Detailed Schedule

Monday Activities – King Street Ballroom

Activity Time Frame
Registration 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Exhibit Setup 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Workshops and Roundtable 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Ice Breaker Reception 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Tuesday Activities – King Street Ballroom

Activity Time Frame
Registration and Breakfast with Sponsors 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Opening Plenary and State of the State 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Mid-Morning Break with Sponsors 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
NYS GIS Association Meeting 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Lunch and Keynote 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Afternoon Break with Sponsors 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Afternoon Break with Sponsors 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Networking Reception 4:45 PM – 6:30 PM

Concurrent Session 1 Details (Tuesday, September 26, 2pm – 3pm)

Conference Room 1: Fort Orange 5

Moderator: Courtney Wieber

Title:
Creating No-Code Applications with ArcGIS Experience Builder
Presenter(s):
Mark Scott, Esri
Bio(s):  
Abstract:
ArcGIS Experience Builder empowers you to quickly transform your data into an interactive, mobile optimized, web app. Best of all, no coding is required to use the drag-and-drop interface to configure a set of widgets with your maps. Come to this session to learn the building blocks of Experience Builder.
 

 

Title:
Experience Builder: Replacing Web App Builder Apps
Presenter(s):
Colin Liu, Geocove
Bio(s): Colin Liu received a M.S. degree in GIS at the University at Buffalo. He has five years of work experience in GIS using Esri software. As a GIS Developer for Geocove, Colin Liu has managed data from various sources and formats to provide solutions for clients and developed strong working relationships with municipal as well as private entities. He has helped clients build / rebuild apps with Esri Experience Builder.
Abstract:

Esri is retiring the ArcGIS Web App Builder (WAB), a favorite for building quick web apps without writing code. Experience Builder (EB) is the Esri suggested replacement for the WAB.

We’ll talk about the deprecation timeline of WAB, show a step-by-step approach to migrating a WAB app to an EB app, and compare current functionalities between WAB and EB. We’ll also take a look at what functionality is coming for the EB and highlight a couple of our favorite capabilities.

 

Conference Room 2: Fort Orange 7

Moderator: Ana Hiraldo-Gomez

Title:
Cybersecurity Readiness for Local Government Leaders: It’s More than the Technology
Presenter(s):
Meghan Cook and Noor Gravelle
Bio(s): Meghan Cook is the Director of the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) in the Office of Counter Terrorism within the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYDHSES). The CIRT provides both proactive and reactive cyber services to NYS local governments, non-executive State agencies, and State authorities.  For over 25 years, Meghan was the Program Director at the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany/SUNY, Adjunct Professor at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and Advisor to the NYS Local Government Information Technology Directors Association. Meghan has a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Education from the University at Albany.

Noor Gravelle is a Homeland Security Program Analyst with the Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (CIRT) within the office of Counter Terrorism within the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYDHSES). Previously Noor worked as a Disaster Preparedness Program Representative for the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). She also recently graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity with a minor in Informatics from the University at Albany.

Abstract:
Local governments rely on technology to carry out the business of government. Almost every aspect of government operations and services are performed with hardware, software, and a networked infrastructure. With that also comes the responsibility for local leaders to invest in technology, processes, and practices to protect the public’s assets from increasing cyber threats. This presentation and workshop will present cybersecurity fundamentals, CIRT proactive and reactive cyber services, and encourage participants to consider and assess their organization’s cyber readiness on a range of dimensions (general technology readiness, general cybersecurity readiness, cybersecurity roles and responsibilities, cyber culture and communication, data management and classification, cyber and policies, cyber awareness training, cyber governance and decision-making, cyber and legal risk management, and cybersecurity and procurement) so that all local leaders can increase their organization’s cyber maturity.

Conference Room 3: Fort Orange 9

Moderator: Rick Reichert

Title:
GISMO Engages With New GIS Startups
Presenter(s):
Alan Leidner, NYCGISMO; Jiin Wen, NYCGISMO; Amy Jeu, NYCGISMO, Wendy Dorf, NYCGISMO; Theo Goetemann, Basil Labs
Bio(s):  
Abstract:
NYC GISMO, over the past two years, has begun working with start up technology companies seeking to help them bring to market useful geospatial data and tools, particularly for use by government. One company is LiveXYZ a company that collects data about businesses including their locations by sending employees into communities to gather information directly from owners. GISMO members Alan Leidner and Wendy Dorf provided support and guidance. Now LiveXYZ has a contract with NYC and is providing information to agencies including Small Business Services, EDC, City Planning, Mayors Office, NYCEM, Health, and others. LiveXYZ will soon begin to identify other municipalities interested in the same services. GISMO President Jiin Wen presented Theo Goetemann, President of Basil Labs at a GISMO webinar. Basil Labs produces Ella, an application that collects and integrates smart phone data including structured questions, geolocation, photos, and verbal inputs that are translated to english and digitzed for AI analysis.  Jiin, Amy Jeu, and Alan Leidner won two grants from the Open Geospatial Consortium to use Ella as part of their Disaster Preparedness demonstration projects. Ella is now being used for the GISMO originated Rat ID Application.

