GIS Mapping Application for Environmental Justice: Introducing RiskAware

Mar 7

2 min read

At Key Environmental Consulting, we are dedicated to leveraging cutting-edge technology to advance environmental justice and social equity. RiskAware, a mapping application we built using GIS, is designed to visualize and analyze environmental health risks in Adel, Georgia. By integrating spatial data with community engagement, RiskAware provides a comprehensive platform to identify, assess, and address environmental injustices.

The Power of GIS in Environmental Justice

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) serve as an essential tool in understanding and mitigating environmental disparities. RiskAware enables users to interactively explore environmental hazards, demographic vulnerabilities, and cumulative impacts, ensuring that affected communities have the data they need to advocate for change.

Key Features of RiskAware

History & Community Engagement – Capturing the ongoing efforts of the Concerned Citizens of Cook County (4C) in their fight against polluters, including the proposed wood pellet facility.
Community Demographics – Providing an overview of Adel’s population, income levels, and social vulnerabilities to highlight the disparities that exist.
Environmental Injustices & Vulnerability Assessment – Identifying pollution sources and the disproportionate burden faced by marginalized residents.
Cumulative Impacts Analysis – Combining multiple environmental and health indicators to assess the overall exposure risk at the block group level.
Heat Island Severity Mapping – Showing the relationship between pollution clusters and temperature increases, compounding health risks.
Sensitive Receptor Analysis – Mapping schools, medical facilities, and other locations most vulnerable to pollution exposure.
Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) Integration – Highlighting high-risk communities based on CDC vulnerability data.

How RiskAware Supports Advocacy and Policy Change

By visualizing the relationship between pollution, socioeconomic factors, and public health, RiskAware equips communities and policymakers with actionable insights. The platform enables:

Community Empowerment – Residents can use the tool to understand their environmental risks and advocate for necessary interventions.
Policy Development – Local governments and advocacy groups can implement targeted environmental policies based on data-driven evidence.
Legal and Regulatory Action – Environmental legal groups can utilize RiskAware to support legal challenges against polluters.

Findings from RiskAware in Adel, GA

Polluters and heat islands are clustered in the town’s center, disproportionately impacting low-income and African American communities.
Sensitive receptors such as schools and medical facilities are located dangerously close to major pollution sources.
Block groups with high pollution exposure and low socioeconomic resources face significant health risks.
A cumulative impacts analysis reveals severe environmental burdens on already vulnerable populations, emphasizing the need for resilience strategies.

Expanding GIS-Based Environmental Solutions

At Key Environmental Consulting, we recognize the transformative power of GIS in achieving environmental justice. Our expertise in geospatial analysis allows us to develop customized GIS tools for other communities facing similar challenges. Whether it’s mapping pollution, analyzing climate vulnerabilities, or developing interactive dashboards, we are committed to providing the technology and insights needed to drive meaningful change.

Partner With Us

If your community, organization, or agency is interested in utilizing GIS to address environmental justice concerns, we are here to help. Contact us to learn more about our capabilities and how we can collaborate to create data-driven solutions that empower communities and protect public health.

Link to the Application:

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/68e97a3a82d2489ebf996bf6e430a9b3