One of the GeoResources Institute's (GRI's) goals is to develop and promote the use of remote sensing and spatial information technologies by decision-makers and environmental assessment specialists in relation to transportation infrastructure planning. Increasing the timeliness and cost-effectiveness of completing transportation projects is a major concern of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), State DOTs, and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Therefore, central to this goal is the process of streamlining in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for transportation corridors.

The GRI is pursuing this goal through its participation in the National Consortium on Remote Sensing in Transportation. The consortium on Environmental Assessment (NCRST-E) is led by Mississippi State University and is one of four consortia established by the US Department of Transportation and NASA to lead in the application of remote sensing and geospatial technologies in the transportation industry. An article titled Streamlining Transportation Decisions - NCRST Promotes Best Practices Among Education, Government and Industry is provided for more information.

GRI research efforts in support of NEPA streamlining are becoming focused around the development of a new technology for delivering shared foundational data along with requisite tools applicable for corridor planning - CEMAP (Collaborative Environment for Mapping, Analysis and Planning).