Design and Development of NPS Website to Visualize Air Quality Data, Conditions & Trends by Park

ARS designed, developed, and maintains the National Park Service’s Air Quality Conditions & Trends web site: a robust system for acquiring, managing, and synthesizing large air quality data sets from disparate sources (AQS, IMPROVE, NADP, and CASTNET, among others). The system supports rapid, web-based access to visualization products for park-specific air quality data, conditions, and trends for NPS staff, researchers, and public users.

Many National Parks host air quality monitoring sites that contribute data to national networks. In order to better understand the effects of local, regional and global air pollution on National Parks the National Park Service (NPS) Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Air Resources Division (ARD) requires comprehensive air quality information from across the U.S.

Air Resource Specialists compiles ozone, particulate matter, visibility, nitrogen, sulfur and mercury deposition data sets for download and dynamic visual display on the National Parks’ Air Conditions and Trends website. The website was designed and is maintained by ARS and utilizes charts and infographics to quickly visualize air quality conditions and trends for each of these parameters at National Parks across the country. The website houses long-term data sets available to researchers and the public for download. ARS proudly provides data acquisition and processing, GIS analyses, web design and support, and data display services in support of this project.