Interactive tools can transform stakeholder engagement by improving communication, transparency, and decision-making.
Empowering voices, building consensus
Effective stakeholder engagement can drive the success of environmental programs, infrastructure projects, and community developments. Meaningful engagement goes beyond simply informing the public; it requires listening, understanding, and creating space for collaboration. Tetra Tech’s communication specialists use a suite of interactive technologies to include every stakeholder voice, whether they connect in person or online.
These tools enable all participants to contribute, visualize areas of agreement and disagreement, and identify topics that require further discussion. This transparency fosters trust and accelerates consensus-building, which makes engagement more inclusive and productive.
Technologies that power our engagement efforts
Tetra Tech integrates various tools to tailor engagement strategies to each project’s needs. We apply data-driven and technology-enhanced solutions to a suite of stakeholder engagement processes. Below, we highlight some of the technologies we use to help us manage relationships, track feedback, and promote transparent communication.
1. Real-Time surveys
Our communication experts leverage real-time polling tools like Mentimeter to enhance participation during meetings, trainings, and workshops by providing instant feedback and fostering discussion. These anonymous platforms encourage honest input, allowing facilitators to effectively address participant needs and build trust. They enable quieter participants to share feedback while balancing the dominant voices in the room. Polling tools prioritize issues, identify consensus, and guide decision-making, promoting interactive dialogue and enabling Tetra Tech to conduct proactive, participatory activities that address community concerns.
2. Independent surveys
We use surveys like Zoho and SurveyMonkey to reach stakeholders who can’t attend live sessions and allow them to submit feedback at their convenience. These surveys help us understand community priorities, identify concerns, and inform programmatic decisions while capturing diverse input, especially from under-resourced communities. The feedback provides measurable insights for proactive planning and serves as a documented record for project teams, supporting alignment with stakeholder priorities and maintaining transparency across long-term projects.
3. Interactive whiteboards
Interactive whiteboards enable real-time collaboration among stakeholders for brainstorming and planning. They structure conversations, identify themes, and encourage active participation by visualizing input from participants. Tools such as Miro and Microsoft Whiteboard facilitate visual thinking to illustrate complex concepts, bridging communication gaps between technical and non-technical stakeholders. This blend of visual and verbal information enhances comprehension and retention, transforming workshops from passive presentations into dynamic, participatory experiences.
4. GIS-integrated software for stakeholder mapping and engagement
Tetra Tech uses the U.S. Census Bureau’s Data Tools and Apps to analyze stakeholder locations and demographic information, allowing us to customize engagement strategies and target outreach areas and audiences. We identify patterns and project impacts by combining demographic and interest data with environmental and socioeconomic information. ArcGIS StoryMaps helps assess risks like flooding and land use changes, while also pinpointing influential stakeholder groups. Mapped clusters of stakeholders enable tailored engagement activities, enhancing transparency and helping us target messages to build community support and encourage behavior change.
5. Paper maps for watershed engagement
In in-person settings, paper maps effectively engage stakeholders by allowing participants to mark concerns and share local knowledge while visualizing environmental impacts. This tactile approach fosters ownership, encourages collaboration, and invites community input, building trust and rapport. Additionally, paper maps often serve as foundational information for digital mapping efforts.
6. Stakeholder engagement and management software
Stakeholder platforms like Borealis act as a centralized hub for feedback and concerns, helping us track interactions, manage communications, and monitor engagement outcomes. They enable continuity, transparency, and accountability throughout the project life cycle, helping to identify potential risks early for informed decision-making. When combined with GIS, stakeholder platforms create comprehensive stakeholder maps that incorporate feedback, facilitating the management of complex multi-stakeholder relationships.
7. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools
TetraAgent™, Tetra Tech’s internal generative AI bot, is an automated tool that can efficiently summarize meetings and action items, offering several key benefits. It quickly generates concise summaries, reducing manual note-taking time. By leveraging advanced technology, TetraAgent enhances the accuracy of meeting records, ensuring key points are captured. It provides a standardized summary format for easier tracking of decisions and follow-ups. Additionally, it promotes inclusivity by assisting Tetra Tech staff with special needs. The platform also includes robust security features that protect clients’ sensitive information and meet data privacy compliance.
Interactive tools keep participants engaged by breaking up passive listening with active input.
8. Virtual conference rooms and displays
Tetra Tech uses virtual conference rooms like Airmeet to host interactive and accessible events, providing flexibility for clients and attendees. These platforms promote engagement through networking tools, such as virtual tables and breakout rooms for casual conversations. Tetra Tech enhances presentations with interactive features like Q&A sessions, polls, and live chats while offering customizable branding and layouts. Platforms such as Airmeet allow participants to join from any location, reduce time and travel costs, and provide analytics to evaluate engagement.
9. Interactive training courses
Intuitive e-learning tools like Articulate Storyline enable Tetra Tech employees to create engaging course content. We incorporate multimedia elements such as images, audio, animations, and video to enhance interaction. The slide-based design and customizable triggers allow for tailored learning experiences. Storyline is accessible across devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Additionally, quizzes and learner tracking encourage attendees to absorb the course content through customized assessments.
10. Interactive conference tool
Tetra Tech developed a conference engagement tool that allows attendees to connect with others, save notes, tag actions, and perform other tasks. Each attendee has a unique QR code printed on the back of their name tag. By scanning the QR code, attendees log in to their account to view the agenda, upload photos, tag people they met, and more. The tool also includes an online voice recorder that lets speakers record the pronunciation of their names, which improves engagement among meeting planners and participants.
Technology as a bridge to better engagement
Tetra Tech creates inclusive, transparent, and responsive engagement processes for in-person and virtual attendees by combining traditional methods with cutting-edge technologies. These tools enhance communication and empower stakeholders to help shape and co-create the projects that affect them.
About the authors
Wayne Mayer
Wayne Mayer is a senior environmental scientist and sustainability facilitator for Tetra Tech’s water resources management group.
As part of the Mid-Atlantic region’s water municipal services group and global sustainability projects, Wayne advances Tetra Tech’s strategic approaches to environmental science and watershed management. He is an established sustainability facilitator and technical leader with more than 20 years of experience designing and implementing sustainable development strategies for companies, governments, and organizations. His expertise in stakeholder engagement and facilitation empowers people to integrate diverse elements into cohesive, big picture solutions.
Adrianna Berk
Adrianna Berk is the strategic communications and outreach lead for Tetra Tech’s water resources management group.
Adrianna is a trainer facilitator who uses multiple engagement tools to educate the public about our clients’ projects and programs, gathers feedback from stakeholders, and builds consensus. With more than 25 years of experience managing and supporting environmental education, public outreach, and social marketing efforts, she promotes behavior changes through outreach materials that convey complex scientific ideas to non-technical audiences. She also develops communication strategies to reach target and underserved audiences.