Earth Data, Inc. of Centreville was recently selected by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Dorchester Citizens for Planned Growth, and ShoreRivers to implement a comprehensive data collection, reporting, and analysis project that focuses on a portion of the Transquaking River in Dorchester County, Maryland. The local and regional advocacy organizations seek to better understand pollution problems in the Transquaking River, which the Maryland Department of the Environmental lists as impaired by phosphorus and nitrogen pollution that harms aquatic life.

As part of the project Earth Data will install multiple flow and temperature monitoring stations that will continuously monitor, record and transmit data via a cellular network to a cloud-based server. The specialized equipment will include state-of-the-art ultrasonic area/velocity flow sensors that utilize continuous wave Doppler technology and advanced signal processing to provide high-accuracy readings. Additionally, Earth Data field geologists will regularly collect physical surface water samples from multiple locations for laboratory analysis of selected parameters. The work is expected to culminate in a comprehensive report that will summarize all flow, temperature, and water quality data, including publicly available climate and precipitation data.

“We are very excited to support this important water quality monitoring project,” states Earth Data president Mark Williams. “We’ll be furnishing and installing some state-of-the-art equipment that will enable both Earth Data and local water quality advocacy groups to monitor key parameters in near real-time using cloud-based technology.”

Earth Data project manager Jeff Chipman explains, “In addition to collecting physical samples for laboratory analysis, during all surface water sampling events Earth Data will use a sophisticated multi-parameter water quality meter to measure and record key data that will be incorporated into the data analysis and summary reports.”

“As part of the project Earth Data’s geospatial team will develop a custom cloud-based data tracking portal to facilitate timely data visualizations and accurate data storage and retrieval.”

Monitoring is expected to begin early summer 2023 and last at least 18 months.

For more than 48 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

Earth Data, Incorporated was recently selected by Delaware County, Pennsylvania to perform a comprehensive project to scan and digitize all of the County’s subdivision maps. Delaware County is the fifth most populous county in Pennsylvania.

The maps had been developed and maintained in a paper format since the 1970s. According to the County the maps “have reached their life expectancy, as well, as it would be helpful and cost-effective for the subdivisions to be captured digitally and added to the extensive County mapping database for planners to utilize on top of other geospatial data.”

Earth Data was one of several firms to compete for this work, which involves scanning, organizing, and naming the maps for easy accessibility and georeferencing the scanned maps using ArcGIS tools to align with current county parcel boundaries. Additional tasks include digitizing the maps, verifying topology, generating metadata, and creating fields to capture the subdivision data visible on the plat maps.

According to Eric Flickinger, Earth Data’s Director of Geospatial Services, “Earth Data is well suited to complete this project. We have significant recent, relevant experience digitizing documents, georeferencing scanned maps and digiting features in an ArcGIS environment for Federal, state and local governments. We look forward to being of service to Delaware County on this project.”

After an initial delivery and review of a subset of the digitized parcels by the County GIS department, the project is expected to take approximately six months to complete.

For more than 48 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

In addition to using high-tech tools in field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services, employees with Earth Data, Inc. in Centreville are rolling up their sleeves to use manual tools to help out the community through volunteer service. Earth Data employees recently participated with Habitat Choptank to help install siding on sheds for Habitat homes on Prospect Avenue in Easton. Habitat is currently building four houses on Prospect Avenue and five houses and one rehab in the Hill Neighborhood in Easton.

“Working with local businesses like Earth Data is great because it lets more people know what we’re doing and allows them to build their team, working together as a team on site. So, I think it helps them and it helps us,” comments Jim Thomas, Site Supervisor for Habitat Choptank.

In addition to regular crews of volunteers during the week, Habitat Choptank utilizes crews on Saturdays where businesses, churches, and nonprofit groups can volunteer. The organization continues to build its volunteer corps since COVID.

“Volunteers are critical to helping us keep our homes affordable for the families we serve,” said JoAnn Hansen, Executive Director of Habitat Choptank. “The need for affordable housing just keeps growing, so volunteers like those from Earth Data help us meet the need and are so appreciated.”

Earth Data employee Jen Marshall spent the day learning more skills she can use at home with DIY projects. She adds, “In addition to learning new skills, I also like that I am helping the community.”

Christine Kunkowski, Office Manager at Earth Data, and Tina Wright, Administrative Assistant at Earth Data, who helped organize the volunteer day for employees, also made up an all-women’s team at the site. They, add, “It’s just fun just being out here knowing that you’re doing something great for the community and helping people to move into their new homes.”

In addition to giving back through its environmental work, the Earth Data Giving Program encourages all Earth Data Incorporated employees to help others. It provides employees with paid public-service hours for volunteer work done to support local charities and others, such as helping feed school kids on the weekends, cleaning hiking trails, supporting elementary school reading programs, and teaching kids about the world around them by using maps and GIS.

For more than 48 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

Jeff Chipman, a geologist with Earth Data, Inc. in Centreville, recently left his comfort zone to go on a mountain biking trip in Guatemala which benefitted women in third-world countries. Although he was raised in Utah and accustomed to outdoor sports, including whitewater rafting, he was relatively new to mountain biking.

