2025 WA GIS Conference: Full Schedule

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8:00am PDT

Conference Registration and Catered Breakfast

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am PDT

After checking in at the registration desk come join us for a catered breakfast where you can mingle with colleagues and meet our sponsors.

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am PDT
TBD

Networking

8:30am PDT

GIS Process Improvement from a Lean Six Sigma Lens

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:30am - 9:25am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a process improvement tool used to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance quality in processes. This presentation dives into a specific Lean Six Sigma project we facilitated as a part of a Green Belt certification course. We sought to improve an existing GIS process that was identified by our internal staff as inconsistent and ambiguous. Using the LSS methodology, we identified process gaps, analyzed root causes, and collaborated with staff to identify and prioritize improvements. This presentation will serve as a use case for LSS methodology in the realm of GIS and challenge you to seek out GIS processes which you could help improve.

Speakers

Elisabeth Leaf

Senior GIS Analyst, Tacoma Water

Elisabeth Leaf is a Senior GIS Analyst for Tacoma Water. She works with the Business Services Department to keep Tacoma Water’s internal and external map applications and data up and running and accurate. Elisabeth has a diverse career spanning GIS, asset management, urban planning... Read More →

Nick Bateman

Senior Business Analyst, Tacoma Water

Nick Bateman is a Senior Business Analyst for Tacoma Water, who focuses on building reliable and future-proof client-side systems in Tacoma. He has a passion for improving business processes. Nick approaches projects with curiosity for the current state, and systems thinking for how... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:30am - 9:25am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Enterprise GIS Track, Process

8:30am PDT

Fighting Invasive Weeds: Automated Herbicide Records in Green River Watershed

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:30am - 9:25am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

The City of Tacoma is working to improve elk habitats by controlling noxious weeds in the Green River Watershed. This effort is part of the Water Storage Project Mitigation and ensures compliance with state regulations.

To make tracking herbicide applications easier and more accurate, we’ve set up an automated GIS workflow that cuts down on manual data entry while keeping records accurate. Using ArcGIS Pro and Field Maps, data is collected and analyzed through web tools and dashboards, then automatically converted into PDF reports with Map Series functionality. Also, as data is collected, configured Attribute Rules enforce data integrity and create less data entry. This process ensures that documentation is both efficient and compliant.

By utilizing an automated process in GIS, these records not only help with compliance but also improve habitat management. In addition, real-time GIS data helps to make better decisions to control invasive species while reducing environmental impact.

Speakers

Anssel Lopez

Senor GIS Analyst, Tacoma Water

Anssel Lopez is a Senior IT Analyst (GIS) at the City of Tacoma. He has worked in GIS for over a decade, supporting environmental research, private sector projects, and government operations. His experience includes GIS analysis for fire codes, managing ArcGIS Server for an Air Force... Read More →

Lee Allen

Geospatial Technology Manager, Tacoma Water

Lee Allen, GISP is the Geospatial Technology Manager at Tacoma Water. He has been involved with GIS for over 20 years and currently manages one of the finest GIS crews in all of Washington.

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:30am - 9:25am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, Modernization

8:30am PDT

Covington Water District and the Utility Network

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:30am - 9:25am PDT

Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Covington Water District is committed to providing clean, safe and reliable drinking water to the communities in Southeast King County. As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery, the District has embarked on a transformative journey by implementing the ESRI Utility Network. This advanced technology enables the District to manage its infrastructure with unique precision and insight.

The technology offers a unified model for visualizing and analyzing utility networks, allowing for detailed insights into the water distribution system. By integrating this technology, Covington Water District can improve network safety and reliability through built-in data governance, ensuring accurate asset locations and attributes. The implementation also facilitates real-time collaborative workflows, enhancing communication and efficiency across various business units.

This presentation will delve into the strategic implementation of the Utility Network at Covington Water District, highlighting the challenges faced, as well as the benefits of advanced GIS technology solutions. Attendees will gain insights into how these technologies are revolutionizing water utility operations, driving operational efficiency, and enhancing service delivery.

