2026 Big Sky GeoCon - From Data to Design: Full Schedule

The Montana Association of Geographic Information Professionals (MAGIP) looks forward to your participation at this year’s 2026 Big Sky GeoCon!

8:00am MDT

A Knowledge Workers Guide to Visual Management (Full Day)

Monday April 13, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT

West Divide Room

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...
See More →

Presenters

Brett Horr, GISP, LAVM

Corporate GIS Manager, Terracon Consultants, Inc.

Brett is the Corporate GIS Manager for Terracon Consulting Engineers and has worked in the GIS field for over 2 decades. His duties include the management of GIS analysis, geohazard mapping, web and mobile mapping projects, & company GIS support. Brett is also a retired police officer... Read More →

Wendy Peloquin, GISP

Business Development Manager, Avineon

Wendy Peloquin, GISP, LAVM is the Director of Commercial Sales Operations at Avineon with over 18 years of industry experience. She earned a B.S. in Geography and a Certificate in GIS from UGA and a Masters degree in GIS Administration from the UWF. Wendy is an active member of... Read More →

Monday April 13, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT
West Divide Room

Workshop, AEC/Asset Management/Utilities

8:00am MDT

GIS for NG9-1-1 and Addressing (Full Day)

Monday April 13, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT

Alpine Room

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....
See More →

Presenters

Bob Cochran

Montana State Library

Bob Cochran is in his fourth year as a 9-1-1 GIS Analysist at the Montana State Library where his duties are primarily supporting statewide 9-1-1 GIS needs. Bob came to the State Library in late 2021 after 5 years at the Department of Justice and 10 years at Montana Fish, Wildlife... Read More →

Michael Fashoway

GIS Land Information Lead, Montana State Library

Michael Fashoway is the GIS Land Information Lead at the Montana State Library where he helps manage the development and maintenance of Administrative Boundaries, Cadastral, Mapping Control, Structures/Addresses, and Transportation MSDI themes. He is also active in state and national... Read More →

Monday April 13, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT
Alpine Room

Workshop

subjects Remote Sensing, Emergency Services
tags tools, modeling, forest, applications
gov't level Federal

8:00am MDT

Introduction to ArcGIS Data Management Using Python (Full Day)

Monday April 13, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT

East Divide Room

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....
See More →

Presenters

David Howes

David Howes, LLC

David Howes is a geospatial information scientist and the sole owner at David Howes, LLC (dhowes.com) in Seattle, WA, specializing in the development of GIS tools, processes, and supporting infrastructure for a variety of clients from small operations to multinational corporations. With over 30 years of academic and private sector experience in both the United Kingdom and the United... Read More →

Monday April 13, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT
East Divide Room

Workshop, Python & Automation

8:30am MDT

Intermediate Experience Builder

Monday April 13, 2026 8:30am - 3:30pm MDT

South Glacier Room

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...
See More →

Presenters

Kara Utter

GIS Consultant and Owner, Dynamic Visions GIS

Dynamic Visions GIS is a boutique GIS consultancy founded and led by Kara Utter, a GIS professional with over 10 years of experience in GIS program coordination and consulting. Kara brings deep technical expertise and a personalized approach to every engagement — working directly... Read More →

Monday April 13, 2026 8:30am - 3:30pm MDT
South Glacier Room

Workshop

12:00pm MDT

Lunch on your own

Monday April 13, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT

Lunch

5:30pm MDT

MAGIP Meet Up - Sponsored by Terracon

Monday April 13, 2026 5:30pm - 8:00pm MDT

Blackstar BrewPub @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

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

Enjoy a complimentary beer and light snacks courtesy of Terracon!

Monday April 13, 2026 5:30pm - 8:00pm MDT
Blackstar BrewPub 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Event

8:00am MDT

Cartography Extravaganza (2.5 hours)

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 10:30am MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

NOTE: This half day workshop is being offer twice at the conference. The morning workshop will be replicated in the afternoon. Please only register for one of the half day workshops.Due to the anticipated high demand for this workshop, registration will be is limited to 32 participants for each session. If and when registration fills up, you can email Michelle Quinn, to be added to the...
See More →

Presenters

John Nelson

Cartographer, Esri

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 10:30am MDT
West Divide Room

Workshop, Cartography

8:00am MDT

Imagery Workflows for Processing and Management in ArcGIS (1/2 Day AM)

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Nordic Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

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...
See More →

Presenters

Ryan Richardson

Solution Engineer, Esri

Ryan Richardson is a GIS professional with a passion for using technology to solve complex problems. He currently works as a Solution Engineer at Esri, supporting the State and Local Government team out of Esri's regional office in Olympia, WA. Additionally, he is a FAA Part 107 UAV... Read More →

Cody Benkelman

Esri

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Nordic Room

Workshop, Utilities/Asset Management/Engineering Design

8:00am MDT

Introduction to the ArcGIS Parcel Fabric (1/2 Day AM)

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT

North Glacier Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

NOTE: This workshop can be taken virtually as well, as Frank will be teaching the workshop remotely from his Florida office. Frank will provide the Zoom meeting link to participates the week of the conference.Description: The ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric is the next-generation solution for editing and maintaining Land Records and Parcels in ArcGIS Pro. This half-day workshop will introduce the...
See More →

Presenters

Frank Conkling

Owner, Panda Consulting

Frank J. Conkling, the Owner and Founder of Panda Consulting, a GIS Professional Services company established in 1998, possesses recognized expertise in GIS, Surveying, and Mapping technologies, particularly in mapping various land ownership interests.Frank’s involvement in GIS... Read More →

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT
North Glacier Room

Workshop

8:00am MDT

Automating ArcGIS Pro Tasks with AI-Generated Python Code (Full Day)

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Intended Audience/Description: This course is specifically designed for GIS professionals who have little to no programming experience. If you’re a GIS analyst performing repetitive tasks, a GIS technician looking to increase productivity, or someone who has been intimidated by coding in the past, this course will show you how AI assistance makes automation accessible and...
See More →

Presenters

Eric Pimpler

Founder & Owner, GeoSpatial Training Services

Eric is the founder and owner of GeoSpatial Training Services and has over 25 years experience as an application developer, data scientist, and trainer using ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Pro. Eric is currently focused on data science applications with... Read More →

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT
Alpine Room

Workshop

8:00am MDT

Introduction to ArcGIS Arcade (Full Day)

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Description: The purpose of this workshop is to introduce GIS professionals to the Arcade expression language. According to Esri, "Arcade is a portable, lightweight, and secure expression language used to create custom content in ArcGIS applications." Expressions are written using JavaScript-like syntax to calculate values, such as data values that can be used in a field or a label, formatted...
See More →

Presenters

David Howes

David Howes, LLC

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT
East Divide Room

Workshop

12:00pm MDT

Lunch on Own

Tuesday April 14, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT

On your own @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Tuesday April 14, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT
On your own

Lunch

1:00pm MDT

Cartography Extravaganza (2.5 hours)

Tuesday April 14, 2026 1:00pm - 3:30pm MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Presenters

John Nelson

Cartographer, Esri

Tuesday April 14, 2026 1:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
West Divide Room

Workshop, Cartography

1:00pm MDT

Intermediate Survey123 (1/2 Day PM)

Tuesday April 14, 2026 1:00pm - 5:00pm MDT

Nordic Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

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...
See More →

Presenters

Curtis DeVault

Senior GIS Administrator, ESP Associates, Inc.

