The Ecobot Podcast

Today, we unpack episode 19 on preferred new Wetland Data Ecosystem workflows for delineations and assessments, Wetland prediction models, GNSS receivers, field data collection, field mapping, and GIS post processing.  Last week's guests stick around for a Q&A - Erica Pergande from SEH, Inc., Chris Fleming from BDY Environmental, and Jennifer Herrera from ESE Partners.

More from host Jeremy Schewe (Ecobot):
As an ecologist conducting wetlands delineations, threatened & endangered species surveys, and baseline ecological inventories for over 18 years around the world, I have been able to avoid the rise of tech for many years more than people in most other professions, due to the lack of quality tools available to environmental scientists. It is the 21st century, however, and the wheel of innovation is rolling through every profession, including earth sciences.

In this webinar, we will discuss how it is essential that tech be simple, intuitive, and shaped by scientists. We need technology that wraps and enhances our existing methodologies and protocols. Our shared vision as scientists is that good technology should be almost invisible and is not simply a transference of inefficiency from one process to another. The wrong kind of technology just adds to the stresses of balancing conservation and monitoring with permitting and state and federal changes in the legal jurisdiction of water bodies.

Data collection and analysis are the foundation for the creation of knowledge, and knowledge leads to the protection of our natural resources while enabling economic progress. The right kind of technology gets out of the scientist’s way and allows for a greater percentage of attention and focus on the creation of this critical knowledge. In this webinar series, we discuss technology trends in the wetland science community from GPS collectors, field equipment, drones, data collection applications, digitization of the regulatory review process, with the goal-setting a high bar of expectations for new technologies that are becoming part of our everyday workflows.

The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.

Today, we dive deep into some of the preferred new Wetland Data Ecosystem workflows for delineations and assessments, Wetland prediction models, GNSS receivers, field data collection, field mapping, and GIS post processing.  Today's guests are Erica Pergande from SEH, Inc., Chris Fleming from BDY Environmental, and Jennifer Herrera from ESE Partners.

More from host Jeremy Schewe (Ecobot):
As an ecologist conducting wetlands delineations, threatened & endangered species surveys, and baseline ecological inventories for over 18 years around the world, I have been able to avoid the rise of tech for many years more than people in most other professions, due to the lack of quality tools available to environmental scientists. It is the 21st century, however, and the wheel of innovation is rolling through every profession, including earth sciences.

In this webinar, we will discuss how it is essential that tech be simple, intuitive, and shaped by scientists. We need technology that wraps and enhances our existing methodologies and protocols. Our shared vision as scientists is that good technology should be almost invisible and is not simply a transference of inefficiency from one process to another. The wrong kind of technology just adds to the stresses of balancing conservation and monitoring with permitting and state and federal changes in the legal jurisdiction of water bodies.

Data collection and analysis are the foundation for the creation of knowledge, and knowledge leads to the protection of our natural resources while enabling economic progress. The right kind of technology gets out of the scientist’s way and allows for a greater percentage of attention and focus on the creation of this critical knowledge. In this webinar series, we discuss technology trends in the wetland science community from GPS collectors, field equipment, drones, data collection applications, digitization of the regulatory review process, with the goal-setting a high bar of expectations for new technologies that are becoming part of our everyday workflows.

The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.

In this episode, we follow up on last week's conversation about how drones and apps can help narrow the scope of fieldwork efforts and reduce cost of regulatory wetland delineations.

Moderators:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Cofounder & Chief Scientific Officer,  Ecobot
Daniel Martin, Consultant/Project Manager, Esri

Panelists:
Ryan Gay, Environmental Consultant, Whitenton Group Environmental Consultants
Bill VanSickle, St. Johns River Water Management District
Jeremiah Johnson, Drone Technology Evangelist, Esri
Caitlin Burke, Environmental Consultant, GHA
Marinus Boon, Sr. Remote Sensing Scientist & Wetland Specialist, Pattle Delamore Partners

The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.

In this episode co-hosted with Esri, we will introduce several case studies showcasing the integration of drone deployment with powerful GIS and field applications software.  Advancements in the ever-evolving wetland science and technology ecosystem are creating massive levels of efficiency in wetland mapping and monitoring.  Additionally, learn about how drones and apps can help narrow the scope of fieldwork efforts and reduce cost of regulatory wetland delineations.