Speakers

Shawn Buck

GIS Engineering Analyst, Covington Water District

Shawn is a GIS Analyst with over 15 years of experience in local government. He holds a Master's degree in Geospatial Technologies from the University of Washington. Throughout his career, Shawn has demonstrated a profound passion for data and technology, leveraging GIS technology... Read More →

Mike Velasco

Covington Water District

Steve Lee

Covington Water District

Dan Dulan

Covington Water District

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:30am - 9:25am PDT
Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Utility Networks & Data Precision, Utility Network

8:30am PDT

From Reactive to Proactive: GIS-Driven Disaster Preparedness for Resilient Communities (Quartic Solutions)

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:30am - 9:25am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 110

Disasters don’t wait—so why should we? While many organizations rely on GIS for post-disaster response, the real power of geospatial technology lies in proactive preparedness. By leveraging ArcGIS and Esri Disaster solutions before disasters, agencies can predict risks, optimize response strategies, plan evacuations, and mitigate damage, ultimately saving lives and resources all this while having Business continuity. This session will explore the transformative role of ArcGIS in disaster resilience, showcasing possible scenarios where predictive analytics, real-time data, and spatial modeling can empower agencies to stay ahead of emergencies. We’ll discuss best practices in risk mapping, scenario planning, and evacuation mapping. From government agencies to utilities and emergency management teams, organizations that shift from reactive to proactive ArcGIS strategies gain a critical edge. Join us to learn how to future-proof your operations and build a smarter, more resilient response framework—before disaster strikes.

Speakers

Arunabha "Neel" Chowdhury

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:30am - 9:25am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 110

Vendor Presentations, Quartic Solutions

9:30am PDT

How a GIS Tech Stack Failure Taught Us to Build a Team, Not Just Tools

Wednesday June 18, 2025 9:30am - 9:55am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 301

When King County’s GIS team took on its first major modernization project (‘Rae Rae”), we were “eager but green”—rushed tech choices and Agile growing pains left us scrambling. It was messy but “transformative”. By the time we tackled the ‘Districts and Development Conditions Report’, we’d turned those hard lessons into “strengths”: “no more ‘sink or swim’ solo work”, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and a culture where “knowledge lived with the team, not just individuals”—culminating in a repeatable playbook for “resilience”.

That resilience was tested when a post-launch bug required reimplementing a nuanced spatial calculation. With “back-to-back vacations looming”, the fix passed through “three developers”—each handing off “seamlessly”—and deployed “flawlessly”. No delays, no drama.

In this talk, I’ll share how we turned failure into momentum by:
• “Prioritizing team habits over ‘perfect’ tools** (and why it saved us)
• “Running lean, open workshops” to break down knowledge silos
• “Embracing ‘paired work’ as insurance” (not waste)
• “Designing for handoffs” so vacations ‘help’—not hurt—progress

For teams juggling legacy systems and Agile skepticism, this proves that “how you work together outlasts any tool”—and why ""‘inefficient’ collaboration is the smartest investment you’ll make”.

Speakers

Adam Cabrera

Geo Engineering Manager, King County

Adam Cabrera leads the Geo Engineering team at King County’s GIS Center, where he helps teams modernize legacy systems without losing their sanity. With 30 years of GIS experience, he’s learned that the best tools fail without the right team habits—a lesson he’ll unpack in... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 9:30am - 9:55am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Enterprise GIS Track, Process

9:30am PDT

Modernizing Parcel Management at Yakima County

Wednesday June 18, 2025 9:30am - 9:55am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Discover how Yakima County made the move from a custom platform for parcel maintenance to a modern, efficient and well-supported environment. Learn about the process of migrating to the new parcel management platform, the impact the County has seen as a result, and what’s next for parcel management at Yakima County.

Speakers

Lisa Schaefer

GIS Specialist, Pro-West & Associates

Lisa is an industry leader in land records management, with 25 years’ experience helping local governments to efficiently create and manage their parcel data. Every day she works with counties to develop, manage, and migrate data, and regularly trains county staff to become self-sufficient... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 9:30am - 9:55am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, Modernization

9:30am PDT

Crash Course on Data Migration Tools in Utility Network Foundations

Wednesday June 18, 2025 9:30am - 9:55am PDT

Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Using the collection of Utility Network Foundations is a productive and quick way to get your agency up and running with ESRI’s next generation of utility asset tracking and modeling. There is a healthy collection of ESRI documentation on the use of the Foundations, but sometimes, expert written documentation can assume prior knowledge that the audience may not possess. This can slow down adoption and create uncertainty in both the agency’s technical team but also their customers.

In this session, we will do a cursory examination of the data migration tools provided by the Foundation toolboxes. We will examine the available migration scripts: how to use a data mapping workbook, extending the basic schema, and execute a data load. We will look at the resources available to help you on your journey and share advice. At the end of the session, you will hopefully feel more confident in the preparation of your Asset Package for deployment in a single-user or enterprise environment.