 

Title:
NYSDOT’s Crash Location Engineering & Analysis Repository (CLEAR)
Presenter(s):
Robert Zitowsky, NYS Department of Transportation
Bio(s): Robert Zitowsky is a Senior Transportation Analyst at the NYS Department of Transportation. He coordinates GIS, web content, and workforce development needs for the Office of Traffic Safety and Mobility. He was a project manager for the NYS Strategic Highway Safety Plan update for 2023.
Abstract:
The Crash Location Engineering & Analysis Repository (CLEAR) safety application is a web-based GIS application that allows users to access motor vehicle crash data through custom queries and analyze the data with a number of reporting options and formats. This session will provide attendees with an overview of the CLEAR application and how it can be used.

 

Conference Room 4: Town Hall

Moderator: Skyler Paternostro

Title:
Combining concepts of geographic information science and GIS software-based data analysis for student education – a new approach of GIS textbook writing
Presenter(s):
Tao Tang
Bio(s): Dr. Tang is a professor of GIS and remote sensing at the Geosciences Department, Buffalo State University, the State University of New York (SUNY).  He has about 30 years of experience on using ArcGIS software platform and 25 years of teaching experience at SUNY. He earned his BS degree in Physical Geography at Northwestern University of China, then two master’s degrees in Geography, one was from the Graduate School of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the other from the University of Gulph, Ontario, Canada. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Geography at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to the employment at SUNY, he worked at the Northwestern University of China as a lecturer, the Chinese Academy of Sciences as a research assistant professor, the University of Toronto, Canada as a research fellow, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a lecturer and freshman scholar.
Abstract:
GIS have been developed as a popular utility for data analyses in both science, social science, and engineering applications. However, in higher education, GIS have long been taught in two separate contents: 1) concept and theory centric, most of the textbooks were written this way; 2) software centric, a great number of software training books were published, and training classes are offered. Students need to be educated on both theoretical and practical sides. This approach combines scientific concepts and theories rooted in the geographic information science and geographic science, and the hands-on practices of data collections, data processing, data analysis, and data modeling in ArcGIS Pro software environment for higher education. In the newly published textbook, three fundamental parts are organized in a sequential model. These are: 1) Concepts and Theories, 2) Hands-on Tutorials of Data Analysis, and 3) Student Projects (exercises). This new textbook facilitates the students to master both concepts and analytical skills simultaneously. Students of various disciplines equipped with GIS analytical capability will be more compatible to serve our society.

 

Title:
A Python-based QGIS Plugin for Efficient Cloud Removal from Sentinel 2 Imagery Using Machine Learning
Presenter(s):
William Simone, Student MCC, Wayne Howard, MCC, Jonathon Little MCC
Bio(s):

William Simone is a recent graduate of the GIST program at MCC. He has worked previously as an analyst with the US Military where he first encountered Geographic Information Systems. As part of a career shift toward full time GIS work, he pursued education with MCC and has thoroughly enjoyed his experience at the college. With interests in conservation, sustainable urban planning, and custom tool building, he is excited to share details about his capstone work and follow on projects with the University of Maine.

Wayne D. Howard, Monroe Community College. Wayne’s a GIS Analyst/Project Manager and Co-owner of Solara Concepts, with background and experience in GIS analysis, nutrient modeling, watershed management, environmental health, office automation and technical training. He’s also an Adjunct GIS instructor at Monroe Community College (MCC) in the School of Chemistry and Geosciences and works part time as a GIS Analyst at Genesee RiverWatch. He teaches Geospatial Data Management, Python and Capstone in GIST. Wayne’s a board member of the Genesee Finger Lakes GIS/SIG and a member of the NYS GIS Association Education Committee. He’s also an avid reader that enjoys music, choir, cycling, and hiking and camping in the Adirondacks.

Jonathan Little is a Professor of Geography at Monroe Community College where he teaches courses in Geography and Geospatial Technology, and leads the virtual Geospatial Information Science & Technology (GIST) program. He led the development of a stackable program that includes an A.A.S., Certificate, and a 9-credit micro-credential that prepares students for the workforce. The program also offers virtual internships with organizations in Upstate New York and global workforce opportunities. Global virtual internship opportunities have ranged from students developing apps for farmers in Malawi and an app for public citizens to engage in the collection of water quality data in an urban setting in Mexico. Additional internships have focused on using remote sensing to detect wheat disease in Kazakhstan to land cover change in Costa Rica and Colombia. As Principal Investigator of two National Science Foundation Advanced Technological grants, recent graduates have had paid internships, and have been able to enter the workforce. He is Fulbright Specialist Alumni, received the National GeoTech Center 2017 Lifetime Achievement in Geospatial Two-year College Education, and received the 2021 James Kweku Mentoring Award from the US Agency for International Development & YouthMappers for advising, mentorship & support of MCC’s Mapping Club.

