Event Details

November 21-22, 2024

FULL AGENDA

Workshops: Thursday, November 21st

Our workshops provide access to in-depth training from industry leaders that help further your professional skills and networking opportunities. Registration for workshops is sold separately.

Sessions & Exhibits: Friday, November 22nd

Explore a day of sessions and exhibit booths to hear about the latest advancements in the private and public sector and connect with the geospatial community.

Download Event Guide

November 21, 2024 - November 22, 2024

Thur Fri

Thursday

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Registration

Location: Student Services Building (First Floor)

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Working with Attribute Rules in ArcGIS Pro to Imporove Data Integrity Workshop Canceled

TeachMeGIS

Location: Student Services Building Room 2.201.02

Workshop Canceled: Attendees will be notified about compensation options by organizers.

Overview:

When editing GIS data, ArcGIS Pro provides many tools to speed up the process and to help keep the data clean. Attribute rules, new in ArcGIS Pro, are user-defined rules that allow attributes to be automatically populated, prevent invalid edits, and identify any attribute values that are not consistent. For example, if you are editing road data, you can make a rule that ensures that Interstate Highways always have a speed limit between 45 and 75 mph. Or if you are editing pipelines, you can make sure that water lines made of PVC automatically get set as a diameter of 3 in. This class will show you how to create and use Attribute Rules for editing in ArcGIS Pro.

About the Vendor:

Jennifer Harrison-TeachMeGIS

Jennifer Harrison is the founder of TeachMeGIS, a GIS training center based in Houston, Texas. Jenny has been working with and teaching GIS for over 30 years. She holds a Master of Science degree in Geosciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. She and her team have trained thousands of GIS professionals in various organizations across the US and around the world. Jenny is a GISP and is the author of the TeachMeGIS GISP Test Preparation training course.

TeachMeGIS, the training branch of Inner Corridor Technologies, Inc., is a leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training and consulting. Staffed with GIS professionals who have extensive industry experience, our training center offers high quality training at a reasonable price.

Devices and license are provided. Registrants have the option of bringing their own computer devices.

Registration for workshops is sold separately.

8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

ArcGIS Hub: Best Practices for Site Creation and Content Management

ESRI

Location: Student Services Building Room 2.201.03

Overview:

Organizations around the world are using ArcGIS Hub to engage communities, promote transparency, collaborate across departments, and make critical data open and accessible. Attend this session to get an introduction to ArcGIS Hub and see the innovative, impactful ways it is being used. We will share best practices for site creation and content management, including user roles and privileges, login configurations, managing domains, download workflows, and sharing content.

About the Speaker:
Joseph "Brigs" Bowles (Esri)

Devices and license are provided. Registrants have the option of bringing their own computer devices.

Registration for workshops is sold separately.

8:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Cloud Computing with Earth Engine and Geemap

Dr. Qiusheng Wu

Location: Student Services Building Room 2.201.01

Overview:

This workshop is designed for geospatial professionals and enthusiasts looking to enhance their skills in cloud computing and 3D mapping. Participants will dive into Google Earth Engine and Geemap to create interactive maps and analyze large-scale geospatial datasets. Topics include:

Building interactive maps
Visualizing and analyzing Earth Engine datasets
Exploring Earth Engine Data Catalogs
Exporting data for further use
Creating interactive charts from Earth Engine datasets
Creating stunning timelapse animations

About the Speaker:

Dr. Qiusheng Wu

Dr. Qiusheng Wu is an Associate Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Geography & Sustainability at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He also serves as an Amazon Visiting Academic. Dr. Wu specializes in geospatial data science and open-source software development, with a research focus on utilizing big geospatial data and cloud computing to study environmental changes, particularly in surface water and wetland inundation dynamics. He is the creator of several widely used open-source Python packages, including geemap, leafmap, and segment-geospatial, which are designed for advanced geospatial analysis and visualization. Explore his open-source contributions on GitHub at https://github.com/opengeos.

Devices and license are provided. Registrants have the option of bringing their own computer devices.