Speakers

Roma Hicks

Senior Applications Analyst, City of Issaquah

Roma Hicks is a civil servant with over ten years of municipal experience and over fifteen years of GIS experience. He has wide-ranging experience in GIS operations supporting community development and public works operations, writing policy, budget management, and IT project management... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 9:30am - 9:55am PDT
Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Utility Networks & Data Precision, Utility Network

9:30am PDT

Street-Level Imagery: A Game-Changing Approach to How We Operate (NCTech)

Wednesday June 18, 2025 9:30am - 9:55am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 110

Street-level 360˚ imagery and LiDAR is revolutionizing how infrastructure is managed, from utility and telecommunication networks to public works assets, roads and real estate. It is also critical to the next major computing platform. This session will discuss how several important use cases are addressed using street-level data to maximize savings, minimize time, and mitigate risk, with an emphasis on it augmenting rather than replacing other valuable data sources such as aerial and satellite imagery.

Speakers

Ruth Zipfel

Account Executive - Western US, NCTech

Ruth Zipfel is currently an Account Executive for the Western U.S. at NCTech. She joined the company in April 2025 after spending nine years with EagleView, where she worked on the Western sales team, supporting government clients in various capacities. Before her time at EagleView... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 9:30am - 9:55am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 110

Vendor Presentations, NCTech

10:00am PDT

Break

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am PDT

TBD

Grab some coffee and take a break while you make your way back to our sponsor booths to find out what emerging tools, techniques, and technology are making their way to the GIS industry.

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am PDT
TBD

10:30am PDT

Powering Connectivity: Navigating Challenges in Mapping Utility Network Data to Outage Management

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:30am - 10:55am PDT

Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

This presentation explores the challenges encountered in integrating Esri's Utility Network Data Model (UNDM) with CGI’s PragmaLINE Outage Management System (OMS), a critical component for efficient utility operations. The integration process has relied on manual data model adjustments and JCMB's DataPort for Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) operations to facilitate data flow between systems. These tools have been essential in overcoming integration challenges, ensuring data consistency and compatibility between Esri’s UNDM and CGI’s OMS.
Throughout the project, several key data model challenges emerged, highlighting the complexity of the data and underscoring the critical collaboration between various business units essential for the success of the integration. This presentation will discuss the specific issues that arose, such as data inconsistencies and interoperability hurdles, and the approaches we took to resolve them. From leveraging manual data model adjustments to utilizing ETL processes, we will explore the solutions that were implemented to ensure data integrity and seamless integration. Additionally, the presentation will touch on the ongoing efforts to address emerging data anomalies and the collaborative work between various business units that was vital to overcoming these challenges.

Speakers

Maddie Whitted

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:30am - 10:55am PDT
Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Utility Networks & Data Precision, Utility Network

10:30am PDT

Govern, Guide, Geolocate: SOPs and Tools for Smarter Asset Management

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:30am - 11:25am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Managing asset data in GIS requires more than just mapping—it demands structure, strategy, and smart tools. This presentation explores how clear governance, standard operating procedures, and data dictionaries form the foundation for consistent, reliable asset mapping. We'll walk through how service level agreements and defined responsibilities ensure timely updates from as-built drawings to GIS. Then, we’ll shift gears to showcase a suite of highly customized GIS tools that streamline record retention, improve end-user access to retained documents, and empower field staff to submit real-time data changes. From process to platform, this session highlights the architecture behind a system designed to keep asset data accurate, accessible, and aligned with business needs.

Speakers

Zorba Conlen

Application Developer, City of Bellevue

Zorba Conlen is a GIS developer with over 20 years experience in the industry. He currently works for the City of Bellevue, designing and developing custom mapping applications. He lives in Seattle with his family and enjoys movies, outdoors adventures and music.

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:30am - 11:25am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Enterprise GIS Track, Governance

10:30am PDT

Don't Panic, It's Just AI: A Developer's Handbook 

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:30am - 11:25am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

In a world where AI has become as ubiquitous as towels are to interstellar hitchhikers, Christopher Moravec stands ready to guide you through the galaxy of possibilities and pitfalls.

"Don't Panic, It's Just AI: A Developer's Handbook" is your essential guide to navigating the often bewildering landscape of artificial intelligence. More controversial than Oolon Colluphid's trilogy "Where AI Came From," "Some More of God's Greatest Mistakes," and "Who is this Siri Person Anyway?", this handbook is for any developer looking to harness AI without resorting to Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters to cope with the absurdity.

Through real-world examples, Christopher will show you how to use AI as a practical tool—from writing code with chatbots to generating sensible map names—while also revealing what AI excels at, where it falls short, and when to leave it out of your toolkit entirely.

Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, join us and, remember: Don't Panic, and always know where your towel is.

Speakers

Christopher Moravec

CTO, dymaptic

Hi! I'm Christopher, an expert at trying new things and teaching computers clever tricks. As CTO of dymaptic, I build mapping software and tinker with AI. I love turning complex problems into elegant solutions, and I have opinions about tech that I'm sharing here. Sometimes I build... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:30am - 11:25am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, AI

10:30am PDT

Dick Thomas Award Presentation Competition

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:30am - 11:55am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 110

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:30am - 11:55am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 110

DTA, Student Competition

11:00am PDT

Where Are You? Coordinates and Precision

Wednesday June 18, 2025 11:00am - 11:55am PDT

Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Geospatial data are different than other data because they include something special: coordinates. This presentation will focus on those X, Y, Z and M coordinates that we care so much about. We’ll review coordinate systems and precision, and the key pieces of geospatial metadata we need to use coordinate data. How long is a degree, anyway? What are some data format considerations for coordinate precision? What’s the matter with Web Mercator? Since many GIS systems project data on the fly, why bother to project data into a cartesian coordinate system? Why does the choice of coordinate system for raster data and raster analysis so critical? Come for a review of these basic, yet very important topics.

Speakers

Curtis Price

Physical Scientist (Ret), *none*

Curtis Price holds geology degrees from the University of Puget Sound and Dartmouth College. He had a 32-year career with the U.S. Geological Survey where he supported water studies with GIS analysis and data creation, including development of elevation-hydrography integration for... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 11:00am - 11:55am PDT
Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Utility Networks & Data Precision, Precision

11:30am PDT

Bridging the Gap: Lessons from Data Sharing Between Enterprise and ArcGIS Online

Wednesday June 18, 2025 11:30am - 11:55am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 301

The City of Tacoma has been using distributed collaborations to share data between Enterprise portal and ArcGIS Online since 2022. Progress has not been linear: there have been many challenges. We will share how our distributed collaborations are set up, lessons learned along the way, and tips and tricks to help you on your own distributed collaboration journey.

Speakers

Alicia Bradshaw

Idalis Laboy Cintron

Wednesday June 18, 2025 11:30am - 11:55am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Enterprise GIS, Data

11:30am PDT

Beyond 2D GIS Data and Mapping: Drones, SLAM LIdar, Gaussian Splats, and SfM, Oh My! Exporing Modern 3D GIS Data

Wednesday June 18, 2025 11:30am - 11:55am PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

This presentation showcases the evolution of drone-based GIS, moving beyond traditional 2D aerial imagery to create rich 3D models by exploring Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM) lidar technology. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the combined use of these hardware platforms and explore standard processing techniques, such as Structure from Motion (SfM) and the innovative 3D Gaussian Splatting method. The session will highlight practical workflows and feature examples of 3D models that have been generated.

Speakers

Peter Keum

Wednesday June 18, 2025 11:30am - 11:55am PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, 3D

12:00pm PDT

Catered Lunch

Wednesday June 18, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT

William Philip Hall

Join us back in William Philip Hall for a catered lunch and an opportunity to catch up with colleagues new and old and check out our sponsor booths!

Wednesday June 18, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
William Philip Hall

Networking

1:30pm PDT

Using GIS to Bring Awareness and Support to People with Chronic Conditions

Wednesday June 18, 2025 1:30pm - 1:55pm PDT

Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

This research project uses GIS to raise awareness and provide resources and support for people living with chronic conditions; specifically, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and chronic pain. Through Survey123, I captured anonymous data relating to the personal challenges faced by those with these conditions as they navigate the healthcare system, among other information. After geocoding a list of specialists sourced from support groups, I used Network Analyst to generate service areas for each specialist. This analysis helps to identify gaps in healthcare access. Finally, I created an Experience Builder to present the results of this analysis in an engaging, and easy to understand format. The Experience Builder contains sections dedicated to mapping access to specialists, anonymized locations of survey respondents, a section to highlight stories from people with these chronic conditions, and links to support groups among other information. Through this project I hope to increase awareness and bring hope to those with these chronic conditions.

Speakers

Georgianna E.S. Hupp

Wednesday June 18, 2025 1:30pm - 1:55pm PDT
Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Health & Community, Coordinates & Datums

1:30pm PDT

Exploring The Great Indoors

Wednesday June 18, 2025 1:30pm - 1:55pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

My experience creating a virtual duplicate of the TPU Campus. I will highlight what made us begin this project, the steps that went into creating the indoor map, the challenges I had to face and overcome as I went through the steps, where are we now and where do we want to go in the future with this project.

