Neighborhood Brownfield Inventory Toolkit: Unlocking Free

Neighborhood Browneld Inventory Toolkit:

Unlocking Free Mapping Soware

I. INTRODUCTION

When planning a resident-led browneld inventory, using accessible

and user-friendly tools is crucial since participants will have varying

degrees of experience and comfort with technology. Google provides

a suite of powerful and free tools that can be leveraged to create a

form for collecting data during a resident-led browneld inventory. By

using Google Forms, participants can easily gather information about

browneld sites in their community, contributing to a comprehensive

inventory that can inform environmental initiatives and community

development efforts. Google My Maps can then be used to map and

share the inventory results.

This guide will walk you through the process of creating a resident-led

browneld inventory form using Google tools. We will focus on utilizing

Google Forms, which provides a simple and intuitive interface for

designing and administering surveys. By collecting data through a

form, residents can systematically capture key attributes of browneld

sites, ensuring a standardized approach to data collection. Additionally,

the integration of Google Maps and cloud storage solutions such as

Google Drive can enhance the visualization and accessibility of the

collected data.

Whether you are an individual resident, a community organization, or

a local government entity, this guide will equip you with the knowledge

to create a user-friendly and effective browneld inventory using

free Google tools. The methods shared in this tutorial are intended

to create a neighborhood-scale browneld inventory. Conducting a

city-wide inventory would require more robust tools and would

necessitate more intensive coordination and planning.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction

II. Reasons to Conduct

a Resident-Led

Browneld Inventory

in Your Neighborhood

III. Build a Browneld

Inventory form Using

Free Google Soware

IV. Training Surveyors and

Planning Outings

V. Mapping and Sharing

Inventory Results

VI. Other Tools

Neighborhood Browneld

Inventory Toolkit

Lawrence Hoffman, Senior

Manager of GIS and Data

Services Groundwork USA

This resource was developed

as part of Groundwork USA’s

Equitable Browneld Development

Technical Assistance Program

with grant funding from The

EPA’s Ofce of Brownelds and

Land Revitalization.

II. Reasons To Conduct A Resident-Led

Browneld Inventory In Your

Neighborhood

A browneld inventory is a systematic

process of identifying and documenting

abandoned or underutilized properties

with potential environmental contamination.

It involves collecting data on the location,

characteristics, and potential risks of

these sites, which can inform remediation

efforts, land use planning, and community

development initiatives. Browneld

inventories can serve as a valuable

resource for understanding and addressing

browneld challenges and promoting

sustainable revitalization.

A resident-led browneld inventory

describes the process by which residents

(as opposed to municipalities or third party

consultants) inventory sites in their own

neighborhood. A resident-led browneld

inventory can be a powerful tool that

enables community members to actively

participate in identifying and addressing

environmental issues in their neighborhoods.

By organizing a resident-led browneld

inventory, residents can contribute to the

improvement of their local environment,

advocate for remediation efforts, and

promote sustainable community develop-

ment. Here are some compelling reasons

why residents should consider undertaking

a resident-led browneld inventory:

Community

Capacity-Building:

Conducting a browneld

inventory builds residents

capacity to take an active role

in identifying and addressing

environmental issues in their

neighborhoods. It allows them

to contribute to the well-being

and sustainability of their

community.

Community Planning and

Decision-Making:

Residents conducting a

browneld inventory gain a

deeper understanding of the

neighborhood’s land use and

environmental conditions.

This knowledge can inform

community planning and

decision-making processes,

enabling residents to advocate

for land-use policies that prior-

itize environmental protection,

sustainable development, and

community well-being.

Data-Informed Advocacy:

A resident-led browneld

inventory generates valuable

data that can support

evidence-based advocacy

efforts. The collected

information can be used

to demonstrate the extent

and impact of brownelds

in the neighborhood, making

a compelling case for

governmental support,

funding, and intervention.

Raise Health and

Safety Concerns:

Brownelds can pose risks

to public health and safety.

