Integrating Quality Assurance and Quality Control into Open GeoSpatial Consortion Sensor Web Enablement

Finding a solution to collect, analyze, and share, in near real-time, data acquired by heterogeneous sensors, such as traffic, air pollution, soil moisture, or weather data, represents a great challenge. This paper describes the solution developed at Eurac Research to automatically upload data, in near real-time, by adopting Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) standards to guarantee interoperability. We set up a methodology capable of ingesting heterogeneous datasets to automatize observation uploading and sensor registration, with minimum interaction required of the user. This solution has been successfully tested and applied in the Long Term (Socio-)Ecological Research (LT(S)ER) Matsch-Mazia initiative, and the code is accessible under the CC BY 4.0 license.

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has conducted much work in the past on event-based models and architectures. However, the current OGC standard baseline only supports synchronous web service capabilities, which have insofar primarily addressed the request/reply model, where a client makes a request and the server usually responds synchronously, with either the requested information or a failure. Recently, the OGC Publish/Subscribe 1.0 Standard has introduced an abstract model for publish/subscribe message exchange, a long-awaited building block in the OGC suite of geospatial standards. The publish/subscribe pattern is distinguished from the request/reply one by the asynchronous delivery of messages and the ability for a client to specify an ongoing, persistent expression of interest. In this work, we report on the experimentation of the new OGC Publish/Subscribe 1.0 Standard in the context of the OGC Testbed-12 initiative and related fields of work, particularly in the application domains of Sensor Web and Aviation. We illustrate and discuss the enhancements in comparison to previous OGC service architectures, highlighting the benefits of introducing the PubSub 1.0 Standard into the considered systems and their workflows.

Key to the appropriate use of data is the knowledge of data quality. This knowledge is critical for products and decision-support tools that utilize real-time data, and it is also essential for the longer term application of data as well. Guidance by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for appraising observational data for archive states that factors favoring long-term or permanent retention include the uniqueness, completeness, and quality of observational data and the quality and completeness of metadata [1]. The National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), the designated archive center for oceanographic data in the U.S., requires that data submitted be documented to enable secondary use and ensure data posterity. Such metadata should include not only geospatial characteristics and time periods of observations, but also the collection methods, instrumentation used, units of measure, acceptable values, error tolerance, processing history, quality assessments and explanations of quality flags, data aggregation methods, and other pertinent information [2]. Providing this information in a consistent manner can be a challenge. However, an approach to capturing and conveying this metadata using community-developed practices for ocean observing system data and metadata is well underway. This paper presents methods of capturing data and provenance of data quality using the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) framework. It describes the types of metadata content captured and demonstrates the utility and significance of defining and registering terms to enable semantic, as well as syntactic, interoperability. The SWE framework provides an avenue for conveying quality flags and methods used to make assurances about the integrity of oceanographic data for real-time consumption and for potential submittal to permanent archives such as NODC.

The necessity of open standards for effective sharing and use of remote sensing continues to receive increasing emphasis in policies of agencies and projects around the world. Coordination on the development of open standards for geospatial information is a vital step to insure that the technical standards are ready to support the policy objectives. The mission of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is to advance development and use of international standards and supporting services that promote geospatial interoperability. To accomplish this mission, OGC serves as the global forum for the collaboration of geospatial data / solution providers and users. Photogrammetry and remote sensing are sources of the largest and most complex geospatial information. Some of the most mature OGC standards for remote sensing include the Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) standards, the Web Coverage Service (WCS) suite of standards, encodings such as NetCDF, GMLJP2 and GeoPackage, and the soon to be approved Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGS) standard. In collaboration with ISPRS, OGC working with government, research and industrial organizations continue to advance the state of geospatial standards for full use of photogrammetry and remote sensing.

There are two main issues stemming from Vallee’s (2002) comments on Dominy et al. (2001b). First, he raises the importance of quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) during resource estimation programs, and second, he indicates that the resolution and understanding of continuity (grade and geological) issues are paramount in the classification of resources. In particular, continuity is critical at the boundary between the Inferred and Indicated Mineral Resource categories. The original contribution agrees with the importance of these points, and the principal author offers the following discussion and clarification. Further comment is also provided on the reporting of grade uncertainty through grade ranges. It is worth remembering that vein-gold deposits (e.g., shear-zone, lode-gold, mesothermal types etc.), particularly those containing coarse gold particles (e.g., >100 μm), generally show large variations in grade and an erratic grade distribution. In most cases, diamond drilling is a good measure of geological continuity (depending on drill spacing), but a poor measure of grade and its distribution. High-nugget effect deposits rank among the most difficult deposit types in terms of producing an accurate and precise resource estimate, and clearly represent a distinct deposit type. ### Quality Assurance/Quality Control The issue of quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) during exploration, estimation/evaluation and exploitation has been at the forefront of industry perceptions since the Bre-X affair in the late 1990s. The need for QA/QC programs is paramount in any mining/minerals project (Vallee, 1998a, 1998b, 2002). Quality is a critical issue at all stages of a minerals project. For example, QA/QC of analytical and test data, and the corroboration of geological data within the resource/reserve estimation process must now be considered mandatory. Indeed, the Canadian National Instrument 43–101 requires mandatory QA/QC programs (CSA, 2001). The 1999 JORC Code does not prescribe QA/QC programs but, for example, QA/QC for sampling/assaying is …

