Richard Harris Podolsky

Senior Ecologist

PO Box 1066

Rockport, ME 04856-1066

Phone: 207-236-8877

Mobile: 207-475-5555

Fax: 207-236-3337

podolsky@att.net

 

Professional History

2004-present               Velella Energy Systems, Senior Environmental Scientist

2002-2004                   Perot Systems, Senior Environmental Scientist

1991-2002                   Avian Systems, Founder and Chief Technologist     

1985-1991                   The Island Institute, Director of Research, Rockland, Maine

 

 

Education

POST DOCTORATE: The Charles Darwin Scientific Station, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Post-Doctoral Research: "Restoration and Conservation of the Galapagos Petrel"

 

DOCTORATE: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, PhD Ecology, 1985

Dissertation: "Colony formation of LeachÕs Storm-petrel and Laysan Albatross"

 

MASTERS: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, MS Ecology, 1980

Thesis: "Reproductive performance of center versus edge nesting Herring Gulls"

 

BACELORS: The University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, BS Biological Conservation, 1975

Senior Thesis: "Physiological Adaptations to Desert Environments"

 

 

Professional Certification

Senior Ecologist, Ecological Society of America

 

 

Professional Experience

Senior Environmental Scientists, Velella Systems, Rockport, ME                  2004-present

Providing strategic direction and environmental expertise to clients seeking to capitalize on business opportunities within the rapidly growing wind energy market. Conceived and implemented a strategic wind energy marketing initiative for local environmental consulting firm, generating $517,000 in new revenue for firm in one quarter; advising Silverstein Properties, the developer of the Freedom Tower, the successor structure to the World Trade CenterÕs Twin Towers, how to reduce avian collision risks in the overall design and operation of this high-profile project, which will utilize wind-harvesting turbines as an element of a cutting-edge green-building design; site-selection and assessment of wind power project east of the Mississippi both on and offshore and in the Caribbean Basin.

 

 

Senior Environmental Scientist, Perot Systems, Scituate, MA                          2002 - 2004

Expanded and provided technical and scientific expertise to Perot Systems environmental science practice.  Supported existing clients and generated new sources of consulting revenue from private sector clients, especially land developers, law firms, and renewable power developers (especially wind power), seeking to reduce potentially adverse environmental impacts of new development, or otherwise seeking to achieve environmental regulatory compliance. Directed the siting and design and prepared all State and Federal environmental permits for nine wind power projects ranging in size from 10 wind turbine generators producing 18 MW to 231 WTGs producing 831 MW.  The nine projects together total 1,027 WTG for a total of 3,643 MW enough to power approximately 900,000 American homes. 

 

 

 

Founder, Chief Technologist, Avian Systems                                                        1991-2002

Lead and manage numerous domestic and international projects for land developers, electrical (conventional and renewable) power and oil companies, conservation organizations, and other large landholders; analyze potential adverse impact of light, sound or other pollutants and biodiversity loss from new land or commercial development; propose customized solutions so that clients can proactively address community and/or environmental compliance concerns throughout the proposal, bidding and permitting process; develop and implement habitat and/or wildlife restoration methods so that clients achieve compliance with court-ordered mitigation obligations; develop custom software applications that enable large landholders to mine and analyze biodiversity and other assets for a fraction of the cost of conventional surveys.

 

Director of Research, The Island Institute                                                           1985-1991

 

Directed the scientific activities of the Institute.  Established digital archive and led Apple Computer-funded project to build custom in-house GIS software, GAIA.  Generated ecological consulting revenues for the Institute and contributed to the development and editing of Cape Cod to the Bay of Fundy: Environmental Atlas of the Gulf of Maine (MIT Press, 1996).

 

 

Consulting Ornithologist, The National Audubon Society                                       1978-2004

 

Participated as a research scientist on the Project Puffin team, which successfully used social attraction techniques to restore puffin and other seabird populations to the Maine Coast.  Led numerous ecological research/restoration teams in Maine, Hawaii, and the Gal‡pagos Islands.  Taught summer courses to educators at the Audubon Ecology Workshop.  Lead ecotours to Central and South America, Antarctica, and the Gal‡pagos Islands.