Curtis has over ten years of experience developing and managing geospatial and relational database solutions. He is currently the GIS Administrator at Pickett and Associates. Using ArcGIS Pro, Survey123, Field Maps, SQL, and Python he has built and maintained data collection, analysis... Read More →

XLSForm to Geodatabase zip

Tuesday April 14, 2026 1:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Nordic Room

Workshop

5:00pm MDT

Poster/Map Gallery & Sponsor Showcase

Tuesday April 14, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm MDT

Glacier Room/Foyer @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Tuesday April 14, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm MDT
Glacier Room/Foyer

Event

8:00am MDT

Official Welcome & Conference Kick-off

Wednesday April 15, 2026 8:00am - 8:20am MDT

East/West Divide Ballroom @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Presenters

Jackson Rose

Research Scientist and GIS Instructor, Montana State University

John Muhlfeld

Mayor of Whitefish

Wednesday April 15, 2026 8:00am - 8:20am MDT
East/West Divide Ballroom

Event

8:25am MDT

Web Map Presentations

Wednesday April 15, 2026 8:25am - 9:25am MDT

East/West Divide Ballroom @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Wednesday April 15, 2026 8:25am - 9:25am MDT
East/West Divide Ballroom

Event

9:25am MDT

Transition

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:25am - 9:35am MDT

Transition

9:25am MDT

Hands-on Learning Lab

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:25am - Thursday April 16, 2026 3:30pm MDT

Nordic Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

25 courses available! The Hands-On Learning Lab is a training resource provided and developed by Esri Training Services. The lab is an excellent way to introduce or refine your skills related to Esri solutions and training opportunities while learning to use Esri software. As part of the Big Sky GeoCon, there is no charge for you to utilize and benefit from the learning lab as often as the heart...
See More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:25am - Thursday April 16, 2026 3:30pm MDT
Nordic Room

Workshop

9:35am MDT

Lessons Learned and the Benefits of a Cloud based GIS

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:35am - 10:05am MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

We will share our practical lessons learned from migrating and operating enterprise GIS in the cloud, specifically AWS and Azure based implementations. Topics include right sized architectures; performance tuning (caching, tiling, storage tiers); secure identity, roles, and governance; data pipelines that connect CAD/BIM, IoT, and analytics; and automation for updates and deployments. Attendees...
See More →

Presenters

Brock Saylor

Client Director - Western Region, Langan

Brock is currently Langan's Digital Solution Client/Sales Director, managing Langan’s Digital Solutions/GIS team in the western United States. Brock’s client focus is centered around resorts, K-12, higher education, healthcare, data centers, and local/state government service... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:35am - 10:05am MDT
Alpine Room

AEC/Asset Management/Utilities

9:35am MDT

A Collaborative Partnership for Maintaining and Improving Parcel Data

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:35am - 10:35am MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

The partnership between local governments and the Montana State Library for parcel data integration has continually evolved to support more efficient and accurate local contributions. Building on this collaboration, Butte-Silver Bow has enhanced its parcel stewardship by developing Python-based QA/QC tools that identify topology issues, duplicate geometries, geocode problems, and other...
See More →

Presenters

Ross Carlson

City County Butte - Silver Bow

Ross Carlson is the GIS Coordinator for the consolidated city-county of Butte-Silver Bow. He studied GIS and Geography/Planning at the University of Montana and prior to joining BSB in 2023 spent over a decade at onX building ETL pipelines, scaling ArcGIS Enterprise in the Amazon... Read More →

Campbell Casseb

City-County of Butte-Silver Bow

Campbell Casseb - Campbell Casseb holds a B.S. in Urban Forestry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and an M.S. in Geography (GIS & Cartography) from Georgia State University. He has worked in academic and local government GIS roles, including supporting geospatial research... Read More →

Jeff Hedstrom

GIS Analyst, Montana State Library

Jeff Hedstrom is a GIS Analyst & the Cadastral Framework Theme Lead at the Montana State Library (MSL). His primary focus at MSL includes maintaining the Cadastral and CadNSDI datasets within the MSDI framework. He also maintains metadata collections and GIS applications pertaining... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:35am - 10:35am MDT
West Divide Room

Government

9:35am MDT

ESRI GeoAI Capabilities

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:35am - 10:35am MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Esri’s GeoAI capabilities fuse advanced machine learning, deep learning, and spatial analysis to automate feature extraction and accelerate insight generation across imagery, video, point clouds, text, and other geospatial data sources. By integrating pretrained models, configurable geoprocessing tools, and extensible Python APIs, ArcGIS empowers users to rapidly transform raw sensor data into...
See More →

Presenters

Ryan Richardson

Solution Engineer, Esri

Cody Benkelman

Esri

Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:35am - 10:35am MDT
East Divide Room

Remote Sensing/UAS

10:05am MDT

Turning drone data into GIS Intelligence with ESRI Site Scan

Wednesday April 15, 2026 10:05am - 10:35am MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This workshop provides a practical, end-to-end overview of using unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with Esri Site Scan to capture, process, and deliver high-value geospatial data. Participants will learn how drone-collected imagery and reality capture products integrate directly into the Esri ecosystem to support mapping, analysis, and decision-making workflows.The session will cover core concepts of...
See More →

Presenters

Jay Haskamp

Frontier Precision

Collin Kemmesat

Frontier Precision

Wednesday April 15, 2026 10:05am - 10:35am MDT
Alpine Room

Remote Sensing/UAS

10:35am MDT

Networking Coffee Break | Visit Exhibitors

Wednesday April 15, 2026 10:35am - 11:10am MDT

Networking Break

11:10am MDT

Beyond Connectivity: Bridging the Institutional Digital Divide in State Government

