2026 Big Sky GeoCon - From Data to Design

In the United States, the digital divide increasingly reflects uneven digital transformation within state government institutions rather than consumer connectivity. Many agencies continue to rely on paper-based workflows and siloed legacy systems, limiting data sharing, interoperability, and enterprise decision-making. This presentation examines the transition from fragmented analog environments to integrated enterprise platforms, using DOT right-of-way mapping and statewide broadband mapping as case studies. These examples illustrate how inconsistent data standards, governance models, funding constraints, and workforce capacity slow modernization. The session emphasizes data democratization and workforce education as critical drivers of resilient, transparent, and effective state government enterprise systems.