 

 

Major Clients and Engagements

Silverstein Properties, Inc.  Senior Ornithologist for Freedom Tower–Lower Manhattan (2004).

US WindForce.  Environmental Consultant–Wind Power Planning and Management (2004).

UPC and Green Energy Harvest.  Environmental Consultant–Wind Power Planning (2004).

The Hastings Companies.  Energy Consultant–Wind Power Planning and Management (2004).

Hamilton Capital, LLC.  Environmental Contractor-Avian Restoration and Management (2004).

Columbia University (CIESEN).  Ecological Biodiversity Hotspot Mapping in Brazil (2004).

Winergy, LLC.  Lead Scientist–Offshore Wind Power Design and Permitting (2003).

Preti-Flaherty, Wide Water, Still Water, LLC.  Expert Witness – Wal-Mart litigation (2002).

Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Visiting Scientist and Consultant (2000-2002).

Friends of Ballona Wetland & Playa Vista Corporation. Environmental Consultant (2001).

National Audubon Society. Consulting Ornithologist & Antarctic Expedition Leader (1978-2001).

Bard College. Graduate School of Environmental Studies. Faculty (2000).

New York Academy of Science. Industrial Ecology Project Manager (1999).

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Consulting Scientist (1994-1999).

American Museum of Natural History. GIS/Biodiversity Consultant (1998).

Columbia University Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. Software Consultant (1994-1998).

United Nations Development Program (UNDP/GEF). Biodiversity Consultant (1994-1997).

Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Research Associate (1993-1995).

Eastman Kodak Company. Center for Creative Imaging. Instructor (1991-1993).

Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. Research Associate (1991-1992).

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Adjunct Scientist (1990-1992).

Charles Darwin Research Station-Gal‡pagos Islands. Postdoctoral Scientist (1988-1991).

College of the Atlantic. Faculty (1989).

Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. Academic Director (1985-1986).

The University of Hawaii. Oceanography Instructor (1982-83).

The University of Michigan. Lecturer in Ecology and Oceanography (1981-1982).

Stockton State College. Instructor in Ecology (1980-1981).

 

 

University Courses Instructed (Institution)

Community Ecology (Bard College), Ecology (Rutgers University, University of Michigan), Ornithology (Rutgers University, National Audubon Society), Science and Imaging (Eastman Kodak), Field Methods in Ecology (College of the Atlantic, Stockton College), Organisms and Evolution (Stockton College), Conservation and Natural Resource Ecology (University of Michigan), Ecology of Marine Birds and Mammals (University of Michigan), Oceanography (University of Michigan, University of Hawaii), Animal Behavior and Communication (Stockton College).

 

 

Honors and Awards

Most Innovative GIS Project. The National Park Service (1991, 1993).

Computerworld Smithsonian Award Finalist. Computerworld/Smithsonian (1991).

Outstanding Wildlife Ecology Student. The University of Michigan Faculty (1985).    

Rackham Doctoral Fellow. The University of Michigan Graduate School (1984).

Frank M. Chapman Ornithology Award. American Museum of Natural History (1982).

Alexander Bergstrom Ornithology Award. Northeast Bird-banders Association (1981).

Graduation with Distinction. The University of Wisconsin (1976).

 

 

Professional Activities Board Positions

Executive Board of Directors (Legal Representative) New England Society of Conservation Biology, National Wind Coordinating Committee (Wildlife and Siting Committees), American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Institute of Ecosystem Studies, The Society for Conservation Biology, The Ecological Society of America, The American Ornithological Union, The American Museum of Natural History, The New York Academy of Sciences, The Wildlife Conservation Society, The New England Aquarium, Boston Museum of Science.

 

 

Refereed Publications

1.              Ainley, D. G., R. Podolsky, et al. 2001. The status and population trends of Newell's Shearwater on Kauai - Insights from modeling. In Press: Studies in Avian Biology No. 22, Ecology, conservation, and management of Hawaiian birds: a vanishing avifauna.

