2026 Big Sky GeoCon - From Data to Design

Description:  
“Visual Management is the application of Lean and Agile practices to build new ways of working for individuals and teams on-the-fly” (Modus Institute).


We take a system thinking approach to the complexities of new/unexplored work, (mis)understanding, decision-less meetings, interruptions, prioritization, communicating decisions and difficulty of collaboration. Through this highly interactive workshop, we will introduce the system of communications, system of meetings and the system of doing the right work at the right time. We will conduct practical exercises that focus on visualizing our work and limiting our work in progress. We will look at value stream mapping as an effective visualization and how to put those visualizations into action. There will be exercises to harvest ideas and tackle sticky problems. Ultimately, we will turn learning into action items.
Learning Objectives

• Visualize your work
• Limit your work in progress
• Understand your work
• Filter complexity
• Turn your visualization into action

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
• Legacy Data Requirements MSAG and ALI
• Domains

Data Maintenance and sharing

• Hacking ESRI’s Address Management Solution
• Locators and data dissemination tools
• Legacy Data Requirements MSAG and ALI
• Domains

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

ArcGIS Plug-in Submission Manager

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

 

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.


Intended Audience:
GIS professionals familiar with ArcGIS Pro and Python and wishing to manage ArcGIS data in a flexible and efficient manner.
Prerequisite Requirements: 
Anyone wishing to attend this workshop must also have attended 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 David at [email protected] to request a waiver.
The "Introduction to Python Programming" workshop will be offered online via Northwest GIS on February 19th-20th, 2026. Please see https://nwgis.org/event-6459192 for details and registration. Details are also provided at GISPD.com/training.

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.


Attendees must bring their own laptop.


Setup:
Setup steps will be provided and must be completed prior to the workshop and attendees will be contacted to ensure that the required software is installed and that they can save workshop files onto their machine. Attendees are asked, therefore, to make sure they can be reached via the email address and phone number they used to register for the workshop.



 

Intended Audience/Description: 
This course is intended for students who have some knowledge of ArcGIS Online and have already taken Introduction to Experience Builder or have been working in the application builder a little and want to take their skills to the next level. No scripting skills necessary.
Prerequisite Requirements:
Must have taken the Introduction to Experience Builder or similar introductory course on the subject matter.
Software and Licenses/Technical Requirements:
Students need to have their own computer hardware, an ArcGIS Online Creator user-type or higher, and a role of Publisher or higher assigned to their Creator user-type. Students will need to log into their organization’s AGOL account, so they need to have their AGOL URL and valid login available at the start of class.
Course Modules:

• Module 1: Review Experience Builder Interface Navigation Tips and Tricks
• Module 2: Managing Data Connections and Data Views
• Module 3: Using Sections and Views
• Module 4: Configure Dynamic Content Related Tables and Actions
• Module 5: Attribute and Spatial Queries
• Module 6: Edit Widget

Summary:
This full-day course takes you through the process of building a highly dynamic application utilizing sections and views, related tables, trigger and actions, attribute and spatial queries, editing, and more. Our introductory course was created to help instill muscle memory for navigating the Experience Builder interface, which is quite different from any of ESRI’s other application builders. With this new course, we take you through the steps necessary to build a high-level application that will impress your managers, users, and clients.

Join us for the Monday Night Meet up at Blackstar BrewPub!

Enjoy a complimentary beer and light snacks courtesy of Terracon!