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general:quality_verification:start [2021/01/27 13:27] – schillergeneral:quality_verification:start [2024/11/06 13:47] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 ====== Chapter 1.6 - QA/QC and Verification Methods ====== ====== Chapter 1.6 - QA/QC and Verification Methods ======
-{{  wiki:qaqc1.png}}+{{  :general:quality_verification:qaqc1.png?nolink&400}}
 ===== The Quality System for Emission Inventories and it´s contribution to UNECE-CLRTAP reporting ===== ===== The Quality System for Emission Inventories and it´s contribution to UNECE-CLRTAP reporting =====
 The German Quality System for Emission Inventories (QSE) originally was designed to serve the purposes of emission reporting under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It takes account of provisions of the 2006 IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Guidelines - General Guidance and Reporting (GGR), of national circumstances in Germany and of the internal structures and procedures of the German Environment Agency (UBA), the reporting institution.\\ The German Quality System for Emission Inventories (QSE) originally was designed to serve the purposes of emission reporting under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It takes account of provisions of the 2006 IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Guidelines - General Guidance and Reporting (GGR), of national circumstances in Germany and of the internal structures and procedures of the German Environment Agency (UBA), the reporting institution.\\
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  • An agency responsible for coordinating QC/QA activities\\ • Development and implementation of a QC/QA plan\\ • General QC procedures\\ • Source-category-specific QC procedures\\ • QA procedures\\ • Verification activities\\ • Reporting procedures\\ • Documentation and archiving procedures    • An agency responsible for coordinating QC/QA activities\\ • Development and implementation of a QC/QA plan\\ • General QC procedures\\ • Source-category-specific QC procedures\\ • QA procedures\\ • Verification activities\\ • Reporting procedures\\ • Documentation and archiving procedures  
  
-=== Agency responsible for coordinating QC/QA activities ===+==== Agency responsible for coordinating QC/QA activities ====
 A Single National Entity (national coordinating agency), is responsible for the QC/QA system. The German Single National Entity is established in the German Environment Agency (UBA). In executing its function, it is good practice to establish the position of a coordinator for the Quality System to be developed. A QC/QA coordinator has responsibility for ensuring that a relevant QC/QA system is developed and implemented. Such implementation should be suitably institutionalised – for example, by means of an in-house directive or association agreement. A Single National Entity (national coordinating agency), is responsible for the QC/QA system. The German Single National Entity is established in the German Environment Agency (UBA). In executing its function, it is good practice to establish the position of a coordinator for the Quality System to be developed. A QC/QA coordinator has responsibility for ensuring that a relevant QC/QA system is developed and implemented. Such implementation should be suitably institutionalised – for example, by means of an in-house directive or association agreement.
  
-=== QC/QA plan ===+==== QC/QA plan ====
 The purpose of a QC/QA plan is to ensure that QC/QA measures are properly organised and executed. It includes a description of all required QC/QA measures and a schedule for implementation of such measures. It also defines the primary emphasis of such measures.\\ The purpose of a QC/QA plan is to ensure that QC/QA measures are properly organised and executed. It includes a description of all required QC/QA measures and a schedule for implementation of such measures. It also defines the primary emphasis of such measures.\\
 Good practice calls for establishing a QC/QA plan and then reviewing and updating it each year after the latest inventory has been prepared. Good practice calls for establishing a QC/QA plan and then reviewing and updating it each year after the latest inventory has been prepared.
 On the basis of the results of annual inventory review, the results of QC/QA measures and other informations of which it is aware, the Single National Entity aims to prepare an improvement plan for the entire inventory. On this basis, in turn, it will then derive proposals for a binding inventory plan for the next year to be reported. On the basis of the results of annual inventory review, the results of QC/QA measures and other informations of which it is aware, the Single National Entity aims to prepare an improvement plan for the entire inventory. On this basis, in turn, it will then derive proposals for a binding inventory plan for the next year to be reported.
  
-=== General quality control ===+==== General quality control ====
 Pursuant to the definition used by the 2006 IPCC GL (Chapter 6.1 GGR), quality control (QC) comprises a system of routine specialised measures for measuring and checking the quality of inventories in preparation.\\ Pursuant to the definition used by the 2006 IPCC GL (Chapter 6.1 GGR), quality control (QC) comprises a system of routine specialised measures for measuring and checking the quality of inventories in preparation.\\
 Requirements pertaining to general (formerly so called Tier-1) QC procedures can be derived from the requirements mentioned in Chapter 6.6, especially Table 6.1 which includes a complete list of general QC measures.\\ Requirements pertaining to general (formerly so called Tier-1) QC procedures can be derived from the requirements mentioned in Chapter 6.6, especially Table 6.1 which includes a complete list of general QC measures.\\
 Required quality controls and their results should be recorded and not all quality controls have to be carried out on an annual basis. It should be ensured that all source categories undergo detailed quality control at least periodically. Required quality controls and their results should be recorded and not all quality controls have to be carried out on an annual basis. It should be ensured that all source categories undergo detailed quality control at least periodically.
  
