Session Lead: Wencheng Katherine Slater
Co-Leads: Dong Liang, Jeff White
Session Format : Oral presentations and panel discussion
Abstract:
Monitoring design usually faces tradeoffs between multiple criteria such as assessment and trend detection. For example, high-frequency monitoring at the same location allows a higher chance to detect a temporal trend, while spatial balance random design allows a better understanding of overall conditions. In addition, in the monitoring and regulation world, data analysis often received less attention. It is easily assumed that once data are collected, there will be some trends or changes detected that managers could make decisions upon. Real monitoring datasets, however, contain various challenges like missing or censored data, non-normal distribution, or small sample sizes, which makes applying traditional parametric methods not appropriate. The most appropriate test for testing trends and assessing overall conditions may be nonparametric or mixed model approaches, but they are less commonly applied in regulation practice. Meanwhile, monitoring data collected in Chesapeake Bay watersheds have also been under-utilized in the regulation or policy development related to watershed assessment and restoration efforts, partly because of differences in monitoring methods, time or spatial frame, data quality, or sometimes, simply not aware of such monitoring exists. To improve monitoring design, data analysis, and data utilization, we will hear the first-hand experience about the best practice and lessons learned of environmental monitoring design, quality control, data management, and data analysis. We will discuss the key elements of effective monitoring designs and the pros and cons of various analytic approaches and when to apply them. Ultimately, we aim to identify priorities for monitoring design, from modifying methods for standardization of designs, documenting historic designs, conducting simulation to evaluate various designs, and determining the optimal tradeoff between various objectives. We also like to identify the critical gaps between current monitoring efforts and data requirement for updating policy, and what kind of extra resource is needed to fill the gaps? We welcome all presentations about environmental monitoring, from planning, quality control, data analysis, implication examples, and future data needs. We will also have a short panel discussion in the end to brainstorm together about improving the monitoring design, data analysis, and filling the data gap.