Registration for workshops is sold separately.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Lunch

Student Services Building- First Floor Lobby

Lunch is guaranteed to all attendees who requested before Nov 11th

Food Options are Vegetarian Salad or Tex Mex Fajitas

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Keynote

GISP Certification

Joshua Dye

Location: Student Services Building- First Floor Lobby

Harris Central Appraisal District

About the Speaker:

Joshua Dye

With 20 years of experience in GIS, Joshua brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for advancing the field, particularly in Land Records and 3D GIS. From developing simple topology models to exploring cutting-edge Parcel Fabrics and emerging Digital Twin technologies, he consistently looks toward the horizon for ways to innovate and expand GIS technologies.

During his keynote, Joshua will share valuable insights into GISP certification, offering attendees guidance on achieving this professional milestone while discussing the evolving opportunities in the GIS field.

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploring the World of ArcGIS Experience Builder

ESRI

Location: Student Services Building Room 2.201.03

Overview:

ArcGIS Experience Builder enables you to effortlessly convert your data into captivating web applications, all without the need for coding. Whether you're creating map-centric or non-map-centric apps, you have the flexibility to showcase them on fixed or scrolling screens, across single or multiple pages. Utilize a simple drag-and-drop interface to select from a diverse array of widgets, allowing you to tailor your app with the tools you require. Design custom templates and seamlessly interact with both 2D and 3D content, all within a single application. With ArcGIS Experience Builder, your web applications not only boast a visually appealing design but also deliver seamless performance across various mobile devices.

About the Speaker:

Joseph "Brigs" Bowles (Esri)

Words.

Devices and license are provided. Registrants have the option of bringing their own computer devices.

Registration for workshops is sold separately.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

3D Mapping with MapLibre and Leafmap

Dr. Qiusheng Wu

Location: Student Services Building Room 2.201.01

Overview:

In this hands-on workshop, geospatial professionals will discover how to harness the power of MapLibre and Leafmap to create dynamic, interactive 3D maps. Attendees will learn how to:

Create interactive 2D maps with ipyleaflet
Create interactive 3D maps with MapLibre
Visualize 3D terrain, 3D buildings, and 3D indoor mapping
Visualize local and cloud-based geospatial data, including COG, STAC, and PMTiles
Add custom map components
Export 3D maps as HTML for seamless website integration

About the Speaker:

Dr. Qiusheng Wu

Devices and license are provided. Registrants have the option of bringing their own computer devices.

Registration for workshops is sold separately.

Friday

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration

Location: Atrium I

9:00 AM - 9:10 AM

Welcome Address

Location: Theater(2nd Floor)

9:10 AM - 10:00 AM

Session

Plenary

Morgan Mooso, Jennifer Ruiz, Amy Cleare, and Morgan Jibowu

Location: Theater(2nd Floor)

Overview:

Each presenter will speak for about 5-10 minutes, giving attendees insights into a variety of GIS topics. This session is designed to provide a quick yet informative overview, setting the stage for a full day of engaging GIS-related workshops and discussions.

Presentations:

NASA’s Use of GIS in Action

A brief overview of how people use GIS to support NASA and operations on center.

About the Speaker:

Morgan Mooso
Enterprise GIS Developer, Langley Research Center, NASA

Morgan is an GIS Developer for NASA’s Geospatial Support Services, which manages an Enterprise GIS Portal supporting multiple NASA centers. With over 10 years of experience as a GIS professional, she has worked for multiple government agencies, including the USDA, US Army, US Air Force, and currently NASA. Her work has help with standardization of geospatial data, especially for the DoD and NASA, having written several guidance documents for natural resource layers, specifically wildland fire data. She has served as the co-chair of the Geospatial Standards Committee for NASA’s Geospatial Community of Practice Committee.

Morgan has a BS in Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and currently working on a Space Studies Masters Degree at Rice University. Her focus is on remote sensing and Planetary Science. She is a graduate of the GIS Leadership Academy from the Geospatial Professional Network, formally URISA, and a recipient, along with her Geospatial Support Service Team, of the NASA Silver Group Achievement Award in 2023.

