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

Description: 
Your city, county and state has lidar available. Lidar is a key foundation dataset that can help inform decisions of land managers, but it often goes unused. Whether you need to locate exactly where your culverts are, create an enhanced hydrography dataset to map water flow, find closed depressions for water quality studies, analyze slopes for ordinance review, or you need to assess the risk of soil erosion vulnerability, analysis of LiDAR can put your data to work to help derive answers for departments across your organization. In this workshop, we will discuss lidar base specifications in the state, dive into detailed lidar derivatives and then look at some solutions you can produce so you can start planning for your projects today.



 

Description: This seminar provides a comprehensive introduction to geospatial concepts, methodologies, and cutting-edge geotechnologies, equipping attendees with the skills needed to optimize field data collection and management. Participants will explore: 

• ArcGIS Field Mobility Apps and their practical applications
• ArcGIS Online for preparing feature layers, sharing data, and visualizing findings via web maps
• Fundamentals of GNSS, including horizontal and vertical datums and map projections
• Best practices for safe, efficient data collection and field mapping.

Intended Audience: This workshop is ideal for individuals interested in leveraging GPS technology for field data collection. Whether you are a beginner or seeking to refine your skills, no prior mapping experience is required.

Technology requirements: Bring your own laptop. Instructions for setting up the required software will be provided prior to the workshop.
Description: 
ArcGIS Pro allows users to meet data management requirements, such as creating, reading, loading, updating, and deleting feature classes and tables, manually using geoprocessing tools, editing operations, and data manipulation functionality. While this may work well for small datasets, it can become unwieldy as the number of values and number of required operations increases. This is where Python comes in, especially when accompanied by an appreciation for the value of well-crafted and versatile code. Being able to streamline and automate workflows can save significant amounts of time and effort, can increase confidence in outcomes, and can provide a valuable record of how and when processes have been run.
The purpose of this workshop is to teach attendees how to use Python and the ArcPy site package to support data management workflows via the ArcGIS Pro Python Window and scripts that that can be run within ArcGIS Pro or externally. Topics to be covered include the use of data management geoprocessing tools, cursors, and core Python data structures. Consideration will also be given to the importance of clean, descriptive, and reusable code. For script development, attendees may use either of two Integrated Development Environment (IDE) programs: JetBrains PyCharm Community Edition or Microsoft Visual Studio Code (both free).
Intended Audience: GIS professionals familiar with ArcGIS Pro and Python and wishing to manage ArcGIS data in a flexible and efficient manner.
Prerequisite Requirement: Anyone wishing to attend this workshop must also attend the associated workshop, "Introduction to Python Programming." An exception to this requirement will be made if the instructor is satisfied that your level of Python experience is such that attending the introductory workshop is not necessary. If required, please contact the instructor to request a waiver.
Format and Technical Requirements: The workshop will consist of a balance between lecture material and demonstrations, which forms the basis for a flexible and interactive training approach. There will be plenty of time for discussion and experimentation, which will result in a rich and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

This talk will cover updates to the Montana Cadastral application since its launch a year ago, and it will look ahead at new features that are planned. There will be time for questions and feedback. 

ArcGIS Workflow Manager is a scalable enterprise workflow management system that automates and simplifies many aspects of performing and managing GIS and non-GIS work in an organization. It optimizes GIS operations by providing real-time tools for managing people, processes, and products required to complete work. Come to this session to learn how you can get started with this technology. 

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. 

Good map design helps the viewer navigate information effortlessly, turning complexity into clarity. This presentation will review selected cartographic design concepts, such as figure-ground contrast, visual hierarchy, harmony, and legibility, and provide practical examples of applying them in ArcGIS Pro. The practical tips will cover topics like selecting the right label halos, defining your color scheme, and applying blending modes. Examples will be focused on print and static maps created in ArcGIS Pro, but the concepts could be applied to any type of map or software. 

