AI in Environmental Consulting: Unlocking New Possibilities
- Marco Fiorante
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
The environmental consulting field is often overlooked when it comes to AI adoption, with most attention focused on industries like sales, marketing, and customer support.
With years of hands-on experience in environmental consulting, I’ve seen countless workflows still handled manually that could benefit greatly from AI. This disconnect presents an enormous opportunity to modernize the field and empower consultants to work more efficiently.
Why AI is a Perfect Fit for Environmental Consulting
Environmental consulting is a detail-heavy industry that demands accuracy and compliance with strict regulations. At the same time, many processes—such as data entry and report writing—are repetitive and time-consuming.
AI can take on this “busy work,” ensuring consistency while freeing consultants to focus on providing expert insights. By integrating AI, firms can streamline operations, increase value to clients, and reduce employee burnout.
Here are three practical ways AI can make a real impact in environmental consulting:
1. Generating Pack Lists for Field Projects
Preparing for fieldwork often requires hours of planning and double-checking equipment lists. By training an AI agent on a company’s various types of field jobs and the equipment needed for each one, consultants can automate this process and drastically reduce mistakes.
For example:
Air Emissions Testing (AET) requires specialized sensors, calibration equipment, gas cylinders, and safety gear.
A Phase II investigation might require soil and groundwater sampling kits, PID, or soil vapor canisters.
An AI-powered system can quickly generate tailored pack lists based on the job scope, saving time and reducing the risk of leaving crucial equipment behind.
2. AI Support for Environmental Compliance
Hazardous waste managers and other compliance professionals are constantly navigating evolving environmental regulations and complex permits.
A unique service that environmental consultants can now offer is an AI compliance agent, trained on the client’s specific operations, permits, and regulations.
For example, a facility managing multiple hazardous waste streams could use the AI to:
Confirm correct labeling
Ensure storage times meet EPA requirements
Check reporting deadlines
This agent could act as a 24/7 resource for basic compliance questions, allowing consultants to focus on higher-level issues. It saves time for consultants while also providing clients with an added layer of support.
3. Automating Phase I ESA Report Writing
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments are known for their labor-intensive historical review process. Analyzing environmental database listings, property details, FOIA responses, aerial photographs, Sanborn maps, and topographic maps consumes the majority of a consultant’s time.
An AI agent can be especially helpful here, taking on the bulk of repetitive work so consultants can focus on expert analysis.
At generAIt Solutions, we are on a mission to automate these sections of the report. Our Phase I Agent is already tackling this challenge by automating database review sections, dramatically reducing the time needed to prepare reports.
Looking Ahead
AI has the potential to transform environmental consulting by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing accuracy, and freeing consultants to focus on providing valuable expertise.
From fieldwork preparation to compliance support and report writing, AI agents are poised to become essential tools for consultants and their clients. With innovations like our Phase I Agent, we are taking the first steps toward a future where environmental consultants can focus more on their expertise and less on tedious busywork.
If you’re an environmental consultant or firm interested in exploring how AI can streamline your workflow, visit generAIt Solutions to learn more. Together, we can shape the future of environmental consulting.
Marco Fiorante
generAIt Solutions
Comments