Abstract:
Cloud cover in satellite imagery can lead to inaccuracies and errors when producing maps. To mitigate these issues, it is important to remove the cloud cover prior to analysis and processing. Although Fmask is a commonly used method for cloud removal and has been available since 2012, it may not be suitable for more detailed work, particularly in forested regions of Maine. As part of the GIST Capstone program at Monroe Community College (MCC), in collaboration with the University of Maine, this MCC student developed a QGIS plugin to make UMaine’s methodology available to those using the QGIS environment.

 

Concurrent Session 2 Details (Tuesday, September 26, 3:30pm – 4:30pm)

Conference Room 1: Fort Orange 5

Moderator: Colin Liu

Title:
Implementing ArcGIS Hub
Presenter(s):
Krithica Kantharaj , Esri
Bio(s): Krithica Kantharaj is a solution Engineer and has been with ESRI for the last nine years. She enjoys the challenge of solving any business problem using GIS and spatial analysis. She has an undergraduate degree in Computer science, an MBA and a Master’s degree in Geography and Planning. Krithica has over ten years of experience in GIS application development and spatial analysis.
Abstract:
ArcGIS Hub is a cloud-based engagement platform that helps organizations share important information and engage meaningfully with stakeholders and community members. It lets users share data, create open data portals, build websites, work with internal staff and members of the community, and manage initiatives. In this session, you will get an introductory overview of the ArcGIS Hub and learn how to share data and content to different audiences. You will also learn how to best leverage Hub’s built-in tools such as map-based surveys, events, and discussions for establishing meaningful and continued digital engagement spaces.

 

Title:
Enabling Conservation Planning with GIS: A Vision for 30 by 30
Presenter(s):
Gerard Aiken, Esri
Bio(s): During my 25 plus years in Geospatial Technology I have always looked towards the opportunity for myself and others to utilize the people, technology and resources to tackle a mission, to solve the business problem, to discover the not considered viewpoint and to depict the path forward. I am currently the Esri Account Manager for the Local Government team covering New York State Counties and Cities.
Abstract:
The 30 by 30 effort is a national goal to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and freshwater and 30 percent of U.S. ocean areas by 2030. This effort aims to provide space for nature to offer room for adaptation and survival under the increasing pressure of climate change, while simultaneously working towards a more sustainable and equitable approach to managing our natural world. Esri is committed to supporting our users work towards 30 by 30 and feel that a Geospatial Infrastructure is a requirement to support the 30 by 30 effort at all levels and that GIS provides the critical capabilities for both understanding and engagement.

 

Conference Room 2: Fort Orange 7

Moderator: Tom Sears

Title:
Using a GIS Model to Estimate the Viability of Carbon Offset Projects on Post-Fire Properties with Publicly Available Resources
Presenter(s):
Adelina Prentice, Mast Reforestation
Bio(s): Adelina is a Senior GIS Specialist at Mast Reforestation, and works primarily with QGIS. Primary duties include remote sensing analysis of post-fire terrain across the western United States, reforestation planning and mapping, and developing in-house tools to facilitate workflow. Before Mast, Adelina worked as a GIS Specialist in environmental remediation, and has a background in geology and education.
Abstract:
When considering carbon offset projects, manual assessment of a property for reforestation can take multiple hours to days. In order to scale up our start-up company, we wanted a solution to quickly assess the viability of a property without investing additional resources. Using publicly available sources, this workflow model is able to automate the terrain assessment and reduce assessment time to approximately 1 hour. This presentation will provide an overview of the workflow, as well as offer suggestions of how to put a system like this into place for your own organization.

 

Title:
iMapInvasives: The Invasive Species Database for New York State
Presenter(s):
 John Marino
Bio(s): John serves as a GIS Applications Developer on the Invasive Species Database (ISDB) Project at the New York Natural Heritage Program. Some of his primary duties include collaborating with statewide partners to develop standardized field GIS data collection tools for invasive species data collection and data integration from external data sources.
Abstract:

iMapInvasives is an online, collaborative, GIS-based database and mapping tool used to track invasive species in North America. iMapInvasives is used by natural resource professionals, community scientists, and members of the public to both submit and obtain information about invasive species. The platform enables real-time tracking of infestations and improves management decisions to protect native species and ecosystems.

iMapInvasives serves as the official database (per the NYS Invasive Species Council) for invasive species work in New York State, and it is administered by the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP), a partnership between SUNY ESF and NYS DEC. The database is used by a network of organizations and individuals across the state, including the Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs), state agencies, municipal organizations, NGOs, community scientists, students, educators, researchers, and members of the public.

Key features include a filterable map interface with data summary tools, mobile reporting tools, customizable email alerts, and the ability to track both survey (including presence and not-detected data) and management efforts and their effectiveness over time.