Conducting an inventory

helps residents identify areas

that may have hazardous

substances or conditions,

such as abandoned industrial

sites or polluted land. By

documenting these areas,

residents can advocate for

cleanup and remediation to

mitigate health risks.

Collaboration and

Networking:

Conducting a browneld

inventory can bring residents

together, fostering collabora-

tion, and building networks

within the community. It

encourages residents to share

information, resources, and

experiences related to brown-

eld identication, assessment,

and remediation. Collaborative

efforts can lead to more

effective advocacy and better

environmental outcomes that

benet the community.

Environmental Justice:

Brownelds are disproportion-

ately located in communities

of color and low-income

neighborhoods. Conducting a

browneld inventory allows

residents to address environ-

mental justice concerns by

highlighting inequitable

distribution of environmental

hazards and advocating for

solutions that allow historically

disadvantaged communities

to realize the environmental,

health, and economic benets

of development.

III. BUILD A BROWNFIELD INVENTORY

FORM USING FREE GOOGLE SOFTWARE

Step-by-step tutorial for conducting a

resident-led browneld inventory using

personal devices, free survey and

mapping software, and publicly available

datasets.

Create a Google Account:

software tools includes everything you need to build out

your inventory.

Create a Project Folder:

Open Google Drive and create a new folder called “Browneld

Inventory” to organize your project les.

Create an Inventory Form:

Design and customize your form by adding relevant questions

about the browneld inventory.

Connect Form Responses to a Spreadsheet:

Link the form to a Google Sheet by selecting the “Responses”

tab in the form editor. Whenever someone submits a response

to the form, it will be automatically recorded in the connected

Google Sheet.

Conduct resident-led eld inventory:

Train and prepare residents to conduct an in the eld browneld

inventory using the Google Form created in previous steps.

Map and share inventory data:

In the Google My Maps editor, add a new layer and choose

the “Import” option and use submitted addresses as the location

information for each site. Share responses with residents and

plan strategic uses of the newly created dataset.

TUTORIAL

SET UP A GOOGLE ACCOUNT

If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to set up a Google account to follow along with this tutorial. Contemporary

Google accounts come with many tools associated with common computing tasks like word processing, spread-

sheets, and web-based cloud storage. In this tutorial we will use Google Drive cloud storage to store our survey,

data and map, Google Forms to build our survey, Google Sheets to store our survey responses, and Google My

Maps to put form responses on the map.

To set up a Google account and access Google Drive cloud storage:

Go to the Google Account Creation Page: Open a web browser and navi-

gate to the Google Account creation page at accounts.google.com/signup.

Provide Personal Information: Fill in the required elds, including your rst

and last name, desired email address (username), and password. You may

also need to provide a phone number for account verication purposes.

Complete the Setup Process: Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the

setup process, including accepting the terms of service and privacy policy.

Verify Your Account: Depending on your chosen verication method

(phone or email), you will receive a verication code. Enter the code

to verify your account.

Access Google Drive:

Once your Google

account is set up, you

can access Google

Drive by visiting

drive.google.com or

through the Google

Drive mobile app. It

can also be accessed,

along with all of the

other applications in

Google’s software suite

via the menu in Gmail

in the top right corner of

the web interface.

For additional support setting up a Google account visit Google’s Help Center: Create a Google Account

CREATE A PROJECT FOLDER

Now that you’ve created and accessed your drive space, we’ll create a folder to store all of our tools.

Create project folder in Google Drive:

In Google Drive, on the

top left-hand side of the

screen, locate the “My

Drive” section. This is

where all your les and

folders are stored. Un-

less congured other-

wise, your Google Drive

will default open to your

“My Drive” storage.

Click on the “My Drive”

section to open it.

In the top-left corner of

the screen, you’ll see

a “+ New” button. Click

on it to open a drop-

down menu.

From the dropdown

menu, select “New

Folder.” You will then

be prompted to name

the new folder. Name it

“Browneld Inventory.”

