In 2016, the US EPA issued new regulations covering municipal storm sewer systems. These NPDES Phase 4 regulations required cities and towns to take additional steps to address nonpoint source pollution. Working with MAPC's Environment Department, I led an effort to provide technical support to a consortium of municipalities working toward compliance with the new regulations. I directed creation of a suite of ArcGIS/Python tools to prioritize illicit discharge detection activities, requiring a minimal amount of data from municipalities; as well as development of a decision support tool for evaluating alternative stormwater fee structures and levies. I co-designed a process to screen parcels and roadways for stormwater retrofit opportunities, and drafted specifications for an online operations and maintenance reporting and compliance tool for private property owners. The resulting tools and methods have been adopted by consultants and public agencies working on NPDES Phase 4 compliance in other regions of New England.

Urban heat islands can have profound health and social impacts, and are often concentrated in communities of color. Understanding the landscape of heat islands in both urban and suburban contexts is essential to strategic and equitable mitigation. In 2017 I oversaw the development of the region’s first land surface temperature index map based on satellite imagery. More recently, I directed an effort to build an expanded data resource covering all of Massachusetts, sourced from data spanning multiple years. The results were validated against air temperature data from hundreds of local weather stations and have been incorporated into regional and state climate adaptation plans.

Leak natural gas pipelines in Massachusetts significant source of GHG emissions in the state, and cost utility ratepayers millions of dollars each year. The Data Services team collaborated with MAPC’s Clean Energy department on a regional analysis of natural gas leaks and our digital team created an interactive digital report featuring the results of the research. The report concludes that coordination between natural gas utility companies and municipal public works departments is essential to accelerating repair of leaky pipes and doing it at a lower cost. To facilitate this coordination, our team developed an online system to help coordinate infrastructure improvement plans. This effort, informed by a robust user-centered design effort, generated two products: a common online permitting system for street openings, which reduces towns’ and gas companies’ administrative and time costs; and Roadworks, an online infrastructure coordination mapping tool that helps municipalities identify where permit requests overlap with planned gas line repairs and other projects.

I conducted comprehensive analysis of water supply, wastewater, and stormwater issues in 35 municipalities west of Boston. The technical analysis included forecasts of future seasonal water demand and estimates of wastewater system inflow & infiltration. I wrote and/or contributed to reports related to peak season water demand management and water reuse, as well as municipal specific comprehensive water indicators for all 35 municipalities.