CRF Reporter Software Initial Experience by Parties and

CRF Reporter Software Initial Experience by Parties and further Developments UNFCCC event: Updates on the CRF Reporter Software and Training Programme for Review Experts Bonn, Germany – 21 May 2005 James Grabert Inventories sub-programme – MIS UNFCCC Secretariat jgrabert@unfccc. int

Background • Decision 18/CP. 8 – Reporting Guidelines Requested the secretariat to develop new software for reporting in the common reporting format in order to facilitate Parties’ inventory submissions • Decision 13/CP. 9 – LULUCF Tables of the common reporting format for the land use, land-use change and forestry categories adopted • SBSTA 20 (2004) – CRF Reporter Invited Parties to use the CRF Reporter to report inventory submissions due in 2005 and requested the secretariat to integrate the LULUCF CRF tables into the CRF Reporter by August 2005 to allow for reporting by Annex I Parties in 2006 using integrated software

Why revised CRF software? l Previous spreadsheet format required significant resources to import , and verify data consistency, with numerous interactions with Parties l Spreadsheet format was not very user friendly for Parties in terms of input and data management l Furthermore, taking into account: - Increasing amount of data to be reported and management - Need to incorporate revisions of the CRF (CRF 2002, LUCF 2003) - Strict timeline demands of the inventory review process - Complex nature of CRF and underlying data structure … it would have become increasingly difficult to process and manage data in a timely, highly quality manner using previous procedures and spreadsheet-based software l CRF Reporter should facilitate the data reporting and processing, and improve the overall quality of data and assessments

CRF Reporter Features & Functionality l User friendly CRF category-based navigation tree l Automatic aggregation and calculations l Category level documentation – information for sectoral CRF documentation boxes l Cell level comments – specific comments for input values l Notation key handling – – Standardization Easy propagation No aggregation errors Request for explanation for IE and NE

CRF Reporter Features & Functionality (II) l Chart window – graphical visualization of input values l Integrated instructions and hints – assist user in following the reporting requirements l Recalculation explanation panels/dialogs – provision of explanation at data entry level or final compilation level l Handling of non-sectoral CRF table requirements, including associated documentation boxes – – – Key sources information for CRF Table 7 Recalculation information for CRF Table 8 a Methods information for CRF Table Summary 3 Completeness information for CRF Table 9 Trend information for CRF Table 10

CRF Reporter Features & Functionality (III) l Completeness and consistency checks integrated l Input of contact and submission information (who, when, what of the inventory) l Management of submission history – information on previously submitted information l Work flow assistance – import and export features to assist in a decentralized inventory working environment - sectoral experts can work independently, data can be bulk imported from national databases l Generation of outputs/submissions – can produce Excel CRF sheets and official data exchange file (XML) for submission

CRF Reporter Work Flow Overview CRF Reporter Software National database Input Manual Input Forms Calculations, checking, data management Consistency Checks, Submission Preparation Data file (XML) Bulk import Output XML data file Internal storage Excel file with CRF tables

Initial Development and Deployment l Prototype developed for COP 9 (Dec 2003) l Beta and Release Candidate versions testing with Parties on volunteer basis (March – Oct 2004) l Development and deployment of separate LULUCF spreadsheet module for use in 2005 ( July – Sept 2004) l Deployment of initial version with Party-specific datasets December 2004 l Support to Parties – provision of critical patches to Parties reporting 2005 submissions in new software

CRF Reporter User Interface: Brief Description

User Support Dedicated Helpdesk System - requests management, online accessibility … CRFHelp. Desk. unfccc. Int l Dedicated CRF Reporter email account for issues and incidence reporting. . . CRFSupport@unfccc. int l Bug and Feature Tracking System - monitor developments, track possible future improvements/ features l l Development of patches (software or dataset related) Detailed technical support to trouble-shoot issue at the Party side (assess Party-specific datasets as necessary) l

Use Statistics – Use by Parties Initial version of software deployed in December 2004 to 41 Annex I Parties l Presently have 11 active users (interacting via CRF helpdesk system (online or email) l Four Annex I Parties reported their 2005 inventory submissions using new CRF Reporter software • New Zealand • Canada • Romania • Hungary … at least one more planning to report in 2005 using CRF Reporter l l One non-Annex I Party requested software

Use Statistics – Support Requests Types XML import Recalculations Installation Industrial Process General Excel related issues

Use Statistics – Active Parties Canada France Hungary Japan New Romania Zealand Russian Slovakia Federation Sweden UK USA

Use Statistics – Support Requests Flow

User Support Informal technical meetings/discussions arranged for interested Parties: - First informal technical meeting, 22 February 2004 - Second informal technical meeting, 31 May 2005 …. discussions feedback into ongoing development Preparing to provide technical support with version 2 post-deployment - ensure ease of use & full reporting in 2006 by all Annex I Parties Improving process organization as well … there is a need to have a more streamlined submission process: For 2006 considering data repository approach in conjunction with dedicated email communication process …. avoid past difficulties with tracking of communications, file size limitations, confirmation process, etc.

