| Title: |
Transcat Project: Manual - Standard Procedure for Data Acquisition
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| Resource Type: |
document --> technical publication --> report
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| Country: |
EU Projects
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| Year: |
2004 |
| Availability: |
Bender, S. et al. (2004) Transcat Project: Manual - Standard Procedure for Data Acquisition, Deliverable 4.1
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| Author 1/Producer: |
Bender, S.
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| Other Authors/Producers: |
Mieseler, T., Rubbert, T.
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| Author / Producer Type: |
EC Project
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EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Groundwater protection-->Groundwater protection overview
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| Short description: |
In order to create a consistent database for TRANSCAT DSS, containing comparable data of
high quality originating from sources of various countries, it is necessary to form a common
standard to be used for future data acquisition. For the TRANSCAT project, such a standard
also establishes the possibility to evaluate existing data in terms of quality and comparability
according to the defined standard. This report as part 2 of Deliv erable 1 of Work Package 4
(Data Acquisition) is representing this common standard in form of a manual for a standard
procedure.
Accurate sampling is the mandatory pre-condition for proper examination of water. The sampling
process must be adapted to the intended purpose of investigation as well as to the local
circumstances. The sampling process must not be regarded as minor or even negligible part
of the monitoring process. Mistakes made during sampling cannot be compensated by analytics.
A basic requirement for accurate sampling is the design of an appropriate sampling
program. Design of the sampling program is of course depending on the objective of the
monitoring process (see chapter 2).
Besides a well-planned monitoring program, the utilisation of adequate sampling techniques,
including the application of appropriate tools, is a necessary requirement to obtain representative
and uncontaminated samples, as well as high quality data respectively. Chapter 3 includes
information about which type of sample has to be taken under certain conditions, the
tools to be used and necessities of documentation. The choice of adequate sample type is
primarily depending on the given natural conditions. For example, it is of crucial importance if
a sample is taken from a stagnant or a from flowing water body. In addition, separated samples
of possibly different kind have to be taken for varying parameters to be investigated, e.g.
for chemical, microbiological or biological parameters. Any bias potentially induced by the material
of sampling tools or vessels has to be strictly avoided. Most problems are caused by
adsorption, by contamination because of insufficient cleaning, and by contamination by the
material of the tool or vessel itself. These possible sources of falsific ation have to be excluded
(see chapter 3).
Water, especially surface water and waste water, may undergo various physical, chemical and
biological reactions during the time between sampling and analysis. If these reactions cannot
be inhibited by conservation methods, serious alterations of the sample are possible, so that
analysis results may differ largely from the results that would have been obtained directly
after sampling. These reactions possibly take place within just hours after the sampling.
Therefore, it is not only important to carry out the analysis for certain parameters directly in
the field, but also to minimise time between sampling and analysis and to implement necessary
methods of conservation, which have to be chosen according to the given circumstances
and examination goals (see chapter 4).
There is a huge number of different parameters which can be analysed, and for each parameter,
normally there are different methods how these parameters can be examined. First of all,
one has to differ between parameters which have to or which are at least preferable to be
measured directly in situ, in the field, and parameters which have to be analysed in the laboratory.
In addition, there are parameters for which both field methods and laboratory methods
exist. In this case, the best cost-value ratio has to be evaluated.
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Submitted By:
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Dr Stefan Gödeke WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 14/02/2006
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