Geospatial information is everywhere, at everyone’s fingertips and URISA as an organization has been at the forefront for the past 50 years, through global technology and social shifts. In the time it took you to pull up the description of this conference, perhaps on your phone, tablet or laptop, you have already considered the conference location, investigated the good eats and conference events, and mapped all of your indoor and outside activities. URISA connects members and partners with the educational, networking and collaboration resources that professionals need to evolve geospatial tools and solutions that respond to real places in real time.
Join the GIS Community in Toronto, Ontario for a powerful, collective exchange of GIS knowledge!
Professional Planners: Be sure to note the workshops and sessions that have been approved for AICP-CM credits. Nearly 50 AICP-CM credits were approved for this year’s program!
Creating an attendee profile within Sched DOES NOT REGISTER you for the conference or specific workshops. You must register for the conference here.
Note: If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Westin Harbour Castle saying that there is now a cheaper rate... just hang up. It is a scam.
A few years ago, URISA scheduled committee meetings throughout the conference program, but that meant that many of URISA's great volunteers are unable to attend the educational sessions. So we now organize one big room so that all committees can meet in small groups on Sunday afternoon and report their activities and needs to their colleagues and leadership, so everyone hears the same thing.
Interested members who wish to find out more about committee activities are also encouraged to attend to discover opportunities within the organization.
Get to know your young professional colleagues and members of URISA's Vanguard Cabinet!
'Meet and Greet' for drinks in the hotel lobby Sunday October 30th at 7:00 PM.
GIS Capability Maturity Model (1/2 day morning workshop)
Monday, October 31, 2016, 8:30 AM-12:00 Noon
Instructors: Dianne Haley, GISP & Jochen Albrecht
This workshop introduces the URISA GIS Capability Maturity Model (GISCMM). Through a hands-on exercise, workshop attendees will complete an initial assessment of their own GIS operation.
Enterprise GIS is expensive to develop, maintain, and operate. Even small-to-medium-sized cities, counties, and regional agencies have invested millions of dollars to develop their GIS capabilities, and they can have large annual operating budgets. Many recent third-party studies have proven that GIS delivers significant financial return on investment (ROI) to organizations that deploy it as an enterprise business-support tool. However, almost no GIS operation would be considered to be 100% implemented. In fact, most enterprise GIS operations lack important resources to meet all of their potential business needs, their sustainability is uncertain, and ROI varies depending on the maturity of their GIS management practices.
The URISA GIS Capability Maturity Model will be described, along with its relationship to the GIS Management Institute®, including development of the GIS Management Body of Knowledge. The current development status of the GISCMM will be discussed and future uses and activities outlined. These will include development of new GIS management best practices and the offering of an enterprise GIS accreditation service.
Workshop attendees will receive copies of the GISCMM. An exercise will be conducted during the workshop, where attendees will be asked to perform an initial assessment of their agency by applying the GISCMM. This workshop will be of value to those interested in the development, implementation, and use of GIS management professional standards and best practices.
Specific Topics include:
Intended Audience: IT directors/managers, GIS managers, decision makers, and operational personnel interested in understanding the overall state of their GIS operations.
NG9-1-1 and the GIS Workflow (1/2 day morning workshop)
Monday, October 31, 2016, 8:30 AM-12:00 Noon
Instructors: Kathrine Cargo, GISP & Keri Brennan, GISP
Description: This workshop is aimed at the GIS professional who is currently supporting or may support their emergency communications division in the future. In a fully operational next generation 9-1-1 system, GIS is the core component in determining how a 9-1-1 call is routed to the correct public safety answering point (PSAP). This technology shift will have profound impacts on local data maintenance workflows, local data access, and data fidelity. We recognize there is a sincere lack of education available aimed at the GIS professional who may not be as versed with the 9-1-1 terminology or needs. This workshop is intended to provide an overview of next generation 9-1-1, GIS’ role in such a system, the implications on local workflows, and to illustrate common pain points and sources of errors in local GIS datasets.
Learning Objectives:
Intended Audience: GIS Managers, Emergency Management and Public Safety professionals.
Requirements: None
Monday, October 31, 2016, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Instructors: Caitlin Blundell, Geographic Design and Sara Yurman, GISP, Spatial Focus Inc
Free and open source software (FOSS) has been offering choices to computer users for a number of years. Over the past few years the open source choices in GIS have been broader and more capable than ever before. This workshop will focus on GIS open source software. It will give an overview of current developments from technical and management perspectives. Selected packages and their applications in various projects will be demonstrated and discussed.