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:10am - 11:25am MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

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...
See More →

Presenters

Daryl Southard

Sanborn

Daryl Southard is a geospatial professional with over 20 years of experience working alongside state and local government agencies to support data-driven decision-making. His background includes GIS mapping, LiDAR, and asset-related geospatial data, with a focus on helping organizations... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:10am - 11:25am MDT
East Divide Room

Lightening Talk, AEC/Asset Management/Utilities

11:10am MDT

Bridging Cityworks and ArcGIS Dashboards: Practical Arcade Techniques for Public Works KPIs

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Public works agencies rely on dashboards to track service delivery and performance across streets, utilities, and field operations. Much of this information originates in Cityworks, which manages work orders, inspections, and asset data before publishing it to ArcGIS Dashboards. This session shows how Arcade transforms Cityworks‑derived datasets into accurate KPIs by performing tasks dashboards...
See More →

Presenters

Andrew Stickney

GIS Analyst, HDR

Andrew is a GIS Analyst at HDR with over 12 years of experience in spatial data management and analysis in parks and recreation, urban planning and zoning, and natural resource management. He excels at using geographic information science, data, and systems to support multidisciplinary... Read More →

Kyle Burke

Regional Lead / GIS Manager, HDR Inc

Kyle Burke is a GIS Manager and Regional Lead with HDR Inc. based in Missoula, MT. He holds BAs in History and Anthropology from the University of Montana and a MS in Geographic Information Science and Technology from the University of Southern California. He has over 10 years as... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
Alpine Room

AEC/Asset Management/Utilities

11:10am MDT

ArcGIS Pro and Python: Potentially Helpful Bits and Bobs

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

The purpose of this collaboration session is to provide helpful guidance for anyone using ArcGIS Pro and Python together or separately. The basis for the material presented and demonstrated is everyday experience, particularly with respect to an annual project for which procedures have evolved over many years. A list of related and unrelated topics will be reviewed and audience members will be...
See More →

Presenters

David Howes

David Howes, LLC

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
West Divide Room

Python & Automation

11:25am MDT

GeoAI + 3D Streets

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:25am - 11:40am MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This session highlights how GeoAI and 3D street-level data are transforming modern infrastructure management. Using high-fidelity mobile mapping, road networks are driven, digitized, and analyzed at scale—capturing assets and conditions with unprecedented detail. From traffic signs and guardrails to pavement analysis, computer vision and AI unlock actionable insights that enhance safety, support...
See More →

Presenters

Connor Burns

Regional Manager - West, Cyclomedia

Connor Burns, Cyclomedia Technology Inc.

Connor is a technology professional specializing in enterprise software and geospatial data analytics. For most of his career, he’s advised organizations in public and commercial sectors to align data-driven deliverables with key organizational needs. As the Western Regional Ma... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:25am - 11:40am MDT
East Divide Room

Lightening Talk, Geospatial/AI

11:40am MDT

ArcGIS for Real-Time Winter Weather and Street Sweeping Operations

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:40am - 11:55am MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Street Sweeping and Winter Weather Operations empower public works agencies to monitor real-time service activity, measure performance, and keep communities informed. By tracking sweeper and snowplow routes, organizations can improve service levels, meet regulatory requirements, and optimize responses to storms and seasonal conditions. Sharing clear schedules and status updates increases...
See More →

Presenters

Scott Wolter

Account Manager, Esri

Esri is the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping. 0Since 1969, we have supported customers with geographic science and geospatial analytics, what we call The Science of Where. We take a geographic approach to problem-solving... Read More →

Ryan Richardson

Solution Engineer, Esri

Wednesday April 15, 2026 11:40am - 11:55am MDT
East Divide Room

Lightening Talk, AEC/Asset Management/Utilities

12:10pm MDT

"Making Maps is just the best!" Hosted Lunch featuring Keynote Speaker: John Nelson

Wednesday April 15, 2026 12:10pm - 1:40pm MDT

East/West Divide Ballroom @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

In this presentation, John will introduce some personal anecdotes, thinly shrouded in the framework of geographic information systems concepts and cartographic design. He'll present some highly visual content to divert attention away from his awkward presentation energy because if you're looking at the screen, you're not looking at him! This cartographic slight of hand will continue, as he walks...
See More →

Presenters

John Nelson

Cartographer, Esri

Wednesday April 15, 2026 12:10pm - 1:40pm MDT
East/West Divide Ballroom

Lunch

1:25pm MDT

Visit Exhibitors

Wednesday April 15, 2026 1:25pm - 1:40pm MDT

Glacier Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Wednesday April 15, 2026 1:25pm - 1:40pm MDT
Glacier Room

Networking Break

1:40pm MDT

The Modernized National Spatial Reference System is almost here!

Wednesday April 15, 2026 1:40pm - 2:10pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) defines, maintains, and provides access to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), which is a common foundation for geospatial data that serves as the basis for civilian surveying and mapping in the United States. Changes in technology and a better understanding of the dynamic earth have made it necessary to improve the NSRS to be of better use for...
See More →

Presenters

Brian Shaw

Rocky Mountain Regional Advisor, NOAA's National Geodetic Survey

Brian Shaw is NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey Rocky Mountain Regional Advisor. He began his career at NGS in 2002 and has a BS in Computer Science and an MS in Geographic Information Systems and he emphasizes how surveying and GIS depend on geodesy as a frame of reference for location... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 1:40pm - 2:10pm MDT
Alpine Room

Government

1:40pm MDT

Addressing Roundtable

Wednesday April 15, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Join us for our annual (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 TopicsAddressing commercial buildings with multiple businesses and accessesAddressing apartment complexes (naming roads, assigning primary numbers to each...
See More →

Presenters

Mike Powell

GIS Manager, Yellowstone County

Jason Danielson

GIS Analyst, Lewis and Clark County/City of Helena

Jason Danielson is the Address Coordinator and GIS Database Analyst for Lewis and Clark County/City of Helena GIS Services. His duties include address management within Lewis and Clark County, the creation and maintenance of our enterprise geospatial data, providing GIS software/project... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT
West Divide Room

Roundtable

1:40pm MDT

GIS Imagery Roundtable

Wednesday April 15, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Join us for an open GIS Imagery Forum dedicated to answering your toughest questions about imagery-driven workflows. Whether you're working with UAV, aerial, or satellite data, building digital twins, leveraging geospatial video or oriented imagery, or supporting inspection and asset management workflows, this session provides a collaborative space to explore best practices, emerging capabilities,...
See More →