 

Conference Room 3: Fort Orange 9

Moderator: Heather Ferrero

Title:
Enhancing Traffic Management Center Effectiveness Using GIS
Presenter(s):
Tony Bianchi, JMT Technology Group; Dave Isbell, JMT Technology Group
Bio(s):

Tony Bianchi, PMP
Mr. Bianchi received his civil engineering degree from Bucknell University and holds an
MBA. He is a Regional Director with the JMT Technology Group managing projects and
supporting clients in NY, PA, OH, and KY with GIS-based solutions. He has over 30
years of experience including twelve years with the American Association of Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) managing software development projects for
Departments of Transportation across the United States and Canada. Mr. Bianchi was
the project manager for both phase I and phase II of the development and
implementation of the City of Syracuse’s Transportation Management Center’s GIS-
based dashboard.

David M. Isbell
Mr. Isbell has over 3 decades of experience in traffic operations, traffic incident
management, special event planning, highway operations and emergency response. He
currently serves as JMT of New York, Inc.’s consultant Traffic Management Center
(TMC) Manager for the City of Syracuse Department of Public Works. In this position he
was instrumental in the creation of the TMC including the initial concept of operations
and is involved in all aspects of operation of the TMC including planning, staffing,
supervision of day-to-day operations and creation of the TMC Operations Manual. He
has previous experience as the consultant TMC Operations Manager for the NYSDOT
Region 3 TMC, 28 years of experience with NYSDOT, and 4 years as the Regional
Director of Emergency Management with NYS Homeland Security.

Abstract:
The City of Syracuse, NY’s Traffic Management Center identified the need for a tool that could incorporate multiple data sources into one interface to improve situational awareness and make better data-informed decisions. To meet this need, JMT developed a web-based transportation dashboard for the TMC inside of the city’s ArcGIS Online environment. This effort involved identifying and evaluating the various data sources for inclusion in the pilot dashboard including near real-time data. In later phases of the dashboard, JMT utilized ESRI’s ArcGIS Velocity to create dynamic feature classes from the raw data feeds via the Application Programming Interface (API) provided by the third-party vendor. The API provided access to transit information important to TMC operators like current bus location, heading, date/time, route information, stops, delay status, and service bulletins. In addition, JMT used Arcade expressions for custom symbology of the bus data within the web map, Arcade expressions for date/timestamp reformatting of the bus data, and instituted geofencing around the bus operations and maintenance facility to effectively hide buses that were not in operation.

 

Title:
Untangling the Mess: Routing for Success
Presenter(s):
Seth Frame, Tyler Technologies
Bio(s):  
Abstract:
How does one go from raw data, harvested from the wild to a routing network that digitally models real-world driving conditions? The short answer is that it takes a lot of work. Fortunately, there are ways to make the work easier. Over the past few years, we have employed several time-saving scripts and tools to help us engineer our data to create a map worthy of routing. The purpose of this presentation is to address some of the hurdles we have encountered working with data sourced from local government and how we overcame them using Python scripting and ArcGIS Python Add-In tools

 

Conference Room 4: Town Hall

Moderator: Mary Susan Knauss

Title:
Roadside Asset Inventory Management and the Next Technology Integration
Presenter(s):
Mary Susan Knauss
Bio(s):  
Abstract:
Tremendous Infrastructure investment is on the horizon and the state will be funneling funds to municipalities that are prepared to act on the opportunity. Attendees will be exposed to the state of practice for mobile field data collection and how that enables capital programming and maintenance operations. In the near future, this location-based asset information will be exchanged between the converging technologies of Geographic Information, Computer Aided Design, Building Information Modeling and Computer Aided Dispatch. Communities and agencies using shared data will be better prepared for both progress and disasters.

Wednesday Activities – King Street Ballroom

Activity Time Frame
Registration and Breakfast with Sponsors 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Mid-Morning Break with Sponsors 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Lunch with Sponsors, Door Prizes, Conference Adjourns 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Concurrent Session 3 Details (Wednesday, September 27, 9am – 10am)

Conference Room 1: Fort Orange 5

Moderator: Rick Reichert

Title:
Harnessing ESRI’s Survey123 for Streamlined Field Surveys and Enhanced Data Quality in Renewable Energy Projects
Presenter(s):
Ben Rozwod, EDR; Dan Barley, EDR
Bio(s): Benjamin is a GIS Analyst at EDR with 4 years’ experience. As a GIS Analyst, Benjamin’s responsibilities include utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) software to provide an understanding of certain variables in a given geographic location, extracting data from GIS software and reliable data sources, and use varying analysis methods to arrive at results. He provides maps and data sets to Senior Analysts and Project Managers as requested to supplement project-specific analyses and works in conjunction with CADD drafters and technicians.
Abstract:

GIS plays a critical role in the siting, planning, and permitting of renewable energy projects, throughout the entire project lifecycle from inception to construction. Within this context, the GIS team plays a crucial role, requiring creative utilization of ESRI tools to effectively address the specific requirements of environmental and cultural resources experts who conduct diverse surveys in the field to meet client needs. Among the ESRI toolset, Survey123 has emerged as a valuable solution that fulfills many of these needs, offering a range of helpful options and configurations.