Response of Texas Mangroves to Extreme Freeze: Earth Observation Insights

Coastal wetlands provide vital ecosystem services and are important model systems for ecology. Scientists have made substantial progress using plot-based methods to study these ecosystems and the pressing challenges they face globally such as habitat loss due to erosion, anthropogenic disturbances, and sea-level rise. Despite this progress, these studies have been limited by small spatial extent/scale. In this light, remote sensing can be a valuable tool for converting localized patterns into large-scale ecological studies. The focus of this study will be on a severe freeze that occurred in February of 2021 that caused catastrophic mangrove mortality along the Gulf Coast of Texas. Specifically, I will focus on its impacts on mangrove and marsh vegetation on Harbor Island in Port Aransas, Texas.

About the Speaker:

Jennifer Ruiz
Jennifer is a second-year PhD student at the University of Houston studying wetland ecology and GIS. Her research combines long-term, field-based data from wetlands in Southeast Georgia and South Texas with remote sensing of varying temporal and spatial resolutions. As a first-generation college student, first-generation Mexican American, and Houston native, she is passionate about sharing science with her community!

Utility Network for Water Utilities

Water Utilities and GIS provides a unique challenge of precision and innovation. Presented is “a day in the life of” a Utility Network Wastewater / Water GIS support.

About the Speaker:

Amy Cleare
Amy Cleare started her career at the City of Virginia Beach - Public Works GIS and then spent fifteen years working in various industries. These include epidemiology - tracking disease within a research team, defense contractor with National Geospatial Agency in DC and in Afghanistan, as well as small shop consultant work for land parcels, other GIS data projects, and an apple-based company -Foreflight, which is an integrated flight application. She worked in upstream oil & gas, then moved into municipal government at City of La Porte and now serves as a public servant for the City of Houston as the GIS manager for Houston Water. She manages a team of twenty-four fulltime GIS professionals who focus on GIS production updates to water and wastewater utility network, as well as provide a variety of GIS solutions to the organization in the form of applications, maps, analysis, and mobile tools.

Using GIS to Understand and Mitigate Vector-Borne Diseases

Mosquito-borne diseases pose significant public health challenges, necessitating innovative approaches for effective management and control. This presentation explores the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a powerful tool for understanding and mitigating mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. By overlaying spatial data with mosquito trapping data, we identify non-random patterns that suggest a close relationship between built environment factors and mosquitoes. This relationship allows us to develop predictive models for medically important mosquito populations. However, our models currently overlook microenvironments and the impact of natural disasters. To better understand mosquito population dynamics with these complexities, we propose the use of drone technology for data collection and mapping of potential breeding sites. This presentation aims to highlight how GIS can be used to develop innovative solutions in addressing mosquito-borne diseases, ultimately contributing to more effective public health interventions.

About the Speaker:

Morgan Jibowu, PhD, MPH
Dr. Morgan Jibowu is a postdoctoral researcher at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, where she uses her background in epidemiology, GIS, and data science to explore how the environments we live in can shape health outcomes. She earned her Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Texas School of Public Health and is passionate about finding ways to improve public health, especially for underserved communities. Morgan’s work combines infectious disease research with spatial analysis to create tools and insights that make a real impact. She loves collaborating with others to bridge disciplines and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of scientists, inspiring them to make a positive difference in public health.

10:20 AM - 10:40 AM

Session 1

The Galveston Bay Regional Monitoring Database (RMD)

Melissa Lanclos, Qian Song & Nick Covey - Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

Location: Garden Room (1510)

Zoom

Survey

Overview:

The Galveston Bay Regional Monitoring Database (RMD) is an interactive portal that provides quality-assured downloads of GIS and tabular datasets, a searchable data catalog, and a series of GIS-based tools to explore, visualize, or create custom subsets of data for download using interactive Esri Dashboards and Web maps. The datasets and resource links included in the Galveston Bay RMD have been selected for their use as ecosystem indicators in collaboration with the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) in support of the conservation and management of Galveston Bay. The available datasets describe water and sediment quality, fish and wildlife abundance, and habitat, among other key ecosystem management categories. Data collected by federal, state, and local governments, universities, and research organizations can be downloaded for the geographic area of the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed. These datasets are provided for the full period of record available (in some cases dating back to the 1960s for long-term monitoring programs). A total of 14 interactive tools use GIS applications to explore the data and visualize trends for the region.