Presenters

Ryan Richardson

Solution Engineer, Esri

Cody Benkelman

Esri

Wednesday April 15, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT
East Divide Room

Roundtable, Remote Sensing/UAS

2:10pm MDT

BIA GIS Standards: Ensuring Consistent Forest Cover Data

Wednesday April 15, 2026 2:10pm - 2:40pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This presentation mandates annual updates to the Forest Cover Type (FCT) dataset and centralized storage in the BIA Enterprise portal. It defines data standards, standardized workflows, and staff training to ensure integrity, accuracy, and efficient collection, processing, and sharing. FCT supports the Regional Forest Management Plan, reflecting evolving inventories, management goals, and past...
See More →

Presenters

Ken Bixby

Regional Geospatial Coordinator, Department of Interior- Rocky Mountain Regional Office

I like to hunt, fish, and other outdoor activities. I really like talking about my 49ers, Celtics, and San Fran Giants. With work related, I like talking about AGOL, Collector, SDE Server (learning), parcel data, Metes and Bounds (COGO), and spatial analysis.

Wednesday April 15, 2026 2:10pm - 2:40pm MDT
Alpine Room

Government

2:40pm MDT

Networking Coffee Break | Visit Exhibitors

Wednesday April 15, 2026 2:40pm - 3:10pm MDT

Glacier Room/Foyer @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Wednesday April 15, 2026 2:40pm - 3:10pm MDT
Glacier Room/Foyer

Networking Break

3:10pm MDT

Design, Data, and Construction: The Use of Geospatial Tools in Stream Restoration

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:10pm - 3:40pm MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Geospatial tools play a crucial role in modern stream restoration by supporting accurate assessment, design, construction, and monitoring. This presentation highlights the integrated use of UAS, surveying, LiDAR, GPS enabled equipment, and GIS to collect, analyze, and implement high-resolution spatial data for stream and floodplain restoration. These technologies improve design efficiency, reduce...
See More →

Presenters

Tanner Tompkins

GIS/Land Resources Specialist, Kroenke Ranches

Tanner Tompkins is a GIS/Land Resource Specialist and UAS Remote Pilot who specializes in stream restoration work and implementing GIS in large scale agriculture and ranch operations. He was raised in the Flathead Valley and now splits his time between Bozeman, Whitefish, and Augusta... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:10pm - 3:40pm MDT
East Divide Room

Conservation/Natural Resources

3:10pm MDT

Showcasing the Montana DPHHS CONNECT Directory Dashboard Experience Builder

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:10pm - 3:40pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

The Montana DPHHS CONNECT program described here provides critical health services to Montana community members. https://connectmontana.org/ , https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/ConnectMT/CONNECTReferralSystem , To communicate what agencies participate in the program, DPHHS built a modernized GIS directory dashboard that makes great use of the ArcGIS Experience Builder platform. This application...
See More →

Presenters

Brian Norderud

GIS Analyst, Montana DPHHS

Brian Norderud is one of the GIS Analysts working with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. In his role he has been working with DPHHS for over five years and coordinates GIS activities for specific programs and across the agency. Brian maintains a ton of interests... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:10pm - 3:40pm MDT
Alpine Room

GIS in Health

3:10pm MDT

Local Government SIG Roundtable

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:10pm - 4:15pm MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This 60‑minute facilitated roundtable invites local government GIS professionals to share and discuss emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping GIS programs today. Topics may include the growing role of AI and automation, evolving job roles and expectations for GIS staff, organizational capacity and workforce development, and major technology transitions such as Web AppBuilder to...
See More →

Presenters

Andrew Stickney

GIS Analyst, HDR

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:10pm - 4:15pm MDT
West Divide Room

Roundtable, Government

3:40pm MDT

Transition

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:40pm - 3:45pm MDT

Transition

3:45pm MDT

Utilization of Field and Remote Sensing Data to Design the Piedmont Wetland Restoration Project

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:45pm - 4:15pm MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

SWCA Environmental Consultants (formerly River Design Group) was retained by MT Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and the Jefferson Local Development Corporation to design a wetland restoration project at the Piedmont Wetlands south of Whitehall, Montana. Data collection for wetland restoration design development included pond bathymetry, topography, vegetation, wetland delineation and wetland functional...
See More →

Presenters

Selita Ammondt

SWCA Environmental Consultants

Selita is a Senior Project Manager and Restoration Ecologist with 20 years of experience in river and wetland restoration. She designs wetland restoration projects, develops floodplain and vegetation restoration plans, and prepares federal and state permitting documents. Selita is... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:45pm - 4:15pm MDT
East Divide Room

Conservation/Natural Resources

3:45pm MDT

TrialWear: Integrating GIS in Clinical Trials to Save Lives

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:45pm - 4:15pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

TrialWear is a new medical device designed to improve health care outcomes in Montana and beyond. Developed by an interdisciplinary team from Montana State University, the device utilizes ArcGIS GeoEvent Server and built-in geofencing to alert providers when a clinical trial patient enters a medical facility. The goal of TrialWear is to promote rural representation in clinical trials by removing...
See More →

Presenters

Eric Sproles

Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences, Montana State University

Eric earned his PhD in Water Resources Science at Oregon State University, applying a range of geospatial tools and models to better understand climate impacts on snowpack. His curiosity of all things geospatial blossomed during his MSc at the University of Oregon where he worked... Read More →

Erich Schreier

Montana State University

Erich Schreier - Erich earned his master's degree in 2025 with GeoSWIRL, studying new methods of monitoring snow water equivalent (SWE) in alpine environments. Erich combines his knowledge of field research and data analysis to contribute to collaborative geospatial research and projects... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 3:45pm - 4:15pm MDT
Alpine Room

GIS in Health

4:15pm MDT

Transition

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:15pm - 4:20pm MDT

Transition

4:20pm MDT

Modernizing Forest Inventory on Montana’s Trust Lands through LiDAR and Timber Cruise Data Integration

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:20pm - 4:50pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Since the 1980s, the Montana DNRC’s Stand Level Inventory (SLI) has supported forest management on Trust Lands through walkthrough-based field assessments of stand conditions. While foundational, this method presented challenges in data consistency, repeatability, and maintenance. Leveraging recent statewide LiDAR acquisition, DNRC developed the Remote Forest Inventory (RFI), integrating timber...
See More →

