Visualizing spatial data one graphic at a time

By Adam Feigl (Posted Aug. 9, 2018):

The SynTerra Graphics Management team works behind the scenes—across applications, platforms and dimensions—to create compelling visual representations.

Graphics come in all shapes and sizes. There are graphics that come in standard letter format that can be reproduced over and over again. There are also graphics that are as large as your average basketball player; it takes four employees who enjoy lifting weights to transfer such ginormous graphics. Some graphics are presented dynamically via PowerPoint or a web-based geographic information system (GIS) program such as Google Earth. Some graphicsare printed on a 3D printer or within a 3D PDF. Overall, the creative processes that can be used to develop a data visualization graphic are infinite, which makes our job awesome!

Who are we anyway? Well, we are the Graphics Management team within SynTerra, and visualizing data via graphics is our passion. We work behind the scenes to provide our clients the best graphics product as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible using myriad software applications. Currently, we specialize in two software applications — Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D and ESRI ArcGIS. Our amazing team consists of four AutoCAD specialists and five GIS specialists. Even though they specialize in one application, that doesn’t mean that they are not proficient with the other application. Many members of our team can and have crossed back-and-forth from one application to another (and, in doing so, from one platform to another).

Below is a quick introduction to our Graphics Management team:

AutoCAD Gurus

John Chastain has more than 30 years’ experience providing AutoCAD services for hydrogeology and natural resource projects. He also is a master at wetland delineation.
Jeff Coleman has more than 30 years’ experience providing AutoCAD services for civil engineering and landfill design projects. He also uses AutoCAD for our structural and wastewater projects.
Christina Newell has more than 30 years’ experience providing AutoCAD services for mining and process engineering projects. She also uses MicroStation for our transportation and pulp and paper projects and GIS for our hydrogeology projects.
Linda Buck has more than 30 years’ experience providing AutoCAD services for utility pipeline, land development, and civil design projects. She also has been an AutoCAD and MicroStation drafting instructor for more than 25 years at both college and corporate levels.

GIS Gurus

Adam Feigl (in picture), team leader, has more than 15 years’ experience providing GIS and AutoCAD services for manufacturing, utility, litigation, city planning, and site assessment projects. He also develops hydrogeological cross-sections and three-dimension conceptual site models.
Antwan Robinson has more than 15 years’ experience providing GIS services for utility pipeline, Phase 1 environmental site assessment, and hydrogeology projects. He also uses AutoCAD and specializes in the area of information technology.
Kristien King has more than 10 years’ experience providing GIS services for land development, wastewater, and regulatory compliance projects. She also is a Level B Wastewater Operator and former chair of the Greenville County Geographic Information Alliance.
Ben Young has more than 8 years’ experience providing GIS services for hydrogeology and natural resource projects. He also is a Geographic Information Systems Professional with experience in FEMA floodplain mapping, surveying, and risk analysis.
Justin Kirtz has more than 8 years’ experience providing GIS services for city planning, regulatory compliance, and land development projects. He specializes in GIS web-application development and coding using Python, JavaScript, and a variety of other programming languages.

Stay tuned for future blog articles showcasing new graphic products and services that we can provide to our clients. With all of the experience listed above, I envision this blog being used as a teaching/learning resource by anyone interested in GIS and CAD topics or just to get a behind-the-scenes look at graphics production. I am very proud of our team members and look forward to working with them on developing new methods, technologies, and products that help our clients visualize their spatial data effectively, efficiently, timely, and creatively.

Kathy Webb, P.G.

Senior Market Leader | Principal

Kathy, a founder of SynTerra (previously The Fletcher Group) in 1992, has completed remedial investigations and regulatory compliance projects associated with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities, state and federal Superfund sites, solid waste landfills, brownfield redevelopment, utility coal combustion residual (CCR) management units, and regulated industrial facilities. She has supported litigation as an expert witness related to chlorinated solvents, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Kathy is known for her practical assessment strategy with the perspective of the client’s business objectives. She routinely evaluates groundwater corrective action systems for effectiveness and progress toward achieving compliance objectives. She has also co-authored a trade journal paper with case studies of low-impact remedial strategies. Kathy is a licensed Professional Geologist in North and South Carolina.

Mark Taylor, P.G.

Principal

Mark has worked more than 40 years in natural-resource based industries. His expertise includes mine geology and mine engineering, hydrogeologic and geotechnical investigations, solid and hazardous waste management, and regulatory negotiations. He has published peer-reviewed papers about coal geology, ore geochemistry, mineralogy, and solid waste management. He is a leading expert in mining and environmental permitting for litigation support.

Mark is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington. He serves on the boards of the Upstate Red Cross and Upstate Forever. He served on the South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists for six years. Mark holds a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Science from Harvard University.

Andrea Kehn, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering | Principal

Andrea, leader of our Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit, has 28 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and environmental consulting. She leads and supervises staff professionals on multidisciplinary projects for a variety of industrial clients. Andrea’s vast experience and expertise includes: air quality construction and operating permitting; air quality modeling; air permit record-keeping and reporting; Oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP); NPDES Permitting; water quality modeling; process safety management; risk management compliance and auditing; and RCRA compliance.

Andrea is registered as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ruth Albright, P.E.

Vice President | Principal

Ruth has led projects for major industrial facilities throughout the Southeast and beyond. She built her knowledge of environmental regulations and their application to manufacturing operations while working for the second largest chemical manufacturing company in the United States. At SynTerra, she has expanded both her knowledge and reputation working for chemical manufacturing operations of all sizes. She has also worked extensively with other manufacturing operations, including pulp and paper, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive parts and assembly. Her experience includes air and wastewater permit compliance, solid and hazardous waste management, solid waste construction permitting, hazardous materials transportation, wastewater treatment systems, air pollution control equipment operations and maintenance, and ambient air monitoring systems.

Ruth is a professional engineer registered in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She is an active member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee and serves as the chair of the water subcommittee. She has previously served as the program and committee chair for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs committee. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.