Ongoing Development Main focus of version 2 development: Improving the bulk import process – simplification of XML schema (ease the identification of variables to import) l Integration of the CRF LULUCF tables adopted by COP l Improvements to certain functionality and correction of bugs as a result of first round of feedback from users l Revision of technical documentation to reflect new developments l

Ongoing Development (II) Initial implementation of LULUCF structure completed ….

Ongoing Development (III) Timeline for version 2 development: l Alfa version - Mid-June l Beta version - Early July l Full cycle and technical testing June – July l Party/expert-based testing - July l Release candidate review/acceptance – August Full datasets preparations (include most recent data reported by Parties in deployment version) l l Version 2 Deployment - late August/early September

Hands-on User Workshop The secretariat is planning to host a hands-on user workshop for Annex I Parties following the deployment of version 2 of the CRF Reporter – approximately end of September The aims of the workshop will be: l To ensure early exposure to software by users l Solve immediate software or data problems in advance of more high-pressure reporting period in early 2006 l Ensure the secretariat is better able to support users by identifying clearly needs and areas of difficulty l Collect any input that may relevant to the submission process in the context of the new software l Establish an informal user group / contacts between Parties with similar experiences or problems

Software Use in 2006 In line with the decisions of the COP and conclusions of the SBSTA: • All Annex I Parties should use the CRF Reporter (version 2) for reporting their inventories in 2006 This is crucial for a number of reasons: • The substantive requirements of the revised CRF will be available in the new software, allowing Parties to meet their reporting commitments • Reporting in multiple software (formats) will lead to some difficulties in comparability across Parties and in conducting consistent reviews across Parties • The resource and technical burden on the secretariat to support the management and processing of data from multiple software will be significant

UNFCCC GHG Data Management Flow Complex presently … new developments to facilitate work in the future Data Custodian CRF Reporter Submission Excel Sheets Support Review Tracking DB Conversion CRF Reporter V. 1 Annex-I Parties CRF Spreadsheet application Registering and Importing Importer S&A tables Key sources, trends, . . . Excel CRF Submissions CRF DB Data Mining Data Analyst Consistency Check Report Quality Control Annual data compilation Supporter Helpdesk Online DB GHG DB Support Parties’ Submission process Disseminate data IT developer CRF Reporter V. 2

UNFCCC GHG Data Management Flow (II) In 2006 simplified by CRF Reporter related developments … …. and use by all Annex I Parties Data Custodian CRF Reporter Submission Excel Sheets Support Review Tracking DB Conversion CRF Reporter V. 1 Annex-I Parties CRF Spreadsheet application Registering and Importing Importer S&A tables Key sources, trends, . . . Excel CRF Submissions CRF DB Data Mining Data Analyst Consistency Check Report Quality Control Annual data compilation Supporter Helpdesk Online DB GHG DB Support Parties’ Submission process Disseminate data IT developer CRF Reporter V. 2

UNFCCC GHG Data Management Flow (II) In 2006 simplified by CRF Reporter related developments … …. and use by all Annex I Parties Data Custodian Support Review Tracking DB S&A tables Key sources, trends, . . . CRF Reporter V. 2 Annex-I Parties GHG DB Data Mining Data Analyst Annual data compilation Helpdesk Supporter Online DB Support Parties’ Submission process Disseminate data

Summary l l l l Initial version of CRF Reporter is in use Limited use so far this year – 5 Parties (12%) expected to report using CRF Reporter software this year Secretariat has implemented online user support system for Parties Informal technical meetings with Parties to facilitate process are being arranged Parties have had/will have opportunity to be involved in testing Deployment scheduled for late August/early September Secretariat will have a hands-on user workshop in September All Annex I Parties to report in 2006 using version 2 of the CRF Reporter

Follow-Up & More Information Monday 23 May, 10 -12 h 00 & 15 -17 h 00, room Mann • Further demonstrations • Answers to detailed / technical questions • Information on: voluntary testing; deployment process; user support; hands-on workshop For more information on CRF Reporter contact: James Grabert (jgrabert@unfccc. int) Vincent Lalieu (vlalieu@unfccc. int) Tleussen Temertekov (ttemertekov@unfccc. int) Renat Ishmukhametov (rishmukhametov@unfccc. int) Thank you!