2025 Big Sky GeoCon - Mapping the Future: Innovations in Geospatial Technology

Vital Ground Foundation retained River Design Group to assess the ecological restoration potential of two properties within the Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone in Northwest Montana, to improve native riparian, wetland, and forest habitat. A GIS-based assessment was completed which provided a framework for identification of restoration approaches. Spatial analysis included historical aerial photo analysis and quantification of landscape-level changes since the 1940’s, and LiDAR data analysis which identified relict habitat features. Restoration actions were recommended, and preferred alternatives were clarified through cartography. Two river and wetland restoration projects were constructed in Fall 2024 utilizing GPS-enabled heavy equipment in construction. 

The Geospatial Skills Camp for Rural Montana Youth, hosted by MSU, is an immersive, hands-on program aimed at introducing youth from rural Montana to geospatial technologies and communities. This project brings curriculum covering STEM and GIS technologies to commutes that don’t always have access or educators to instruct the topics. The curriculum includes seven labs that are particularly relevant to Montana’s rural communities and gives students the tools to then explore their own spatial questions during the camp, and in the future. The camps pilot program was successfully launched in 2024, helping to refine the curriculum for this year’s camps. Here is the link to the story map: https://arcg.is/1faOzX1 

Accurate, high-resolution elevation data for both exposed and submerged features in alluvial systems improves hydrologic and morphodynamic modeling. However, while most LiDAR and drone-based photogrammetry excel at capturing surface topography, they provide limited information about channel bed elevations below the water surface. We demonstrate a workflow to generate and stitch together high-resolution elevation data for both exposed and submerged features. This method integrates drone-based Structure from Motion DEMs with easily obtained field measurements and optical bathymetry tools to generate a single high-resolution, high accuracy topographic and bathymetric DEM raster. 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have significantly transformed spatial data collection and analysis. This presentation will delve into the utilization of OpenDroneMap, an open-source software toolkit designed for processing UAV imagery. Attendees will learn about the capabilities of OpenDroneMap in generating high-resolution orthophotos, 3D models, and point clouds, with real-world case studies presented by Montana State University's Geospatial Core Facility.
Join us to explore how OpenDroneMap can transform your GIS projects, providing a practical and scalable solution for advanced geospatial data management and analysis. 

Using ArcGIS Experience Builder, GIS-related web applications can be created by arranging and configuring components known as widgets. Core capabilities are provided by out-of-the-box widgets, while custom widgets can be added to allow for workflows and operations that may not otherwise be accommodated. In this session, the value of custom widgets will be discussed and the process of creating widgets will be explained. A range of audience interests will be served, from offering a general appreciation of the possibilities through to guidance for those who may wish to develop widgets themselves. 

Montana State University in Bozeman, MT is a 130 year old institution. In the spring of 2024, University Facilities Management launched their drone program. Combining high tech georeferenced drone mapping with past surveys, stories, drawings, As-Builts, it became clear that the old divisions of getting it right, i.e. GIS vs professional surveying could be used together to make a robust experience for contractors, engineers, planners, etc in getting it right. What is "here" is actually "here". Utility industry veteran, Adam Hallberg, Utility Coordinator describes this in detail. 

Learn how you can use the ArcGIS JavaScript SDK's map and widgets wrapped as web components to kickstart your journey in building web mapping applications. 

Imagery, big data, analytics, and the always expanding capabilities of the Enterprise stack make migrating from on-premise to a GIS Managed Cloud Services solution an ideal choice. During this session, we will review the top questions and concerns our clients have around making this move, how they prepared to migrate, and the benefits they have realized since.