Click “Create” and the

new folder will appear

in your MyDrive storage.

Click on the folder to

enter it.

CREATE A GOOGLE FORM

Next we will create a Google Form in your new folder. This form is what you will use in the eld to capture informa-

tion about brownelds. First, we’ll create it and then we’ll design the contents of the form.

Create a Google Form within the ‘Browneld Inventory’ folder:

Once inside the ‘Browneld Inventory’ folder, click on the “+ New” button in the top-left corner of the screen.

From the dropdown

menu, select “Google

Form.” If you don’t

see “Google Form” in

the dropdown, select

“More” to expand the

options. Clicking “Goo-

gle From” will open a

new tab containing a

blank Google Form.

Change the form title

from “Untitled form” to

“Browneld Inventory.”

Once you rename the

form, it will be automat-

ically saved within the

‘Browneld Inventory’ folder in your Google Drive. Note that the form will not save until you edit it, and, as a

result you will not see it in your folder until after you make your rst edits. When using tools in the Google Suite

all les autosave after editing.

CHOOSE FORM CONTENT

Before building the form, it’s important to consider what information will be most important to collect about each site.

Consider that all collected data must be visibly discernible from the sidewalk outside the browneld in question.

Below are some browneld characteristics that you might want to collect in your inventory. The actual list should be

formed in consultation with the residents and other stakeholders participating in the inventory.

Surveyor Name:

● Description: Collect surveyor names so you

know who recorded what and can provide

specic feedback where necessary.

● Type: Short answer

● Required: Yes

Site Name:

● Description: Provide a name or description

for the browneld site (e.g., “Old Shell gas

station”). This should not be a required eld

but might be a useful piece of qualitative data

to ensure the form submission is attached to

the correct property.

● Type: Short answer

● Required: No

Site Address:

● Description: Provide the address of the brown-

eld. This must be a required eld as it is the

geographic information that will be used to map

the data once it is collected.

● Type: Short answer

● Required: Yes

Site Coordinates:

● Description: There is not a simple way to collect

GPS coordinates directly to a Google Form

from a mobile device, so these coordinates

would have to be recorded using another GPS

app and then manually entered into the form.

This should not be a required eld as it will be

too technical for most participants to capture

these coordinates and manually enter them.

● Type: 2 Short answers, one for Latitude and

one for Longitude.

● Validation: Set response validation to ‘Number’

‘is number’.

● Required: No

Use History:

● Description: If it is apparent from outside the

facility, document the previous land use or

historical activities on the site.

● Type: Short answer

● Required: No

Vacant:

● Description: does the site appear to be vacant

or does it appear to be occupied?

● Type: multiple choice (Yes/No/Unclear)

● Required: Yes

Structure:

● Description: is there a structure / building on

the site?

● Type: multiple choice (Yes/No)

● Required: Yes

Accessibility and Hazards: Security

● Description: Surveyors will check all that apply

for this question. Does the site appear to be

secure to unauthorized access? Are there

barriers, fencing? Are there signs warning

of hazardous materials? Does it appear that

the site has been entered or used in an

unauthorized manner?

● Type: checkboxes (barriers or fencing/warning

signs/unauthorized entry)

● Required: No

Large Scale Dumping

● Description: Brownelds are often sites for

unauthorized dumping. Document if there is

dumping occurring on the site. Note that dumping

is much larger scale than incidental litter.

● Type; multiple choice (Yes/No)

● Required: No

10. Upload a Photo:

● Description: Photos of the site, structures,

or visible contamination.

● Type: File Upload

● Required: No

11. Additional Notes:

● Description: is there anything else important

to know about the site?

● Type: Paragraph

● Required: No

1 6

CONFIGURE FORM

Once you’ve collaborated with residents to determine what information you’d like to collect about each site, it’s time

to build your form to collect the desired information.

Edit Form Theme

Change the color theme of your form and

add a banner image so participants know

they are using the right form.