About the Speaker:

Melissa Lanclos

Melissa Lanclos is the Geospatial & Analytics Senior Manager with HARC. She has over 25 years of technological, innovative, and leadership experience in GIS. She has both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Geography from the University of Missouri.

Qian Song

Qian Song is a Senior Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Geodatabase Administrator. She started with HARC in January 2017 after graduating with a Master's degree in GIS from the University of Redlands in California. She also obtained a Master's degree in Fishery Resources from Shanghai Ocean University.

Nick Covey

Nicholas Covey is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst. He joined HARC in June of 2022 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in GIST from Texas A&M University.

The Role of GIS in Advancing Public Health

Barbara Meliadis & Lasya Venigalla - Harris County Public Health

Location: Forest Room (1430)

Zoom

Survey

Overview:

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the importance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in public health, serving as a platform for managing, visualizing, and analyzing spatial health data. At Harris County Public Health (HCPH), we leverage GIS to identify health disparities, map disease patterns, optimize resource allocation, assess environmental health risks, and enhance public health interventions by integrating location-based data with socioeconomic and demographic datasets. For instance, GIS has addressed healthcare access gaps in maternity care, tracked disease patterns like West Nile Virus, and improved emergency responses through Boil Water Notice maps. Additionally, we utilize surveys to gauge community needs and evaluate our services' impact, ensuring our strategies are effective in serving the public of Harris County. In our presentation, we will highlight additional GIS applications that advance public health decisions and provide an overview of our innovations at HCPH. By offering a spatial perspective, GIS helps decision-makers develop targeted strategies, improve public health outcomes, and prepare for future health challenges.

About the Speaker:

Barbara Meliadis

Barbara Meliadis is a Senior GIS Analyst at Harris County Public Health, with a master’s in Applied Geo-informatics and Environmental Risk Management from the University of Aegean in Greece. She specializes in remote sensing, hydrological modeling, and deep learning, focusing on data analysis and spatial modeling to develop GIS applications for real-world problems.

Lasya Venigalla

Lasya Venigalla, a GIS Analyst at Harris County Public Health, holds a Ph.D. in Geospatial Information Sciences from The University of Texas at Dallas and a Master’s in Geography from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Her expertise includes remote sensing, urban feature extraction, and deep learning, with a focus on innovative data collection using GIS technology. In 2023, they earned third place at GIS Day’s Professional Map Contest. In 2024, they won first place in the Mapper’s Choice category at the ESRI User Conference, competing against nearly 700 GIS community users, showcasing their dedication to advancing GIS in Public Health.

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM

Session 2

Crime Hotspots and Business Closures in Oakland, CA

Mark Leipnik - Sam Houston State University

Location: Garden Room (1510)

Zoom

Survey

Overview:

Closure of retail and related consumer-oriented businesses such as hotels and motels in the city of Oakland, California were mapped using ArcGIS Pro and compared to hotspots for a variety of different crimes over a four period. A number of crime hotspots associated with car theft, car break in ("bipping"), robbery and commercial burglary are spatially corelated with recent patterns of business closures in Oakland, California. In particular, fast-food restaurants, casual dining and hotels in the Hegenberger road and International Avenue areas and casual dining and cafes in the Fruitvale neighborhood were subject to closures blamed on crime related issues by their owners. These areas are also hotspots for crimes that impacted customers and operators.

About the Speaker:

Mark Leipnik - Sam Houston State University

Mark Leipnik is a professor of Geography at SHSU since 1996. He graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1995 with a PhD in Geography focused on environmental applications of GIS. He is author of two books and fifty plus publications related to GIS applications particularly in law enforcement, marketing and environmental areas.