“This part of the world really interests me. I like the people, I like the culture, and I like the food of Central America. Specifically, as a geologist, there are also several active volcanoes throughout this region,” Chipman states.

He had been looking to book a trip to Guatemala in December of 2022 when his sister contacted him to tell him that there was a women’s nonprofit group, World Ride, that was offering a co-ed mountain biking trip in Guatemala that same month. World Ride works to empower women globally through mountain biking. They have established programs around the world where they work with local women to create bike libraries, assist women with leadership and guide training, and support women with their race goals.

“What was neat about this nonprofit is that it trains local women in third world countries to be mountain bike guides in these eco-tourism destinations and the proceeds from the trips get funneled back to the local communities for women’s rights groups and women’s causes,” Chipman adds.

“Although I wasn’t down there like building schools or anything like that, it was rewarding to see my trip support a good cause.”

According to Chipman, who took the trip in December, the people live a very isolated life in the mountains of Guatemala. He observed that it was not an everyday occurrence for the people he encountered on the trails each day to see mountain bikes.

“In addition, I was made aware of the repressed, traditional culture for women in the mountains of Guatemala. These women are expected to make textiles and farm, but not do mountain biking. Mountain biking is a male sport there. Although the people had very few resources in the mountains, including water or electricity, they were some of the happiest people I have ever seen,” he adds.

“Travel is a good thing for everyone to do. Whether that’s traveling outside of your state, or outside of your country, experiencing different people and cultures is a very beneficial thing for many, many different reasons. Going into a third-world country especially gives you that huge perspective that ‘stuff’ doesn’t matter. For the overwhelming majority of the people I met and talked to, you could tell that they were more than willing and happy to talk to you and help you in any way – even if they didn’t have resources.”

In thinking about future opportunities to travel and contribute to the world, Chipman hoped to find future opportunities like World Ride. He concludes, “Supporting women in these third-world countries makes me want to find and do more. There is work to be done in these places and I’d like to a part of it.”

“Seeing our employees take trips like this for their vacations is very heartwarming for me. Our company embraces community service throughout the year. I believe we need to leave the world a better place than we found it. We are people who work hard and want to help, not only our clients but our community,” comments Mark Williams, President of Earth Data, Inc.

For more than 48 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

Two employees of Earth Data, Inc., Ben Gemballa, Project Geologist, and Kayla Warhola, Geologist, both of Chestertown recently passed the Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG®) Fundamentals of Geology Examination. The examination is the first step for a person seeking to become a Licensed Professional Geologist. Employees must work five years in the field before taking the Professional Geologist Exam.

According to ASBOG, much of today’s geological practice affects the health, safety, and welfare of the public, the environment, and the economy and the feasibility of engineered works. Geologists make use of their special knowledge for the benefit of the public: from the obvious, e.g., exploration and development of mineral resources plus the development of water resources, to the less obvious, e.g., evaluating the stability of foundations for buildings, dams, bridges, and roadways, plus many others.

Gemballa completed his Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, and his Master of Science in Geophysics at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. His work at Earth Data has involved drilling and sampling monitoring wells, overseeing pumping tests in high-capacity groundwater production wells, and performing borehole video surveys and specialized geophysical logging on a variety of Earth Data projects. He has also provided construction administration and construction inspection work on Earth Data’s SWIFT® project in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Warhola completed her Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pennsylvania. Her work has primarily involved collecting and analyzing surface and groundwater samples on some large, ongoing projects and providing detailed sediment descriptions from deep drilling projects. Ms. Warhola also utilizes her previous construction inspection experience on various projects and is currently training to learn to operate Earth Data’s geophysical logging equipment.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of these two employees who have been with us a little over a year and their initiative to further their professional certifications. Having licensed professional geologists is not only a standard for the industry but a standard for our company as well,” states Mark Williams, President of Earth Data, Inc.

For more than 48 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

Last year, over 1,400 area children were on Queen Anne’s County Christmas Angel’s adoption list for the holidays. Earth Data’s employees decided they wanted to make a difference this year and participate in the program. The employees adopted a family of three boys, ages five, eight, and 12, purchasing a variety of items.

“This is such a great community event to be involved in. Our employees loved gathering the items for these brothers. It is so satisfying knowing that their Christmas will be filled with things they need, as well as a few special treats to make the day special,” comments Tina Wright, Administrative Assistant at Earth Data, Inc.

The Earth Data Gives program was started by the company to give back to the community. Over the years, Earth Data employees have helped support the health of the Chesapeake Bay, Cub Scouts’ summer camps, ending the global vision epidemic, stocking fish with the Department of Natural Resources, building oyster cages, providing CarePacks to local students, and most recently doing trail maintenance for Pickering Creek Audubon Center.

For 47 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

In support of the annual Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point State Park, seven Earth Data employees participated in a virtual plunge at their office in Centreville, Maryland. Facing 27-degree temperatures, employees set up an outdoor shower and tub with one of the company’s drilling rigs to make their plunge.