Speakers

Matt Weisker

Wednesday June 18, 2025 1:30pm - 1:55pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, Indoors

1:30pm PDT

Supercharge Your GIS with High-Resolution Aerial Imagery for Public Safety, Planning, and Infrastructure, and More (EagleView)

Wednesday June 18, 2025 1:30pm - 2:10pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 110

High-resolution aerial imagery is a game-changer for GIS professionals, providing unparalleled accuracy and detail that supports critical decision-making across multiple sectors. This presentation will explore how advanced aerial imagery enhances GIS data integrity for public safety agencies, urban and regional planning departments, utility providers, and land use managers.

By integrating high-resolution imagery with GIS workflows, professionals can improve situational awareness, conduct precise asset mapping, and streamline operations such as emergency response planning, zoning assessments, and infrastructure management. Case studies will demonstrate how agencies leverage updated imagery to reduce errors, enhance predictive modeling, and improve resource allocation.

Attendees will gain insights into the latest advancements in aerial imaging technology, best practices for incorporating high-resolution datasets, and the future of remote sensing applications in GIS. Whether optimizing emergency response routes, refining parcel data, or enhancing vegetation management, high-resolution aerial imagery is a powerful tool for maximizing the accuracy and effectiveness of GIS-driven solutions.

Speakers

Megan Reilly

Regional Technical Manager, EagleView

Megan is a self-proclaimed GIS Evangelist and Regional Technical Manager with EagleView, a provider of high-resolution aerial imagery. She is an Idaho State University alum with a BS in Environmental Science and a Minor in GIS, and she started her GIS career in county government... Read More →

Grant Moy

GIS Support Specialist, EagleView

Wednesday June 18, 2025 1:30pm - 2:10pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 110

Vendor Presentations, EagleView

1:30pm PDT

Seattle GIS Return on Investment Report

Wednesday June 18, 2025 1:30pm - 2:25pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 301

This presentation outlines the results of the Seattle 2024 GIS Return on Investment (ROI) Study. This study was a partnership between GIS Management Consulting Services of Edmonds and four key leaders of Seattle GIS.

The study was based on the GIS ROI methodology developed by Prof. Richard Zerbe of the UW Evans School of Public Administration. The study approach was a snapshot in time – to analyze the financial benefits from using GIS across all the departments and offices in Seattle during 2024.

The data to analyze GIS ROI was compiled from both online surveys and from multiple face to face interviews with those knowledgeable about GIS in individual departments. The report also compiled an extensive catalog of other types of benefits from the use of GIS. The report calculated a range for GIS for the entire city and also for many individual departments. GIS ROI was calculated in a variety of ways: net financial ROI in dollar terms, net financial ROI as a percent of GIS costs, GIS ROI as a percent of the entire annual city budget, and the equivalent staff savings in FTEs represented by the net financial ROI. The report also includes 1o appendixes which are GIS ROI reports for 10 key Seattle Departments. In addition to sharing the results this report will provide an overview oof the modified Zerbe methodology used.

Speakers

Greg Babinski

Founder and Consultant, GIS Management Consulting Services LLC

Greg Babinski is a GIS management consultant and founder of GIS Management Consulting Services LLC and the GIS Management Academy™ located in Edmonds, Washington. Between 1998 and the end of 2021 he served as GIS Manager, GIS Finance Manager, GIS Marketing & Business Development... Read More →

Harvey Arnone

Associate Director, Applications Division, City of Seattle

Harvey Arnone is the an Associate Director with Sesttle IT, responsible for GIS, CADD and Data Analytics. He has been at the City of Seattle since 1992 and, over the years, has worked as a GIS Project Manager, the Supervisor of GIS Applications Development, and GIS Manager. Harvey... Read More →

Jennifer McCall

City of Seattle

Stephen Beimborn

Manager of GIS Analysts, City of Seattle

Stephen Beimborn is the Manager of GIS Analysts for the City of Seattle. In his forty years working in the GIS field, he has done a little bit of everything, including cartography, analysis, programming, business systems integration, project and portfolio management, and people management... Read More →

Zinta Smidchens

City of Seattle

Wednesday June 18, 2025 1:30pm - 2:25pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Enterprise GIS, ROI

2:00pm PDT

Network Analysis: Using GIS to Better Understand Our Response to the Opioid Epidemic

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:00pm - 2:10pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

