• Native Network
• Roster of ECR Practitioners
• Federal ECR Policy
• NEPA and ECR
• Evaluation Program
  •    Multi-agency ECR Evaluation Study
• Published Articles
• Web Links
• Using Technology in ECR Processes
• National ECR Conference
• Open Government Data

Technology in ECR

As our society and its technologies evolve, people are communicating, networking, learning, and participating in interesting new ways. Government leaders, scientists and academics, NGO advocates, and ECR practitioners are discovering how new computer assisted decision making tools and emerging forms of electronic communication can be useful in resolving controversial decision-making processes. Examples include web-based project and information management tools, computer-assisted decision support systems, visualization, modeling, and simulation tools, and a range of survey tools and electronic methods for content analysis. These tools represent new opportunities, as well as significant challenges for the ECR community (practitioners, agencies, and stakeholder participants.) in finding appropriate applications to foster collaboration and dispute resolution processes for a range of project contexts, including land use, ecosystem management, water, transportation, and energy.

The U.S. Institute is committed to providing leadership to the ECR community, and is currently working to identify and sponsor initiatives that lead to further innovation and application of these tools to ECR processes. Specifically, the Institute's Technology Working Group has committed to:

• Convening national-level discussions to explore opportunities to integrate computer-assisted tools with ECR efforts
• Identifying and seeking opportunities to work with partners in developing training and capacity building opportunities – for ECR practitioners, federal agencies, and interested stakeholders
• Offering greater accessibility, via the Institute's website, to emerging opportunities in this area
• Sponsoring and documenting project-level innovations.

Technology and ECR: National Strategic Planning Session - summary report now available.
In May 2009 the US Institute hosted a planning session to explore the growing interest in incorporating technology based tools into collaborative environmental processes. The session drew a wide variety of participants who worked to develop key recommendations and initiatives to direct the energy and interest in this area. Download the summary report here.

Did you know...?

Where to start? To design the best technology platform, first consider the design of your project. What are your needs and intentions? Who are you hoping to involve, where are they, and do they use the Internet? What resources do you have? Can you manage technology with existing resources or do you need help?