the data requestor contact(s), and tracking and facilitating the return of modeling data resulting from the application of the data request data - to the WAQDW upon completion of the modeling study.


Project Stewards are determined by the WAQS Cooperating Agencies, and are also active in the WAQS Technical Committee. Cooperating agencies include, but are not limited to, the EPA, BLM, NPS, US Forest Service, and the States of CO, NM, WY, and UT who sponsor and oversee WAQS.

Data Use Agreement

In order for data requests to be approved, the data requestor must agree to the terms specified in the WAQDW Data Use Agreement. A Data Use Agreement accompanies each data request submitted to the WAQDW. The agreement establishes the terms and conditions under which the Recipient will access, copy, use, and attribute data provided by the WAQDW; as well as reporting study results back to the DW. By agreeing to the Data Use Agreement the Recipient enters into a legally binding agreement with the WAQS Cooperators, where Parties to and terms are defined in the text of the agreement. (See the Data Use Agreement in the "Links" Section, above.)

Completion of the Project associated with the Data Request

A significant scientific and technical goal of the WAQDW is to use and provide the best available data for regional air quality studies and planning. In order to address that goal, the data requestor agrees to send new data results based on studies using DW-provided data, back to the DW for storage, cataloguing, and application.