Towards improved quality of soil morphology and analytical data in Australia: starting the discussion

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. W. Biggs ◽  
Ross Searle
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Analytical Data ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Coding System ◽  
Soil Morphology ◽  
Data Schema ◽  
Global Soil

The development and implementation of a national data schema for soil data in Australia over the last two decades, coupled with advances in information technology, has led to the realisation of more comprehensive state and national soil databases. This has facilitated increased access to soil data for many purposes, including the creation of many digital soil-mapping products, such as the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia. Consequently, users of soil data have a growing need for clarity concerning the quality of the data; many new users have little understanding of the varying quality of the data. To date, statements about the quality of primary soil data have typically been qualitative and/or judgemental rather than explicit. The consequences of poor-quality primary data and of the lack of a coding system for data quality are growing with increased usage and with demand for soil data at the regional to national scale. Pillar 4 of the Global Soil Partnership and the National Soil Research, Development and Extension Strategy both identify the need to improve the quality of soil data. Various international standards do exist with respect to the quality of soil data but these tend to focus on general principles and quality-assurance frameworks rather than the detail of describing data quality. The aim of this paper is to stimulate a discussion in the Australian soil science community on how to quantify and describe the quality of primary soil data. We provide examples of the data quality issues and propose a framework for structured data-quality checking procedures and quality coding of soil morphological and analytical data in Australia.

scholarly journals An assessment of the Armenian national midwifery curriculum as per international standards

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Aslanyan ◽  
S Sahakyan ◽  
V Petrosyan
Keyword(s):  
Poor Quality ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Global Competency ◽  
Midwifery Education ◽  
Study Team ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Document Review ◽  
Provision Of Care

Abstract Background Literature suggests increasing evidence that incompetent midwifery education results in poor quality of care. The study compared and evaluated the level of compliance of the Armenian national criterion on midwifery with the global competency standards and developed recommendations for improvement. Methods The study team conducted a document review using a standardized checklist, which was adapted from the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) core assessment tools. The document review explored if the main knowledge and skills/ability related elements of each ICM competency were separately covered by different modules of the national criterion using a scoring system with categories: not met, partially met, fully met and unspecified. Results Although the national criterion did not have specifically defined competencies, most of the elements required by the ICM were present as specific learning outcomes under different modules of the criterion. Midwifery program curriculum was described as intensive with unnecessarily heavy workload. Additionally, the document review reviled that most of the learning outcome defined in modules of the national criterion focused more on theoretical knowledge rather than practical skills and abilities. Overall, the ICM required competency in provision of care during pregnancy was the most comprehensively covered one in the national criterion, while the competency in facilitation of abortion related care was the lowest covered. National criterion did not highlight the importance of topics such as women's rights and health, principles of epidemiology, statistical methods of research, cultural, local and ethical beliefs. Conclusions The systematic comparison of the national criterion with internationally recognized essential competencies demonstrates significant gaps. The study team recommends revisions to the national criterion to make it competency based. Key messages Midwifery education criteria in Armenia did not reflect internationally accepted midwifery competency’s fundamental philosophy and values. Given the shortcomings of the current national midwifery education criterion, a comprehensive revision of the competencies of midwives in Armenia should be considered.

Inline Inspection: Both Effective Data Collection and Interpretation Needed to Achieve High Quality Reporting Results

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Walker ◽  
Paul Mallaburn ◽  
Derek Balmer
Keyword(s):  
Financial Risk ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Quality Reporting ◽  
Certification Standard ◽  
Consensus Standard ◽  
Inspection Data

Historically, pipeline operators have tended to place more weight on inline inspection tool specifications than on the inherent design and reporting capabilities of the service providers themselves. While internal collection of integrity data is very important, it’s imperative that vendors, also, have high levels of expertise and effective quality control systems in place to successfully analyze exceedingly high volumes of inspection data. The quality of inspection information is vital to assessing if a pipeline is fit for purpose now and/or into the future. Integrity managers attempting to reduce overall operating risk by making decisions based on inaccurate or poor quality reporting are in fact exposing their networks to greater safety and financial risk. Recognizing these risks and that inline inspection (ILI) is an overall system that needs to be formally qualified, operators and ILI service providers have collaborated to develop several international standards. The most recent is the umbrella API-1163 industry consensus standard, which is now being widely adopted, primarily in USA. This standard provides requirements and recommended practices for qualification of the entire ILI process. Two companion standards: ASNT In-line Personnel Qualification and Certification Standard No. ILI-PQ and NACE Recommended Practice In-Line Inspection of Pipelines RP0102 combine to address specific requirements for personnel who operate and analyze the results of ILI systems. In Europe, the Pipeline Operators Forum (POF) has, also, established specific requirements for ILI reporting processes and data formats. However, these standards do not define how operators and vendors must meet these requirements. To follow will be a story about how an ILI service provider embraced a holistic approach to address these standards’ requirements, in particular in the areas of data analysis, reporting, and dig verification due to their significant importance in assuring the final quality of its deliverables. A key outcome desired will be to provide operators with greater insight into what best practices and technologies ILI service providers should have embraced and invested in to insure reliable service delivery.

