Author Archives: Ian Holt
Update on data resources during COVID-19 pandemic
Measures taken by government agencies to stymie the ongoing pandemic have resulted in unique situations across the country affecting consultants’ abilities to access public data. The subsequent building closures, skeleton staffs, and work from home orders mean that access to … Continue reading
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
America’s wetlands provide tourism revenue, drinking water maintenance, natural disaster buffer zones, shoreline erosion control and invaluable ecosystem services. The productivity of wetlands ecosystems rivals rain forests and coral reefs. Wetlands account for a mere 5% of land area in … Continue reading
National Environmental Policy Act – NEPA Checklist
NEPA, or the National Environmental Policy Act, has been an essential part of the EPA since it was signed into law in 1970. As one of the first major environmental laws created in the United States, NEPA has been described … Continue reading
Texas Railroad Commission Undergoes Review
Earlier this year, for the third time since 2010, the Sunset Advisory Commission of the 85th Texas Legislature has completed its review of the Texas Railroad Commission. It concluded that no major structural changes were necessary but emphasized improvements to … Continue reading
Innovations in Geography – Understanding Communities through GIS
During the 2016 Texas GIS Forum hosted by TNRIS, Dr. Nazgol Bagheri made history as the first female keynote. Dr. Bagheri is a trained architect and urban planner currently serving as an Assistant Professor in Department of Political Science and … Continue reading
Happy Thanksgiving from Banks Environmental Data
In honor of a holiday best known for turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes we decided to bring a bit of history to the table. The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 – almost four centuries ago. During this time, explorers were … Continue reading