-=== Source-category-specific quality control ===+==== Source-category-specific quality control ====
 In addition to undergoing general procedures, particularly relevant source categories (such as key sources), available resources presupposed, should undergo category specific (formerly so called Tier 2) quality control with regard to determination of activity rates, emissions and uncertainties (cf. Chapter 6.7; GGR). The chapters of the 2006 IPCC GL that pertain to the various individual source categories (Vol 2-5) include additional information relative to source-category-specific QC measures. Such guidelines should be considered in preparation of a QC/QA plan. In addition to undergoing general procedures, particularly relevant source categories (such as key sources), available resources presupposed, should undergo category specific (formerly so called Tier 2) quality control with regard to determination of activity rates, emissions and uncertainties (cf. Chapter 6.7; GGR). The chapters of the 2006 IPCC GL that pertain to the various individual source categories (Vol 2-5) include additional information relative to source-category-specific QC measures. Such guidelines should be considered in preparation of a QC/QA plan.
  
-=== Quality assurance procedures ===+==== Quality assurance procedures ====
 While the primary aim of quality control is to ensure that methods are correctly applied, the primary purpose of quality assurance is to examine methods and data as such and improve or correct them as necessary.\\ While the primary aim of quality control is to ensure that methods are correctly applied, the primary purpose of quality assurance is to examine methods and data as such and improve or correct them as necessary.\\
 Pursuant to the relevant IPCC definition (Chapter 6.1; GGR), measures for quality assurance (QA) are based "on a planned system of reviews by persons who are not directly involved in preparing the inventory. Such reviews – which are best carried out by independent third parties – should be applied to completed inventories, after QC procedures have been carried out.\\ Pursuant to the relevant IPCC definition (Chapter 6.1; GGR), measures for quality assurance (QA) are based "on a planned system of reviews by persons who are not directly involved in preparing the inventory. Such reviews – which are best carried out by independent third parties – should be applied to completed inventories, after QC procedures have been carried out.\\
 The required instrument for quality assurance is the annual "basic" peer review, though additional audits on "strategic points of the inventory" should also be conducted. The required instrument for quality assurance is the annual "basic" peer review, though additional audits on "strategic points of the inventory" should also be conducted.
  
-=== Verification activities ===+==== Verification activities ====
 According to the GGR-Chapter 6.10 "verification activities" refer to emission estimates only. Verification activities for emission factors and activity data are subsumed under the headword and chapter "quality control", which is a somewhat confusing approach. Nevertheless, and by leaving this peculiarity aside, verification, next to QC, is undoubtedly one key to ensure confidence and reliability of the estimates, corresponding emission factors and activity data. According to the GGR-Chapter 6.10 "verification activities" refer to emission estimates only. Verification activities for emission factors and activity data are subsumed under the headword and chapter "quality control", which is a somewhat confusing approach. Nevertheless, and by leaving this peculiarity aside, verification, next to QC, is undoubtedly one key to ensure confidence and reliability of the estimates, corresponding emission factors and activity data.
  
-=== Reporting procedures ===+==== Reporting procedures ====
 The Single National Entity is responsible for initiating, coordinating and globally organising reporting. Provision of data and reports by third parties must conform to applicable requirements pertaining to the scope, form and scheduling for such provision. The Single National Entity is responsible for initiating, coordinating and globally organising reporting. Provision of data and reports by third parties must conform to applicable requirements pertaining to the scope, form and scheduling for such provision.
  
-=== Documentation and Archiving ===+==== Documentation and Archiving ====
 As a general requirement, all data and information used for inventory calculation must be documented (i.e. recorded) and archived, for each report year. The purpose of such documentation (i.e. recording) is to make it possible to completely reconstruct all emissions calculations after the fact. The general requirements pertaining to documentation and archiving for the entire process of preparation of the inventory are described in Chapter 6.10.1 of the 2006 IPCC GL GGR.\\ As a general requirement, all data and information used for inventory calculation must be documented (i.e. recorded) and archived, for each report year. The purpose of such documentation (i.e. recording) is to make it possible to completely reconstruct all emissions calculations after the fact. The general requirements pertaining to documentation and archiving for the entire process of preparation of the inventory are described in Chapter 6.10.1 of the 2006 IPCC GL GGR.\\
 Consequently, **data providers** have the obligation to keep records information relative to data they supply to the German Environment Agency, for purposes of inventory calculations.\\ Consequently, **data providers** have the obligation to keep records information relative to data they supply to the German Environment Agency, for purposes of inventory calculations.\\
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 ==== Current workflow management organisation ==== ==== Current workflow management organisation ====
 The workflow specified by the QSE is currently also used for activity data and additionally for emission factors in the agriculture sector (but not yet established on a mandatory basis). Moreoverthis parts of the adopted design are additionally altered to serve the purposes of CLRTAP-reporting in the present state. For example FV are currently responsible for activity data collection, entry and calculation and not also for collecting emission factors as is with the UNFCCC-Reporting. The workflow specified by the QSE is currently also used for activity data and additionally for emission factors in the agriculture sector (but not yet established on a mandatory basis). Moreoverthis parts of the adopted design are additionally altered to serve the purposes of CLRTAP-reporting in the present state. For example FV are currently responsible for activity data collection, entry and calculation and not also for collecting emission factors as is with the UNFCCC-Reporting.
 +{{  :general:quality_verification:grafik_qcqa_roles-responsibilities.png?700  }}
 Figure: QSE – Roles, responsibilities and workflow Figure: QSE – Roles, responsibilities and workflow