To build your form with the desired questions, follow these steps:

Add a Form Description

Provide a description of the project and a

purpose for the form in the ‘Form descrip-

tion’ eld just below the form title. This will

guide surveyors and establish the context

for the survey questions.

Add a new question

Click on the “+ Add question” button,

located on the right side of the form

builder. In the pictured example, we will

set up the address eld as it is required

in order to map browneld points.

Choose a question type

a. Select the question type that best

suits your needs from the available

options (e.g., multiple choice, short

answer, dropdown, etc.).

b. The address eld will be set up as a

“Short answer” question.

Enter the question text

a. In the new question, enter your

question text where it says ‘Untitled

Question.’ We’ll enter ‘Address’ in that

eld. It’s useful to keep this eld as

brief as possible and then add context

in the description.

b. You can also provide additional

instructions or clarications in the

“Description” eld, if needed (Example:

Are you able to tell what this site was

previously used for?). You will have

to add this eld manually by entering

the menu in the bottom right of the

question (three vertical dots) and

selecting ‘Description’.

Customize the question options

(based on question type)

a. Depending on the question type you

selected, different options will be

available for customization.

b. For example, if it’s a multiple-choice

question, you can enter the answer

choices in the provided elds.

c. Adjust any additional settings specic

to the question type, such as marking

options as “Required” or enabling

“Other” as an answer choice.

d. In our “Address” example, we’ll set the

question to be a required entry since

any form entries need to have an

address to be mapped.

Add Response validation (optional)

a. In some cases you will want to limit

responses to certain types of formats

like numbers or email addresses.

b. You can set up data validation in the

settings menu in the bottom right

(three vertical dots). Select the menu,

choose ‘Response validation’ and

congure the necessary parameters.

c. The “Address” example does not

require ‘Response validation.’ But if

you were requesting respondent email

addresses you could use response

validation to ensure only valid email

addresses were submitted.

Repeat for additional questions

For each additional question repeat the

above steps. Use the question template

from the previous section as

a guide if you have questions about

conguring each new question.

Review and nalize your form

After adding all the desired questions,

review your entire form for accuracy,

clarity, and logical ow. Reorder

questions by clicking and dragging

the six dots in the top center of each

question pane.

Test the form in the eld before

sharing it with others.

a. Click the eye icon in the top right of

the form editor to open a preview of

the form.

b. In the preview, click through and enter

responses for each question.

c. Submit the response.

d. Note any issues or opportunities for

improvement you encounter and

correct them.

CONNECT FORM RPONS TO A GOOGLE SHEET

After you’ve set up the form, it’s important to consider where the form responses will be stored. By default, the form

responses are stored in the form. In order to work with responses more easily and to put them on a Google My Map,

you’ll need to send your form responses to a Google Sheet (Google’s version of a spreadsheet).

To send your inventory responses to a Google Sheet, follow these steps:

Inside your inventory form, access the

“Responses” tab at the top-center of the

Google Form editor.

In the top-right of the ‘Responses’ tab,

click on the Google Sheets icon labeled

‘Link to Sheets.’

Choose ‘Create a new spreadsheet’ and

select the ‘Create’ button. This will create

a new spreadsheet in the ‘Browneld

Inventory’ folder containing all form

responses. Each column is a question

and each row is a response.

The new spreadsheet will automatically

open when you click create. Review it

and familiarize yourself with how the data

is laid out. Note that each column header

contains the question text from the form.

Individual responses will populate in the

descending rows as they are submitted.

Images and other le uploads are saved

in a separate folder, but the url address to

their location in Google Drive is stored in

this response sheet.

The ‘Browneld Inventory’ form is now connected to a response sheet. Your form is now ready for surveying! Next we’ll

provide some guidelines for leading survey outings and then demonstrate how to map your results.

IV. TRAINING SURVEYORS AND PLANNING OUTINGS

SURVEYOR TRAINING

Once you have created the Browneld Inventory Form using Google Forms, it is time to train surveyors on how

to effectively use the form in the eld. Proper training ensures consistent and accurate data collection, enhances

surveyors’ understanding of browneld characteristics, and promotes a standardized approach to inventorying

browneld sites.

