October 18, 2012
2:30-4:00 EST

Learn how to use geographic information system (GIS) tools to better balance the needs of transportation projects with environmental concerns at this webinar sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Technology Implementation Group. "Maryland’s Green Infrastructure Assessment and Approach: A Strategic Approach to Environmental Stewardship for US 301 Waldorf Area Transportation Improvements Project" focuses on Maryland’s application of geographic information system (GIS) tools in a transportation improvement project, underscoring how early collaborative planning among transportation and natural resource agencies has produced ecosystem-based frameworks to guide transportation decisions. Using GIS tools for environmental planning has resulted in multiple benefits for Maryland, including:

• Data-driven decision support systems that produce high-quality transportation projects
• Early multi-agency integration, which speeds up project planning and completion, allows regulatory compliance to be achieved more quickly, and improves working relationships among agencies
• A systems approach that improves quality and provides more cost-effective stewardship while increasing ecological benefits

Presenters: Mr. Daniel W. Johnson, Environmental Program Specialist, FHWA Resource Center at Baltimore

(Moderator)
Dr. Christine Conn, Director, Strategic Land Planning, Office for a Sustainable Future, MD DNR
Ms. Sandy Hertz, Deputy Director, Office of Environmental Design, MD SHA
Mr. Craig Shirk, Consultant Environmental Manager for US 301, Gannett Fleming, Inc.