Several groups in the NYC area are using PLOTS tools including balloon mapping to document at-risk ecological sites.

Gowanus Canal Mapping

New York City is home to the "Gowanus division" of Grassroots Mapping, which is conducting a monitoring project of the Gowanus Canal cleanup.

We are working on a stereo camera rig for collecting infrared imagery which can reveal patterns/concentrations of vegetation or possible contaminants.

Another regional project is Grassroots Newark, focused on both sides of the Passaic River:
http://grassrootsnewark.wordpress.com/

See pictures from a recent workshop held at Union Square with Parsons and Lang at The New School:
http://grassrootsmapping.org/search/parsons