Erik Lash MA, RPA, GISP

Hello. I’m Erik, a GIS professional based in Hilo, Hawaii.

About Me

Experienced in GIS, code/low-code platforms, and technology communities. Background in geographical, cultural, and ecological research projects and nexus regulatory frameworks.

Skills

• IT and Geospatial program and project management, governance, and implementation.

• Full stack enterprise GIS architecture, administration, and cloud infrastructure.
  • Nutanix Hybrid Cloud.
  • VMWare.
  • ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) deployments.
  • Database servers.
  • Web servers and Web Application Firewalls.
  • GIS network and web application performance analyses.
• GIS application solution and code development.
  • GIS web applications and code tools.
  • GIS data model and database design.
  • Terrestrial, Marine, and Water GIS.
• Cultural and Natural Resources studies.
  • Nexus enviornmental regulation frameworks including NEPA, CERCLA, CWA, CZM, ESA, Section 106, and Justice 40.

Education

• M.A.

  Anthropology, GIS

  NCSU (Aug 2013)

• B.A.

  Anthropology, Geography

  UO (June 2003)

Certifications

• GIS Professional Certification - GISP # 161205
• Register of Professional Archaeologists - RPA ID# 34640043

Recent Professional Experience

• IT GIS Manager @ Hawaii County (Nov 2019 - Present)
  • Enterprise GIS architecture, infrastructure, administration, governance, and security. ArcGIS Pro. QGIS. ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise Portal, ArcGIS Server, SQL Server, PostGRES and Datastore instances. VMWare. Nutanix Hybrid Cloud. Web Mapping. GIS, GPS, and code tool applications. Python, SQL, ‘R’, JavaScript. Database schema and data models. Data Analytics. Tyler Enterprise Permitting and Licensing (EPL). User support. Project management. Program management.
• GIS Analyst @ Hawaii County (May 2018 - Nov 2019)
  • Web GIS and database applications. ArcGIS Enterprise support.
• GIS Specialist @ The Research Corporation of the University of Hawai’i (Sep 2017 - May 2018)
  • USAG-HI Schofield Barracks DPW Environmental/Cultural geospatial program support.
• Principal Investigator @ Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. (SEARCH) (Jan 2016 - Sep 2017)
  • Regional office management, business development, project management, GIS and cartography, field investigations, technical report writing.
• Senior Archaeologist @ Scientific Consulting Services (SCS) (Apr 2015 - Dec 2015)
  • Project management, GIS and cartography, field investigations, technical report writing.
• Staff Archaeologist @ Historic Preservation Office (HPO) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (Sep 2014 - Mar 2015)
  • Implementation of Historic Preservation Fund Grant projects and programs. Section 106, NEPA, and local regulatory review and consultation. Compliance and documentation review. Preparation of scopes of work for archaeological survey, testing, and mitigation projects. Editing of articles in preparation for submission to professional journals.
• GIS Specialist/Planner @ Division of Coastal Resource Management (DCRM) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (Aug 2013 - Sep 2014)
  • Implementation of Coastal Zone Management Act (CZM) projects and programs. NEPA, Section 106, and Federal Consistency review. Coastal and climate change research. Environmental and ecological sensitivity analyses including marine and terrestrial coastal habitat, coral reef, and fish health. Non-point source pollution analysis. GIS and marine spatial planning. Education, and outreach.

Notable Active CI/CD Geospatial Projects

• Hawaii County Permit GIS, code application an automation built in PowerShell, Python, and TSQL to perform weekly data conversion and GIS publication for Hawaii counties Citizen Self Service permit application portal, Back Office permit review portal, and mobile inspection application.
  • Project operating in production continuously since 2019
• Optical Reef and Coastal Area Assessment of Hawaii (ORCAHH) Tool, fork of the NASA Optical Reef and Coastal Area Assessment (ORCAA) Google Earth Engine tool paramaterized for Hilo Bay Watershed clean water and health analyses.
  • Project brought online during storm events since 2024

Publications

1. (2003) A Short Step in a Long Distance Interaction Sphere: Quarry Activities in Western Tutuila, American Samoa. Co-author with Ayres, William S. ; Wozniak, Joan A. ; Winterhoff, E. Quent. Poster for presentation at the Society for American Archaeology annual meeting.
2. (2007) Intra-Island Source Variability on Tutuila, AS and Prehistoric Basalt Adze Exchange in Western Polynesia-Island Melanesia. Co-author with Winterhoff, E. Quent ; Wozniak, Joan A. ; Ayres, William S. Article in the journal Archeology in Oceania.
3. (2012) Development of the Caribbean Online Radiocarbon Database for Archaeologists. Co-author with Fitzpatrick, Scott. Poster for presentation at the Society for American Archaeology annual meeting.
4. (2018) The Archaeology of a WWII Battle Never Fought in the Northern Mariana Islands. Co-Author with Boyd Dixon and Richard Shaefer. Article in the Journal of Conflict Archaeology.

Contact

You can reach me at LinkedIn or GitHub