Agricultural Schemes in Namibia for Meeting Essential Needs

2018 ◽  
pp. 500-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeta Baporikar ◽  
Konis Elungi
Keyword(s):  
National Development ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Rural Income ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Vision 2030

Namibia has been striving to improve the rural poor quality of life through policies and schemes in line with the national development framework (Vision 2030). Sustained food production is one of the major initiatives, as it constitutes as basic livelihood activity but also augments rural income and livelihood. Apart from that, it is also a citizen's critical need. Though significant the schemes are, their contribution to household income and their role in improvement of livelihood is never taken up and exploration done. Adopting the DFID sustainable livelihood assessment framework, this chapter uses direct observations and primary data to present an assessment of the contribution of selected agricultural schemes.

Assessing contract management as a strategic tool for achieving quality of work in Ghanaian construction industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Coleman ◽  
Isaac Kwesi Nooni ◽  
Samuel Korenteng Fianko ◽  
Linka Dadzie ◽  
Ebenezer Nickson Neequaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Contract Management ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Supervisory Staff

Purpose This study aims to investigate the attainment of quality in Government of Ghana’s (GoG) infrastructural projects through effective contract management and especially, relating to qualification, competence and experience of supply chain stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach A survey questionnaire and field observations were used to collect primary data from staff of the education ministry and construction professionals. Documentary analyses of contract documents were also undertaken. Findings The results show that executing agencies’ failure to apply appropriate contract management processes was linked to the gap between stakeholders’ knowledge and actual practice. This was confirmed by Spearman’s rho tests of correlation between overall mean ranks given by professionals and non-professionals, which indicated strong agreement between those groups. Factors such as contractors’ engagement of unqualified supervisory staff, lack of proper projects monitoring and evaluation by executing agencies mainly contribute to the poor quality of work. Research limitations/implications Investigations were limited to the Funds and Procurement Management Unit of the Ministry of Education, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and local contractors. Nonetheless, the methodology used could be used in future studies to analyse the socio-economic implications on the quality of education infrastructure. Practical implications Construction is booming in Ghana but the capacity to improve the work quality through effective contract management is limited. However, with the effort of stakeholder and statutory bodies’ support in capacity building initiatives, GoG projects could offer some novel solutions to improve quality of work. Social implications Construction industry professionals and students’ knowledge and perception on construction industry and contract management is significantly improved. Originality/value This study provides information on respondents’ knowledge on contract management process, which, if not properly understood, can lead to poor quality of work and loss of money.

Data Quality in an Information-Rich Environment: Canada as an Example

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 153-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie L. Roos ◽  
Sumit Gupta ◽  
Ruth-Ann Soodeen ◽  
Laurel Jebamani
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Administrative Data ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Record Linkage ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Canadian Provinces

ABSTRACTThis review evaluates the quality of available administrative data in the Canadian provinces, emphasizing the information needed to create integrated systems. We explicitly compare approaches to quality measurement, indicating where record linkage can and cannot substitute for more expensive record re-abstraction. Forty-nine original studies evaluating Canadian administrative data (registries, hospital abstracts, physician claims, and prescription drugs) are summarized in a structured manner. Registries, hospital abstracts, and physician files appear to be generally of satisfactory quality, though much work remains to be done. Data quality did not vary systematically among provinces. Primary data collection to check place of residence and longitudinal follow-up in provincial registries is needed. Promising initial checks of pharmaceutical data should be expanded. Because record linkage studies were “conservative” in reporting reliability, the reduction of time-consuming record re-abstraction appears feasible in many cases. Finally, expanding the scope of administrative data to study health, as well as health care, seems possible for some chronic conditions. The research potential of the information-rich environments being created highlights the importance of data quality.

