2026 Big Sky GeoCon - From Data to Design

Description: 
This half-day workshop introduces participants to the full spectrum of ArcGIS imagery management capabilities through the lens of modern drone-based workflows. Attendees will learn how to design effective flight plans, capture high-quality datasets, and understand the impacts that acquisition parameters have on downstream products. The session will cover core concepts in imagery organization, optimized data models, and strategies for managing large volumes of UAV data both on-premises and in the cloud. Using Esri’s drone and reality-mapping tools, we will walk through best practices for transforming raw drone captures into authoritative orthoimagery, dense 3D meshes, point clouds, and geospatial video suited for enterprise applications.
Building on these fundamentals, the workshop will explore implementation approaches for scalable imagery systems including cloud-hosted repositories, cloud-based and desktop processing, and enterprise deployment patterns ensuring that participants can choose the right architecture for their operational needs. Through demonstrations and guided workflows, attendees will gain practical experience in processing pipelines for orthomosaics, 3D modeling, and video exploitation, along with recommendations for QA/QC, reproducibility, and dissemination of imagery products across their organization. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to manage drone imagery at scale and integrate it seamlessly into decision-making workflows.
Technical Requirements: 
Esri will provide the computer lab with all the necessary software installed and data already pre-loaded on the machine.

Description: 
During this workshop we will master Survey123 Connect. The workshop focuses on creating forms that enhance the user experience, making data collection easy. We'll cover everything from simple input fields to smart logic and dynamic questions, ensuring your forms adapt to your users' needs. But that's not all – we'll also dive into automating workflows, so you can spend less time on manual tasks. Think automated validations, smart notifications, and seamless data analysis. By the end of the workshop, you'll have the skills to design forms that users actually enjoy filling out, and you'll know how to automate processes to supercharge your data collection efforts. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, this workshop will take your Survey123 game to the next level.
Prerequisite Requirements:
A base level knowledge of Survey123 and ArcGIS Online will be very helpful.


Technical Requirements: 
Attendees must bring their own laptop and have Survey Connect downloaded and installed on the machine. Additional, attendees must have access to either an ArcGIS Organizational or ArcGIS Enterprise Account with publishing privileges.