Specific topics include:
Intended Audience: Anyone interested in free and open source geographic information system software. The workshop will suit both managerial and technical needs and it does not require any prerequisites.
Monday, October 31, 2016, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Instructors:
Allen Ibaugh, GISP, AICP, Data Transer Solutions
Karen Stewart, GISP, Esri Canada
Public and private agencies face continuous challenges to accomplish more with less as increases in demand, regulatory requirements, infrastructure deterioration, and political and economic forces have significantly outpaced increases in capital and operating budgets. Municipalities are under enormous pressure to improve efficiencies, boost productivity and effectively manage resources and assets while at the same time being expected to enhance worker safety. Many of these agencies are turning to Asset Management to cope with these challenges and improve business performance and effectiveness. This workshop will focus on several aspects of developing an asset management system that could help improve performance, reduce long-term costs, and maximize return on investment in infrastructure assets.
AICP CM Approved 8.5
Specific topics include:
Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for operations, utility, transportation, engineering, planning, and environmental managers and analysts of the public and private sectors.
Get ready to dive in! In this very interactive workshop, we will be using local Toronto data in conjunction with the University of Toronto to offer our skillsets for input into several current local research initiatives, and opportunities with the lens of community resiliency.
The workshop will use existing datasets as well as a chance to explore with a community mapping workshop just outside the doors of the conference hotel. This is a unique opportunity to join alongside several of URISA's multi-disciplined and talented workshop participants and give back to this year's host city for GIS-Pro 2016!
A very diverse set of topics will include community redevelopment, heathy communities, economic considerations and environmental aspects. Participants will identify gaps and collection needs in the workshop to define resiliency related targets and measures. In addition to contributing to research and active planning areas within the city, participants will be equipped to apply strategies and techniques in their own communities.
AICP CM Approved 8.5
Another great way to connect with fellow young professionals at GIS-Pro 2016!
Lunch! Meet in the hotel lobby Monday, October 31 at 12 noon and we can all decide where we want to grab lunch before the afternoon workshops start.
Cybersecurity Awareness for GIS Professionals
Monday, October 31, 2016, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Instructor: David Lanter, Ph.D., GISP, CISA
Overview: National and economic security depends on reliable functioning of critical infrastructure, including transportation, utility, pipeline, and other distribution and collection networks. Cybersecurity threats exploit the increased complexity and connectivity of critical infrastructure systems, placing our nations’ security, economies, and public safety and health at risk. Similar to financial and reputational risk, cybersecurity risk can affects an organization’s bottom line by driving up costs and impacting revenue. It can also impact an organization’s ability to innovate, share and protect information, keep agreements, and gain and maintain public confidence. This ½ day workshop will focus on cybersecurity business drivers, and provide background for understanding how managing cybersecurity risks can be made part of the GIS organization’s management process.
AICP CM Approved 4.0
Learning Outcomes:
This workshop was developed independent of the GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam® and will not, for integrity purposes, address the specific content of the exam. You will, however, learn about the exam structure, the process for taking the exam and how to obtain your results. You will also learn a variety of study and exam taking tips.
Particular focus will be given to reviewing the knowledge areas that will be covered on the exam and on where to find resources that can help you learn about those things that you may not already know. During the workshop you will have the opportunity to take a practice exam. Workshop instructors will then discuss the answers to the practice questions and offer guidance on how to successfully respond to similar questions when you take the exam.
Kari Chael, CAD/GIS Technician, Porter County Department of Development & Storm Water Management, and URISA Vanguard Cabinet
Kara E. Collier, GIS analyst and fisheries manager, and URISA Vanguard Cabinet
Melisa Caric Lee, GISP, President, Compass Rose GIS, and SoCal URISA Advisory Board member
Hilary E. H. Perkins, AICP, GISP, Comprehensive Planner, City of Maryland Heights
U.S. elections take place the week after GIS-Pro 2016. The presidential race is not the only important one. Critical state and local elections are also on the ballot. State elections for Congress and legislatures will shape much of the political landscape in the United States for the next four years, decade, and more. Attend this important session to learn how the Census Bureau’s Redistricting Data works, how to contribute, and how GIS plays a critical role.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: Carl Anderson, GISP, Senior Architect, Create.IO., Bradenton, Florida, United States
This session will explore the use of location technology tools and services to model issues within vulnerable communities in order to mitigate risk and ensure recovery efforts, as well as how location technology can be used to reduce risk of vector borne diseases.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: Stephen Berry, GISP, GIS Coordinator, Clark County GIS, Winchester, Kentucky, United States
GIS managers need to continually improve the performance and effectiveness of their GIS programs. Come to this session to learn about the various methods and tools for evaluating GIS programs. Then learn about URISA’s GIS Capability Maturity Model, an online assessment tool to help managers gauge where they are today and how to plan for a more effective GIS operation in the future.