The opioid epidemic continues to be a great challenge within the field of public health. To facilitate an effective, unified response, that spans across many organizations that provide different services related to the opioid response and prevention, Kitsap Public Health District (KPHD) has undertaken conducting a network analysis. By implementing a network analysis, such an understanding can enhance a community’s capacity to combine diverse knowledge and skills to come up with effective solutions to complex problems… be responsive to community needs, arrive at consensus across community divisions, organize collective tasks, and coordinate services efficiently (Provan et al. 2005, p. 604). KPHD plays a supportive role to unite organizations involved in the opioid response through quarterly gatherings. With a supportive response to facilitate a network analysis in the initial meeting, KPHD had begun to develop and implement a data collection tool. This tool, based loosely from the data collection tool used in Proven et al. (2005), has allowed KPHD to obtain information on an organization’s location, services offered, as well as all other organizations that are within that organization’s network. This data is entered into Excel spreadsheets that are linked into ArcGIS that allows the usage of geoprocessing tools that generate organizational point and connection line layers on a map. This network analysis map has provided a new way to visualize relationships at a quick glance, as well as helping strained and siloed organizations who are parts of a whole system better know who else is part of their system and gives them a tool to aid in recognizing the relationships they have and in forming new ones. This network map tool has an additional potential in helping organizations show their affiliation within the network to further leverage themselves in grant funding opportunities.

Provan, K. G., Veazie, M. A., Staten, L. K., & Teufel-Shone, N. I. (2005). The Use of Network Analysis to Strengthen Community Partnerships. Public Administration Review, 65(5), 603–613. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3542526

Speakers

Gabriel Hammond

GIS Analyst / Epidemiologist I, Kitsap Public Health

Gabe Hammond is a GIS Analyst with the Kitsap Public Health District. He received his education from the University of Washington and holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in geography & global health. While studying at UW, he focused on using GIS in a public health setting that... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:00pm - 2:10pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, Health

2:00pm PDT

Mapping Arts & Culture Grant Recipients in King County

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm PDT

Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

This presentation highlights the work of University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education Students’ GIS Community Sponsored project with 4Culture.

4Culture, the cultural funding agency for King County, WA, sought to analyze, visualize, and present the impacts of 2 grant programs: Building for Equity and Doors Open Facilities. These programs distribute grants to organizations that are acquiring, building, or renovating facilities that make cultural experiences possible. By utilizing GIS, 4Culture and the UW GIS students hoped to highlight the impactful and effective use of a GIS in an arts and culture organization where GIS did not exist. Students created an ArcGIS dashboard for 4Culture’s internal uses as well as a StoryMap to be used for community engagement.

Speakers

Meaghan Lee

Professional & Continuing Education Student, University of Washington

Meaghan Lee holds a Master’s in Geography with an emphasis on urban spatial and social equality. Her research includes spatial distribution in the homes of remote workers, public transit access equity, and food pantry crisis response efforts. She lives in Seattle and works for the... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm PDT
Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Health & Community, Coordinates & Datums

2:15pm PDT

Modernizing a Custom Legacy Vaccine Provider App for Enhanced Accessibility and Sustainability

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:15pm - 2:25pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Washington State Department of Health (WADOH) operates two vital vaccine programs: the Adult Vaccine Program (AVP), offering free vaccines to uninsured adults aged 19 and older, and the Childhood Vaccine Program (CVP), ensuring all children under 19 receive routine immunizations at no cost. These programs are essential for equitable access to vaccines, preventing vaccine-preventable diseases, and reducing health disparities across the state.

To support these programs, WADOH originally developed a custom JavaScript application that allowed residents to locate nearby vaccine providers. However, maintaining this app was challenging due to limited staff with specialized coding skills. Beyond technical constraints, WADOH’s commitment to align with the CDC’s Data Modernization Initiative (DMI) priorities necessitated migration to ArcGIS Experience Builder.

We used Experience Builder’s the drag-and-drop functionality and responsive design capabilities to create a modern vaccine provider locator web app optimized for mobile devices. This tool expands accessibility for individuals relying on smartphones and tablets to access vaccine information. Public health planners may also use the app to visually identify geographic gaps in provider coverage, enabling targeted resource allocation to areas of greatest need. This aligns with DMI’s goal to support actionable public health decision-making to promote health equity. In addition, by transitioning from a legacy system to Experience Builder, we ensured sustainability, scalability, and responsiveness to evolving technological needs and emerging public health threats.

This presentation will showcase the app’s development workflow, highlight key features, discuss accessibility considerations, and explore its role in advancing public health goals statewide.