Presenters

Anna Moser

Remote Sensing Analyst, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Anna Moser is a Remote Sensing Analyst with the Forest Management Bureau of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. She develops and maintains forest and vegetation inventory sampling frameworks for Montana’s State Trust Lands. Her professional interests include... Read More →

Clay Stephenson

MT DNRC

Clay Stephenson is the Forestry Section Supervisor for the Forest Management Bureau of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. He and his team maintain the DNRC’s silviculture, forest mensuration, and sustained yield calculation programs. His professional interests... Read More →

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:20pm - 4:50pm MDT
Alpine Room

Conservation/Natural Resources

4:20pm MDT

Let's Vibe Code a GIS App

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:20pm - 4:50pm MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Vibe coding is an ongoing conversation between human intuition and machine generation, merging precision with perception. In this talk, we’ll explore how that dialogue shapes the development of a web mapping application built with Esri’s Maps SDK for JavaScript and Calcite Design System. By iteratively refining prompts, evaluating AI-generated code, and tuning the design, we’ll trace how the...
See More →

Presenters

Kenny Ketner

Information Products Lead, Montana State Library

Kenny Ketner is the Information Products Lead at the Montana State Library (MSL), where he has worked since 2016. His team is responsible for application development and systems administration, frequently in collaboration with the GIS professionals at MSL.

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:20pm - 4:50pm MDT
East Divide Room

Geospatial/AI

4:20pm MDT

Challenges in Small Local Government GIS Operations

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:20pm - 4:50pm MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Discussing the challenges and freedoms that come with working as a solo GIS department. Highlighting asset management, empowering staff, growth policy, current projects.

Presenters

Kevin Fitzgerald

GIS Coordinator, City of Whitefish

GIS Coordinator for the City of Whitefish. Previously worked at Montana State University Facilities in Bozeman.

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:20pm - 4:50pm MDT
West Divide Room

Government, AEC/Asset Management/Utilities

4:50pm MDT

Transition

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:50pm - 5:00pm MDT

Transition

5:00pm MDT

Social Reception, Dinner, Awards and Trivia!

Wednesday April 15, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm MDT

East/West Divide Ballroom @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Wednesday April 15, 2026 5:00pm - 8:00pm MDT
East/West Divide Ballroom

Event

8:00am MDT

MAGIP Annual Member Meeting

Thursday April 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

East/West Divide Ballroom @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

All MAGIP members are encouraged to attend.

View MAGIP Report

MAGIPBudgetFY2026 xlsx

20260416 MAGIP MemberMeetingAgenda pdf

MAGIPSocialMediaReport 2025 04 01 to 2026 04 15 pdf

Thursday April 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT
East/West Divide Ballroom

Meeting

9:00am MDT

Transition

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:00am - 9:05am MDT

Transition

9:05am MDT

AI and Satellite Imagery: Transforming Illegal Dumping Enforcement in Remote Areas

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:05am - 9:35am MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Illegal dumping in remote areas has surged by up to 30%, threatening ecosystems and public health. Traditional monitoring methods can’t keep pace—limited access and resources leave agencies reactive instead of proactive. This presentation highlights how satellite imagery and AI analytics revolutionize enforcement. Using Antelope Valley, CA as a case study, we’ll show how high-resolution...
See More →

Presenters

Joey Griebel

Account Executive, NV5

Joey Griebel is an Account Executive on the NV5 Geospatial team focused on Software Solutions. With over 15 years of Remote Sensing expertise, he spends a majority of his time working on projects utilizing Hyperspectral, LiDAR, and Synthetic Aperture Radar data. He enjoys solving... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:05am - 9:35am MDT
Alpine Room

Geospatial/AI

9:05am MDT

Geospatial Governance: Laying the Foundation for a Reliable and Sustainable GIS

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:05am - 9:35am MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Effective geospatial governance is key to building a strong and sustainable GIS for your organization. In this session, we’ll explore how policies, tools, and web applications can be implemented to create a reliable GIS framework that promotes efficiency and reusability.We’ll share the Montana State Library’s experience in developing a geospatial governance policy, including insights from...
See More →

Presenters

Matt Trebesch

GIS Analyst, Montana State Library

Matt Trebesch is a GIS Analyst at the Montana State Library (MSL), where he leads geospatial governance efforts and manages statewide projects such as the MSL Flood Hub and the COVID-19 dashboard and associated hub. He serves as the administrator of MSL’s ArcGIS Online platform... Read More →

Geospatial Governance Laying the Foundation for a Reliable and Sustainable GIS pdf

2026 GeoCon links gov talk pdf

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:05am - 9:35am MDT
West Divide Room

Government

9:05am MDT

Visualizing Bozeman’s Data through FME and Experience Builder

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:05am - 9:35am MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

The City of Bozeman’s Asset Management department leverages FME for automated data processing, and Experience Builder for data visualization. The tools help Bozeman be more transparent with its data and operations for the public, as well as improve internal efficiency. This presentation will offer insights into Asset Management’s practices and workflows by going into details of a couple...
See More →

Presenters

Lin Rich

City of Bozeman

Lin Rich, Asset/GIS Systems Administrator, Asset Management Department, City of Bozeman_x000D_
Lauren Wilcox, GIS Analyst, Asset Management Department, City of Bozeman

Lauren Wilcox

City of Bozeman

Lauren Wilcox, GIS Analyst, Asset Management Department, City of Bozeman

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:05am - 9:35am MDT
East Divide Room

Python & Automation, Government

9:05am MDT

Hands-On Leaning Lab

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:05am - 3:30pm MDT

Nordic Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:05am - 3:30pm MDT
Nordic Room

Workshop

9:35am MDT

Transition

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:35am - 9:40am MDT

Transition

9:40am MDT

Bringing Big Data Down to Earth

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:40am - 10:10am MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This presentation demonstrates how large geospatial datasets can be transformed into practical, accessible tools for infrastructure management. Leveraging satellite, airborne, unmanned, terrestrial, and mobile lidar; multispectral and hyperspectral imagery; 3D scanning; and advanced GIS analytics, the session outlines workflows for converting raw spatial data into usable products. Case studies...
See More →

Presenters

Dan Mummert

Senior Engineer - Innovation, Picket & Associates, LLC

Dan Mummert is a Senior Engineer leading the Innovation Program at Pickett. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering, specializing in Geospatial Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer with over two decades of comprehensive experience delivering industry-leading engineering... Read More →

Helen Paris

GIS Manager, Pickett & Associates, LLC

Helen Paris is a GIS Manager and innovator with over 15 years of experience leveraging GIS to solve complex problems across diverse fields, including mineral exploration, oil and gas exploration, environmental science, earth science, and engineering. Helen is a leader in the field... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:40am - 10:10am MDT
East Divide Room

Geospatial/AI

9:40am MDT

MSDI Administrative Boundary Theme Update

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:40am - 10:10am MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Feedback Survey

This presentation will provide an overview and update on the MSDI Administrative Boundaries Framework including Geo-Enabled Elections, U.S. Census Bureau Programs, Managed Areas, and the MSDI Administrative Boundaries Framework Data Quality Assessment Matrix and Improvement Plan.