This presentation explores how organizations can leverage ArcGIS Solutions to optimize operations, improve decision-making, and enhance collaboration. By integrating GIS tools into daily workflows, state and local governments can better manage resources, analyze spatial data, and gain valuable insights across sectors like urban planning, transportation, and public safety. We’ll demonstrate how ArcGIS enables real-time data analysis, streamlined processes, and smarter, data-driven decisions. Attendees will learn how to effectively implement ArcGIS Solutions to solve challenges, improve efficiency, and drive innovation, all while maximizing the value of geographic data within their organization. 

This presentation explores how ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) can enhance GIS workflows. Attendees will learn how to use AI on a daily basis to enhance GIS workflows. With practical examples and best practices, this session demonstrates how LLMs can complement traditional GIS tools, boosting productivity and solving common challenges. Whether you're a GIS analyst, developer, or project manager, you'll discover how to integrate AI effectively into your work for greater efficiency and innovation. 

This presentation will provide an update on the MSDI Administrative Boundaries, Geo-Enabled Elections, and the U.S. Census Bureau Programs. The panelists will demonstrate their role in the election process and answer questions from the audience.

The panelists include:
• Meghan Burns, GIS Analyst / Administrative Boundary Theme Lead | Montana State Library
• Stuart Fuller, Elections & Voter Services Manager | Montana Secretary of State
• Dave Ritts, GIS Analyst | Census & Economic Information Center / Montana Department of Commerce
• Eric Spangenberg, GISP, GIS Coordinator | City of Helena / Lewis and Clark County

Since 2017, the MSDI Transportation Framework has been without dedicated staff to maintain it. However, the need for an accurate, up-to-date, and standardized statewide road centerline dataset has not gone away. Foremost, road centerlines with address ranges are a required dataset for NG9-1-1. Additionally, road centerlines are an important dataset for helping people locate themselves, navigate between places, and are a key reference layer in base maps. As a result, MSL staff have been working intermittently over the years to create a new Transportation Framework road centerline layer that meets NG9-1-1 standards, can be incorporated into base maps, and be efficiently and sustainably updated. Leveraging the work of local and tribal governments as they prepare road centerline data for NG9-1-1, MSL has released a new MSDI Transportation Framework road centerline dataset. Attendees will learn how this dataset is being maintained and how MSL plans to coordinate on-going maintenance and improvements. 

Accurate, up-to-date, and standardized address point data have never been more important than right now for uses ranging from 9-1-1 and elections management, to broadband internet access, to package delivery. Working with local and tribal partners, MSL strives to make the MSDI Structures/Addresses Framework the source of address data in Montana for all these uses, and more. Come hear the latest updates on the MSDI Structures/Addresses Framework and how MSL is helping to improve address data quality and management across the state. 

Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) is coming quickly to Montana. The state’s selection of a NG9-1-1 Core Service Provider should align closely with this year’s MAGIP GeoCon annual conference. We hope to give any updates we have on implementation timelines and what will be required from local data suppliers. Even if we do not yet have a firm timeline, we are officially on the clock to be ready to support the GIS needs of a NG9-1-1 system soon. The Montana State Library (MSL) released its GIS Data Validation and Aggregation Portal for NG9-1-1 in October 2022. We will give an update on portal functionality and how local data suppliers’ uptake of the portal is going. In the coming year, we hope to get all local data suppliers using the portal. We will reserve some time for questions and suggestions for how we can better support local data suppliers. 

Join us for an informal roundtable discussion related to addressing responsibilities. Enjoy this opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with colleagues; ask questions and share projects and/or best practices!

Discussion Topics
NG 9-1-1 status
3rd Party mapping applications (Google, Apple, Bing, OpenStreetMap, etc)
Addressing and Road Naing Conventions and Procedures
Zip Code Issues/Best Practices
Address Data Management (Esri Solutions)
Review existing/upcoming projects
Review unique scenarios, experiences, and resolutions