NJDEP Beach Monitoring System

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

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NJ Beach Monitoring System

• System allows local coordinators to upload sampling results into system via the Internet data entry screens or through PDA sync.

• Laboratories add sample results to data records via website.• System recommends action for agency officials (e.g. closures) from

results • Posting determinations are immediately available on NJDEP and Earth

911 websites.• Citizens, lifeguards, other stakeholders receive immediate email alerts

of closures/advisories via “opt-in”.• Results are immediately available for BEACH Data Flow.

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Typical Beach monitoring Process

• Trained staff members collect water samples in sterile bottles according to specific guidelines.

– Sampling staff members wade into the surf zone and collect water using a long pole with a sample bottle attached to the end.

– The time, date, weather conditions, and location of collection are recorded on a log sheet and data entered later. Now they will enter this information directly into a handheld.

• The sample bottles are immediately capped and placed into an ice chest for preservation. They are taken to a lab for analysis within 6 hours.

• The Lab performs the analysis and enters results directly into website.

• State health care agencies review the results of these tests, and if the data indicates a problem, posts an advisory or closes the beach depending on the extent of the problem. Signs are posted near the location where the contamination was detected so that you will know that it is not safe to swim. When the results of testing indicate a contamination problem, the responsible agency may increase the sampling frequency until the contamination dissipates or the source point is determined.

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Login Screen

• The Login Form is the initial form of the application. Each application user is issued a username and password (this is the same username and password and the online version of the data entry forms). The user enters this information on this screen, which will allow them to enter the application and begin entering data. To reduce the amount of keystrokes a user needs, a dropdown list of usernames is provided.

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Sample Option Form

• The Sampling Option Form is the second form of the application and appears directly after a successful login. This form allows the user to select whether the sample being taken is the initial Field Data entry, the Resample Field Data, or the Repeated Resample Field Data. This option determines which elements data is collected for.

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Municipality Form

• The Municipality Form follows the Sampling Option Form. Once a sampling option has been selected, it is time for the user to indicate which Municipality they wish to test in. The form contains a drop down list of municipalities, each municipality containing a separate list of monitoring point locations.

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Street/Location Form

• The Street / Location Form brings up monitoring points for data to be entered based on the municipality selected on the previous form. Each municipality has different monitoring point locations or streets associated with it. The drop down allows the user to select which station to enter the data for.

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Field Data Form

• Different monitoring stations have different data elements associated with them, which means that some stations collect different information. This is also contingent upon the sampling option, as the second and third sampling options often carry more data elements. Data elements are things like wind direction, wind speed, air temperature, etc.

• The only data elements that are required are Date

and Time Sampled.

• For convenience, you can click the label under date or time to insert the date or time into the input box.

• Depending upon which station data is being entered for similar forms may follow the initial Field Data Form. If you forget to include Date or Time Sampled, a reminder will appear on the screen when the Continue button is clicked.

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Wind Speed/Beaufort Scale Form

• The Wind Speed Form is another data element form, although it is slightly different from the other data element forms. It provides a drop down list of possible wind speeds for the user to input. If those aren’t helpful, wind speed can also be determined by use of the Beaufort Scale Forms. By selecting either the Land or Sea option, a form will display which lists various wind speeds, their force classification, and simple descriptions on how to determine the correct wind speed.

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Completing the Field Entry

• Once the user reaches a form that contains a button reading Save, all of the data input by the user will be stored into an XML file. The Data Saved Form then appears on the screen. This screen tells the user that the data has been successfully saved to the file. It also allows the user to either continue entering data, or to exit the program.

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Beach Monitoring System Architecture

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Citrix Program Neighborhood

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County Website Menu

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Laboratory Entry via Website

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Health Risk Determination

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Earth 911 Web Site – Location View

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Earth 911 Web Site – Monitored Station View

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Earth 911 Web Site – Station/Access View

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NJ BMS Implementation

• System is currently being tested.

• We will distribute and train county officials April 13th.

• Data collectors will use PDA’s for input at point of data collection this coming season. (Mid-May to Mid-September).

• NJDEP will flow data to EPA

• NJBMS is being offered to any state at no cost.