Moderators:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Cofounder & Chief Scientific Officer,  Ecobot
Daniel Martin, Consultant/Project Manager, Esri

Panelists:
Ryan Gay, Environmental Consultant, Whitenton Group Environmental Consultants
Bill VanSickle, St. Johns River Water Management District
Jeremiah Johnson, Drone Technology Evangelist, Esri
Caitlin Burke, Environmental Consultant, GHA
Marinus Boon, Sr. Remote Sensing Scientist & Wetland Specialist, Pattle Delamore Partners

Topics:

• Drone (UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) deployment for monitoring changes in vegetation and impacts to wetlands
• UAV deployment to verify extent of wetlands and better concentrate efforts for regulatory delineations
• Introduce some new hardware and software for collecting pertinent wetland data via UAV
• Tools/software for post-processing of UAV aerial photography for GIS maps, creating 3-D models, and conducting fieldwork more efficiently
• Impact of UAV deployment on project management, planning, and budgeting

   More from Jeremy:

  As an ecologist conducting wetlands delineations, threatened & endangered species surveys, and baseline ecological inventories for over 17 years around the world, I have been able to avoid the rise of tech for many years more than people in most other professions, due to the lack of quality tools available to environmental scientists. It is the 21st century, however, and the wheel of innovation is rolling through every profession, including earth sciences.

  In this episode, we will discuss how it is essential that tech be simple, intuitive, and shaped by scientists. We need technology that wraps and enhances our existing methodologies and protocols. Our shared vision as scientists is that good technology should be almost invisible and is not simply a transference of inefficiency from one process to another. The wrong kind of technology just adds to the stresses of balancing conservation and monitoring with permitting and state and federal changes in the legal jurisdiction of water bodies.

  Data collection and analysis are the foundation for the creation of knowledge, and knowledge leads to the protection of our natural resources while enabling economic progress. The right kind of technology gets out of the scientist’s way and allows for a greater percentage of attention and focus on the creation of this critical knowledge. In this webinar series, we discuss technology trends in the wetland science community from GPS collectors, field equipment, drones, data collection applications, digitization of the regulatory review process, with the goal-setting a high bar of expectations for new technologies that are becoming part of our everyday workflows.

  The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.

In this episode, we follow up on last week's conversation around the current state of affairs around wetland mitigation banking and respective policy with bankers, consultants, and policy makers. We also introduce how some bankers, regulators, and consultants are leveraging technology to reduce risk and increase resiliency in due diligence planning, bank design, implementation, and monitoring.

Moderators:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Chief Scientific Officer,  Ecobot
Daniel Martin, Consultant/Project Manager, Esri

Presenters & Panelists:
Drew Haley, Director of Operations, Mitigation Resources of North America
Victoria Colangelo, CEO, The Mitigation Banking Group, Inc.
Susan-Marie Stedman, MS, Wetland Scientist/Policy Analyst, NOAA
Kae Hovater, President, Florida Association of Mitigation Bankers
Nichoel Church, PWS, Environmental Scientist, Snyder & Associates, Inc.
Tara Allden, J.D., Natural Resources Specialist, Kimley-Horn
Michael Sprague, CEO, Trout Headwaters, Inc.

The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.

In this podcast we dive into the current state of affairs around wetland mitigation banking and respective policy with bankers, consultants, and policy makers. We also introduce how some bankers, regulators, and consultants are leveraging technology to reduce risk and increase resiliency in due diligence planning, bank design, implementation, and monitoring.

Moderators:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Chief Scientific Officer,  Ecobot
Daniel Martin, Consultant/Project Manager, Esri

Presenters & Panelists:
Drew Haley, Director of Operations, Mitigation Resources of North America
Victoria Colangelo, CEO, The Mitigation Banking Group, Inc.
Susan-Marie Stedman, MS, Wetland Scientist/Policy Analyst, NOAA
Kae Hovater, President, Florida Association of Mitigation Bankers
Nichoel Church, PWS, Environmental Scientist, Snyder & Associates, Inc.
Tara Allden, J.D., Natural Resources Specialist, Kimley-Horn
Michael Sprague, CEO, Trout Headwaters, Inc.

Topics:
Overview of wetland mitigation banking
Case studies in the integration of tech with wetland mitigation banking
Wetland and stream mitigation current state of affairs
Roving policy changes and impacts to wetland mitigation banking
Q&A discussion with panel and presenters

More from Jeremy:
As an ecologist conducting wetlands delineations, threatened & endangered species surveys, and baseline ecological inventories for over 18 years around the world, I have been able to avoid the rise of tech for many years more than people in most other professions, due to the lack of quality tools available to environmental scientists. It is the 21st century, however, and the wheel of innovation is rolling through every profession, including earth sciences.