Presenters

Meghan Burns

GIS Analyst, Montana State Library

Meghan Burns is a GIS Analyst and the MSDI Administrative Boundary Theme Steward within the Water Information Team at the Montana State Library, where she also works on MSDI Elevation, Hydrology, Hydrologic Units, Imagery, and Soils. Her most recent project is PM on the MSL Web GIS... Read More →

Presentation 20260416 MSDI Boundaries Presentation pdf

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:40am - 10:10am MDT
West Divide Room

Government, Census

9:40am MDT

Quantifying the extent and magnitude of landslides in the Bridger Range using UAV-LiDAR

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:40am - 10:10am MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

A large rainfall event triggered multiple landslides across Bridger Bowl Ski Area in southwest Montana on July 29, 2025. The Geospatial Core Facility at Montana State University conducted a UAV-based LiDAR survey over a landslide path along the northern boundary of Bridger Bowl and generated a 1-m resolution post-event digital elevation model (DEM). A pre-event 1-m DEM was obtained from the U.S....
See More →

Presenters

Lena Nelson

Undergraduate Student, Montana State University

Lena Nelson is an undergraduate student at Montana State University pursuing a B.S. in Earth Sciences with a concentration in Snow Science. As a student GIS Technician with the Geospatial Core Facility, she works on a range of geospatial projects involving LiDAR processing, spatial... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 9:40am - 10:10am MDT
Alpine Room

Remote Sensing/UAS

10:10am MDT

Transition

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:10am - 10:15am MDT

Transition

10:15am MDT

Preparing for the 2030 Census and Redistricting: Block Boundary Suggestions

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Preparations for the 2030 Census and Redistricting are underway. Every ten years and prior to each Decennial Census, the Census Bureau publishes a new set of census block boundaries. The Block Boundary Suggestion Project provides local government officials with the opportunity to suggest changes to census block boundaries that better represent current legal boundaries (e.g. voting precincts and...
See More →

Presenters

Dave Ritts

GIS Analyst, Montana Department of Commerce

Dave Ritts is a GIS Analyst with the Montana Department of Commerce. He provides GIS support to the Census & Economic Information Center (CEIC) where he is the primary contact in the State of Montana for statistical boundary updates to the U.S. Census Geography program. He holds an... Read More →

BBSP Overview BigSkyGeoCon 2026 04 07 pdf

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am MDT
West Divide Room

Census, Government

10:15am MDT

You have LiDAR in your area—Now What?

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

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...
See More →

Presenters

Tyler Kaebisch

Geospatial Project Manager, Ayres

Tyler Kaebisch is a Geospatial Project Manager with Ayres who works with federal, state, county, municipal and private sector partners on projects that apply remote sensing techniques to analyze features across the landscape to provide highly accurate mapping solutions.

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am MDT
East Divide Room

Geospatial/AI

10:15am MDT

Relative Cooling, Absolute Heating: How Rapid Urbanization Reshaped Thermal Dynamics across the Arabian Peninsula (2000-2020)

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Extreme heat and rapid urbanization are converging challenges for the Arabian Peninsula, yet their fine-grained interactions remain poorly understood. We present a high-resolution assessment of land-cover land-use change, population growth, and land surface temperature (LST) from 2000 to 2020. We found that newly urbanized areas converted from desert exhibited significantly lower warming...
See More →

Presenters

Eqi Luo

PhD Candidate, Montana State University

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am MDT
Alpine Room

Remote Sensing/UAS

10:45am MDT

Networking Coffee Break | Visit Exhibitors

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:45am - 11:05am MDT

Glacier Room/Foyer @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Thursday April 16, 2026 10:45am - 11:05am MDT
Glacier Room/Foyer

Networking Break

11:00am MDT

Resume Review

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Glacier Room/Foyer @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Want to sharpen your GIS resume? Bring a copy to our review station located in the Exhibitor area for personalized feedback from industry experts.

Presenters

Jackson Rose

Research Scientist and GIS Instructor, Montana State University

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Glacier Room/Foyer

11:05am MDT

For Whom? Parcel-Level Spatial Accessibility to Hazardous Fuels Reduction

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:05am - 11:35am MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Federal wildfire fuel reduction projects lack systematic methods for identifying affected populations. The Wildfire Adapted Missoula project authorizes hazardous fuels treatments without environmental justice analysis despite federal mandates. This study develops a parcel-level, terrain-aware distance decay framework to identify affected populations based on spatial accessibility. Using the Blue...
See More →

Presenters

Patrick Benson

Carbon County

Patrick Benson is the GIS Coordinator for Carbon County in Red Lodge, MT. He recently graduated from the University of Montana with a Masters of Science in Geography. His background as a Forestry Technician for the U.S. Forest Service took him to the often overlooked yet beautiful... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:05am - 11:35am MDT
Alpine Room

Conservation/Natural Resources, Emergency Services

11:05am MDT

Wading into Elevation-Derived Waters – An Intro to EDH and 3DHP

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:05am - 11:35am MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP) is revolutionizing hydrographic data by integrating high-resolution elevation data with hydrographic features through Elevation-Derived Hydrography (EDH). This presentation will showcase the enhanced accuracy and utility of EDH data in applications including improved flood modeling, watershed management, and precise mapping for...
See More →

Presenters

Brian Hadley

Woolpert

Brian Hadley is a Geospatial Program Director for Woolpert’s Government Solutions market. He leads projects that include photogrammetry, lidar, and remote sensing services — ranging from ground control to data acquisition and processing to data storage and sharing. These services... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:05am - 11:35am MDT
East Divide Room

Geospatial/AI

11:05am MDT

MSDI Cadastral Framework Update

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:05am - 11:35am MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

The Montana State Library is the steward of the Montana Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) Cadastral Framework. This theme includes the datasets of the OwnerParcels, Public Lands, Conservation Easements and the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). This presentation will provide an update about the Cadastral Framework data. Secondly, a review of the Cadastral Data Quality Assessment & Data Value...
See More →