Aim: The study based on research conducted in twelve EU countries aims to illustrate how and to what extent the quality control and assurance mechanisms, as outlined in the policy cycle for integrated border management in Europe and Frontex's operational strategy, are reflected in the regulation of border management practices in the surveyed countries. Methodology: Document and content analysis and conduct of semi-structured interviews. Findings: In the countries examined, quality control and assurance systems play a crucial role in enhancing border management and internal security. All countries prioritize ensuring that their border management systems remain operational and adaptable to the ever-evolving challenges. During inspections, self-assessments, and internal audits, countries employ various, though often similar, tools and methods aligned with European standards. Value: So far, there has been limited research in this field. The first part of the study examines the standards that regulate the development of integrated border management in the European Union, with a particular focus on provisions related to quality control and quality assurance in border management. In the second part, the authors investigated the quality control mechanisms of the national border administrations in twelve EU Member States. This analysis was conducted through documentary and content analysis, alongside semi-structured interviews with experts from the twelve countries. The findings of the research, and the conclusions drawn from them, may provide a strong basis for enhancing the effectiveness of the quality control and assurance processes within domestic border management.

This paper recommends end to end quality assurance methods and quality control tests for High Frequency Radar Networks. We focus on the network that is operated by the Mid Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS). The network currently consists of 38 radars making real-time measurements of the surface currents over the continental shelf for a variety of applications including search and rescue planning, oil spill trajectory modelling and providing a transport context for marine biodiversity observing networks. MARACOOS has been delivering surface current measurements to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) since May 2009. Data quality is important for all applications; however, since the USCG uses this surface current information to plan life-saving missions, delivery of the best quality data is crucial. We have mapped the components of the HF radar data processing chain onto the data levels presented in the NASA Earth Science Reference Handbook and have applied quality assurance and quality control techniques at each data level to achieve the highest quality data. There are approximately 400 High Frequency radars (HFRs) deployed globally and the presented techniques can provide a foundation for data quality checks and standardization of the data collected by the large number of systems operating today.

Simple SummaryStandardization of flow-cytometric assessment of minimal residual disease in acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) is necessary to allow concordant multicentric application of the methodology. This is a prerequisite for internationally collaborative trials, such as the AIEOP-BFM-ALL and the ALL IC-BFM trial. We developed and applied a comprehensive training and quality control program involving a large number of international laboratories within the I-BFM consortium to complement standardization of the methodology with an educational component as well as with persistent quality control measures to allow large ALL treatment trials which use multi-laboratory FCM-MRD assessments for risk stratification of pediatric patients with ALL.Monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) by flow cytometry (FCM) is a powerful prognostic tool for predicting outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To apply FCM-MRD in large, collaborative trials, dedicated laboratory staff must be educated to concordantly high levels of expertise and their performance quality should be continuously monitored. We sought to install a unique and comprehensive training and quality control (QC) program involving a large number of reference laboratories within the international Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (I-BFM) consortium, in order to complement the standardization of the methodology with an educational component and persistent quality control measures. Our QC and quality assurance (QA) program is based on four major cornerstones: (i) a twinning maturation program, (ii) obligatory participation in external QA programs (spiked sample send around, United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS)), (iii) regular participation in list-mode-data (LMD) file ring trials (FCM data file send arounds), and (iv) surveys of independent data derived from trial results. We demonstrate that the training of laboratories using experienced twinning partners, along with continuous educational feedback significantly improves the performance of laboratories in detecting and quantifying MRD in pediatric ALL patients. Overall, our extensive education and quality control program improved inter-laboratory concordance rates of FCM-MRD assessments and ultimately led to a very high conformity of risk estimates in independent patient cohorts.

The need for inter-laboratory comparability is crucial to facilitate the globalisation of scientific networks and the development of international databases to support scientific and criminal investigations. This article considers what lessons can be learned from a series of inter-laboratory comparison exercises organised by the Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FIRMS) network in terms of reference materials (RMs), the management of data quality, and technical limitations. The results showed that within-laboratory precision (repeatability) was generally good but between-laboratory accuracy (reproducibility) called for improvements. This review considers how stable isotope laboratories can establish a system of quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA), emphasising issues of repeatability and reproducibility. For results to be comparable between laboratories, measurements must be traceable to the international δ-scales and, because isotope ratio measurements are reported relative to standards, a key aspect is the correct selection, calibration, and use of international and in-house RMs. The authors identify four principles which promote good laboratory practice. The principle of identical treatment by which samples and RMs are processed in an identical manner and which incorporates three further principles; the principle of identical correction (by which necessary corrections are identified and evenly applied), the principle of identical scaling (by which data are shifted and stretched to the international δ-scales), and the principle of error detection by which QC and QA results are monitored and acted upon. To achieve both good repeatability and good reproducibility it is essential to obtain RMs with internationally agreed δ-values. These RMs will act as the basis for QC and can be used to calibrate further in-house QC RMs tailored to the activities of specific laboratories. In-house QA standards must also be developed to ensure that QC-based calibrations and corrections lead to accurate results for samples. The δ-values assigned to RMs must be recorded and reported with all data. Reference materials must be used to determine what corrections are necessary for measured data. Each analytical sequence of samples must include both QC and QA materials which are subject to identical treatment during measurement and data processing. Results for these materials must be plotted, monitored, and acted upon. Periodically international RMs should be analysed as an in-house proficiency test to demonstrate results are accurate.