Speakers

Evah Wangui Odoi

Epidemiologist, Washinton State Department of Health

I am a GIS and spatial epidemiologist at Washington State Department of Health (DOH), where I support epidemiologists and data analysts in the Division of Prevention and Community Health with GIS, spatial data analysis, and data visualization needs. Education Background and Professional... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:15pm - 2:25pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, Modernization

2:15pm PDT

Unlock Your GIS Potential: A Practical Guide to Cloud Migration (ROK Technologies)

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:15pm - 2:55pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 110

The combination of imagery, big data, analytics, and the ever-expanding capabilities of the Enterprise GIS stack makes migrating from on-premise to the cloud an increasingly attractive option. But where do you begin?

A well-structured migration plan—one that answers the who, what, when, where, why, and how—can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth transition and maximizing the benefits for your organization.

In this 20–25 minute session, we’ll address the top questions and concerns organizations face when considering a move to the cloud. You'll gain insights into:
• Who on your team should be involved in the migration process
• What GIS services, imagery, and databases need to be migrated
• When to expect key milestones and cost considerations
• Where to explore cloud provider options
• Why migrating to the cloud enhances performance, scalability, and collaboration
• How to kick-start your cloud journey with proven migration best practices

Join us to learn how to plan, execute, and demonstrate the value of modernizing your GIS in the cloud.

Speakers

Jeremiah Ervin

Strategic Account Execuitve, ROK Technologies

Jeremiah Ervin is a seasoned geospatial professional with over 20 years of experience in the GIS industry. As a Strategic Account Executive at ROK Technologies, he helps organizations harness the power of cloud-based GIS solutions to optimize workflows, enhance collaboration, and... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:15pm - 2:55pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 110

Vendor Presentations, ROK Technologies

2:30pm PDT

Building Geospatial Community with Maptime

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:30pm - 2:40pm PDT

Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Maptime Seattle is a community group dedicated to making geospatial technology accessible and engaging through beginner-friendly workshops. Our meetups are free and centered around open-source tools so anyone can participate. Our events cover topics ranging from web mapping and Python to hand-drawn maps and social gatherings.

For geospatial professionals, Maptime can be an opportunity to give back, mentor newcomers, and expand the local mapping community by lowering the barrier to entry for geospatial education. Come learn more about who we are, what we do, and how you can get involved or make your own group!

Speakers

Fred Lott

Senior GIS Developer, King County

Fred Lott is a GIS developer and assistant organizer with Maptime Seattle.

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:30pm - 2:40pm PDT
Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Health & Community, Coordinates & Datums

2:30pm PDT

Save Time for More Interesting Work: ArcGIS Python API: Automating Repetitive Administrative Taks

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:30pm - 2:40pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

At Pierce County Spatial Services, we continually strive to automate repetitive tasks to allocate resources for more meaningful work. Spatial Services provides GIS for all Pierce County residents, county staff and elected officials. We are comprised of data management, customer support, development solutions and asset management experts who work in tandem to provide high quality GIS services to the county.

Our ArcGIS online (AGO) platform supports over 500 county staff users and the general public. Our AGO environment and users are primarily managed by a single employee. The continual rotation of county staff demands consistent user access and content management. This level of user management grew to an unwieldy regular task and diverted resources from other work. This has become especially true with new administrative structures that have required closer attention to our users, content and licensing in the AGO platform.
We integrated many ArcGIS python api administrative processes into our regular scheduled tasks, to increase efficiency and effectiveness of user management.
This presentation will go over 2 easily adoptable, straight-forward examples of how the api can be used to automate user management.

Speakers

Amy Calahan

GIS Programmer/Engineer 2, Pierce County Spatial Services

I am a GIS professional with over 20 years’ experience working in local, tribal and state-level government. I have worked and lived in south Puget Sound, WA for most of my career, with a strong background in natural resources management. I am a jack-of-all-trades in GIS and has... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:30pm - 2:40pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, Automation

2:30pm PDT

GIS Request Management: The Solution You Didn't Know You Needed

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:30pm - 2:55pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Emails, phone calls, drop-ins, notes…GIS professionals get mapping and data requests in all kinds of ways. It can be extremely challenging to manage all these requests, and hard to identify ROI. Enter the new GIS Request Management solution from Esri.

In the short time that we have deployed this solution at the City of Tumwater we have noticed a huge difference. It has simplified our day-to-day work by organizing all requests in one place. We went from an Excel file, flagged emails in Outlook, lists on OneNote, literal notes, and coworkers stopping by our desks to request projects to a streamlined process with this solution. GIS Request Management helps us identify and communicate how our projects align with our organization’s goals, and demonstrates our ROI by keeping track of time spent on each project.