In this presentation, we will outline the various processes within Survey123 that can significantly improve efficiency for field staff, streamline data processing upon completion of fieldwork, and ensure high-quality data output. By implementing Survey123 effectively, we aim to optimize efficiency and data accuracy throughout the entire surveying workflow. Attendees will gain insights into practical approaches for minimizing operational challenges, maximizing productivity, and enhancing the overall success of renewable energy, and other development projects.

 

Title:
Collecting and Reporting Real-Time Data
Presenter(s):
Scott Stanton
Bio(s): Mr. Scott Stanton, GISP, a GIS Project Manager with Ramboll has over 14 years of professional experience in GIS and environmental consulting related activities. Current responsibilities include project management, field application deployment, webhooks and automation, database management and technical guidance. Mr. Stanton provides GIS support for numerous internal and external clients seeking to implement high-end solutions to their complex projects.
Abstract:
Improved data collecting methods using Esri’s Mobile Suites have made real-time and near real-time decision making possible for many activities and industries. Having the ability to locate and capture data quickly and easily then combine logic and automation into reporting provides deliverables in near real-time. We will discuss how these tools along with webhooks, APIs, and basic scripting can enhance your client deliverables. Advancements in data collection methods and workflows demand modernization of data management and reporting strategies. We discuss how the selection of data methods are critical to reporting functions. Once a functional database and storage system has been chosen, using the right reporting tools to interpret your data is crucial to the project. In this presentation, we will provide project examples and best practices derived from our deployed innovative solutions.

 

Conference Room 2: Fort Orange 7

Moderator: Mary Susan Knauss

Title:
Street and Address Maintenance Program Update
Presenter(s):
Craig M Fargione, NYS Geospatial Data Services; Toni Goyer, NYS Geospatial Data Services
Bio(s):

Craig Fargione is the Program Manager for the Street and Address Maintenance Program within NYS ITS Geospatial Services. He has worked in Geospatial Services for a little over 12 years and has been involved in projects for mapping Broadband availability in NYS, Geocoding, and Street and Address Mapping.

Toni Goyer is the Outreach and Data Coordinator for Street and Address Maintenance Program. She has worked in NYS ITS Geospatial Services for approximately 6 years and has been involved in the support of GIS Web Services, managing the outreach activities of the Streets and Address Maintenance Program, and coordinating data exchange through state and local governments.

Abstract:
We are now in our 8th year of active maintenance of the Street and Address Maintenance (SAM) Program. We continue to work with existing partners and are adding new partners to help us maintain our statewide Street and Address data.
This presentation will focus on many ongoing SAM Team activities including pursuing additional address verification methods through new and existing partnerships, our migration to GeoComm’s new Contributor application for online data maintenance and continuing to build new County partnerships. We will also provide an update on several NENA Workgroups that SAM team members are actively participating on to ensure our data remains NENA compliant and make the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) easier for everyone.
With the new GIS Clearinghouse website being released recently, the SAM Program is now publishing Feature Services of the statewide address point and street segment data. We will discuss the improved functionality and usability our partners and end users can benefit from by using these new services. Lastly, with all this work on Streets and Address Points, we’ll discuss the continual improvements seen in our publicly available geocoding service.

 

Title:
NYS GIS Clearinghouse Update
Presenter(s):
Sean O’Connell
Bio(s): Sean O’Connell is a GIS specialist with NYS Information Technology Services. He has been involved in the Orthimagery/Elevation programs, Data Improvement management, the NYS Incident Management Team’s GIS support, and now also focuses on the GIS Clearinghouse site. This new task includes the site’s transition to a new platform, the layout/information on web pages, as well as working with multiple state agencies, counties, and other sources to coordinate the sharing of GIS data to the Clearinghouse.
Abstract:
A new NYS GIS Clearinghouse website was launched in late March 2023. The old site had more than two decades of history, and the new site has major changes. Customers and contributors have a new system and site to use. More data is available with web services, and can be found with a more flexible search catalog. Contributors now have to worry less about sending flat file updates on a regular basis. End users are better equipped to not only download the data, but also to view/explore it, find it as a web service, view associated metadata, and find related datasets. This presentation will go over these changes and demo how the site can be used.

