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

Technology requirements: Must bring your own laptop. Instructions for setting up the required software will be provided prior to the workshop.
Description: 
Python is now regarded as one of the most popular programming languages of all, if not the most popular. This is especially true for GIS-related requirements, with Python being front and central when it comes to making the most of the ArcGIS technology suite. This workshop will provide an introduction to Python programming without reference to GIS topics, but with an emphasis on preparing attendees for further learning with respect to GIS scripting and development. The workshop will also be helpful for anyone wishing to use Python for other purposes.
Three topics will be covered in the workshop: (1) getting started with Python; (2) the use of JetBrains PyCharm Community Edition, a rich, powerful, and free Integrated Development Environment (IDE); and (3) Python fundamentals, including functions, classes and objects, and error handling.
Intended Audience: Anyone wishing to learn the fundamentals of Python programming.
Prerequisite Requirements: There are no prerequisite requirements. It will be assumed that attendees have little experience with Python or are starting from scratch.
Associated Workshop: Completion of this workshop is required for anyone wishing to attend the associated "Introduction to ArcGIS Data Management Using Python" workshop. 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, forming 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.
 

Required Software or Hardware: The Montana State Library will provide a computer lab with sample data. Participants are welcome to bring their own data and computer with ArcGIS Pro.
Description:
A full day lecture and hands on training for GIS addressing and becoming NG9-1-1 GIS compliant for local GIS professionals. The Montana State Library will be bringing its computer lab with sample data. You are welcome to bring your own data and computer with ArcGIS Pro . This training will focus on strong data management, constancy, MSL’s 9-1-1 GIS Data Validation and Aggregation Portal and other tools that are available to you.
Morning Session
NG9-1-1 The GIS Data

• NENA Required, Recommended, Optional Layers and Fields
• Basic Topological Requirements
• Legacy Data Requirements MSAG and ALI
• Domains

Planning for success

• Data Infrastructure, Database Locations, and Schemas
• Data Transformations

Data Maintenance and sharing

• Hacking ESRI’s Address Management Solution
• Locators and data dissemination tools

Afternoon Session
Montana GIS Data Validation and Aggregation Portal - Getting Started

• Getting started
• Running your first validation
• Fixing issues and managing validation results
• Exceptions

Montana GIS Data Validation and Aggregation Portal - Advanced topics

• Legacy Data Checks
• Multiple Layer Validations
• Data Aggregation
• Master Sessions

1Spatial ArcGIS Plug-in Submission Manager

• Using ArcGIS Plug-in for full functionality of portal from within ArcGIS Pro

 

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.

This is a live demonstration utilizing the Montana State Reference Network (MTSRN) for the GPS correction solution in geotagging an imagery set from a large area UAV flight. I will be walking through the workflow from image acquisition through geotagging. A final image product will be presented; however, the image processing post geotagging will be done at a high level with low detail. 

In fall 2024 Brian applied for, and was offered a grant by the Children's Environmental Health Initiative to participate in a training called the "Advanced GIS Training". As part of that award, CEHI asked awardees to produce a series of maps to address chronic disease priorities in their respective agencies. Brian met with staff about what maps could be created. He decided to look at CR access for American Indian / Alaska Native populations in Montana. Brian created a map series that looks at drive time access compared to an indigenous population density surface using a method called kernel density. 

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.