From Tracts to Interstates: Scaling Overdose Analysis Across Kansas
DJ Gering, Public Health Analyst
CDC Foundation

Overdose data in Kansas forces a unit-of-analysis problem. Counts are too small for stable tract rates across most of the state, and the phenomenon itself ignores the polygons we store data in because drug supply moves along highways and interstates, not county boundaries.

This session tours four geospatial projects built for the Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) program, each resolving that problem at a different scale with a different method:

1. Empirical Bayes-smoothed overdose rates at the tract-level, paired with Bayesian classification of local overdose ecosystems and modeled naloxone saturation, stabilizing small-area estimates where counts are sparse and most counties are rural.

2. Naloxone vending machine siting: a weighted suitability analysis balancing overdose burden and access gaps.

3. Interstate corridor analysis assigning overdose incidents by road-mile buffer, running spike detection at county and corridor scales, and scoring cross-county spike pairs on time decay, distance decay, drug-signature overlap and shared corridor to flag candidate common events.

4. Kansas Overdose Data Assistant (KODA), an AI conversational tool under development that lets non-GIS partners query Kansas overdose data and its geography without opening a map.

Geospatial Innovation for Aging Canals: A Path to Water Security
Avantika Ramekar, GIS Analyst and Scott Perkins, Business Development Director
Prairie Engineers

Water scarcity is limiting agricultural productivity in Puerto Rico’s Isabela Irrigation District following hurricane damage to Guajataca Dam in 2017. With full rehabilitation not expected until 2032, improving the performance of the district’s early 20th century canal system is critical to sustaining water delivery. This project applied high-resolution topo-bathymetric LiDAR and photogrammetry to support canal rehabilitation planning. The data were used to generate detailed topographic mapping and 3-inch orthophotography, enabling extraction of critical infrastructure features and development of a comprehensive surface model covering more than 44 miles of canals and laterals. These datasets supported condition assessment, identification of capacity constraints, and preparation of planning documents for targeted improvements to canal conveyance and water quality.

The project demonstrates how integrated geospatial technologies can accelerate infrastructure evaluation and support cost-effective rehabilitation of legacy irrigation systems.

Effective project management is essential to the success of any GIS program. Yet teams often encounter challenges such as unclear requests, shifting expectations, and inconsistent stakeholder engagement. This presentation highlights practical tools and approaches that set up projects for success. Key topics include the value of developing a project charter, conducting a kickoff meeting, monitoring and controlling project execution, and formally closing out a project.

How will GNSS and the Modernization of the NSRS affect us now and in the future?
Stephen R. Thompson, GIS/GNSS consultant, Adj. Faculty, Civil Engineer
Stephen R. Thompson, P.E.

How will the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and the Modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) affect us now and in the future?

Is GNSS used to produce the data that you receive? How will the new datums/units/drones affect this data? What metadata is essential? Our methods of establishing distance, position, and elevation are undergoing some fundamental changes due to differences in datums, units, and methodology. Do you receive data that has been created using the (GNSS) or drones, instead of by traditional line-of-sight instruments? Do you trust it? A look at the new coordinates listed for the Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) will give us some clues! Do you accept GNSS data for flood mapping or Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA’s)? How will potential jamming of the GNSS signals affect us?

Introduction to ArcGIS for Microsoft 365
Luke Finley, Sr. Solution Engineer
ESRI

This session introduces ArcGIS for Microsoft 365 and how it brings location-based insights directly into the tools organizations use every day, including Excel, Teams, and Power BI. Attendees will learn how to map, analyze, and share data without leaving their familiar Microsoft environment, making it easier to collaborate and communicate with stakeholders. The session will highlight practical use cases for state and local government, showing how location can enhance reporting, planning, and decision-making. Whether you’re new to GIS or looking to expand your workflows, this overview will help you get started quickly and effectively.

Introduction to ArcGIS Velocity
Luke Finley, Sr. Solution Engineer
ESRI

This session will provide an overview of ArcGIS Velocity, Esri’s cloud-native real-time and big data analysis capability. It lets organizations ingest, visualize, and analyze data from real-time feeds, such as sensors, assets, and other dynamic data sources. They can also store accumulated data as big data and run fast queries and analytics on the data. Attendees will then see demonstrations of practical solutions that showcase Velocity’s ability to turn real-time data into actionable insights.

Introduction to Workflow Manager
Luke Finley, Sr. Solution Engineer
ESRI

This session will provide an overview of ArcGIS Workflow Manager, an easy-to-use, scalable enterprise GIS workflow management system. It streamlines production processes by automating and simplifying the performance and management of location-enabled work. Attendees will then see a demonstration of a real world workflow to illustrate how tasks, assignments, and status tracking come together in practice.

Modernizing Butler County Public Works
Mark Schmidt, GIS Director; Riley Denning, GIS Analyst
Butler County

Local governments are increasingly expected to provide faster, more efficient, and more transparent services while operating with limited staff and resources. In Butler County Public Works, GIS has become a key component in modernizing operations, improving communication, and streamlining daily workflows.

