Quentin Forrest, of the Maryland Department of the Environment?s Science Services Administration, was named MDE?s Employee of the Year recently.
He spoke with The Examiner about being recognized for developing a new field GIS, or geographic information system, and database to be used statewide in the shellfish and beaches programs for better data collection.
Why did you develop this system?
Historically we have [monitored water quality and conducted shoreline surveys] with a piece of paper and a clipboard.
The paper would be a little more difficult because it would sit in a filing cabinet. …
I had heard there was a tablet PC available for loan, and I love developing databases and GIS stuff, so I had the idea that since we need to get it in an electronic format, it would be a great idea to collect that information electronically in the field. …
It allows us to quickly and easily manage the data and gather the statistics.
Inthe past, [with] a lot of the septic systems failures we would find, we would have to fill out a violation form, and that would go to the counties for enforcement.
With this new system … everything is digitized so all the information can be instantly [placed] into a violation form, and that information can be e-mailed.
It helps in the communication aspect as well.
Has the use of technology in environmental studies been slow to come around?
I think we are at a great point with technology and science.
People are becoming more open-minded about using technology and having a little more forethought in doing things a different way.
The technology that is available now really lends itself to what we are doing in the field.
Now you can have systems like MDE has developed where you can take that data from the field and have a multitude of uses for it.
