Why MonitorPro Provides an Advantage in Environmental Data Management
The task of managing environmental data can be labour intensive, consisting of numerous repetitive tasks which can be time consuming and include human errors if not managed effectively. This in turn can have a significant impact upon a companies environmental compliance.
There is a way to improve your environmental data management and reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks and the potential of human error, this is through the use of an Environmental data Management system (EDMS). The effectiveness of an EDMS can be split into the 4 main stages of environmental data management: Plan-Do-Check-Act. MonitorPro provides the perfect solution for environmental data management in each of these key stages and its advantages as an EDMS will be outlined below.
Plan
An environmental permit will outline what monitoring is needed, where to do it, and at what frequency, it will also identify any compliance limits and reporting requirements. These permits therefore need a structured plan in place to ensure these requirements are met. therefore, a good EDMS system must facilitate the generation of a suitable monitoring plan.
The Monitoring Scheduler in MonitorPro has a number of features which makes it easy to ensure a sites monitoring plan is completed on time:
- The monitoring scheduler makes MonitorPro aware of both data that has been received, data that requires collection, and in turn highlight what data is missing.
- Once schedules are created within the monitoring scheduler, they auto-generate Visits, Visits require specific locations to be visited and variables to be measured
- Plug in details about your sample bottles, preservatives, and costs to generate bottle labels, chain of custodies and cost reports
- Monitoring Schedules can be grouped together into common sampling programs, which match the legal requirements on each site.
Do
Once a site visit schedule has been created it is important that an EDMS has the ability to clearly identify to those collecting the data what information is required and at what location. It should also ensure data can be easily collected and uploaded into the database and minimise any data input errors. In addition to the collection of environmental data in the field an EDMS should make the importing of additional data such as lab results or weather data.
MP-Field clearly identifies what information requires collecting and at what point based on the information provided by the Monitoring schedule.
- Remove the need for paper based data collection and easily collect data out in the field on any modern smart device, even when you don’t have network connectivity. Once you are connected to the network, the monitoring data will be uploaded to the database. This removes the need for the manual input of data at a later date which can introduce data input errors.
- Take pictures in the field to upload to the database or refer back to images and documents previously uploaded.
- Built-in mapping means you can easily navigate to a sample point.
- MP-Field indicates where sampling is still required and what sampling and analysis should be undertaken.
- Manage sampling and QA/QC in the field.
- No installation is required, and it can be used on all common smartphones and tablets with a modern web browser.
- Use of drop-down menus and date pickers removes data input errors.
- Even when offline MP-Field provides real-time data validation in the field through compliance limits and physical maximum and minimums pre-set in MonitorPro.
The MonitorPro Importer API allows the user to connect several API endpoints for the automatic import of data into the database at a specified interval.
MonitorPro’s Email Importer automatically directs data files to the correct importation workflow by applying a rule of rules to incoming emails.
Check
It is important that an EDMS doesn’t just identify what requires collecting, by who, where, and when, but also to alert the relevant users if something has been missed, since missed sampling can result in data gaps and non-compliance issues. The validation of inputted data is also important to ensure incorrect values are not entered into the database, a problem which often occurs when using multiple spreadsheets and the copying/pasting of data along with data input errors when typing in field data at a later date.
The Monitoring Scheduler makes MonitorPro not only aware of the data that has been received, but also aware of data that is due to be collected, and subsequently what data is missing. It is able to pro-actively send reminders and warnings to users according to data status and settings. MonitorPro will also automatically send email alerts informing a specified user of any breaches.
MonitorPro makes it easily to check compliance using its dashboard and inbuilt data analysis and reporting tools:
- The dynamic dashboard enables users to display a variety of different widgets in a centralised location, including reports, mapping, and graphing options.
- Fast and simple way to view data and observe trends, and multiple dashboards can be created for different reporting needs.
- Dashboard data is automatically refreshed and can be shared easily with other users/groups.
- Graphing options, including scatter, line, bar, pie, combo, and wind rose, guide the user through creating output quickly and easily. Users can further control graphing customisation such as compliance limits, scale, secondary/primary axis and titles
- The calculator built into MonitorPro can be used to create simple or complex formulae. When the relevant data is imported, the calculator will run and perform calculations on any required results. These results can then be subject to compliance limits, alerts, or used in outputs like any other data.
Data validation in both MonitorPro and MP-Field ensures that incorrect data values do not end up in the database:
- In MonitorPro physical minimum and maximum values can be identified for input variables in and any values which are received above this value will be rejected as invalid data.
- MP-Field has built in data validation to ensure data input errors don’t occur while collecting data in the field.
- If a user tries to enter a data value that breaches a pre-determined physical limit, a warning message will be displayed and the data cannot be entered.
- Values greater than compliance limits are highlighted to the user in the Field. Unlike physical limits, breaches can be entered, and are highlighted for information.
Act
An EDMS should have the ability to immediately notify the required user (and regulators if required) when a compliance breach is detected so the appropriate action can be taken. The EDMS should also be able to include other relevant data contained in the database such as previous breaches over a certain timeframe in this notification. Even if a breach hasn’t occurred regulators will require the submission of reports at predetermined intervals and an EDMS should be able to automatically generate and send these reports.
The Task Scheduler in MonitorPro provides automated reporting, exporting, and reminder tasks to ensure you meet your permit reporting requirements. This makes it easy to automatically send reports and exports at a designated frequency to contacts via email.
Action plans can be created in MonitorPro to manage your response and resulting actions following a breach:
- Action plans consist of a set of tasks that are required when a breach has occurred, and the completed status of each these tasks is shown in the action plan and whether it is completed or overdue.
Reminder tasks in the MonitorPro Task Scheduler means users can keep track of and check off tasks related to permit requirements to ensure compliance.
Want to Find Out More?
For more information on MonitorPro, check out our benefits of MonitorPro, features of MonitorPro, and why choose MonitorPro pages, or contact us at enquiries@ehsdata.com.
About MonitorPro
The complete, professional environmental data monitoring solution, MonitorPro is the IT solution trusted by environmental teams worldwide to manage their environmental compliance and data collection. MonitorPro is a web-based or locally hosted solution for the collation of ALL sources of environmental data, where it is generated by loggers, laboratories, weather stations, calculations, or other data repositories. MonitorPro is the first EHS Software solution to receive an MCERTS accreditation from the Environmental Agency.
About EHS Data
EHS Data is a world leading UK based software company providing Environmental Data Management Solutions to over 1,000 sites in 40 countries worldwide. For over 20 years, our versatile software solution, MonitorPro, has helped organisations save time, improve planning, quality control, site analysis and reporting to manage environmental obligations and sustainability.
ISO 27001
EHS Data is ISO 27001 certified.
A Carbon Negative Business
In 2020, EHS Data attained Carbon negative status and is committed to maintaining this status each year.