 

2.              Podolsky, R., D. G. Ainley, et al. 1998. Mortality of Newell's Shearwaters caused by collisions with urban structures on Kauai. Colonial Waterbirds 21 (1): 20-34.

 

3.              Ainley, D. G., R. Podolsky, et al. 1997. New Insights into the Status of the Hawaiian Petrel on Kauai. Colonial Waterbirds 20 (1): 24-30.

 

4.              Podolsky, R. 1995. Biodiversity Prospecting From Digital Earth Imagery. Diversity, Vol. 11, No. 4. 1995, pp 16-17.

 

5.              Podolsky, R. 1994. Ecological Hot Spots: A Method for Estimating Biodiversity Directly from Digital Earth Imagery. Earth Observation Magazine, June 1994, pp 30-36.

 

6.              Podolsky, R. 1993. Quantification of habitats in Prince William Sound from Landsat TM satellite imagery. In: Proceedings of the Alaska University, Fairbanks, et al Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Symposium, February 1993, Anchorage, Alaska, Abstract p. 147.

 

7.              Podolsky, R., and P. Conkling. 1992. Satellite Imagery Aids Analysis of Rare Coastal Ecosystems. GEOInfo Systems. June 1992.

 

8.              Podolsky, R. 1992. Remote sensing, geographic data and the conservation of biological resources. Endangered Species Update, Vol. 9, No. 12, pp 1-4.

 

9.              Podolsky, R., J. Freilich & R. Knehr. 1992. Predicting plant species richness from remotely sensed data in a high desert ecosystem. 1992 ISPRS/ASPRS Global Change Conference Proceedings, Washington, DC.

 

10.           Kress, S.W., D. Nettleship and R.H. Podolsky. 1992. Reintroductions of Atlantic Puffins, terns, and Leach's Storm-petrels at former breeding sites in the Gulf of Maine. B.D. Bell & J. Kromdeur (eds.). "Management Methods for Populations of Threatened Birds" International Council for Bird Preservation Tech. Pub., Cambridge, England, UK.

 

11.           Podolsky, R. and S.W. Kress. 1992. Attraction of the endangered Dark-rumped Petrel to recorded vocalizations in the Gal‡pagos Islands. The Condor 94: 448-453.

 

12.           Podolsky, R.H. 1990. Effectiveness of social stimuli in attracting Laysan Albatross to new potential nesting sites. The Auk 107 (1): 119-125.

 

13.           Podolsky, R.H. and B.C. Morehouse. 1990. Analyzing and managing digital earth imagery: An ecological perspective. Scientific Computing & Automation. January 1990: pp. 19-26.

 

14.           Podolsky, R.H. 1990. Monitoring biodiversity and landscape richness through digital earth imagery. International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Commission VII Symposium, ŅGlobal and Environmental Monitoring: Techniques and Impacts," Vancouver, BC.

 

15.           Podolsky, R.H., B.C. Morehouse and R. Greene. 1990. Geographic Information and Analysis of Digital Earth Imagery on the Macintosh II. Proceedings, "Advances in Spatial Information Extraction and Analysis for Remote Sensing" Orono, Maine.

 

16.           Podolsky, R.H. and S.W. Kress. 1989. Factors affecting colony formation in Leach's storm- petrel to uncolonized islands in Maine. The Auk 106: 332-336.

 

17.           Podolsky, R.H. 1989. The Status of the Razorbill in the Gulf of Maine. American Birds 43: 14-16.

 

18.           Podolsky, R.H. and S.W. Kress. 1989. Plastic debris incorporated into cormorant nest in the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Field Ornith. 60: 248-250.

 

19.           Podolsky, R.H. 1989. Entrapment of Sea-deposited plastic debris on the shore of a Gulf of Maine island. Marine Environmental Research 27: 67-72.