 

Conference Room 3: Fort Orange 9

Moderator: Karyn Tareen

Title:
Creating the Next-generation Wayfinding Kiosk Maps for the City of Pittsburgh
Presenter(s):
Mingshi Yu
Bio(s): Mingshi Yu is a Geospatial Analyst at Arup, a multi-discipline engineering consulting firm based in London with offices in worldwide. After he graduated from Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF, he joined the Digital Team in the New York office where he applies and combines a mix of the latest GIS, remote sensing, cartographic design, mobile data collection, automation and surveying techniques to various types of projects including planning, water, rail, aviation, renewable energy and many more. During his free time, he likes to travel to National Parks and aims to visit every single of them in the U.S.
Abstract:
Arup partnered with a consortium of Pittsburgh Business Improvement Districts to update the city’s pedestrian wayfinding system, implemented in 1996. The new system aims to provide clear pedestrian-focused directional signs and map kiosks that help users navigate Pittsburgh’s complex topography on foot. Harnessing the power of automation, 68 site specific kiosk maps were created to show streets, blocks, parks, and landmarks with directions and walk-minute distances. We will present how we used a combination of common mapping software (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher, FME, Python) to efficiently create accurate and informative maps that will be fabricated and installed on the streets of Pittsburgh.

 

Title:
City of Rochester Property Information Application: A behind the scenes look into the City of Rochester’s new parcel viewer
Presenter(s):
Michael Staples
Bio(s): Michel Staples is an enthusiastic GIS Coordinator with a passion for leveraging cutting-edge geospatial technology to tackle complex challenges faced by the City of Rochester, NY. In his role as GIS Coordinator at the City of Rochester, Michel has demonstrated a remarkable ability to bridge the gap between technology and practical problem-solving. Michel has played a pivotal role in the development and enhancement of the City’s acclaimed PlowTrax application. This innovative solution has streamlined processes and improved the overall experience for residents and municipal teams alike. In his free time Mike enjoys, Bowling, Golf, and spending time with his family. Michael can be reached by email at Michael.Staples@CityofRochester.gov
Abstract:
As one of the most heavily used public facing As one of the most heavily used public facing applications the City of Rochester Property Information Application is an essential tool for viewing records and providing information on properties throughout the City of Rochester.  Web browser code deprecation of the old application and budgetary constraints created a unique opportunity to develop a new property information application using ESRI’s low code no code product Experience Builder.  The redevelopment using Experience Builder offered a cost-effective and efficient solution to address the challenges faced by the City of Rochester in maintaining and updating our property information application. In this presentation we will detail the trials and tribulations of the apps development, a behind the curtains look into its creation, as well as a demonstration of its abilities.

 

Conference Room 4: Town Hall

Moderator: Dawn McCall

Title:
Evolving Reality Capture Technology and the Digital Twin
Presenter(s):
Becky Cahill, Michael Koterba, Michael Pianka
Bio(s):

Michael Koterba is MJ’s chief technology officer and geospatial services manager. For the past 15 years, he has been pushing the limits of technology to increase the speed and accuracy of MJ’s GIS and mapping capabilities.  Michael led the effort to incorporate laser scanning, mobile mapping and UAV technology into MJ’s mapping process. An expert in asset management and existing conditions documentation, Michael has implemented the use of laser scanning, mobile mapping, UAV technology, ArcGIS and MJ4D to create a digital twin for a variety of projects. He has successfully used this powerful suite of technology on a wide variety of transportation projects for the NYSDOT, NYSTA, MTA, and the FHWA. Michael has an associate degree in land surveying technology from the New York State College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Wanakena and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hunter College in New York City.

Michael Pianka has been with MJ for more than 10 years where he has been instrumental in growing MJ’s geospatial services. He has a wealth of knowledge regarding geospatial data, 3D visualizations, programming, and web development. Michael’s experience includes applying technology to modernize and automate workflows, and leading technical teams that create mapping, digital twins, and web applications. Recently, Michael led the development of MJ’s web application named MJ4D. Mike and his team created MJ4D to fulfill the need for a web-based digital twin viewer tailored to the architecture, engineering and construction industries. His team has used this powerful software to create a digital twin of more than 250 project sites ranging from water treatment plants, roadways, interchanges, shorelines, to entire cities. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in geography from SUNY New Paltz.

Abstract:

Digital twins can be leveraged to help government agencies, local communities, and distributed teams with some of their most vexing information management challenges. In addition to reduced budgets, minimized staffing, and deferred maintenance, municipalities and aging facilities are often faced with outdated mapping, incomplete asset inventory and insufficient existing conditions of vital infrastructure.

This presentation examines the latest technology used to create the digital twin including 3D laser scanning, mobile LiDAR and UAV imagery. The presenters will examine real-world case studies involving a variety of digital twins that have been assembled for AEC design teams, agencies and municipalities throughout the United States.

The digital twin serves as an infrastructure data management tool which can integrate with other digital information sources and support infrastructure maintenance activities. The modern basemap is no longer a static image, plan set, or web map that only captures a simplified representation of reality, but rather an immersive collection of datasets from multiple sources. The latest technologies efficiently provide rich datasets which maximize value and make the data accessible to stakeholders.