Here are some steps to consider when training surveyors to use the Browneld Inventory form:

Familiarize Surveyors with the Form:

a. Provide surveyors with access to the Browneld Inventory Form and ensure they are familiar with its structure,

question types, and required elds. Walk them through the form and explain the purpose of each question.

b. Dene Browneld Characteristics: Educate surveyors about the key characteristics they should observe and

document while conducting the inventory. Discuss factors such as site address, site coordinates (if applicable),

site name or description, use history, vacant status, presence of structures, accessibility and hazards,

large-scale dumping, and any additional notes. Provide examples and clarify any questions they may have

regarding these characteristics.

c. Explain the Importance of Data Quality: emphasize the signicance of collecting accurate and reliable data.

Discuss the potential uses of the collected information, such as advocating for environmental remediation,

inuencing policy decisions, or raising awareness. Highlight how high-quality data can contribute to the

success of these endeavors.

Demonstrate Field Data Collection Techniques:

a. Conduct a hands-on training session where surveyors can practice collecting data in a eld-like setting.

Demonstrate how to complete the form accurately, ensuring surveyors understand how to input information

using their mobile devices or paper-based methods if necessary. Emphasize the importance of capturing

complete and relevant information for each browneld site.

b. Note that there is no ofine option for Google Form data collection. This means participants will need a

cellular connection or wi hotspot in the eld.

c. Save form to device home screen: Recommend participants save the link to their mobile device’s home

screen. This will allow the link, which must open in a web browser like Google Chrome, or Apple’s Safari,

to look and feel more like a natively installed application. It will be easy to nd and open in the eld.

Discuss Safety Precautions:

Ensure surveyors are aware of any potential safety hazards they may encounter while surveying browneld sites.

Provide guidelines and safety protocols to follow, such as avoiding trespassing, and reporting any immediate

safety concerns to relevant authorities. Safety should always be a top priority during the inventory process.

Offer Ongoing Support:

a. Channels of Communication: Establish channels of communication to provide ongoing support to surveyors

throughout the inventory process. Encourage them to ask questions, seek clarication, or report any challenges

they encounter. Consider creating a dedicated communication platform, such as a group chat or email

thread, where surveyors can connect and share their experiences, insights, and best practices.

b. Regular Check-ins: Schedule regular check-ins with surveyors to monitor progress, address any issues,

and provide additional guidance if needed. Consider organizing refresher training sessions to reinforce

proper data collection techniques, discuss any updates or changes to the form or process, and share

success stories or lessons learned from the inventory efforts.

PLAN GROUP SURVEY OUTINGS

When planning browneld inventory outings with residents, it is important to consider various factors, such as route

planning, resident availability, and the provision of childcare when possible. Here are some tips to facilitate successful

and inclusive inventory outings:

Here are some steps to consider when training surveyors to use the Browneld Inventory form:

Determine Resident Availability:

Before scheduling inventory outings, conduct surveys or community meetings to understand residents’

availability and preferences. Consider their work schedules, family commitments, and other obligations

that may affect their participation. Choose dates and times that accommodate a wide range of residents

to ensure inclusivity.

Plan Routes in Advance:

Identify a list of potential browneld sites to visit and plan the inventory route accordingly. Optimize the route

to minimize travel time and maximize the number of sites that can be surveyed during the outing. Consider

the geographic distribution of browneld sites to ensure residents from different areas have the opportunity

to participate.

Provide Transportation Options:

Recognize that not all residents may have access to transportation. Consider providing transportation options,

such as arranging buses or vans, to ensure that everyone who wants to participate can join the inventory

outing. Collaborate with local transportation services or seek support from community organizations to make

transportation arrangements more accessible.

Conduct Route Previews:

Before the actual inventory outing, conduct a route preview with a small group of residents or volunteers.