 

20.           Kosinski, R.J. and R.H. Podolsky. 1979. An analysis of breeding and mortality in a maturing kittiwake colony. The Auk 96:537-543.

 

 

High Tech Achievements

Principle designer and project leader on the development of scientific software titles for Windows and Macintosh OS including Avian Risk of Collision (ARC) Model (U.S. Patent Pending), FullPixelSearch, GAIA, Diversidad and FireTower. In-depth experience with the application of computers to scientific problems, specifically with GIS integration, pattern recognition, data mining routines, remote sensing.

 

 

Patents Pending

A Method of and System for Determining the Probability of Avian Collision.  U.S. application No. 50/601443.

 

 

Board of Director Positions and national committees

New England Society of Conservation Biology. Executive Board of Directors; Legal Representative.

 

National Wind Coordinating Committee.  Bird, Bat and Wildlife Committee and Wind Power Siting Committee.

 

 

Invited Presentations

National Wind Coordinating Committee. Bird and Bat Collision Modeling.  11/2003 and 2004.

Skidmore, Owings + Merrill, LLP. Reducing Risk of Bird Collision in the Freedom Tower. 9/2004

Society for Conservation Biology.  Biodiversity Prospecting Tools.  New York, NY 7/2004

EnergyOcean 2004.  Offshore Wind Power Production.  Palm Beach, FL 6/2004

International Seabird Symposium.  Status of Seabird Restoration Efforts. Scotland, UK 5/2004

Environment Canada. Avian and Bat Collision Modeling for Wind Power. NBB, Canada 5/2004

Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.  Avian Issues and Wind Power. Boston.  10/2003

US Wind Power Conference.  Offshore Wind Power – Environmental Issues.  8/2003

European Wind Energy Conference, Madrid Spain.  Wind Power and Birds and Bats.  12/2002

Tuft University School of Veterinary Medicine.  Seabird Restoration.  9/2002

National Audubon Society.  5/2002

UCLA Institute of the Environment. Los Angeles, CA 2/2002

Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. Palisade, NY 4/2001

Institute for Ecosystems Studies. Millbrook, NY 11/2000

Second International Conference on Petrels and Albatross.  Honolulu, HI 5/2000

US Environmental Protection Agency.  New York, NY 2/2000

Port Authority of NY & NJ. New York, NY 4/1999

General Electric Corporation. Schenectady, NY 1/1998

Rockefeller University. New York, NY 7/1997

Cooper Ornithological Society. Hilo, HI 4/1997

The United Nations Development Program (GEF Unit). New York, NY 2/1997

New York Botanical Gardens. Bronx, NY 2/1996, 2/1997

SPOT Image Corporation. Reston, VA 8/1995

Apple Computer, Inc. Cupertino, CA 1/1995

NASA Ames Research. Moffitt Field, CA 1/1995

Stanford University. Palo Alto, CA 1/1995

United States Secret Service. Washington, DC 12/1993

Hawaii Audubon Society. Honolulu, HI 12/1993.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge, MA 9/1993

William McDonough + Partners. New York, NY 6/1993

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Symposium. Anchorage, AK 2/1993

Pacific Seabird Group. Seattle, WA 2/1993

Monteverde Conservation League. Monteverde, Costa Rica. 11/1992

The RAND Corporation. Santa Monica, CA 11/1991

NASA Headquarters. Washington, DC 9/1991

Apple Computer, Inc. Worldwide Developers Conference, San Jose, CA 5/1991

The Woods Hole Research Station. Woods Hole, MA 11/1990

Global and Environmental Monitoring. ISPRS Comm. VII. Vancouver, BC 9/1990

Yale University. New Haven, CT 3/1990

Computer Visualization and Imaging in Research. U. of Iowa. 2/1990

Environmental Grantmakers Conference. San Francisco, CA 12/1989

Distinguished Lecturer, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI 11/1989

 

 

Government and Industry Research Awards

US EPA Region 2. Industrial Ecology/Pollution Prevention in the NY Harbor.