Monitoring the environment is critical for scientists to understand the environmental dynamics. However, the traditional monitoring systems such as sensor networks are usually labor-intensive and complicated to deploy. As the concept of citizen sensing has been proposed to include volunteers into the environmental monitoring systems, a key to realize the citizen sensing vision is to empower citizens with the low-cost and easy-to-use sensing devices. In this paper, we focus on two technologies that have the potential to realize the citizen sensing vision: the Internet of Things (IoT) and the world-wide sensor web. In order to address the issues from the decentralized and heterogeneous nature of IoT devices and sensors, we propose the TinySOS service, a tiny web server hosting a light-weight profile of Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Sensor Observation Service (SOS). By hosting open standard sensor web services on the IoT devices, not only the devices become self-describable, self-contained, and interoperable, but also the collected observations are accessible via the Internet as soon as they are measured. In this case, the sensor web can provide real-time sensor data streams in a much higher spatial and temporal resolution, which consequently allows scientists to observe phenomena that were previously unobservable.

QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE — QC AND QA SYSTEMS IN JAPAN

An analysis which compares the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) systems adopted in the highway, nuclear power plant, and U.S. Navy construction areas with the traditional quality control approach used in building construction is presented. Full participation and support by the owner as well as the contractor and AE firm are required if a QA/QC system is to succeed. Process quality control, acceptance testing and quality assurance responsibilities must be clearly defined in the contract documents. The owner must audit these responsibilities. A contractor quality control plan, indicating the tasks which will be performed and the fact that QA/QC personnel are independent of project time/cost pressures should be submitted for approval. The architect must develop realistic specifications which consider the natural variability of material. Acceptance criteria based on the random sampling technique should be used.

USN(Ubiquitous Sensor Network) is a core infrastructure that u-life use to enable the realization in the ubiquitous society through various services of area such as u-city, u-Health. Therefore, we need a research for domestic standards to establish USN technique. Currently, status of USN standards is most standard and research that it is a technology for sensor node implementation and a protocol for energy-efficient communication and interlock with existing network. But, Standard and research for sensor network and integration management of heterogeneous sensor networks for USN application and sensing data management and USN database structure definition such as application and middleware is weak level. In this paper, we researched for standard development of domestic a sensor network and the relevant standard analysis to configure SWE(Sensor Web Enablement) of OGC(Open Geospatial Consortium) for standarded plattform technology. Also we researched that it`s a connection between domestic ITA(Telecommunications Technology Association) standards and SWE Standard.

The deep mixing method has been developed and applied for many kinds of purpose and objection and has been one of the essential techniques for infrastructure development in many countries and regions around the world. Though, there are large diversities of overseas techniques in the design, construction machine, construction and quality control and quality assurance, it can be said that the current DM technique has almost reached the point of completion and becomes a sort of common ground improvement technique. The recent development of computer, software and artificial intelligent technology has greatly affected the social system and culture. The deep mixing technique is not immune to them and will also be greatly affected on the design, construction and quality control and assurance. This manuscript briefly overviews the historical development and diversity of the technique and discusses its future development.

Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) from a wide range of manufacturers have difficulty interoperating with each other and common control and dissemination points. Typically, sensor data is transmitted via RF or wired connections to a central location where the data can be fused together and transmitted further via satellite to a Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED) system. These PED's are charged with analyzing the data to create real time actionable intelligence for the war fighter. However, when several disparate sensors from different manufacturers are used, interoperability problems arise. Therefore, a central UGS controller that accepts data from a wide range of sensors and helps them interoperate is essential. This paper addresses benefits derived from using the Open Geospatial Consortium's (OGC) Sensor Model Language (SensorML) sensor descriptions for an UGS controller. SensorML 1.0 is an approved OGC standard and is one of the major components within the OGC Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) suite of standards. SensorML provides standard models and an XML encoding for describing any process, including the process of measurement by sensors. By incorporating SensorML, an UGS controller can accept data from various sensors from different manufacturers, and interpret that data with the SensorML descriptions to allow the controller to take programmed actions and interoperate between sensors. Furthermore, SensorML can be used to translate the native sensor formats once the original data has been transmitted to the PED. Therefore, this makes a SensorML enabled UGS controller an extremely powerful tool that provides situational awareness by combining multiple sensors to form a single common operational picture (COP).