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. 

Trust for Public Land® is a national NGO whose mission is to conserve open space lands and promote parks in the United States and it’s territories. One of the central goals of the Trust For Public Land is to ensure that “Everyone in U.S. cities should have access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk of their home.” Working toward this goal requires accurate information on the location of parks and people in urbanized areas, a database that we call ParkServe®. In this presentation, Dave Highness will describe the ParkServe® database and the methods for maintaining and presenting it to the public.

As Butte looks to the future, the community is working to build a new reputation as a hub for outdoor recreation. Through this work, the need was identified for an interactive online map that residents and visitors could use to locate outdoor recreation opportunities. Recreation opportunities are managed by many different entities and there was no centralized location to find maps and information. This presentation will share how the Basecamp Butte map was developed to address this challenge. The map will launch in Spring 2025 and provides a comprehensive view of outdoor recreation opportunities in the Butte area. 

In 2019, Montana implemented a compensatory mitigation system for sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat. Since then, Montana has experienced an increasingly complex landscape, posing unique challenges for the habitat mitigation system. The development of a geospatial model (Habitat Quantification Tool [HQT]) provides a non-biased, science-based, and stakeholder-supported process to quantify sage-grouse habitat. The HQT is used to establish a statewide baseline of existing habitat (i.e., HQT Basemap). Over time, impacts from newly implemented projects are used to update the HQT Basemap. By reviewing spatial changes in sage-grouse habitat over time, we can assess the efficacy of the sage-grouse mitigation system. 

Montana is modernizing their stream and waterbody mapping data, which relies on the current National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). NHD is outdated and lacks detail for local features like canals and small drainages. With statewide lidar acquisition nearing completion, the next evolution of water course mapping will adopt the USGS 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP). 3DHP provides a new data model, more accurate and consistent data, and connections to water reporting systems. 3DHP will enable hydrographic analysis and visualization for a broad range of applications. Get involved to help improve Montana’s water data.