Presenters

Jeff Hedstrom

GIS Analyst, Montana State Library

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:05am - 11:35am MDT
West Divide Room

Government

11:35am MDT

Transition

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:35am - 11:40am MDT

Transition

11:40am MDT

DNRC Upper Yellowstone Structure Survey & GIS Methodologies

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:40am - Wednesday April 15, 2026 12:10pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This presentation will focus on the GIS methods and challenges involved in structure surveying and inventory in the Yellowstone River Basin for Montana DNRC for the purpose of updating regulatory floodplain maps and how our GIS team utilized ArcGIS Field Maps to deploy structure and data forms for field crews to reference and collect data in the field. GIS field solutions proved themselves...
See More →

Presenters

Matt Blassic

Great West Engineering

Matt Blassic is a GIS Analyst with Great West Engineering. Matt works in Great West's Natural Resource Group, and has working on floodplain mapping projects for upwards of 6 years. Matt provides in depth knowledge of regulatory and drafting FEMA databases and spatial products for... Read More →

Hannah Nishek

Great West Engineering

Hannah Nishek: Hannah Nishek is a GIS Specialist with six years of experience in spatial data management at various project scales in the private and public sector. Hannah is skilled in custom web-based app development and interactive tools to aid in data-driven decision making, gather... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:40am - Wednesday April 15, 2026 12:10pm MDT
Alpine Room

Conservation/Natural Resources, Government

11:40am MDT

From Point Clouds to Posters: Making LiDAR Data Pop

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:10pm MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This presentation will share tips and techniques for transforming LiDAR datasets into stunning visuals. Learn how to leverage color schemes, shading, and perspective to highlight terrain features and patterns in ways that are aesthetically engaging.

Presenters

Meghan Burns

GIS Analyst, Montana State Library

Troy Blandford

GIS Analyst - Water Info Lead, Montana State Library Geographic Information

Troy Blandford is the Water Information System Manager at the Montana State Library and works with hydrography, lidar, imagery, and other water- related geospatial data every day. After graduating from the University of Idaho with a B.S in Environmental Science and an M.S in Geography... Read More →

Pat Jackson

GIS Technician, Montana State Library

Pat is a GIS technician at the Montana State Library working in the Water Information and User Services Teams focusing on lidar and water supply data. After graduating for Montana State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Geospatial Analysis he spent time working as... Read More →

Garret Weichel

GIS Technician, Montana State Library

I am a GIS Technician at the Montana State Library. I graduated from the University of Montana with a B.S. in Geography and a GIS certificate. My work at MSL includes providing lidar data to the State of Montana and supporting the public and private sector with GIS expertise.

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:10pm MDT
West Divide Room

Cartography

11:40am MDT

Utilizing Survey 123 and Microsoft Power Automate for Online Address Applications

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:10pm MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

In 2025, the Lewis and Clark County/City of Helena Addressing Office created a new Addressing Hub website to include updated content and modernized online address application forms.The new applications transitioned from fillable PDF forms to interactive online web forms. Each form includes dropdown menus, file upload options, and a mapping component so applicants can interactively provide the...
See More →

Presenters

Jason Danielson

GIS Analyst, Lewis and Clark County/City of Helena

Thursday April 16, 2026 11:40am - 12:10pm MDT
East Divide Room

Emergency Services, Government

12:10pm MDT

Lunch on Own

Thursday April 16, 2026 12:10pm - 1:40pm MDT

Lunch

12:10pm MDT

Student and Early Career Prof. Development Roundtable (includes lunch)

Thursday April 16, 2026 12:10pm - 1:40pm MDT

East/West Divide Ballroom @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This roundtable format provides an informal, low-pressure setting where early career professionals and students can ask questions, seek advice, and gain valuable insights into the diverse career paths available in GIS. We encourage those that have been in the GIS field for 5 years or less and all students to join this session. Lunch will be provided compliments of Greater Business Solutions (GBS)...
See More →

Presenters

Elaine Guidero

National Map Liaison, U.S. Geological Survey

Elaine started at USGS as an applied researcher in multi-scale cartography. She is now the National Map Liaison to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.

Tyler Kaebisch

Geospatial Project Manager, Ayres

Kyle Burke

Regional Lead / GIS Manager, HDR Inc

Helen Paris

GIS Manager, Pickett & Associates, LLC

Matt Blassic

Great West Engineering

John Nelson

Cartographer, Esri

Melissa Christie

NV5 Geospatial

Thursday April 16, 2026 12:10pm - 1:40pm MDT
East/West Divide Ballroom

Roundtable

1:40pm MDT

Secondary Education, Remote Sensing, GIS Integration, Ground-Truthing

Thursday April 16, 2026 1:40pm - 2:10pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Many of the major themes within Environmental Education rely upon remote sensing and orbital data collection. This unit was developed to introduce students in grades 11-12 to the science behind the maps and graphics they see in class. It ranges from a review of the physics of the electromagnetic spectrum to data manipulation, ground-truthing, and ArcGIS workflows.The unit begins with a physical...
See More →

Presenters

Sarah Tabor

Belgrade High School

Sarah has taught science courses for the Belgrade Schools since 2007. A professional development opportunity in 2018 introduced her to the world of GIS and she has been seeking ways to incorporate it into her classroom ever since. She currently teaches Biology, Advanced Placement... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 1:40pm - 2:10pm MDT
Alpine Room

Remote Sensing/UAS

1:40pm MDT

Resume Review

Thursday April 16, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT

Glacier Room/Foyer @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Want to sharpen your GIS resume? Bring a copy to our review station located in the Exhibitor area for personalized feedback from industry experts.

