Emergency Response Research Webinar Series

Free webinars typically held on the second Wednesday of the month. Special webinars on COVID-19 research are conducted as research results become available. 

EPA hosts this webinar series to share current research activities and results. This webinar series covers the latest information on research supporting EPA's response to chemical, biological, and radiological incidents, as well as natural disasters. This forum allows EPA to communicate directly with partners and stakeholders to foster collaboration and dissemination of information. 

NOTE: Attendees have the option of receiving a certificate of attendance. Acceptance of certificates is contingent on organization requirements—EPA cannot guarantee acceptance. Closed-captioned recordings of the webinars are provided below for later viewing and as a training resource; certificates cannot be provided for viewing webinar recordings. 

Webinar dates and topics are subject to change.

On this page:

• 2026 Schedule
• 2025 Webinar Recordings
• More Webinars by Topic Area

Upcoming Webinar

Remote Sensing and Geographic Imagery Tools for Emergency Response

Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET

Registration Open

EPA’s Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center (EPIC) traces its origin to the early years of the Agency, when analog aerial photography and film-based interpretation were used to support enforcement and environmental investigations. Originally focused on photo interpretation for cases involving hazardous waste, Superfund, and wetlands compliance, EPIC evolved with the emergence of digital remote sensing, GIS, and enterprise geospatial tools. 

Over the decades, the center has expanded its capabilities from traditional aerial imagery to include multispectral and hyperspectral satellite data, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), utilizing geospatial intelligence tradecraft to reconstruct site histories, detect environmental change, and guide field actions. 

EPIC has supported numerous high-profile responses and program initiatives—from spill and disaster assessments to long-term remediation monitoring—while partnering with other federal agencies and advancing methods such as GeoAI to meet modern operational needs. This webinar will provide an overview of how EPIC integrates science-based geospatial intelligence for emergency response and provide examples of how its technologies can be used for emergency response situations. 

About the Presenters

David J. Williams is a Research Physical Scientist with over two decades of experience at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where he has been instrumental in advancing the use of geospatial intelligence for environmental and homeland security applications. David has led several relevant projects, including the development of EPA's airborne hyperspectral imaging suite and managing EPA's Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center. His expertise in hyperspectral imaging and spectral analysis has been pivotal in assessing environmental impacts of critical mineral mining and characterization of soil contaminates at Superfund sites. David's contributions have earned him several awards, including the EPA's Honor Award for Exceptional Technical Assistance. David's academic journey began at The Ohio State University, where he earned a B.S. in Natural Resources and an M.S. in Environmental Science, focusing on soil physical chemistry and remote sensing systems. David's military background as a Cryptologic Technician / Intelligence Specialist in the U.S. Navy has equipped him with a unique skill set in geospatial intelligence, which he has applied to his civilian career. 

Eric J. Baumann Jr. is a Research Scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based in Research Triangle Park, NC. With six years at the Agency and two years specializing in geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), Eric supports the EPA's Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center (EPIC), contributing to imagery analysis, spatial data integration, and the production of geospatial intelligence products for environmental assessment. Eric's academic foundation includes a B.S. in Geology from the University of Cincinnati and a master's in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University. Eric collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, contributes to GEOINT workflows, and advances best practices in photographic interpretation and spatial analysis to support EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment.

2026 Schedule

If you are interested in being notified when new webinars are scheduled, please sign up to receive email notifications here: Receive emails for upcoming webinars.

Topic and presenters are subject to change. Additional information and registration links will be provided in advance of each webinar.

Date	Topic
August 12, 2026	Sample Recovery Methods from Vegetation