In this webinar, we discuss how it is essential that tech be simple, intuitive, and shaped by scientists. We need technology that wraps and enhances our existing methodologies and protocols. Our shared vision as scientists is that good technology should be almost invisible and is not simply a transference of inefficiency from one process to another. The wrong kind of technology just adds to the stresses of balancing conservation and monitoring with permitting and state and federal changes in the legal jurisdiction of water bodies.

Data collection and analysis are the foundation for the creation of knowledge, and knowledge leads to the protection of our natural resources while enabling economic progress. The right kind of technology gets out of the scientist’s way and allows for a greater percentage of attention and focus on the creation of this critical knowledge. In this webinar series, we discuss technology trends in the wetland science community from GPS collectors, field equipment, drones, data collection applications, digitization of the regulatory review process, with the goal-setting a high bar of expectations for new technologies that are becoming part of our everyday workflows.

The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.

Today we follow up from episode 13, with Q&A on how wetland managers and scientists are utilizing GIS tools and field applications to monitor and delineate wetlands more efficiently.

Host:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Chief Scientific Officer,  Ecobot

Presenters & Panelists:
Doug Morgenthaler, Program Manager, Esri
Kelly Gonzales Brezovar, PWS, Team Lead + Senior Environmental Scientist, Hollaway Environmental
Ally Altemose, PWS, Director of Environmental Services, Hollaway Environmental
Kasey Clarke, Environmental Scientist, Hollaway Environmental
Christopher Garza, GIS Specialist & Environmental Scientist, Hollaway Environmental

Topics:
GIS and field apps for wetland delineations, assessments, and monitoring
Workflow of consultants for more efficient delineation and reporting process
Transmission of data between the field and office
How cutting-edge companies are thriving on the new ecosystem of GIS software, GNSS receivers, and field applications
Workflow enhancement of wetland delineations with ArcGIS Field Maps

More from Jeremy:
As an ecologist conducting wetlands delineations, threatened & endangered species surveys, and baseline ecological inventories for over 18 years around the world, I have been able to avoid the rise of tech for many years more than people in most other professions, due to the lack of quality tools available to environmental scientists. It is the 21st century, however, and the wheel of innovation is rolling through every profession, including earth sciences.

In this podcast, we discuss how it is essential that tech be simple, intuitive, and shaped by scientists. We need technology that wraps and enhances our existing methodologies and protocols. Our shared vision as scientists is that good technology should be almost invisible and is not simply a transference of inefficiency from one process to another. The wrong kind of technology just adds to the stresses of balancing conservation and monitoring with permitting and state and federal changes in the legal jurisdiction of water bodies.

Data collection and analysis are the foundation for the creation of knowledge, and knowledge leads to the protection of our natural resources while enabling economic progress. The right kind of technology gets out of the scientist’s way and allows for a greater percentage of attention and focus on the creation of this critical knowledge. In this webinar series, we discuss technology trends in the wetland science community from GPS collectors, field equipment, drones, data collection applications, digitization of the regulatory review process, with the goal-setting a high bar of expectations for new technologies that are becoming part of our everyday workflows.

The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.

In this podcast we explore how wetland managers and scientists are utilizing GIS tools and field applications to monitor and delineate wetlands more efficiently. We take a look at how consulting companies prepare their GIS basemaps in ArcGIS, collects their wetland and geospatial data in Ecobot, and then create a final map and report to submit to the US Army Corps of Engineers for a JD.  Also, we learn about the exciting workflow enhancement of wetland geospatial data between the field and office in ArcGIS Field Maps.

Host:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Chief Scientific Officer,  Ecobot

Presenters & Panelists:
Doug Morgenthaler, Program Manager, Esri
Kelly Gonzales Brezovar, PWS, Team Lead + Senior Environmental Scientist, Hollaway Environmental
Ally Altemose, PWS, Director of Environmental Services, Hollaway Environmental
Kasey Clarke, Environmental Scientist, Hollaway Environmental
Christopher Garza, GIS Specialist & Environmental Scientist, Hollaway Environmental

Topics:
GIS and field apps for wetland delineations, assessments, and monitoring
Workflow of consultants for more efficient delineation and reporting process
Transmission of data between the field and office
How cutting-edge companies are thriving on the new ecosystem of GIS software, GNSS receivers, and field applications
Workflow enhancement of wetland delineations with ArcGIS Field Maps

More from Jeremy:
As an ecologist conducting wetlands delineations, threatened & endangered species surveys, and baseline ecological inventories for over 18 years around the world, I have been able to avoid the rise of tech for many years more than people in most other professions, due to the lack of quality tools available to environmental scientists. It is the 21st century, however, and the wheel of innovation is rolling through every profession, including earth sciences.

