Alexandra Thompson
Senior Research Associate and GIS Research Coordinator
Alexandra Thompson is a Senior Research Associate and the GIS Coordinator at RFF and an expert on using spatial data to address environmental and socioeconomic challenges. Her current efforts are focused on understanding national land use and protection pathways for climate transitions and effects of sea level rise on the Chesapeake Bay agricultural economy.
Thompson’s work supports a wide range of resource economics policy areas through geospatial analysis design and interdisciplinary research. With a background in urban and regional planning, Thompson brings expertise in environmental land use planning and engineering of geospatial data relating to land cover, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion, habitat, protected areas, climate and weather, hydrography, energy resources, socioeconomics, and agriculture.
Other work includes effects of drought on agriculture, value of remotely sensed information, invasive species monitoring and spread modeling, and minimizing habitat and environmental impacts of renewable energy siting.
As RFF’s GIS Coordinator, Thompson enhances research insights with spatial data science through software engagement, technical support, and information product development.
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Resources Magazine — Oct 7, 2024
Putting Resources for the Future on the Map
The “souvenirs” that RFF researchers bring back from their global travels—new perspectives, knowledge, stories, and photos—show a world of Resources that are out there and worth sharing.
Media Highlight — Aug 20, 2024
Axios: “Wanted: A Better Map for Place-Based Policies”
A blog post by RFF scholars Daniel Raimi, Alexandra Thompson, and Zachary Whitlock about place-based policies is featured in Axios' energy newsletter.
Common Resources — Aug 19, 2024
Almost Everything Almost Everywhere All at Once: Why Place-Based Policies Are Not Targeting the Right Places
Place-based policies in the United States aim to provide support to specific locations. Unfortunately, major energy and environmental policies fail to target the places with the most need, diluting the intended benefits and suggesting the need for reform.
Journal Article — Oct 19, 2023
Modeling Ecological Constraints on a CO2 Pipeline Network
This journal article expands the open-source carbon capture, utilization, and storage model SimCCS to account for the environmental and social impacts of carbon dioxide pipeline siting.
Journal Article — Oct 19, 2023
Modeling Ecological Constraints on a CO2 Pipeline Network
This journal article expands the open-source carbon capture, utilization, and storage model SimCCS to account for the environmental and social impacts of carbon dioxide pipeline siting.
Journal Article — Jun 2, 2023
Partnerships between Organizations That Manage Protected Land in California Are Associated with Groups with Environmentally Oriented Missions
Using data on protected areas from California, United States, this article explores the frequency and extent of partnering between managing land-protection organizations.
Testimony and Public Comments — Mar 8, 2022
Comments on the Development of a Conservation and Stewardship Atlas
Comments to the Department of the Interior on the development of a Conservation and Stewardship Atlas.
Journal Article — Sep 24, 2021
Socioenvironmental Drivers of Establishment of Lymantria dispar, a Nonnative Forest Pest, in the United States
RFF researchers coauthor this article that examines how socioenvironmental factors impact the likelihood of the arrival and establishment of Lymantria dispar, an invasive moth species.
Resources Magazine — Oct 7, 2024
Putting Resources for the Future on the Map
The “souvenirs” that RFF researchers bring back from their global travels—new perspectives, knowledge, stories, and photos—show a world of Resources that are out there and worth sharing.
Common Resources — Aug 19, 2024
Almost Everything Almost Everywhere All at Once: Why Place-Based Policies Are Not Targeting the Right Places
Place-based policies in the United States aim to provide support to specific locations. Unfortunately, major energy and environmental policies fail to target the places with the most need, diluting the intended benefits and suggesting the need for reform.
Common Resources — Jun 15, 2023
Geeking Out on Geography: Mapping the Effects of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act
The Coastal Barrier Resources Act is a great example of how geographically targeted policy can have spillover effects in neighboring areas. New research from Resources for the Future scholars demonstrates why and how.
Common Resources — Nov 16, 2022
Geeking Out on Geography: Mapping Policy Scenarios for the Energy Transition
Resources for the Future scholar Alexandra Thompson examines the useful role of geographic information systems (GIS) for interpreting how the Inflation Reduction Act defines “energy communities.”
Media Highlight — Aug 20, 2024
Axios: “Wanted: A Better Map for Place-Based Policies”
A blog post by RFF scholars Daniel Raimi, Alexandra Thompson, and Zachary Whitlock about place-based policies is featured in Axios' energy newsletter.
Press Release — Jul 21, 2021
New Study Reveals Key Factors for Estimating Costs to Plug Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells
New Study Reveals Key Factors for Estimating Costs to Plug Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells
Press Release — Apr 14, 2021
The American Public Is Responsible for Identifying Over a Quarter of New Invasive Species
The American Public Is Responsible for Identifying Over a Quarter of New Invasive Species
Press Release — Feb 9, 2021
A NOAA Website Offers Free Tools, Data, and Trainings—and Provides Millions of Dollars in Societal Value
A NOAA Website Offers Free Tools, Data, and Trainings—and Provides Millions of Dollars in Societal Value