This allows for a preliminary assessment of the route’s feasibility and identication of any potential challenges

or safety concerns. Make necessary adjustments to the route based on feedback received during the preview.

Offer Childcare Services:

Recognize that childcare responsibilities may hinder some residents from participating in inventory outings.

Whenever possible, consider providing on-site childcare services during the outings. Collaborate with local

organizations, such as daycare centers or community centers, to arrange supervised activities for children,

allowing parents or guardians to fully engage in the inventory process.

Acknowledge and Celebrate Participation:

Recognize and celebrate the residents’ contributions to the browneld inventory efforts. Express gratitude

for their involvement and acknowledge their dedication to improving the community. Consider organizing a

post-inventory gathering or event to share the ndings, discuss next steps, and celebrate the collective efforts

of the residents.

By carefully planning browneld inventory outings with residents, considering their availability, and addressing

logistical challenges, you can foster meaningful community engagement and promote a sense of ownership and

pride in the browneld revitalization process. Through collaboration and active involvement, residents can play a

vital role in transforming browneld sites into vibrant and sustainable community spaces.

V. MAPPING AND SHARING INVENTORY RULTS

MAP INVENTORY RPONS

A useful way to visualize the information collected in the inventory form is to put it on a map. Mapping responses

facilitates spatial analysis, issue awareness, and adds clarity to decision-making processes. It provides a spatial

context that enriches understanding, supports effective communication, and promotes collaborative efforts in

addressing browneld issues.

Follow the steps below to put the resident-collected survey response on a Google My Map:

In your ‘Browneld Inventory’ Drive

folder, create a new Google Map by

clicking on the “+ New” button and

selecting “Google My Maps” from the

drop-down menu. If you do not see this

option in the dropdown menu select

‘More’.

Your new map will open in a new win-

dow. In the Google My Maps editor, click

on the “Untitled map” eld at the top left

corner and rename it as “Browneld

Inventory Map”.

By default there will be an ‘Untitled layer’

in the map. Rename that layer ‘Brown-

elds’. We will import our form respons-

es to this layer.

Under the title, select the ‘Import’ button.

This will open the import window.

In the import window, select the ‘Google

Drive’ tab in the top left and navigate to

your form response sheet. Select it and

click, ‘Insert’.

You are now prompted to select the eld

(or column) from the form response

sheet that contains the location information

that will allow the data to be put on the

map. Select the ‘Address’ column from

your form response table and click

‘Continue’. Google will use its powerful

geocoding engine to put the points

on the map based on the addresses

collected by surveyors. Note: if you

were able to collect coordinates for

your locations, you could also map the

brownelds based on that information.

In this step you would select your

latitude and longitude elds from the

table to put the points on the map.

Next, you will be prompted to select a

eld by which to name each browneld

feature on the map. Using the ‘Brown-

eld Name’ eld could be a good option

here if surveyors entered it consistently,

but a more foolproof approach would be

to use the ‘Browneld Address’ eld

here, too, as it is a more objective

unique name for each site. Once you’ve

made your selection, click ‘Finish’. The

points will be mapped.

By default, all features will have the same icon. It’s possible to set the style of map features based on elds

included in the dataset. For example, you could visualize the data based on whether or not there is large-scale

dumping on site. Sites free of dumping could be symbolized by a green icon and sites with dumping could be

visualized with a red icon. To do this select under the layer style where it says ‘Uniform style.’ Open the ‘Group

places by’ dropdown menu and, under the heading, ‘Style by data column,’ select, ‘Large-scale Dumping.’ Fea-

tures will now draw with symbology based on whether respondents entered ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the form question. To

pick a different symbol, select the paint bucket icon that shows when hovering over each category in the menu.

To view information for an individual site,

click on its icon on the map and a popup

window will open containing all the

information surveyors entered for that

site. To view photos or other attachments

submitted to the form, click the link in the

popup and the attachment will open in a

new browser window.

