WORK ORDER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
Description:
The purpose of the NMED DWB Work Order System (WOS) is to provide an orderly and efficient means of achieving statewide compliance of water quality sampling requirements. The main goal of the system is the management of field office resources and coordination with the sample analysis capacity of the State laboratories to achieve Safe Drink Water Act compliance for water quality sampling. Additional goals of the WOS are the provision of accurate and timely water quality and sampling reports, the overall management of information within the DWB, the optimal use of sampling staff and equipment, and the organization of water sample data geographically. The system will initially focus on water systems serving less than 3300 population and will eventually expand to include systems greater than 3300 population.
Approach:
The WOS is based on an information management approach founded on the concepts of spatial analysis and relational data qualities inherent in a GIS. The loads on the sampling system are based on 1) the variable sampling requirements for the each water system, 2) the availability of the sampling staff and equipment, and, 3) the capacity of the laboratories to process the water samples. The WOS will manage and direct these loads based on the dynamics of each of these three main components. The management mechanisms will be in the form of sampling schedules, recommended sample routes, and, automatic production of sample collection forms and labels. The information flow and control will be in the form of synchronized databases between the DWB field offices and district offices, the DWB main office in Santa Fe and the State Laboratories. Data communication will be in the form of high speed digital data networks and modem connections.
Processing Requirements:
Water System Sampling
The sampling frequency and type are variable standard requirements for each of the individual water systems. Each sample frequency and type is based on the date and compliance results of a previous sample. The water sample processing quantity requirement is a function of the sampling requirements and in general are a function of the actual water quality of a given system. Each required sample needs to be specified in terms of water system name, sample type, and sample date. These water sample requirements are grouped by field office location and the requests are generated at each associated field office.
Sampling Staff And Equipment
The potentially limited availability of the sampling staff, vehicles, and other related equipment will impact the overall sampling capacity of the WOS. The system, through the use of automated routing techniques, will potentially maximize the efficiency of travel to and from water systems from field offices. The WOS will need to process the sampling schedule to determine the locations of water systems needing samples, resolve the optimal routing through the transportation network, and prevent exceeding the capacity of the sampler's hours and vehicle carrying volume.
Sample Analysis Capacity
The capacity of the laboratories to process the water samples will have a potentially restrictive effect on the total flow of water samples through the WOS. There is an upper limit to the actual number of water samples that can be accepted by the analysis laboratory. This upper limit seems, initially, to not equal or exceed the sampling requirements. A feed-back mechanism, in the form of data communication, will need to be in place to allow the WOS to effectively manage the load put upon the laboratories. This data communication will determine the quantity and type of samples the laboratory will accept, has in process, or has recently processed.
System Specifications:
Resource Management
The management mechanisms will be in the form of sampling schedules, recommended sample routes, and, automatic production of sample collection forms and labels.
Sampling Schedules
Sampling schedules will specify which systems have to be sampled, which type of tests need to be sampled for and where the sample points are. These schedules are divided into work units equal to one work day or one collection trip over multiple days, which ever is appropriate.
Recommended Sample Routes
Recommended water sample collection routes will be determined by the WOS. The system will first process the sampling schedule to determine the locations of water systems needing samples. Next, it will assign the field office as the service center for the particular water system. Then, it will resolve the optimal routing through the transportation network. The travel and sample gathering time will be examined to prevent exceeding the limited number of the sampler's hours and the number of samples will be examined to prevent exceeding the vehicle carrying volume. If the sampler's available hours are exceed, the system will verify that a multiple day trip is authorized. In the event of exceeding the carrying capacity of the vehicle, a drop-off point, such as a commercial carrier or the US Postal Service will be considered. Finally, the recommended route is plotted on a hard copy map containing the major transportation routes and the water system and collection point locations.
Automatic Production Of Water Sample Collection Forms
The DWB Information System will have the capability to automatically print the set of water sample collection forms required for each increment of work scheduled by the WOS. The collection forms will correspond to each actual sampling activity requirement.
