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ACT Protocols for Wave Measurement Systems
July 2012
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As for the spectral layout/frequency bands, CDIPtool takes all spectra and redistributes them into
equal-width 0.01Hz bands.
In addition, the tool is only useful when used with weeks or months of wave spectra from two
different sources, not just a single record. The CDIPtool will be ideal to compare ACT’s
proposed longer term co-location exercises.
The intercomparison spectral data are permanently archived at the CDIP facility. All results are
in the public domain.
12.0 Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Credible, high-quality performance information is one of the tenets of independent testing and
verification of wave measurement systems. In order to provide verifiable and defensible data on
the performance of wave instrumentation, the testing organization must control its technical and
human factors that affect quality. Therefore, the highest appropriate level of quality assurance
(QA) and quality control (QC) procedures should be applied throughout the test. Quality
assurance is the system of review procedures that verify that test activities are likely to meet
specific data quality objectives. Quality control activities provide routine and consistent checks
to ensure data integrity, correctness, and completeness; identify and address errors and
omissions; and document and archive all test operations.
Only data collected under a well-defined, documented quality system should be considered for
verification of wave instrumentation performance. The quality system provides the framework
for planning, implementing, documenting, and assessing work performed by the organizations
carrying out the verification testing and for carrying out QA/QC activities. The goal of the
quality system is to ensure that decisions on technology performance are supported by data of the
type needed and accepted quality standards and practices. Because QA/QC related to real-time,
in situ, surface wave data is covered by existing standards such as Quality Control of Real Time
Data (QARTOD), the Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP), and the National Data Buoy
Center (NDBC), this guidance addresses quality systems at the organization level and focus on
the verification process.
There are several quality system standards and models that may be considered for wave
instrumentation verification, and there is considerable commonality among them, regardless of
application. The quality systems for two technology verification organizations, the U.S.E.P.A’s
Environmental Technology Verification Program (ETV) and NOAA’s Alliance for Coastal
Technologies (ACT), are based on the national consensus standard ANSI/ASQ E4-1994. The
American National Standard,
Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for
Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs
(ANSI/ASQ E4-1994)
(ANSI/ASQ, 1995), was developed to promote consistency among the many quality systems
requirements for environmental programs throughout the Federal government and the
environmental industry. The standard provides a basis for planning, implementing, documenting,
and assessing an effective quality system and describes the elements that, at minimum, should be
in place to ensure that a functional quality system exists for organizations that perform
environmental data operations or design.