Yanli Zhang- North Texas Municipal Water District Stephen F Austin State University Spatial analysis of microplastic pollution in the soils in Nacogdoches County, Texas
Microplastics have been defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm and a literature review shows that microplastic can be found in all environmental compartments. So far, most related researches focused on microplastic distribution in water and aquatic organisms. The distribution of microplastic in soils is also an important aspect as most microplastics particles start from the land. Based on thorough literature review, several spatial factors that impact the distribution of microplastic have been identified and a weighted overlay analysis was done to show the spatial distribution of this pollution in Nacogdoches County, TX. One of the primary goals of this pilot study was to inform the public and environmental professionals to pay more attention to this wide spread pollution issue and find ways to lessen the occurrence of microplastics in our environment. | Lance Yarema - City of Tyler Tyler Parks This map depicts all current parks with their respected features and their relative land area for comparison.
| Perla Diaz - Harris County Public Health Experience Builder Maps are essential for public health decision-making, revealing spatial trends. However, static maps can be inefficient and struggle to accommodate dynamic data needs. Harris County Public Health (HCPH) faced the challenge of mapping chronic disease prevalence across local areas, which would have required 70+ static maps. Instead, the data team developed an interactive dashboard using Esri’s Experience Builder, allowing stakeholders to explore multiple health indicators in real time. The dashboard consolidates data from sources like CDC PLACES and the Texas Cancer Registry, offering zooming, toggleable layers, and pop-ups to uncover trends and prioritize outreach. This tool improves efficiency, reduces redundancy, and enhances data accessibility, strengthening decision-making and enabling more effective public health interventions. https://hcphgis.hctx.net/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=6d1520536f964d69b80233e3beccdb26 |