In this podcast, we discuss how it is essential that tech be simple, intuitive, and shaped by scientists. We need technology that wraps and enhances our existing methodologies and protocols. Our shared vision as scientists is that good technology should be almost invisible and is not simply a transference of inefficiency from one process to another. The wrong kind of technology just adds to the stresses of balancing conservation and monitoring with permitting and state and federal changes in the legal jurisdiction of water bodies.

Data collection and analysis are the foundation for the creation of knowledge, and knowledge leads to the protection of our natural resources while enabling economic progress. The right kind of technology gets out of the scientist’s way and allows for a greater percentage of attention and focus on the creation of this critical knowledge. In this webinar series, we discuss technology trends in the wetland science community from GPS collectors, field equipment, drones, data collection applications, digitization of the regulatory review process, with the goal-setting a high bar of expectations for new technologies that are becoming part of our everyday workflows.

The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.

Today we follow up from episode 11, with Q&A on how wetland managers and scientists are utilizing and accessing GIS tools and data sets to predict, model, monitor, and delineate wetlands. We will take a look in the Arc Hydro toolbox at the Hydroperiod tool, as well as see how scientists are using the new US Army Corps of Engineers Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT) to simplify project area rainfall analysis.

Host:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Cofounder & Chief Scientific Officer,  Ecobot

Panelists:
Sandra Fox, MS, GISP Sr. Project Manager, St. Johns River Water Management District
Bakari Powell, Hydrologist III, St. Johns River Water Management District
Allen Ingram, Project Consultant, Spirit Environmental Consulting
Jacqueline Smolik, PWS, Project Manager, Spirit Environmental Consulting
Dean Djokic, Water Resources Practice Manager, Esri

In this episode, we will explore how wetland managers and scientists are utilizing and accessing GIS tools and data sets to predict, model, monitor, and delineate wetlands. We will take a look in the Arc Hydro toolbox at the Hydroperiod tool, as well as see how scientists are using the new US Army Corps of Engineers Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT) to simplify project area rainfall analysis.

Host:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Cofounder & Chief Scientific Officer,  Ecobot

Panelists:
Sandra Fox, MS, GISP Sr. Project Manager, St. Johns River Water Management District
Bakari Powell, Hydrologist III, St. Johns River Water Management District
Allen Ingram, Project Consultant, Spirit Environmental Consulting
Jacqueline Smolik, PWS, Project Manager, Spirit Environmental Consulting
Dean Djokic, Water Resources Practice Manager, Esri

Topics:
Introduction to powerful GIS tools and data sets for predicting, modeling, monitoring, and delineating wetlands
How to locate and find data for your projects
Arc Hyro Hydroperiod tool use to determine wetland areas susceptible to reduced inundation from proposed water withdrawals.
Explore the new USACE Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT) for simplification of project area rainfall analysis now required for a wetland delineations as described in the updated Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR)
Q&A with Jeremy, Daniel, and our panelists/presenters

More from Jeremy:
As an ecologist conducting wetlands delineations, threatened & endangered species surveys, and baseline ecological inventories for over 17 years around the world, I have been able to avoid the rise of tech for many years more than people in most other professions, due to the lack of quality tools available to environmental scientists. It is the 21st century, however, and the wheel of innovation is rolling through every profession, including earth sciences.
In this webinar, we will discuss how it is essential that tech be simple, intuitive, and shaped by scientists. We need technology that wraps and enhances our existing methodologies and protocols. Our shared vision as scientists is that good technology should be almost invisible and is not simply a transference of inefficiency from one process to another. The wrong kind of technology just adds to the stresses of balancing conservation and monitoring with permitting and state and federal changes in the legal jurisdiction of water bodies.
Data collection and analysis are the foundation for the creation of knowledge, and knowledge leads to the protection of our natural resources while enabling economic progress. The right kind of technology gets out of the scientist’s way and allows for a greater percentage of attention and focus on the creation of this critical knowledge. In this webinar series, we discuss technology trends in the wetland science community from GPS collectors, field equipment, drones, data collection applications, digitization of the regulatory review process, with the goal-setting a high bar of expectations for new technologies that are becoming part of our everyday workflows.

The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.