Putting GIS to Work in Housing & Community Development

Paul Suckow & David Suman - Harris County Housing & Community Development

Location: Forest Room (1430)

Zoom

Survey

Overview:

This presentation highlights innovative GIS applications by Harris County Housing and Community Development. FindIt-Address Locator is a user-friendly tool for locating HUD-focused geographic data, helping users identify their precinct or verify if projects fall within the service area. It features clickable elements for additional information, valuable for both public and private sectors. The Community Demographics Dashboard 2022 offers an interactive interface to explore Harris County’s demographic characteristics using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2018-2022). With clickable areas and zoom functions, it provides insights into population size, age distribution, racial composition, income levels, and educational attainment. The LMI Summary Data Updates (2024) StoryMap allows users to explore recent HUD changes to Low-Moderate Income qualified block group data, effective from August 1st. It shows non-continuous Low-mod Block groups scattered throughout the HCD Service Area beyond the urban core. This session will demonstrate how these tools can inform HUD-focused work at Harris County Housing and Community Development and beyond.

About the Speakers:

David Suman

David Suman graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s in Geography. From 2019 to 2020, he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, working as a program researcher and planner in the mental health and substance abuse field in rural Ohio. In 2021, David relocated to Houston, joining Harris County Housing and Community Development. This opportunity allowed him to deepen his commitment to public service and expand his knowledge of housing and community development initiatives.

Paul Suckow

Paul Suckow's extensive experience spans two dynamic careers: Urban Planning and Community Development, and the implementation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) across businesses of all sizes. He leverages this unique blend of expertise as a Senior Planner with the Planning, Development, and Resiliency GIS Team at Harris County Housing and Community Development in Houston, TX.

11:40 AM - 12:00 PM

Session 3

Building the National Zoning Atlas

Conor Nolan - National Zoning Atlas

Location: Garden Room (1510)

Zoom

Survey

Overview:

The National Zoning Atlas is a collaborative research project working to digitize, demystify, and democratize US zoning codes. It is a first-of-its-kind database and interactive map that displays the regulations governing what and where people can build all across the country. Over half of the jurisdictions in the Houston metropolitan statistical area have a zoning ordinance and appear in the Atlas. This presentation will discuss the NZA geospatial and zoning analysis methodologies, focusing on internal data standardization processes, and showcase published data in the Houston metropolitan statistical area.

About the Speaker:

Conor Nolan is a geospatial analyst at the National Zoning Atlas. Based in Spring, he has helped to build out the National Zoning Atlas in Texas, North Carolina, and New York. In the past, he has worked as a permit reviewer for the City of Indianapolis and as a building surveyor. He has a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Indiana University, where he first became interested in GIS.

GIS Innovation for Smart Government Digital Transformation

Narendra Babu Vattem - iSpatial Techno Solutions

Location: Forest Room (1430)

Zoom

Survey

Overview:

This presentation focuses on innovative GIS solutions leveraging GEO AI and GEN AI to drive smart government digital transformation. The session will explore how these technologies can enhance community engagement and sustainability initiatives while supporting environmental monitoring and improving overall community well-being. Through practical examples, the presentation will illustrate how GIS is being utilized to align government operations with UN Sustainable Development Goals, encompassing areas such as education, health, and social equity. Attendees will gain insights into the role of intelligent spatial analysis and automation in creating more resilient, efficient, and transparent government services. The talk will also highlight real-world applications that illustrate the integration of advanced AI techniques with GIS to drive meaningful outcomes in the public sector.

About the Speaker:

Narendra Babu Vattem - iSpatial Techno Solutions

Vattem Narendra Babu is the CEO of iSpatial Techno Solutions, a company recognized for delivering cutting-edge GIS and AI solutions across multiple sectors, including smart government, environmental monitoring, and sustainability. With over 20 years of experience in geospatial intelligence, Narendra has spearheaded initiatives that integrate GEO AI and GEN AI to drive digital transformation and innovation. Under his leadership, iSpatial Techno Solutions has implemented large-scale projects, supporting governments and organizations globally in areas like urban planning, community engagement, and digital asset management. Narendra is a member of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) PSN, also WGIC (The World Geospatial Industry Council) Member and actively contributes to initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. His expertise in harnessing advanced geospatial technologies has been pivotal in improving decision-making, enhancing service delivery, and promoting sustainable development.

