User Configured Advanced Action Levels

Overview

User-configured Advanced Action Levels (AALs) allow users to set variable limits per analyte, rather than static limits. Variable limits take into account environmental factors that influence the allowable concentration of a contaminant. Users can configure these variable limits via the ActionLevels Format.

The following are the various methods users can employ to create advanced action levels (i.e., types of entries in the DT_ACTION_LEVEL_LOOKUP table):

•Lookups – Looks up a sample-specific action level for each sample/analyte based on the value of another analyte in that sample, such as pH hardness (the comparison analyte*). The value of the comparison analyte is compared to a LOOKUP table of values to determine the sample-specific action level for the initial analyte.

•Formulas – Calculates a sample-specific action level for each sample/analyte based on the value of another analyte in that sample such as pH or hardness (the comparison analyte*). The value of the comparison analyte is used in a FORMULA to calculate the sample-specific action level for the initial analyte.

•Locations – The comparison analyte can also be a SYS_LOC_CODE, SUBFACILITY_CODE, or Location Group to allow for location-specific action levels.

•Location-specific Monthly Average AAL – Calculates the average value for each CAS_RN/SYS_LOC_CODE combination in a group of results from the ALEII report output.

•MAG_SUM/TEQ_SUM – When the comparison analyte is a Method Analyte Group (MAG), an action level can be created for the sum of the analytes listed in the MAG. The Toxic Equivalency Quotient (TEQ) Sum can also be compared to the action level value for that MAG.

•Detection Limits – Determines a sample-specific action level based on the specified detection limit method.

* The comparison analyte used in an advanced action level must be included in the report parameter selections. If not, the default action level will be used. For example, an advanced action level for copper, based on hardness, will only use the default action level IF hardness is not selected in the report parameters.

Note: To run an advanced action level in EQuIS Professional, the EarthSoft.ActionLevels.Library.105851.dll file must be in the EQuIS installation folder. Contact your EQuIS administrator or EarthSoft Support if not already in the EQuIS folder.

Setup AAL Using ActionLevels Format

The following fields are required in all instances of user-configured advanced action levels. Please visit the method-specific article for information on additionally required fields.

ActionLevel Format Section

Field	Value	Remark
action_level_code	<unique identifier for the action level>	Required by the format.
action_level_type	<user-defined action level type>	Required by the format.
object_name	EarthSoft.ActionLevels.Library.105851,EarthSoft.ActionLevels.Library._105851.AAL_Lookup	Though not required by the format, this field must be populated with this exact string or the advanced action level will not work.

ActionLevelParameter Format Section

Field	Value	Remark
action_level_code	<unique identifier for the action level>	Must match value from the ActionLevel section.
param_code	<action level subject>	Parameter to which the action level will apply. Most commonly populated with a cas_rn value from the RT_ANALYTE table.
lookup_source	<user-defined lookup source identifier>	Though not required by the format, this field must be populated to associate this record to the ActionLevelLookup record.
lookup_code	<user-defined lookup source code>	Though not required by the format, this field must be populated to associate this record to the ActionLevelLookup record.
lookup_method	<lookup code for the specific advanced action level method>	Valid values may be found in the method-specific article.

ActionLevelLookup Format Section

Field	Value	Remark
lookup_source	<user-defined lookup source identifier>	Must match the value from ActionLevelParameter section.
lookup_code	<user-defined lookup source code>	Must match the value from ActionLevelParameter section.
lookup_method	<lookup code for the specific advanced action level method>	Must match the value from ActionLevelParameter section.
param_code	<action level subject>	Must match the value from ActionLevelParameter section.
comparison_id	<user-specified value>	Intended value depends on the specific method being used. See method-specific article for more details.
comparison_operator	<user-specified value>	Intended value depends on the specific method being used. See method-specific article for more details.

Using AALs

Once an advanced action level has been configured, it can be viewed and edited using the Action Levels Form in Professional.

To compare the results of a sampling event against an advanced action level, run either the Action Level Exceedance II by User Report or Action Level Exceedance II with Parameters Report.