KUALITAS LINGKUNGAN PERAIRAN DAN KONDISI OSEANOGRAFI DI KAWASAN INDUSTRI SEKUPANG KOTA BATAM = Water Environment Quality and Oceanographic Conditions in the Industrial Area Sekupang, Batam

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Agung Riyadi ◽  
Matih Santos
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Quality Model ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
A Value

This study is located in industrial area in Sekupang, Batam. Primary data collection includes water quality, aquatic biota, and the tidal current direction and speed measurement. Overall water quality conditions in the surrounding industrial area Sekupang is still good, it can be seen from the results of laboratory analysis is still below the quality standards specified . Flow pattern at high tide is moving south at a speed of 1 m / sec, while at low tide movement heading north flows with varying speeds ranging from 0.1 m / sec to 1 m / sec. Tidal patterns according to formulation Formzahl 0.48, which means there is a double mix of ups and downs in a day where there will be two times of ups and downs twice but different amplitudes, and riding pasutnya up to 2.93 m. Phytoplankton in the study area found 25 species such as Skeletonema sp., Chaetoceros sp, sp Lauderia which dominate the waters. There is also a kind of Dynophyceae with species such as Peridinium sp, whereas Cyanophyceae types are Trichodesmium sp. Results of analysis diversitasnya index of 1.54, which identifies those waters have poor quality. Evenness index/species uniformity of 0.43 indicates the quality of its waters being. While the dominance index was the quality of the water has a value of 0.41. Mike21 hydrodynamic modeling is used in assisting the analysis of the direction and speed of global flows in accordance with the pattern of tidal and bathymetric depth.Keyword: patterns of currents, tides, environmental quality, model Abstrak Penelitian ini berlokasi di kawasan industri Sekupang Kota Batam. Pengambilan data primer meliputi kualitas air, biota perairan, pasang surut dan pengukuran arah dan kecepatan arus. Secara keseluruhan kondisi kualitas perairan di sekitar kawasan industri Sekupang masih baik, hal ini dapat dilihat dari hasil analisa laboratorium masih di bawah baku mutu yang ditetapkan. Pola arus pada saat pasang bergerak ke arah selatan dengan kecepatan 1 m/detik, sedangkan pada saat surut pergerakan arus mengarah ke utara dengan kecepatan bervariasi berkisar 0,1 m/detik hingga 1m/detik. Pola pasang surut menurut formulasi Formzahl 0,48 yang artinya terdapat pasang surut campuran ganda dimana dalam satu hari akan terjadi dua kali pasang dan dua kali surut akan tetapi amplitudo berbeda-beda, dan tunggang pasutnya hingga 2,93 m. Fitoplankton di wilayah penelitian dijumpai 25 spesies seperti Skeletonema sp., Chaetoceros sp, Lauderia sp yang mendominasi perairan. Juga terdapat jenis Dynophyceae dengan spesies seperti Peridinium sp, sedangkan jenis Cyanophyceae terdapat Trichodesmium sp. Hasil analisa indeks diversitasnya 1,54 yang mengidentifikasikan perairan tersebut mempunyai kualitas buruk. Indeks kemerataan/keseragaman spesies 0,43 yang mengindikasikan kualitas perairannya sedang. Sedangkan indeks dominansi perairan mempunyai kualitas sedang dengan nilai 0,41. Pembuatan model hidrodinamika menggunaan Mike21 di dalam membantu analisis arah dan kecepatan arus secara global sesuai dengan pola pasang surut dan kedalaman batimetri. Kata kunci: pola arus, pasang surut, kualitas lingkungan, model

scholarly journals Decision making in the context of business intelligence and data quality

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Marshall ◽  
R. De la Harpe
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Business Intelligence ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Business Confidence ◽  
The Right

[email protected] Making decisions in a business intelligence (BI) environment can become extremely challenging and sometimes even impossible if the data on which the decisions are based are of poor quality. It is only possible to utilise data effectively when it is accurate, up-to-date, complete and available when needed. The BI decision makers and users are in the best position to determine the quality of the data available to them. It is important to ask the right questions of them; therefore the issues of information quality in the BI environment were established through a literature study. Information-related problems may cause supplier relationships to deteriorate, reduce internal productivity and the business' confidence in IT. Ultimately it can have implications for an organisation's ability to perform and remain competitive. The purpose of this article is aimed at identifying the underlying factors that prevent information from being easily and effectively utilised and understanding how these factors can influence the decision-making process, particularly within a BI environment. An exploratory investigation was conducted at a large retail organisation in South Africa to collect empirical data from BI users through unstructured interviews. Some of the main findings indicate specific causes that impact the decisions of BI users, including accuracy, inconsistency, understandability and availability of information. Key performance measures that are directly impacted by the quality of data on decision-making include waste, availability, sales and supplier fulfilment. The time spent on investigating and resolving data quality issues has a major impact on productivity. The importance of documentation was highlighted as an important issue that requires further investigation. The initial results indicate the value of

scholarly journals Assessment of neonatal mortalities and stillbirths data quality in Offinso North District of Ghana