Port Authority of NY & NJ. Industrial Ecology/Pollution Prevention in NY Harbor.

General Electric Aircraft Engines. Automated Analysis of Scanning Electron Micrographs.

Electric Power Research Institute. Bi-directional Mapping for Conservation.     

Hawaii Biodiversity Joint Venture. Attracting Laysan Albatross to Oahu.          

Electric Power Research Institute. Light Pollution and Endangered Seabirds of Kauai.

Arthur K. Watson Foundation. The Gulf of Maine Environmental Atlas.

Charles Darwin Research Station. Restoration of the Endangered Gal‡pagos Petrel.

Island Foundation, Inc. Computer Mapping for Natural Resource Analysis.

Apple Computer, Inc. Research and Development Grant.

Center for Field Research. (1) Falcon Migration on Maine islands (1984); (2) Establishment of Laysan Albatross to Kauai, Hawaii.

Chapman Memorial Fund (American Museum of Natural History). Artificial Stimulation of Colony Formation in Storm-petrels.

 

 

Editorial Experience

1. Authored and edited chapters in the award winning; 1995. From Cape Cod to the Bay of Fundy: An Environmental Atlas of the Gulf of Maine, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, editor, P. Conkling. The Atlas synthesizes landuse in the Gulf of Maine by way of satellite images, many of which I created and or edited. 2. Life Science Editor, SciTech Journal, a publication which covers computer programming techniques and development tools and electronic communications for high technology.

 

 

Non-refereed Publications

1.              Wind Power Shifts Into High Gear.  Perspectives. The quarterly publication of the New England Society for Conservation Biology.  November 2004

2.              Birds DonÕt Have to be Wind Park ŌShow StoppersÕ North American Wind Power Magazine.  August 2004

3.              Antarctica: Discovery and Exploration. Grand Circle Travel. 29 pp.

4.              Portugal: By Land and Sea. Grand Circle Travel. 24 pp.

5.              The Kingdom of Spain. Grand Circle Travel. 29 pp.

6.              Turkey: A Rich and Ancient Tapestry. Grand Circle Travel. 31 pp.

7.              Alaska: Land of the Midnight Sun. Grand Circle Travel. 33 pp.

8.              Costa Rica: Where Diversity Reigns. Grand Circle Travel. 30 pp.

9.              This Year in Space. SciTech Quarterly.

10.           Satellite Imagery Aids Analysis of Rare Coastal Ecosystems. GEOInfo Systems.

11.           Optical Storage Medium and the Preservation of the Rainforest. SciTech Quarterly.

12.           Lost Island Birds. Island Journal.

13.           Mind over Macintosh. SciTech Quarterly.

14.           Satellite Search Aids Wetlands Visualization. GIS World Magazine.

15.           The Impact of Desktop Computing on the Progress of Science. SciTech Quarterly.

16.           Maine's Rarest Seabird. Maine Boats and Harbors.

17.           The Thin Edge. Island Journal.

18.           Marine Debris Conference Review. Pacific Seabird Group Bulletin.

19.           Pleistocene Islands: The Rise and Fall of Maine's Island Empire. EARTHWATCH Magazine.

20.           This Island Earth. New Alchemist Quarterly.

21.           Island Extinction: The Saga of the Great Auk and Sea Mink. Island Journal.

22.           The Razors Edge: Maine's Rarest Seabird. Island Journal.

23.           Night Birds: Storm Petrels on the Maine Coast. Island Journal.

 

 

Recent Technical Reports

Technical Aspects of Siting Offshore Wind Turbines. US Department of Defense.

Biodiversity Mapping and Hotspot Identification in Brazil.  Columbia University.

GIS Assessment: Bolivia, Madagascar, Vietnam. American Museum of Natural History.

Automated Analysis of Scanning Electron Micrographs. General Electric.

Automated Detection of Biodiversity Mega Sites. The Nature Conservancy.

Content for NSF Earth View Project. Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory.

Bi-directional Mapping for Ecological Asset Management. EPRI & Allegheny Power Co.

