By: Dianne Crocker, LightBox research director and Alan Agadoni, senior VP, LightBox EDR
Our industry has come a long way—from paper files stored in government offices and delivering reports via FedEx to having digital records that can be retrieved instantly and reports delivered to clients with the click of a mouse. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the next leap forward, and while it may feel daunting, it’s also incredibly exciting—and undeniably important. Environmental consulting is deeply data-driven, making it especially well-suited for the efficiencies and insights AI can deliver.
Some environmental professionals (EPs) are already using AI to streamline workflows and improve efficiency. Others are still navigating whether, how and when to fully engage with this fast-moving technology. Here are four ways EPs are already using AI—and what it could mean for the future of environmental consulting.
1. Using AI to Lighten the Load on Environmental Projects
Generative AI, powered by deep learning, can now produce high-quality, data-driven content at scale. Tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, known as large language models (LLMs), are trained on massive datasets to understand and generate human-like language. These tools can answer questions, summarize documents, extract insights, and assist with technical writing—all through a conversational interface that’s accessible even to non-technical professionals.
For environmental consultants, the value of AI lies in how it can be applied to routine documentation and analysis tasks—especially those that don’t require professional judgment but consume hours of time.
Early adopters in the industry are already using AI to summarize project kickoff meetings and site walk notes, extract site history from historical documents, generate client-ready summaries, draft meeting agendas for multi-disciplinary field teams, outline proposals for redevelopment projects, and write speaker bios for industry conferences.
“AI will likely be key in realizing efficiencies in report writing and field data collection for environmental consultants—freeing up valuable technical human resources to maximize report quality and customer experience.”
— Kathryn Peacock, Strategic Director – Environmental Services, Partner Engineering & Science, Inc.
2. Extracting and Analyzing Environmental Data Faster
Environmental professionals deal with complex, data-heavy materials on nearly every project—from environmental impact reports and Phase II site assessments to remediation plans, ESG disclosures, and regulatory filings.
LLMs are especially effective at pulling key information from dense reports or scanning large datasets to surface patterns and trends. This isn’t just document processing—it’s an opportunity to uncover insights faster, flag issues earlier, and support more confident decision-making.
AI doesn’t just retrieve information—it can infer insights from data, making it a powerful virtual research assistant. By streamlining the extraction and synthesis of environmental data, AI allows consultants to focus their technical judgment where it matters most.
3. Giving Junior Environmental Professionals a Head Start
Junior environmental professionals are often tasked with reading long Phase I reports, drafting site summaries, reviewing regulatory databases, or converting field notes into technical memos. These are foundational skills—but they can be time-consuming to teach and ramp up.
Early adopters in environmental consulting are using AI to support new staff by summarizing large documents, simplifying regulatory language, and offering first-pass drafts of common communications like cover letters, data narratives, or executive summaries. These tools can help bridge knowledge gaps and reinforce learning during the early stages of an EP’s career.
Managers should be intentional about involving junior staff in AI initiatives—not only to capitalize on their tech-savviness, but to foster engagement and build a culture of continuous learning. In a hiring market where early-career consultants are increasingly fluent in technology, firms that use AI to support training and development may be more attractive to top talent.
Integrating AI into entry-level workflows also helps normalize its use across the organization—making it easier to scale adoption while reinforcing the technical standards and judgment environmental work requires.
4. Establishing Guardrails for Responsible Use
As AI becomes more common in environmental workflows, the next challenge isn’t just adoption—it’s accountability. Consultants and firms must decide how and when AI should be used, particularly when it comes to sensitive projects like Phase I environmental site assessments.
“The most complex (and foreboding) future issues the environmental due diligence community will need to tackle is the increasing role of AI in Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. Consultants are already struggling with how to approach this practically and ethically. How do we disclose the use of AI? What constitutes proper and improper use? What role should the environmental professional play in ensuring accurate, reproducible, and consistent results? These are looming questions that will shape the future of environmental consulting.”
— Victor DeTroy, National Practice Leader, Due Diligence Services, AEI Consultants
Establishing clear internal policies is essential. These should address issues like disclosure, accuracy, bias, data privacy, and the boundaries of AI-assisted work. While many tools are trained for general use, environmental consulting’s multidisciplinary nature demands thoughtful, task-specific guidance.
To mitigate risk and ensure client trust, firms are beginning to implement policies, training, and usage standards. It’s not just about compliance—it’s about reinforcing the credibility and judgment environmental professionals bring to their work.
Where to Start: Small Steps Matter
If you’re curious but unsure where to begin, try experimenting with low-risk tasks that align with your day-to-day work. For example, you might ask ChatGPT to:
- “Summarize this email/report in 3 bullet points.”
- “Explain PFAS risk in one paragraph for a non-technical audience.”
- “Turn these meeting notes into a project update with action items.”
These simple prompts can open the door to broader uses over time—helping you work smarter, communicate more clearly, and free up time for higher-value work.
Start small. Stay curious. Ask questions. And most importantly, give AI a try—you may be surprised not only by what it can do today, but by where it may take our industry tomorrow.
“AI will significantly impact our industry—and at a very fast pace… Will our large bank clients take the lead in establishing new industry expectations? Will regulators? Or both? Time will tell.”
— Ben Bremer, President, LCS, Inc.
NOTE TO READERS
This blog is an excerpt from the Inside the Industry column authored by Dianne Crocker, LightBox’s research director, and Alan Agadoni, senior VP, LightBox EDR published monthly by the Air & Waste Management Association in its EM magazine. The column covers a mix of timely business, strategic, and technical topics impacting the world of environmental management.
The full article appears in the June 2025 issue of EM Magazine, a copyrighted publication of the Air & Waste Management Association (www.awma.org), and is accessible in its entirety here in the full-issue PDF that can be downloaded and printed, or via AWMA’s online, interactive EM flipbook.
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