This presentation will showcase how Butler County GIS partnered with Public Works staff to replace paper-based and disconnected processes with integrated digital workflows powered by Enterprise GIS technology. Attendees will see examples of mobile field applications, digital asset management tools, inspection and maintenance tracking systems, fleet management solutions, and real-time dashboards that improve coordination between office and field personnel.

The session will also demonstrate how GIS supports infrastructure management for bridges, culverts, road maintenance, and county equipment while improving data accessibility, operational efficiency, and long-term recordkeeping. In addition, the presentation will cover lessons learned during implementation, strategies for staff adoption, and practical approaches or developing sustainable workflows that continue to evolve alongside departmental needs.

More than Maps: Using ArcGIS to Engage Citizens and Collaborate with Stakeholders
Chris Wright, Account Manager
ESRI

Effective community engagement requires more than sharing maps—it requires meaningful collaboration with citizens, stakeholders, consultants, and partner agencies. This session explores how organizations are using ArcGIS to collect public input, share project information, and foster collaboration around community initiatives. Through practical examples and best practices, attendees will learn how ArcGIS can improve transparency, streamline communication, and strengthen engagement throughout the planning and project lifecycle.

Kevin Skridulis, GIS Project Analyst
Johnson County Kansas

The Johnson County Appraiser’s Office partnered with DTI AIMS to develop three Experience Builder applications that support key appraisal workflows: a task routing app for permits and sales collection, and separate applications for residential and commercial sales searches. Together, these tools allow staff to filter by multiple categories, define map extents, select parcels, create field work routes, research sales, and generate reports and CSV outputs for hearings and data review. This session will highlight the core features of each application and outline future plans for improving digital field data workflows in the Appraiser’s Office.

In addition, the presentation will review our experience with a pilot project using our aerial imagery vendor’s AI tools for impervious surface extraction, including features such as buildings, bridges, paved roads, parking lots, driveways, and other hardscape surfaces. We will also discuss our internal work using ESRI’s deep learning tools for building footprint extraction and our experience applying these tools in-house.

Tony Spicci, Executive Director
GIS Certification Institute

The GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam® is a groundbreaking development in the geospatial profession, software-agnostic, based upon a job analysis from a four-year experience level, informed by the GIS&T Body of Knowledge, guided by the Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM), and centered upon the ten key knowledge areas shown elsewhere on these pages. It was developed by GISPs for the GISP Certification.

The GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam® measures a breadth of geospatial knowledge across the 10 Content Areas specified, not a depth of knowledge in any one area. Come learn how to prepare for the exam and set yourself up to become successful.

The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) is a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement of proficient GIS professionals through its international GISP® (Certified GIS Professional) certification program. The Institute fosters rigorous professional and ethical standards, community engagement, and professional mentoring within the GIS industry.

Tyler Wehr, Analyst
LAZ Parking

The GISP exam covers a wide swath of geospatial theory with few consolidated study resources. This session demonstrates how AI tools can generate practice questions, explain difficult concepts, and build study materials from the official content outline. Attendees will leave with concrete prompting strategies, a verification workflow, and a realistic assessment of AI's role in technical exam preparation.

Using ArcGIS Online View Layers for Long-Term Maintainability
Marie Dawes, GIS Technican
Pottawatomie County Public Works Department

Does your organization use ArcGIS Online to power web maps, dashboards or other apps? If making updates to your services makes you nervous, there's a tool in the ArcGIS Online environment that can take much of the stress out of managing your GIS: view layers! Join us to explore why view layers are a valuable (and often under-used) approach. We'll cover how they improve data integrity, promote consistency, enhance long-term maintainability and streamline updates. A short demonstration will show you first-hand how view layers allow underlying hosted services to be updated without requiring changes to dependent web maps and apps. You'll leave with the knowledge to implement them in your own organization.

Vibe Coding and ArcGIS - A Winfield GIS Site Demo
Travis Brister, Information Systems Analyst II
City of Winfield

This session shares how the City of Winfield is modernizing its GIS web presence by creating a more connected and user friendly platform for mapping, IT support, staff resources, and system integrations. The project focuses on using GIS as more than a mapping tool by connecting it with internal mapping assets, support services, and everyday staff needs.

Attendees will get a practical look at how the site was planned and built, including site design, ArcGIS Enterprise Portal integration, and automated content synchronization. The session will also highlight how artificial intelligence, chatbots, automation, and AI assisted development are becoming an important part of how the City connects information and simplifies support.

By combining AI, GIS, and IT, the City of Winfield is creating smarter ways for staff to access information, request help, and use mapping resources. Participants will leave with ideas for building a scalable and maintainable GIS platform that supports both end users and administrators while improving efficiency across local government operations.

Tony Spicci, Executive Director
GIS Certification Institute

This session is designed to provide an overview of the GISP certification process from start up to submission. We will discuss the exam, portfolio, preparation materials and costs associated with becoming a GISP. We will also discuss recertification.

The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization established in 2002 to support and advance excellence in the geospatial profession. Through our internationally recognized certification programs—GISP® (Certified GIS Professional) and GISP-E (Emerging GIS Professional)—we set and uphold high standards of competency, integrity, and service in the GIS field.

GISCI is committed to promoting ethical practices, fostering professional development, and building a strong, connected GIS community. We champion mentorship, collaboration, and lifelong learning to help professionals thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.