Automatic Production Of Water Sample Container Labels
The DWB Information System will have the capability to automatically print the set of water sample container labels required for each increment of work scheduled by the WOS. The collection forms will correspond to each actual sampling activity requirement.
Information Flow and Control
The information flow and control will be in the form of synchronized data bases between the DWB field offices and district offices, the DWB main office in Santa Fe and the State Laboratories. The synchronized data will include sample frequency and type requirements, samples complete and in process, sample results, available capacity at the laboratories, and available staff and equipment at the field and district offices. Data will be synchronized in a near real-time manner between resident data bases at each site. This will allow the separate sites to operate independently and still be in compliance with the overall statewide sampling requirements and analysis capacity. As samples are required, collected, analyzed, or reported at the respective sites, the dynamic loads on the WOS will cause changes in the actual collection process.
Data Communications
Data communication will be in the form of high speed digital data networks and modem connections. These communication connections will allow the interactive and automated transfer of data between the system components including data bases and hardware. This will allow shared resources and timely reporting and quality assurance of the system-wide process.
System Data
Sample Requirements Table, Sample Results, Sampling Laboratories and Certified Personnel data bases are required System Data sets.
Base maps, Water System Inventory, and Routing Networks are examples of required GIS Data sets.
DETAILED WORK ORDER SYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS
Main WOS Components:
The following main components comprise the NMED DWB Work Order System :
Scheduling - a sub-system for sorting, selecting , and determining which water systems need to be sampled when
Routing - a sub-system for determining the optimal route for sample collection and delivery and also for producing the route maps and possibly the water system maps
Forms - a sub-system for production of the near-complete water sample collection forms for the scheduled water systems
Goals:
The following goals describe the major intended objectives of the Work Order System Routing functions:
* Optimum Routes
* Optimum Schedules
* Provide Resource Management Data (man-hours, man miles, vehicle miles, closest sampler, containers available)
* Optimize Lab Use ( water analysis, sample submission, data collection and transfer)
* Time Management for samplers (ad hoc schedules, samples pending )
* Paper Work ( i.e. data ) Automation (NMED and Labs)
Considerations:
* Currently the Gate Keepers, the local district level coordinators, meet periodically to create and/or refine portions of the annual allotment of samples, based on sample type and local area well needs, for each of NMED districts. This periodic allotment is done manually with the cooperation of all of the Gate Keepers.
* Individual Samplers may want to modify routing dynamics based on personal workload and schedules.
* Maximum lead time for each sample type, depending on shelf life of sample and sample acceptance schedules at the lab, affect the window of dates/times the samples can to be collected.
* Ac Hoc routing, mapping, bar code generation, and forms generation and completion are networked clients to Oracle / Info / GIS data servers and are affected by network and computing loads.
* Spatial order and clustering of sample sites may be important to filtering algorithms.
* Allocation and gravity models may help define optimum distribution of sampler to water systems.
* Response characteristics of network terminals and hardcopy device interfaces may effect users acceptance of the WOS.
* Water systems life cycles may help predict current and future sampling schedules. New wells might be sampled every quarter for a year. Existing wells may only be sampled once a year. "Clean" wells will be sampled less frequently then wells with excessive Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL).
* More then one sample type may be required at a given water system at any one time.
Outputs :
* Water system and water source maps,
* Sampling routes, optimized to some degree
* SLD and SWAT forms (completed )
* Oracle table updates to show sample status (i.e. scheduled, sampled, analysis requested, new water chemistry updates)
* Sampling statistics (i.e. total miles & time annually, forecasting data)
Data Requirements :
* Water system stops
* Samplers Origins And Destinations
* Transportation Network
* Spatial order and collocation data
* Lab schedules
* Sampling schedules (frequency)
* Base maps
* Oracle data, Reports interface, Forms interface
* Samplers availability
* MCL values for the water chemistry
* Sample status table
Routing Algorithm Logic Filter parameters:
* Sample due or pending (schedules)
* Lab acceptance Schedules (dates)
* Sample results ( i.e. excess MCL, re-sample frequency)
* Availability of Sampler ( leave, not available, etc. )
* Seasonal constraints (weather, mud slides)
* Individual water system access/operator availability
* Realistic "Optimum" Routes (8 hours/day etc.)