 

Title:
The USGS 3D National Topography Model – Updates for New York State
Presenter(s):
Eliza Gross
Bio(s): Eliza Gross is a National Map Liaison with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program (NGP). As a National Map Liaison, she provides outreach and coordination of geospatial activities in support of NGP initiatives and USGS science for the Mid-Atlantic US (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC).
Abstract:
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program is in the process of establishing the 3D National Topography Model (3DNTM). The 3DNTM is a new initiative that will update and integrate USGS elevation and hydrography data into a 3D model and also deliver high-quality foundational data supporting improved geospatial analysis. The 3DNTM includes the 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP) and the next generation of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). Data resulting from the 3DHP and 3DEP are expected to meet the most demanding scientific requirements and enable data-driven decisions across user communities. This presentation will go over these programs and how they pertain to current and upcoming data acquisitions in New York state and the surrounding region.

 

Concurrent Session 4 Details (Wednesday, September 27, 11am – Noon)

Conference Room 1: Fort Orange 5

Moderator: Ana Hiraldo-Gomez

Title:
ArcMap to ArcPro: Updating Legacy Custom Real Property Plotting Tools
Presenter(s):
Lisa Casey
Bio(s): I am the GIS Coordinator at Niagara County, NY. I work across several county departments to implement various GIS projects. I also administer the countywide Enterprise GIS (ESRI) and maintain our web applications. I especially enjoy working with colleagues to transition our procedures and records management from paper to digital/GIS/mobile formats. Prior to joining the County in 2011, I worked for Ecology and Environment Inc as a GIS Analyst (8 yrs), and TVGA Consultants as a photogrammetrist (5 yrs). When I am not working, I have many hobbies including: bike riding, scrabble, canning, cooking & baking, quilting and reading.
Abstract:

When ESRI announced the forthcoming retirement of its long-standing and enduring desktop software ArcMap, Niagara County, like many local governments, was faced with migrating to the replacement ESRI desktop GIS software ArcPro. One issue that our organization had to work through during this upgrade was the retirement of our custom tools that had been built for ArcMap within the ArcObjects Environment; due to the .NET API workflow in ArcPro not being compatible with that of ArcMap. Specifically, Niagara County GIS would need to find a solution to the retirement of our Real Property plotting tools that had been used to create the 1,400+ tax maps of the County each year since 2008.

During this session, I will discuss the process of recreating our legacy ArcMap plotting tools for use in ArcPro. Originally built with ArcObjects (C++) for use in ArcMap, I reconstructed the tools into Python 3 code that is compatible with the ArcPro Desktop environment. I’ll share some valuable on-line resources that I found and a few lessons learned. I also hope to get input from the audience on their experiences regarding upgrading their own custom tools, as I am sure others have faced similar stumbling blocks.

 

Title:
OpenHistoricalMap: mapping history in New York
Presenter(s):
RIchard Welty, OpenHistoricalMap
Bio(s): Currently Engineering Director at Salesium and Advisory Board Member for OpenHistoricalMap. Previously board member and past president of OpenStreetMap US.
Abstract:
OpenHistoricalMap is a side project of OpenStreetMap with the goal of producing the most comprehensive, obsolete online map of the world. Over 10+ years, we have learned a lot, both about the past and about how to represent it.
In this presentation, I’ll talk briefly about some of the differences between OHM and OSM and then go on to discuss examples of mapping historic New York in OpenHistoricalMap. The examples will include the changing shoreline of Lower Manhattan, the sites of the two New York World’s Fairs, the evolution of the New York State Canal System, and some historic racing circuits both upstate and on Long Island.

 

Conference Room 2: Fort Orange 7

Moderator: Tom Sears

Title:
The Evolution of a Geospatial Data Portal: NY DOS Gateway 3.0
Presenter(s):
Jeffrey Herter, NY Dept. of State OPDCI; Rebecca Newell, NY Dept. of State OPDCI; Peter Lauridsen, NY Dept. of State OPDCI; Nick Florsch, Stone Environmental; Paige Gebhardt, Stone Environmental; Mary Haley, Stone Environmental; Chris Aragon, Stone Environmental; Barbara Patterson, Stone Environmental
Bio(s):  
Abstract:
The NY Dept of State Geographic Information Gateway (Gateway) is a geospatial information portal that has empowered the people of New York with access to and viewing of datasets since its launch in September 2015.  The Gateway has evolved from a server based platform to a web-based platform updating its look, increasing its data holdings and the ways to find information and expanding it’s functionality with new tools and applications.  The Gateway Hub is built to help decision-makers, especially at the local and community level, and the public in supporting decisions and understanding the world around them.  Presentation will include a live demonstration of the Gateway Hub site, poking into the nooks and crannies to launch you on your own explorations on the Gateway.

 

Title:
DECinfo Locator
Presenter(s):
Scott Donnelly, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Bio(s): Scott is the Public Information Specialist II at the Division of Communication, Engagement , and Education for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Scott joined the DEC in 2019, in part to help bring DECinfo Locator to fruition. He now leads the administration team for DECinfo Locator, in addition to other work as section chief of the DCEE’s Web Development Team.
Abstract:
DECinfo Locator is an interactive GIS mapping application and information portal that lets anyone access DEC documents and data about the environment and outdoor recreation resources wherever they live, work, and play.
The application was launched in 2019 with 50 data layers, and today, there are are more than 80 interactive data layers available. Additional data layers and functionality improvements are happening at least every other month.