Software for the Management of Biodiversity Data. United Nations.

Global Environment Facility Biodiversity Mission to Amazonia. United Nations.

California Gnatcatcher Habitat Analysis from SPOT Imagery. EPRI.

Technical Evaluation of the Automated Wildlife Surveyor System. EPRI.

Global Environment Facility Biodiversity Mission to Bolivia. United Nations.

GIS for the Gulf of the Farallones, CA. Point Reyes Bird Observatory.

Status of Newell's Shearwater and Dark-rumped Petrel on Kauai. EPRI.

Management Plan: Children's Eternal Rainforest. Monteverde Conservation League.

Habitat Quantification of Prince William Sound from SPOT Imagery. Alaska DEP.

Habitat Quantification of Afognak Island from SPOT MS Imagery. Alaska DEP.

Landuse Compatibility Study: SPOT Imagery. San Clemente Island, CA. Department of Navy.

Landsat Analysis of Joshua Tree National Park. Apple Computer & National Park Service.

Wetlands Mapping from SPOT Imagery. Maine Geological Survey.

Quantification of Intertidal Seaweeds Using SPOT Satellite Imagery. FMC Corporation.

Habitat Mapping and Analysis of Cross Island Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Forest Management Plan: Allen, Green, MacMahan, Cross and Cape Island.

Land Use Management: North Haven and Matinicus Island.

 

 

Research and Consulting Contract Descriptions

Silverstein Properties, Skidmore, Owings + Merrill Architects – Providing site specific recommendations to reduce the risk of collision of migratory and resident birds at the World Trade Center Freedom Tower, the building that is replacing the Twin Towers that were destroyed on September 11, 2001.  This consultation includes a review of Freedom Tower fa¨ade reflectivity, artificial lighting and the use of exterior plantings with the goal of minimizing the factors known to contribute to the risk of bird death by collision.

 

US WindForce – Designed bird and bat migration study programs at wind power sites.

 

Hamilton Capital, LLC – Lead a project to reduce the disturbance and lose of revenue at KentuckyÕs largest private marina due to proximity to a nearby Great Blue Heron colony.  Used sound system and decoys to .

 

Columbia University – Provided technical consultation to scientists at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory to map biodiversity hotspots in south coastal Brazil. .

 

Winergy, LLC - Environmental science lead contractor to Winergy, a developer of offshore wind power parks.  Assisted client in the filing of Army Corp of Engineers permits for a meteorological monitoring tower 7 miles off New England shore.  Directed the siting and design and prepared all State and Federal environmental permits for nine wind power projects ranging in size from 10 wind turbine generators producing 18 MW to 231 WTGs producing 831 MW.  The nine projects together total 1,027 WTG for a total of 3,643 MW enough to power approximately 900,000 American homes.

 

United Nations Global Environment Facility (GEF) - Participated on several teams that conducted on-site evaluations of conservation training, natural resource management, sustainable use of biodiversity resources, and GIS capacity in indigenous lands, to assess UNÕs $9 million investment in sustainable forestry/biodiversity in several Amazon Basin countries.  Also analyzed government and non-governmental organization (NGO) projects and GIS capacity regarding sustainable forestry and biodiversity in Bolivia.  Personally tested/and or reviewed 100 software systems and authored UN report, Software Tools for the Visualization and Management of Biodiversity Data.

 

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) - Led several scientific teams that helped electric power companies in California and Hawaii implement court-ordered mitigation that resulted from Endangered Species Act litigation over the adverse impact of power lines and related structures on protected bird

populations. Conducted detailed image analysis of habitat in proximity to the nesting birds to better understand habitat selection and criteria for restoration.  Established a long-term breeding success study in Hawaii.  Led an interdisciplinary team of scientists and economists charged with quantifying the ecosystem assets of Allegheny PowerÕs vast wetland holdings in the West Virginia mountains.  Helped AlleghenyÕs land managers assess endangered species habitat, carbon sequestration, and flood risk reduction by integrating satellite images of landholdings into an accessible GIS format.  Evaluated and tested a hardware and software system to automatically identify certain birds and amphibian species, which was developed by EPRI in partnership with Ontario Hydro as a tool to allow electrical power companies to conduct automated surveys of biologically important species on their lands for environmental compliance purposes.