This map will not live update as new

form responses are entered. Updating

the map can be done manually by the

map owner by simply repeating these

steps in a new layer and then removing

the old layer from the map. If the survey

is ongoing, it would be a good idea for

the map owner to take a few minutes to

update the map layer each time surveyors

collect data. This will prevent duplicating

work.

SHARING THE MAP

The goal of creating this map is to share it with residents. So, the resulting map needs to be able to be viewed out-

side of your Google Drive storage space. Here are some ways you could share the map.

Collaborator Access:

You can invite specic individuals as

collaborators to the Google Map, granting

them access to view and edit the map.

This is useful when you want to collaborate

with others in updating and maintaining

the browneld inventory. By sharing the

map via Google Drive, collaborators can

also view and edit the map in the My

Maps editor. Collaborators can also view

it on the Google Maps mobile application

by selecting ‘Saved’ in the bottom center

of the Google Maps home screen then

selecting ‘Maps’. Choose your desired

map and it will open on the mobile

device. Note you must be logged in to

the mobile app with the same account

with which the map is shared for this to

work. Opening the map in a mobile

device is useful while doing additional

eld collection to avoid duplicate data.

Export as Image:

If you want to share a static snapshot of

the map, you can export it as an image

le using the ‘Print map’ option in the

maps main menu. This can be useful for

presentations, reports, or sharing the

map through platforms that don’t support

interactive maps. To select this option

click the menu (three dot icon) next to

the map title. In the menu select ‘Print

map’ then click the download button

in the top right to save the pdf to your

computer.

Share Publicly:

If the browneld map is intended for

public consumption, you can make it

publicly accessible and searchable by

conguring the share options in the map.

It can be congured so that anyone with

the link can view it. It can also be set up

to be searchable on the internet. This

allows anyone to nd and access the

map through search engines or by

exploring public maps within the Google

Maps platform. To open the map’s share

settings, click the ‘Share’ icon in the

menu bar just above the layers list.

Embed Map on a Website:

Google My Maps provides an option to

embed the map in a website or blog.

This allows you to integrate the map

directly into a webpage, making it easily

accessible and visible to visitors. To do

this, the map Share settings must be set

to ‘Anyone with the link can view’ and

‘Let others search for and nd this map

on the internet’. Once you’ve congured

your share settings appropriately, open

the map menu (three dot icon next to the

map title) and select ‘Embed on my site’

from the dropdown menu. A window will

appear with the embed link for your site.

Your website administrator will know how

to copy and paste the embed code to

publish and interactive version of this

map in the desired place on your site.

COMPARE WITH EXISTING DATA

Start by checking with your local government, including city, county, and state agencies, for existing browneld data.

Look for a dedicated brownelds ofce or a local environmental protection agency within your local department of

natural resources. It’s important to dig around and identify the most relevant ofce, as they are likely to have an ex-

isting dataset that may already be mapped. For example, in Rockford, IL, you can explore the City’s browneld data

using a lter in their public-facing property viewer web map. If your municipality has a resource like this one, you

can compare it to your own dataset and assess overlap and/or discrepancies.

Check for existing browneld data at the following locations:

Local Government Websites:

Check the websites of local government agencies, such as city or county departments of planning, environ-

mental protection, or economic development. They may provide information on browneld sites and have

datasets available for download.

State Environmental Agencies:

State environmental agencies or departments of environmental protection often maintain databases or invento-

ries of browneld sites. These agencies may provide access to GIS data or interactive maps showing brown-

eld locations. For example, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources maintains the Bureau for

Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS).

Regional Planning Organizations:

Regional planning organizations or councils may have information on brownelds within their jurisdiction. They

often work closely with local governments and maintain regional datasets and maps.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

The US EPA provides various resources related to brownelds. Their website may have information on local

browneld programs, grants, and databases. The EPA’s Facility Registry Service is a database containing

information on any site ever registered with the EPA. Search the database for ‘Interest Type: Browneld’ or

‘Progarm Acronym: ACRES.’