By activating layer categories that interest them, residents can download permits, access the latest clean-up information, view photos, and connect to database records from the comfort of home, without a FOIL request and waiting weeks or months for the information. Anyone can get the most current and accurate information DEC has available for areas in New York State, information that is challenging to obtain through more conventional methods (FOIL, website, etc.). With the new data layer web services option, GIS users can incorporate our real-time information in any mapping configuring they would like to create.

DECinfo Locator is a collaborative application that spans 16 DEC divisions and the NYS Office of Information Technology Services, which remains critical to its ongoing success.

 

Conference Room 3: Fort Orange 9

Moderator: Heather Ferrero

Title:
Interactive Zoning Maps- Solving Age Old Problems with GIS
Presenter(s):
William Trask, Jenn Murphy, Wayne Childs
Bio(s):

Wayne Childs serves as Director of Technical Solutions for General Code, a member of the International Code Council Family of Solutions. He has spent his time at General Code specializing in developing solution that meet the unique codification needs of planning, building, and zoning administration professionals. Wayne has spent most of his career focused on multimedia and publishing system process and technology development. He holds a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Rochester Institute of Technology. Wayne serves as Planning Board Chairman for the Town and Village of Lima, NY.

Jenn Murphy has been an active GIS user for the past 15 years with diverse experience from landscape and natural resource management to public safety and disaster response. As a GIS professional, Jenn has served in coordination and systems specialist roles for several high-profile GIS software and services companies. At General Code, Jenn has been working to develop the MapLink product line through her dedication to understanding the unique needs of clients and developing out of the box solutions for their zoning codes. Jenn holds a M.S. Certificate of GIS, University of Massachusetts-Boston and a B.S. Marine Biology and Landscape Ecology, Gordon College.

William Trask is a Project Manager at Fisher Associates, where he has worked in their Geomatics Department for over 11 years.

Abstract:  Since their origins in the early 20th century, accessing and understanding zoning codes has been a difficult and time consuming proposition. Delays and errors in correctly interpreting the administration of these codes has slowed the development process and obfuscated citizen’s property rights for far too long. In this presentation, we will explore how an interactive zoning code platform provides a variety of benefits for users through the use of GIS.

 

 

Conference Room 4: Town Hall

Moderator: Max Villanueva

Title:
How Does Our Program Measure Up? The Art and Science of Interior Space Mapping
Presenter(s):
Nick DiPaolo; Will Garmer, JMT Technology Group
Bio(s): Will Garmer is a GIS specialist with JMT Technology Group, based in Hunt Valley, MD. He has over thirty years of experience with CAD and GIS, in various civil, environmental, planning, and architectural disciplines. Will works with Esri software, AutoCAD software, FME Workbench, and various Adobe products, and is particularly focused on indoor mapping and data interoperability. He has been supporting the MDOT Maryland Aviation Administration for the past nine years, managing indoor mapping data for both BWI Marshall and Martin State Airports.
Abstract:

Interior space mapping is becoming more prevalent throughout many facets of the AEC industry. It enables your organization to build an indoor geographic information system (GIS) accessible to all end users and can create a complete operating picture for the facility.

Interior space mapping involves the creation of accurate and detailed maps of interior spaces to support a variety of uses cases, such as indoor navigation, wayfinding, space planning, augmented/virtual reality simulations, public safety and asset/facility management. First, the data schema and data collection methodology must be able to support the end goal needs.

This presentation will focus on schema preparation, data collection and data curation to support the creation of 2D floorplans, network routing for ArcGIS Indoors and 3D BIM models/digital twins.  JMT will share project examples and key learnings from utilizing design/as-builts, 360° cameras and point cloud data collection to provide properly formatted data to support those high-end indoor space applications.

 

Title:
NYS Elevation & Building Footprint Updates
Presenter(s):
Jeffrey Langella, NYS ITS – Geospatial Services
Bio(s): Jeff Langella is the Program Manger on the NY Statewide Elevation Program and oversees the building footprint dataset.  He has worked for NYS for 18 years as a GIS specialist supporting multiple efforts including the NY Statewide Elevation Program, NY Statewide Orthoimagery Program, Data Improvement Manager, and NYS emergency management.
Abstract:
New York State has 99% complete coverage of high resolution LIDAR Data. This presentation will highlight the status as well as the future of the New York Statewide Elevation Program. A big focus over the past few years is data distribution and Web Services, I will talk about the various ways we distribute data and the Web Services that we make available.
NYS ITS Geospatial Services is continuing the work on building footprints that was started by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) with support from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).  This part of the presentation will cover the work that has been done and future plans.