Presenters

Helen Paris

GIS Manager, Pickett & Associates, LLC

Thursday April 16, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT
Glacier Room/Foyer

1:40pm MDT

MSL Support for NG9-1-1 GIS

Thursday April 16, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

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...
See More →

Presenters

Bob Cochran

Montana State Library

Thursday April 16, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT
East Divide Room

Emergency Services, Government

1:40pm MDT

Geospatial Accessibility in Practice: Challenges, Tools, and Collaboration

Thursday April 16, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

This panel brings together Montana GIS managers, accessibility practitioners, and federal and local government representatives to discuss practical approaches to improving geospatial accessibility. Panelists will share lessons learned from statewide collaborations, working‑group efforts, and real‑world ADA Title II and Section 508 WCAG compliance challenges within GIS programs. The discussion...
See More →

Presenters

Matt Trebesch

GIS Analyst, Montana State Library

Nick Youngstrom

Agency GIS Manager, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Nick Youngstrom is the Agency GIS Manager at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), where he leads a team of Enterprise GIS professionals who manage the agency's geospatial architecture, data services, and system integration. In this role, he oversees... Read More →

Allen Armstrong

GIS Manager, Bureau of Land Management

Allen Armstrong is a GIS Professional with a background in GIS consulting, project planning and implementation, project management and partnership development, and data intensive multi-disciplined GPS/GIS projects. He graduated from the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology... Read More →

Gail Jorgenson

GIS Program Manager, City of Bozeman

Gail Jorgenson |City of Bozeman |GIS Program Manager

Gail Jorgenson, GIS Program Manager for the City of Bozeman, leads a high-performing team of experts providing enterprise geospatial support to city leadership, staff, and the public. Driven by a commitment to the advancement of the GIS community and as part of her long-term career... Read More →

Ryan Richardson

Solution Engineer, Esri

Cambria Ewart

GIS Specialist, Department of Justice

Cambria Ewart is a GIS Specialist for the Montana Department of Justice. She works with SmartCOP applications to provide MHP troopers with maps to use in the field and to facilitate dispatch operations. Cambria also works with the SVOR Unit providing data, creating new applications... Read More →

Colton Hash

Web Developer, Department of Justice State of Montana

Colton Hash is the web developer for the Montana Department of Justice with a focus in ADA compliance for websites and online services. Developing solutions for interactive GIS applications to meet accessibility requirements has become a deep interest in his professional work. Hash... Read More →

Geospatial Accessability Panel Links pdf

Thursday April 16, 2026 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT
West Divide Room

Government

2:10pm MDT

Turning Massive NASA Climate Data into GIS-Ready Data Cubes

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:10pm - 2:40pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Climate projection datasets pose major challenges for traditional GIS workflows due to their size and dimensionality. This study uses the NASA NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 dataset, comprising 65 years of historical simulations and four 85-year future scenarios across multiple models, totaling approximately 7.4 TB of data. To enable scalable analysis, we employ Dask and Xarray to construct spatiotemporal data...
See More →

Presenters

Daniel Bose

Research Assistant, Montana State University

Daniel Bose
PhD Student, Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University
Humid-Heat Climatology, Geospatial Data Analysis, and Machine Learning

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:10pm - 2:40pm MDT
Alpine Room

Python & Automation

2:40pm MDT

Transition

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:40pm - 2:45pm MDT

Transition

2:45pm MDT

Sans Regret: Making Confident Font Choices for Maps

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

East Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Comic Sans, Arial, Calibri, Papyrus…does it matter which fonts you use in your map? Fonts—typefaces—have a powerful impact on the look and feel of a map, and can make the difference between an amateur and a professional document. In this presentation, we will show common pitfalls to avoid with font choice and label design, especially with respect to accessibility and legibility. We will also...
See More →

Presenters

Elaine Guidero

National Map Liaison, U.S. Geological Survey

Elaine started at USGS as an applied researcher in multi-scale cartography. She is now the National Map Liaison to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.

Liz Juers

GIS Analyst, Montana Dept of Transporation

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
East Divide Room

Cartography

2:45pm MDT

Shaping Montana’s Geospatial Future: A Conversation with the MGIA Council

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

West Divide Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Join members of the Montana Geospatial Information Advisory Council for a dynamic discussion on the evolving landscape of statewide geospatial coordination. Panelists will share what inspired them to join the Council, how their service has influenced their work, and how emerging technologies—such as AI-driven analytics, real-time sensor networks, and cloud-native GIS—are reshaping agency...
See More →

Presenters

Erin Fashoway

Montana GIS Coordinator, Montana State Library

Erin Fashoway has served as Montana’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator with the Montana State Library since 2016. She works to coordinate state of Montana GIS functions, data assets, and activities across local, state, tribal, and federal government as well as private... Read More →

Jennie Stapp

MGIAC Chair & Montana State Librarian, Montana State Library

Jennie Stapp is the Montana State Librarian, leading statewide efforts to expand access to geospatial, government, water, & natural resource information, strengthen library services, and support digital resource development. In her role as Director of the Montana State Library, she... Read More →

Allen Armstrong

GIS Manager, Bureau of Land Management

Eric Spangenberg

GIS Coordinator, Lewis & Clark County

Eric Spangenberg is the GIS Coordinator for Lewis & Clark County and the City of Helena, where he oversees the enterprise GIS program and manages the development and integration of spatial data and mapping applications across local government departments. He also serves as an adjunct... Read More →

Nick Youngstrom

Agency GIS Manager, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
West Divide Room

Government

3:50pm MDT

Closing and Door Prize Giveaways

Thursday April 16, 2026 3:50pm - 4:20pm MDT

East/West Divide Ballroom @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Thursday April 16, 2026 3:50pm - 4:20pm MDT
East/West Divide Ballroom

Event

5:00pm MDT

GIS Scavenger Hunt

Thursday April 16, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm MDT

Downtown Whitefish @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Join us for a scavenger hunt in downtown Whitefish Thursday evening! Scavenge for clues through bars on Central Avenue to solve riddles and compete for glory. Meet at 5pm on Thursday at the Whitefish Train Depot to start! Prizes will be awarded to the winning team. See you there!

Thursday April 16, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm MDT
Downtown Whitefish

Event

8:00am MDT

Advanced Level ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric (1/2 Day AM)

Friday April 17, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Alpine Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

NOTE: This workshop can be taken virtually as well, as Frank will be teaching the workshop remotely from his Florida office. Frank will provide the Zoom meeting link to participates the week of the conference.Description: This half-day workshop will extend the attendee's understanding of Esri's ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric and examine the effect and impact of the arcade language, attribute rules,...
See More →

Presenters

Frank Conkling

Owner, Panda Consulting

Friday April 17, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Alpine Room

Workshop

8:00am MDT

Intermediate ArcGIS Arcade (Full Day)

Friday April 17, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT

Nordic Room @ 2 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Description: A defining characteristic of ArcGIS Arcade is the ability to apply simple or powerful operations to a set of features using single-line or short multiline expressions. This is a result of the relatively straightforward syntax, the core scripting capabilities, and the nature of the large number of built-in functions, which were addressed in the prerequisite Introduction to ArcGIS...
See More →

Presenters

David Howes

David Howes, LLC

Friday April 17, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT
Nordic Room

Workshop