More topics

Environmental Monitoring Data System

Last updated on February 11, 2025

The Environmental Monitoring Data System (EnMoDS) will be the ministry's primary database for environmental monitoring data.

On this page

New and improved database

Like EMS before it, EnMoDS is designed to store results from discrete water, air, soil and biological samples collected from ambient and permit monitoring sites throughout the province.

EnMoDS will be implemented as the primary database of record and replace EMS in the spring of 2025.

All information from EMS will be transferred to EnMoDS.

Following implementation, the EMS application will be retired and archived.

Data analysis

Data is collected by:

  • Ministry staff, or
  • Permit holders under the Environmental Management Act (EMA), or
  • Authorized third parties

Data is analyzed in public or private sector laboratories.

If the sampling is conducted as part of a permit requirement, the sample must be analyzed at a qualified laboratory. Most monitoring data will be entered into EnMoDS electronically via Electronic Data Transfer (EDT).

To learn more about how their work will be impacted, as well as timelines to make necessary changes, data providers are advised to review the resources below.

For data providers

If you’re an EMS data provider, you’ll need to make significant changes to your upload files to continue submitting data to the province.

The following files describe these changes and are currently in draft as they undergo final testing before being finalized. 

Users will be able to upload test files into EnMoDS to test their file configurations before the launch of the new application. 

Resources

Expand All | Collapse All
 

Updating systems and databases

EMS is a legacy system that has usability, access and data quality issues.

EnMoDS brings experience and performance improvements to meet the growing needs for data management and reporting.

Government staff will have improved access to data and visualization products. 

 

Terminology changes for data providers

  • Data Classification: A new term used to separate data based on its classification. Examples are lab, surrogate result, field, field survey, activity result and vertical profile. Depending on the data classification, more or less metadata is required to upload. Review the reference list below for more details on how to correctly use data classification.
  • Activity: Similar to EMS’ sample, but more flexible. Example attributes of an activity include date time, location, sample medium (matrix), depth and collection method.
  • Specimen: New to EnMoDS, this represents the smallest differentiable unit of an activity. For example, a single activity may have a series of specimens for things, such as total metals, dissolved metals and total nutrients. Each specimen has attributes, such as if it was field filtered, what preservative was used, which lab analyzed it, what the temperature was on arrival, etc.
  • Project: A new term used to sort data. If you’re uploading data on behalf of a permit holder under the EMA, you’ll use the permit number as the project.
  • Observed Properties: Similar to EMS parameters, but with some key differences, both in terms of structure and are more broadly applied. You will not be able to use EMS parameter codes.
  • Reference Lists: Formally known as EDT support tables. Refer to the menu below.
 

Examples of upload files

All files are in a draft or review state until the application goes live:

 

Reference list

 

Previous communications

 

For project updates, check this page often, or subscribe to receive notifications. 

Contact information

Questions and feedback
EnMoDSHelp@gov.bc.ca
Project Director
Tarik.Dessouki@gov.bc.ca
Project Manager
Sonia.M.Fernandes@gov.bc.ca