Geospatial Analysis Tools and Methods for Community Planning

This program will focus on using GIS to identify criteria appropriate for various types of development based on location.
About this Event

This event is an in-person screening of this webinar; there is no virtual component.

Geospatial Analysis Tools and Methods for Community Planning

This program will focus on using geographic information systems (GIS) to identify criteria appropriate for various types of development based on location. It will also explore the use of this technology for aspirational development.

Various geospatial analysis tools and methods will be explored, including Penn State Extension’s award-winning Food Systems Mapping Instrument and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s PennEnviroScreen.

About the PennEnviroScreen Tool

PennEnviroScreen is a mapping tool used to measure the need for environmental justice (EJ). It was created to support implementation of the Environmental Justice Policy (EJ Policy) by designating EJ areas where the policy will be targeted. The tool quantifies and visualizes disproportionate environmental effects on vulnerable populations.

PennEnviroScreen relies on two categories comprising 32 indicators: Pollution Burden, with 19 indicators, and Population Characteristics, with 13 indicators. PennEnviroScreen is used to integrate EJ considerations into the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) daily operations. It can also be used by policymakers, grant seekers, communities, civil society groups, and individuals seeking vital information to make informed decisions and help reduce disproportionate environmental effects. For a full explanation of all data sources and methodologies, see the technical guidance document PennEnviroScreen Methodology (Document No. 015-0501-003).

Environmental justice is a complex topic informed by the local context of impacted communities. No single metric or tool should be understood as complete or final for all uses or applications. DEP encourages users of PennEnviroScreen to be mindful of this complexity when using the results of the tool for any purpose beyond defining EJ areas for its own policy.

The datasets contained within PennEnviroScreen come from various state and federal government resources that are publicly available. Only datasets for which data are available for all of Pennsylvania are included. The map layers are refreshed with new information on a rolling basis and may not reflect the actual data at any given moment. DEP expressly disclaims any liability for errors or omissions related to classifications established by this mapping application, the data contained within this mapping application, and the sources associated with this mapping application.

DEP welcomes feedback, queries, and requests pertaining to PennEnviroScreen. The department also welcomes inquiries regarding further training, workshops, demonstrations, or possible collaborations. For further information, please contact the Office of Environmental Justice at [email protected].

Speakers

- Harry Chrissy, Penn State Extension

- Jordi Comas, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

- Justin Dula, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

AICP Credits: 1.25 ASLA Credits: 1.25

Group viewing brought to you by Lancaster County Planning.

Lancaster County Planning strives to provide educational opportunities for our planning partners – professional planners, municipalities, consultants, designers, engineers, local planning commissions, and interested citizens. In 2026, we will continue to provide an opportunity for our partners to join us at our office to view a mix of live and recorded webinars we have purchased or registered for from various sources on a variety of planning topics. Many of these programs will provide AICP CM and ASLA continuing education credits. Due to site license restrictions, we are not able to share our webinar access information with interested parties. For independent access, please contact the webinar provider directly.

For questions related to this event, please contact 717-299-8333 or email [email protected].