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 508-518
Author(s):  
Richmond Nsiah ◽  
Wisdom Takramah ◽  
Solomon Anum-Doku ◽  
Richard Avagu ◽  
Dominic Nyarko
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Neonatal Mortality ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Information Management System ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Neonatal Deaths ◽  
Discrepancy Rate

Background: Stillbirths and neonatal deaths when poorly documented or collated, negatively affect the quality of decision and interventions. This study sought to assess the quality of routine neonatal mortalities and stillbirth records in health facilities and propose interventions to improve the data quality gaps. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study was employed. This study was carried out at three (3) purposively selected health facilities in Offinso North district. Stillbirths and neonatal deaths recorded in registers from 2015 to 2017, were recounted and compared with monthly aggregated data and District Health Information Management System 2 (DHIMS 2) data using a self-developed Excel Data Quality Assessment Tool (DQS).  An observational checklist was used to collect primary data on completeness and availability. Accuracy ratio (verification factor), discrepancy rate, percentage availability and completeness of stillbirths and neonatal mortality data were computed using the DQS tool. Findings: The results showed high discrepancy rate of stillbirth data recorded in registers compared with monthly aggregated reports (12.5%), and monthly aggregated reports compared with DHIMS 2 (13.5%). Neonatal mortalities data were under-reported in monthly aggregated reports, but over-reported in DHIMS 2. Overall data completeness was about 84.6%, but only 68.5% of submitted reports were supervised by facility in-charges. Delivery and admission registers availability were 100% and 83.3% respectively. Conclusion: Quality of stillbirths and neonatal mortality data in the district is generally encouraging, but are not reliable for decision-making. Routine data quality audit is needed to reduce high discrepancies in stillbirth and neonatal mortality data in the district.

scholarly journals The Quality of Official Statistical Information: Approaches and International Practices of Evaluation

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-15
Author(s):  
S. V. Zaiets
Keyword(s):  
Poor Quality ◽  
Statistical Information ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Statistical System ◽  
Official Statistics ◽  
Statistical Potential ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Statistical Systems ◽  
Public And Private Sector

The article describes the role of statistics in the economic and social policy setting, the development of public and private sector, and international relations. It is noted that the results of a global assessment of the domestic statistical system indicate that European standards for the quality of statistical information are used in official statistics bodies. At the same time, it is pointed out that the domestic statistical activities face unresolved problems associated with a significant burden on respondents, poor quality of primary data, etc. The methodological foundations and practical issues of monitoring the statistical potential of national statistical systems through the prism of the quality of statistical information production processes proposed by the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century are investigated. There are 14 tools for assessing the statistical potential used in the international statistical practice for measuring and evaluating various aspects of national statistical data, including the performance of statistical institutions and the quality of their results. A multidimensional statistical potential indicator (SCI) of the World Bank is considered, which diagnostic framework evaluates the statistical methodology, data source, frequency and timeliness of the publication of the indicators reflecting the production of statistical information in a country, which are harmonized with individual global indicators of the SDG. The dynamics of the statistical potential of the national statistical system of Ukraine among 140 developing countries that borrow funds from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development are analyzed. It is shown that the decreasing level of the statistical potential in Ukraine is associated with the following components: data sources, frequency and timeliness. To enhance the performance and strengthen the institutional capacity of the existing statistical system, it is proposed to take account of the indicators used for the assessment and monitoring of statistical potential in the methodological and practical activities of official statistics bodies. The need to improve quality, accessibility and comparability of the official statistical information is justified, and respective measures are proposed.

scholarly journals Analysis on the Quality of Educational Services in an Effort to Improve the Image of Higher Education

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Puspo Dewi Dirgantari
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Students ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Human Life ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Education Services ◽  
The World

Education is one of the most effective tool in changing people.  Along with the globalization that continues to occur at high speeds that touch every aspect of human life is also touched education globally. These changes make the college market and competition becomes more widespread than previously and the relative moving faster than the ability of universities to respond. Currently, there are ranking universities in the world of international standards by agencies recognized by the world. in 2011, not a single university in Indonesia recorded the world's top 50 universities in both versions Webometrics and the QS World University Rankings. This shows that the competitiveness of universities in Indonesia are still not strong enough in comparison with universities abroad that ultimately the competitiveness of these colleges will build the image of college. The image has a very important meaning for the institution.The method used in this study is descriptive and explanatory survey of a sample survey with a size of 100 foreign students. The research was conducted within a period of less than one year (not sustainable in the long run) so that the method used is a cross-sectional. The data used are the primary data and secondary data collected through the literature study and questionnaire. The results revealed that the quality of education services at public universities in Bandung classified into good category, this means that the service received or perceived by foreign students has been as expected and the quality of education services affect the image of public universities in Bandung.

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