“I have long been a supporter of the Special Olympics mission of celebration and inclusion of individuals with disabilities and was happy to participate in the Polar Bear Plunge as a member of the Earth Data team.  Who doesn’t love jumping in an ice-covered tank on a cold winter’s morning?” commented  Earth Data participant Ron McDonald.

Visit Earth Data “Team Drillin’ & Chillin’” fundraising page to make a donation in support of the Polar Bear Plunge.

Earth Data, Inc., based in Centreville, Maryland, recently offered a free workshop to students participating in Chesapeake College’s TRiO Student Support Services. The program is a federally-funded program designed to help eligible students with their entire Chesapeake College experience. Katrina Johnson, Associate Director for STEM Programs at Chesapeake College, reached out to Earth Data to offer hands-on training in Geospatial Information System (GIS) and Mapping to students in the TRiO Program.

“This type of outreach fits into our company’s mission to make our communities thrive and encourage those around us. Our employees represent a wealth of talent and experience and are eager to help the community when they can,” states Mark Williams, CEO, Earth Data, Inc.

Johnson comments, “We have been looking for experiences like this to expand our student’s horizons and to partner with local businesses. In addition to this workshop, we have created workshops in financial literacy, physics and math, career advancement, and college preparation by visiting four-year universities – options for those students wanting to continue with their education.”

Earth Data employees Jackson Forrest, Geospatial Technical Manager, and Shawn Stabile, GIS Analyst, were instructors for the workshop which was held over two weeks at Chesapeake College. Part I of the workshop focused on what GIS is and how it is used and Part II of the workshop students created their own GIS project applying the knowledge they learned using live maps and mapping 58 resources. In addition, students learned about cartographic principles and how to manipulate data.

“This is the first time we have done a workshop like this. It’s been nice being able to put together an informational course for the community that we can use in other applications and in other communities to familiarize people with how GIS works,” states Forrest.

Stabile adds, “I have enjoyed taking a step back and understanding that this isn’t what other people do as I am conveying this basic information to students. It allows us to show and tell what Earth Data does as a company and to illustrate the talent and experience needed to do GIS, as well as the work opportunities out there.”

TRiO currently has 315 students in the program which assists students from low-income and rural areas who are first-generation college students and may lack the support they need to attend college. TRiO coordinators work with students on everything from tutoring and financial aid to registration for classes and transfer options. Five students participated in the workshops from the program: Cecil Robinson, Aaron Turner, William Turri, Ty Walk, and Jasen Xander.

Ty Walk of Greensboro, one of the students in the workshop, commented, “It’s been fun to learn a new program.”

“It was new and different for me from computer science, but I am glad I learned it,” added TRiO student Aaron Turner of Talbot County.

Participant William Turri of Federalsburg, stated, “I had a job in this field using similar software. I am seeking a cybersecurity degree and a job with the National Security Agency. GIS may be a side interest for me. Learning new skills and getting a better understanding of GIS has been very fun.”

According to Johnson, “We would like to have TRiO students work on a GIS project on campus that will align with the STEM side of the program.”

For 47 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

Earth Data recently announced the hiring of Brian Wachter of Williamsburg, Virginia as hydrogeologist and project manager of its Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) recharge and monitoring well services project with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HSRD).  The company which provides field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways, was recently awarded the biggest contract of its 46-year history. This project is thought to be one of the largest drilling projects in the United States.

Wachter was previously field team leader, author, and project manager with CH2M HILL/JACOBS in Virginia Beach, Virginia working for the last three years on HRSD’s SWIFT test well program. Initially, he will be working on the James River Treatment Plant site in Newport News, VA and Nansemond site in Suffolk, Virginia.

Photo: Brian Wachter of Williamsburg, Virginia, project manager and hydrogeologist for Earth Data on its Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) recharge and monitoring well services project with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HSRD).

“It is important to have reliable drinking water. Working on these water resource projects, we are dealing with deeper wells reaching productive aquifers which can meet the high demand for water in this region,” Wachter states.

He completed his bachelor of science degree in environmental geology from the College of William and Mary and his master of science degree in hydrogeology from the University of Kansas. As a registered professional geologist (P.G.), he holds a HAZWOPER certification for workplace safety.

“It has been a good experience to work for a smaller company like Earth Data,” Wachter adds.

Mark Williams, CEO for Earth Data, comments, “We are thrilled to have some of Brian’s knowledge and experience on this project with us. He is already familiar with the James River and Nansemond sites and this gives us an advantage as we move forward. Earth Data’s team is a dynamic group of qualified water resource engineers, hydrogeologists, geologists, soil scientists, GIS/LiDAR specialists, licensed well drillers, and field technicians.”

The SWIFT project includes planning services, design services, contract administration, geophysical logging services, and field engineering and testing services for approximately 65 recharge wells and 30 monitoring wells. The Southeastern Virginia-based project is expected to last up to 12 years and will ultimately recharge the Potomac Aquifer with up to 100 million gallons per day of SWIFT Water®—wastewater treated to meet drinking water standards and be compatible with the characteristics of the aquifer.

For further information on Earth Data, visit earthdatainc.com.

For more than 47 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.