This presentation will discuss implementation, usage, custom configurations, and our successes and challenges as we transitioned from a disorganized system to this solution.

Speakers

Georgianna Hupp

GIS Analyst / Adjunct Professor, City of Tumwater / Evergreen State College

Georgianna is the GIS Analyst for the City of Tumwater and an adjunct professor in the Evergreen State College's undergraduate GIS Certificate Program. When she's not making maps, you can find her lifting weights, running, gardening, cooking, sewing, and spending time with her husband... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:30pm - 2:55pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 301

Enterprise GIS Track, Help

2:45pm PDT

A GIS Strategy to Map Historic Racial Covenants Across Washington State

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:45pm - 2:55pm PDT

Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

A GIS Strategy to Map Historic Racial Covenants Across Washington State
Stacy Warren, Logan Camporeale, Larry Cebula, Tara Kelly, Monique Baxter, Rachael Lowe

The Washington State Racial Covenants Project, in response to Washington House Bill 1335, seeks to identify all properties with recorded covenants or deed restrictions that include racially discriminatory language. Ultimately, all property owners and prospective buyers should have an easily accessible tool to check whether a given property has ever had a racial covenant associated with it. A team of student and faculty researchers at Eastern Washington University has been tasked with tracking down, mapping, and sharing these documents with the public across fourteen counties in Eastern Washington. We report on the critical role GIS has played in achieving these goals. Specifically, we use a combination of ArcGIS Pro for geodatabase development and Experience Builder for presenting our results in interactive map form.
Our interdisciplinary team includes historians, geographers, anthropologists, geoscientists and GIS practitioners. Much work has to be accomplished before GIS ever enters the picture; this project would not be possible without the hours our historians spent in dusty archives and our partners at University of Washington scanning and converting images to text. Properties with racial covenants can then be identified and entered into spreadsheets. We next developed a workflow to geolocate information from the spreadsheets into feature class layers, align with existing GIS layers from a variety of sources, and populate with attributes pulled from associated historic documents. This data forms the basis of our Experience Builder map series, starting with a prototype model for Spokane County that we are now applying to other counties in Eastern Washington. We report on our workflow design and logistics, problems encountered, and solutions discovered.

Speakers

Stacy Warren

Professor, Department of Geosciences, Eastern Washington University

Stacy Warren is a professor of Geosciences at Eastern Washington University and a long-time GIS aficionado. She teaches a range of GIS classes at EWU, supervises student work, and adds to her gallery of GIS creations as time allows including maps for the Ice Age Floods Institute... Read More →

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:45pm - 2:55pm PDT
Cherry Parkes: Rm 105

Health & Community, Coordinates & Datums

2:45pm PDT

Analyzing Risk with GIS at WSRB

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:45pm - 2:55pm PDT

Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) is an independent, not-for-profit, public service organization serving Washington state. We help insurers and their customers by providing objective data on multiple risk factors. Our services enable insurers to evaluate risk efficiently and effectively, giving their policyholders peace of mind by making sure insurance rates are fair and non-discriminatory. WSRB is not connected with any insurance company except to the extent that insurers operating within Washington state can subscribe to our services; ownership of WSRB is vested in a subscriber trust agreement that is approved by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC).

WSRB leverages GIS extensively to achieve to provide subscribers with trusted information, enhancing their decision-making. This presentation will highlight how GIS architecture and processes ensure precise and timely data for WSRB customers.

Speakers

Guillaume Turcotte

Wednesday June 18, 2025 2:45pm - 2:55pm PDT
Milgard Hall: Rm 311

Technology, Risk

3:00pm PDT

Transition to Closing Plenary

Wednesday June 18, 2025 3:00pm - 3:15pm PDT

TBD

Let’s head back to the main stage for one final gathering — our Closing Plenary is about to begin!

Wednesday June 18, 2025 3:00pm - 3:15pm PDT
TBD

3:15pm PDT

WAGISA Closing Plenary

Wednesday June 18, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT

William Philip Hall

As we come to the close of an inspiring and impactful conference, join us for one final gathering to reflect, celebrate, and look ahead together. Welcome to the Closing Plenary!

Wednesday June 18, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT
William Philip Hall

OPENING/CLOSING

4:00pm PDT

Conference Sendoff Social

Wednesday June 18, 2025 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT

TBD

Let’s End on a High Note!
Before we all head home, join us for the Send-Off Social — one last chance to connect, celebrate, and toast to an unforgettable conference. Good vibes, great company, and a few final memories await!

Wednesday June 18, 2025 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
TBD

Networking