12:20 PM - 12:40 PM

Session 4

Advancing Remote Sensing Image Segmentation with the Segment Anything Model and SAMGeo

Dr. Qiusheng Wu

Location: Theater(2nd Floor)

Survey

Overview:

Remote sensing image segmentation plays a critical role in geospatial data analysis, enabling more efficient land cover classification, object detection, and environmental monitoring. In this presentation, we explore the innovative integration of the Segment Anything Model (SAM), a state-of-the-art segmentation framework, with SAMGeo, a geospatial Python package designed for advanced segmentation tasks. We will demonstrate how these tools, powered by artificial intelligence, can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of remote sensing image analysis, particularly in handling high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery. Through practical examples, this talk will showcase new methodologies for image segmentation, empowering researchers and professionals to unlock deeper insights from geospatial data.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Qiusheng Wu

12:40 PM - 1:20 PM

Lunch

Lunch- Garden Room (1510)

Lunch is guaranteed to all attendees who requested before Nov 11th

Food Options are Vegetarian Salad or Tex Mex Fajitas

1:20 PM - 1:50 PM

Keynote

My GIS Journey: How Artistic Science Can Change the World

Richard Wade

Location: Garden Room (1510)

Zoom

Texas Water Development Board

Overview:

Embark on a journey through the transformative evolution of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. We will explore how GIS has grown from its early days into a powerful, multifaceted tool that transcends traditional boundaries. This talk will highlight the incredible diversity within the GIS industry, showcasing how it seamlessly integrates a wide range of professional disciplines—from environmental science and urban planning to healthcare and the arts. Learn how GIS technology fosters collaboration between creative and scientific minds, driving innovative solutions and offering new perspectives on complex global issues. Join me to discover the limitless potential of GIS in bridging the gap between the arts and sciences, and our role in changing the world.

About the Speaker:

Richard Wade

Richard provides direction and management for all Texas Geographic Information Office (TxGIO) activities and programs and serves as the Geographic Information Officer for Texas. He has over 35 years of experience in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and computer mapping. Richard started his career as an intern with TxGIO (formally TNRIS) in 1986 and helped establish the first modern GIS program at TWDB. He later went into the private sector and co-founded the Windrose Data Corporation, which provided GIS data and services to environmental and energy firms across the country. Richard returned to the TWDB in 2005. In addition to being the DEA of TxGIO and the GIO for Texas, he currently serves as Past President of the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), a national organization committed to fostering efficient and effective government through the adoption of geospatial information technologies. Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Texas State University.

2:00 PM - 2:20 PM

Session 5

Empowering Community Leaders: Environmental Justice Mapping

Liza Powers & Al Henson

Location: Forest Room (1430)

Zoom

Survey

Overview:

Our presentation explores the intersection of community leadership, environmental justice, and citizen mapping, focusing on integrating citizen mapping workshops into our Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP). These workshops empower grassroots engagement in addressing environmental and climate justice challenges. StoryMapping engages community participants and shifts power dynamics between researcher and researched, creating spaces for marginalized voices (Mitchell & Lange, 2011) while broadening research participation (Riley & LaMarre, 2023). CELP participants discuss critical local issues, from pollution to climate impacts, using StoryMaps to illustrate these challenges through local knowledge, mapping data, and imagery. We will share outcomes, methodologies, challenges, and lessons, emphasizing StoryMapping’s potential to drive community-based environmental activism and enhance environmental justice scholarship through participatory research.

About the Speakers:

Liza Powers

Dr. Liza T. Powers, a Data Scientist at the Bullard Center, Texas Southern University, earned her PhD in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, receiving the Best Dissertation Award for her research on mitigating roadway disasters during flooding in Harris County. She also holds an MA and BA in History from Stephen F. Austin State University and serves as an adjunct History professor, facilitating the Community Environmental Leadership Program for grassroots Environmental Justice leaders in Texas.

Al Henson

Dr. Al Henson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston, specializing in GIS for Transportation Planning and Management. He has been an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University and a GIS manager for the City of Houston. His research includes GIS/Data Visualization, web tools for logistics, and urban planning, with significant contributions to disaster recovery spatial data projects for the Texas General Land Office. Dr. Henson’s work addresses housing affordability and urban development. Additionally, he is a freelance Senior Planning Consultant, offering strategic urban planning expertise.

2:30 PM - 2:50 PM