If you nd a browneld dataset that is in table format, you can put it on a Google My Map using the same steps you

used above to map the resident-collected data. Upload the table to your Google Drive project folder, open it as a

Google Sheet and then reference the ‘Address’ column when adding the table to your map. If you add both layers to

the same map, you might identify gaps in the ofcial data or add context to sites you inventoried as ofcial datasets

will contain more information about site history and contamination.

SHARE MAP WITH RIDENTS / PARTICIPANTS

Once you’ve completed the inventory, it’s important the resulting map and dataset are shared with those who helped

create it. The organizer should lead a community conversation reviewing the results of the inventory.

These are some potential discussion questions:

What new insights were gained from the inventory process?

How does the resident-led inventory compare to existing datasets or ofcial records?

Are there any disparities or discrepancies between the community’s perspective and the ofcial data?

Which sites identied in the inventory are of greatest concern to residents? Why?

What are the specic hazards or risks associated with these concerning sites?

Are there any patterns or trends identied in the data? For example, are certain types of sites more prevalent in

certain areas?

Are there any sites that have the potential to become community assets? How can these sites be revitalized or

transformed to benet the neighborhood?

How can the inventory ndings help strategically address community concerns and prioritize future actions or

interventions?

Are there any additional data or information needed to complement the inventory ndings and support deci-

sion-making processes?

The inventory should be one part of a larger process of relationship building and engagement aimed at establishing

hazard locations, identifying community concerns, and realizing resident visions for their neighborhoods.

VI. OTHER TOOLS

EpiCollect5: EpiCollect5 is a free data collection app that enables you to design and conduct eld surveys. It offers

form customization, GPS data capture, photo collection, and ofine data entry. It can be used for various survey

types, including parcel-based inventories. This fully integrated data collection app can take you from eld survey to

map with very little technical expertise. To create a Google map of results, export your inventory data and import it

into Google ‘My Maps’ using XY or addresses to geolocate your points. Building your survey tool using EpiCollect5

is a good option if you prefer to use XY coordinates for your location information instead of addresses.

ArcGIS Online: ArcGIS Online is Environmental Systems Research Institute’s (commonly referred to as “ESRI”)

online Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) platform. ESRI is the global leader in GIS technology and their free

public online account has a lot of capability. Using their map viewer, you can view EPA browneld layers like the

Facility Registry Service (FRS) which includes pop-ups to detailed reports about sites. Non-prots can get an

organizational ESRI license for around $100/yr that includes most of their most powerful tools including a eld

survey tool called ‘Field Maps’ which could be used for conducting resident-led browneld surveys.

OpenDataKit (ODK): ODK is an open-source data collection platform that provides a range of tools for conducting

surveys in the eld. It offers form creation, data collection, and data management functionalities. ODK Collect, their

mobile app, can be used for parcel-based eld inventory. This is a more customizable survey and data management

tool. This added exibility and power will require some additional technical expertise to design your tools and set up

storage as ODK does not automatically connect to cloud storage. You will likely need to connect it to a Google

Sheet unless you have access to and expertise to connect to a server.

QField for QGIS: QGIS is the leading open source GIS platform. QField is a mobile app for Android devices that

allows you to take QGIS projects to the eld. With QGIS, you can create parcel-based inventories and then use

QField to collect data on the ground. It supports GPS data collection, attribute editing, and photo capture. This could

be an option if someone on your team has GIS experience. Cloud storage may be challenging to set up, making

group collection more difcult.

OTHER TOOLS

This tutorial demonstrated how to use free Google tools to conduct a resident-led browneld inventory.

These are some other tools you could use to conduct a similar inventory.

Looking for help getting your brownelds project off the ground? Groundwork USA is funded by the EPA’s

Ofce of Brownelds and Land Revitalization to offer no-cost technical assistance to support nonprots interested

or engaged in browneld land reuse projects. Click the link below to learn more about, or apply to receive, our

no-cost technical assistance services. https://groundworkusa.org/ta-services/