 

Preti-Flaherty, Wide Water Still Water, LLC - Provided expert testimony and advice to law firm and land developer regarding the permitting and siting of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the vicinity of a fragile wetland containing endangered species.  Emphasis of this consultation was on minimizing the impact of both sound and light pollution to grassland and wetland wildlife associated with the nearby wetland.  Conducted and analyzed relevant literature and provided environmental advice to engineers and architects that were integrated into the plan and helped to achieve a successful outcome for the developer.

 

Playa Vista Corporation & Friends of Ballona Wetlands - Consulted with developer and lead environmental organization on methods to achieve sustainable development of a large urban residential and commercial development adjacent to the largest coastal wetland in Los Angeles, which had been stalled by environmental litigation and community opposition for almost two decades.  Helped developer attain critical building permits by integrating sustainable non-polluting lighting into its plan.  Revised lighting plan also saved developer several hundred thousand dollars and helped reduce environmental and community opposition to the development.  Advised developer regarding selection of road surface material to achieve dual goals of ensuring vehicular safety and reducing noise pollution that would adversely affect native waterbirds. Drafted a waterbird restoration proposal that garnered enthusiastic support from both the developer and the lead environmental organization.

 

Institute of Ecosystem Studies - Participated on scientific team that developed a computer-based, cross-platform simulation of Lyme Disease life cycle to examine the cognition and systems thinking of three user groups: scientists, local government officials, and high school students.

 

The Nature Conservancy - Utilized proprietary software that scans earth images and identifies biodiversity hot spots in wilderness landscapes to prioritize lands for future acquisition and conservation.  Also applied customized software, which utilizes satellite imagery as a cost-effective alternative to traditional surveying methods, to the land management of vast Wyoming ranches.  Image searching enabled ranchers to determine which grazing lands had been degraded by a non-native invasive weed and to manage their lands accordingly.

 

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Team - Analyzed satellite imagery of over one million acres impacted by the spill to identify and quantify the habitats of species most impacted by the spill; trained and led an expedition to ground-truth the satellite imagery of Prince William Sound; presented results of the GIS analysis and mapping to the land acquisition team to guide their purchase and subsequent protection of critical coastal habitat to restore species displaced by the spill.

 

New York Academy of Sciences - Managed an industrial ecology project to define pollution prevention strategies for the New York Harbor, leading a consortium of regional stakeholders from the corporate, non-profit and academic sectors, and a team of consulting scientists.

 

American Museum of Natural History - Participated on a scientific team that provided GIS capacity analysis to guide the Museum's significant GIS investment in Bolivia, Madagascar, and Vietnam.

 

University of Colorado - Collaborated with scientists and professors on the groundbreaking Visible Human Project by training them in the use of FullPixelSearch software to aid in their analysis and visualization of a three-dimensional representation of the human body.

 

Columbia University - Contributed earth visualization and analysis software to Project Earth View, an NSF project for classroom instruction of global earth science.

 

 

Miscellaneous

Master Bird Banding Permit # 21,768. Certified Scuba Diver. Foreign Language: Spanish.

 

 

References

 

Dr. Doug Daly

            Curator of Amazonia Botany

            The New York Botanical Gardens

            Bronx, NY

            (718) 817-8660

ddaly@nybg.org

 

Dr. Jerry Freilich

Research & Monitoring Coordinator

Olympic National Park

600 E. Park Ave.

Port Angeles, WA 98362

(360) 565-3082

Jerry_Freilich@nps.gov

 

Dr. Stephen W. Kress

            Vice President for Conservation

            National Audubon Society

            Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology

            159 Sapsucker Woods Road

            Ithaca, NY 14850

            (607) 257-7308

            swk3@cornell.edu