* Pony Express stops ( business hourS)
* Lab capacity (annual/quarterly)
Data Flow :
The following data connectivity and flow must exist:
- From the Sample Schedule Table and Sample Status Table to the water system selection algorithms
- From water system selection algorithms to the routing and forms generation/completion software
- From the routing software to the Sample Status Table
- From the Samplers ad hoc schedule development interface to the Sample Status Table and the routing and forms generation/completion software
- From the analysis lab data tables to the Sample Status Table
- From the Water Source Data tables to the forms generation / completion software
- From the Water System Location and Transportation Network coverages to the routing software
Sample Scheduling Algorithm PDL (program design language):
IF
the sample is due or pending
and the lab is accepting samples
and the previous sample results are < the MCL or this is the first sample
and the Sampler is available
and the weather is acceptable and the road/area is open
and the individual water system and/or operator is available
and the sampling and driving activity is less then 8 hours
and Pony Express is accessible during the sample shelf life minus transport time
and the contracted lab capacity has not been exceeded
and the Gate Keeper sample type allotment has not been exceeded
THEN Schedule this system
Hardware Requirements Summary:
* X windows terminal
* GIS engine platform
* GIS data server
* RDBMS (Oracle) server
* High speed data and session control network
* Color plotting device
* Hardcopy text printing device
Software Requirements Summary:
* GIS (ArcInfo) software with multiple seat license
* RDBMS (Oracle) software with multiple seat license
* Operating System Software (UNIX)
* Network manager (TCP/IP)
Data Dictionary:
Table : SAMPLER_LOCATION
Description : Samplers Origins And Destinations,
Type : Info Table
Fields : District/Field Office locations with Samplers
Table : NM_TRANSPORTATION
Description : Transportation Network, prototype complete
Type : ArcInfo Coverage
Fields : Length, speed, name, etc. from State Highway Department
Table : WATER_SYSTEM_STOPS
Description : Water system sampling stops, prototype complete
Type : Info Table
Fields : Location, Water System Inventory Number (WSINV), sample time
Table : WS_SPATIAL_ORDER
Description : Spatial Order And Collocation Data, prototype complete
Type : Info Table
Fields : One dimensional Spatial Order value within a samplers territory
Table : LAB_ACCEPTANCE
Description : Lab Acceptance Schedules for water system samples
Type : Oracle Table
Fields : Sample type, acceptance date
Table : SAMPLE_FREQUENCY
Description : Water Sampling Schedules (frequency tables)
Type : Oracle Table
Fields : Sample type, sample date, WSINV
Library : NM_BASE_MAPS
Table : Various
Description : New Mexico Base Maps in State Plane or Lat./Long.
Type : ArcInfo Coverage
Fields : Various depending on theme
Table : SAMPLERS_AVAILABILITY
Description : Water System Samplers daily/weekly availability
Type : Oracle Table
Fields : Samplers name, territory, availability dates
Table : WATER_MCL
Description : MCL values for the each monitored water chemistry
Type : Oracle Table
Fields : Chemical/compound, MCL
Table : SAMPLE_STATUS
Description : Water Sample Status Table
Type : Oracle Table
Fields : WSINV, sample type, Samplers name, sample date, status
Table : SAMPLE_RESULTS
Description : Analysis Lab sample results data tables
Type : Oracle Table
Fields : WSINV, Various sample results
Table : WATER_SOURCES
Description : Water Source location data table, prototype complete
Type : ArcInfo Coverage
Fields : Water Source location, WSINV
Table : WATER_SYSTEMS
Description : Water System Location data table, prototype complete
Type : ArcInfo Coverage
Fields : Water System location, WSINV