Moderator: Dianne Haley, GISP, DMH GIS Consulting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Management of assets lends itself perfectly to the geospatial world. In this session you will learn how asset management and geospatial technologies are used for the traditional highway and storm water asset management to the more unconventional, mountain bike trails.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: Kim McDonough, GISP, Senior IT Manager, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Learn about utilizing the latest in GIS, GPS, UAV and 3D modeling to promote analysis and better decision making for disaster management. This session will explore unique uses of UAV’s, 3D modeling and crowd sourced information in order to predict potential disaster situations, along with analysis of pre and post disaster sites.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: Irene Rubinstein, Ontario Association for Remote Sensing, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
URISA and the Young Professionals Vanguard Cabinet are pleased to showcase the finalists in the 2016 Geospatial Student Competition. The intent of the competition is to allow university students the opportunity to present how they are using GIS or other geospatial tools to answer questions, solve problems, display data, and contribute to academic research.
Moderator: Daniel Behnke, GISP, AICP, Director of Asset Management Operations, Data Transfer Solutions, Orlando, Florida, United States
Finalists:
What does Geospatial Big Data mean? What are common characteristics of Geospatial Big Data problems? This session will address these and other questions with which most, if not all, GIS practitioners are routinely faced.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Session Moderator: Lena Gomes, GISP, City of Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Whether you are managing a facility or campus, planning new development, or want to manage your assets more efficiently, GIS is a powerful tool to increase your management efficiency. This session will show you how to integrate GIS and BIM.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: Kim McDonough, GISP, Senior IT Manager, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Members of the URISA Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) invite you to attend a town hall meeting on the current and upcoming plans to align URISA Chapter membership with membership in URISA International. This will be an interactive session with members of the CAB to describe membership consolidation options and activities, as well as provide context for the important role that chapters play in URISA's vitality and relevance.
Panelists
Kathrine Cargo, GISP, ENP, GIS/Mapping Coordinator, Orleans Parish Communication District, New Orleans, Louisiana United States
Tripp Corbin, MCP, CFM, GISP, Executive Officer eGIS Associates, Inc., Dacula, Georgia United States
Cy Smith, GISP, State GIO, State of Oregon, Salem, Oregon United States
Cindy Post, GISP, City of Leduc, Alberta Canada
James Armstrong, GISP, Spatial Relationships, LLC, Boston, Massachusett, United States
The ability to mitigate risk in a disaster situation is based on planning. Utilizing geospatial technologies to plan, prepare, view, and respond to a disaster is key to mitigating risk. Attend this session and learn how resiliency plans are put in place, how geospatial tools were utilized in both an active shooter and flood situations, as well as how geospatial tools are utilized for health and human services and emergency management agencies.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
A gap exists between university programs and the professional world, one which could be bridged through spreading of knowledge that might allow students to customize their educational programs and experiences. This focus group session will be an initial discussion for those at any stage in their career and will focus on students and young professionals, giving them the opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas to help begin building a list of questions and informational needs that could help bridge the gap that occurs between university and career.
Facilitator: Clare Brown, GISP
Panelists:
Community mapping and public participation is important for urban planning. Social media provides a platform for community participation and online mapping projects engage and excite the public about ideas for long range planning activities for communities around the world. It is also important to understand how various techniques impact people and determine methodologies to measure the usefulness and impact of participatory tools.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: Kathrine Cargo, GISP, ENP, GIS/Mapping Coordinator, Orleans Parish Communication District, New Orleans, LA
Building new and managing the existing aging infrastructure requires integration and dissemination of many data types of data. Attend and learn how to use all types of imagery and data to produce maps and analysis for planning, construction and regulatory compliance.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: Pete Croswell, PMP, GISP, Croswell-Schulte IT Consultants, Frankfort, Kentucky, United States
Before considering the technical aspects of Open Data, you need to consider your organizational needs. For example: What is your organization’s Open Data Policy? Do you have an Open Data License? Have you identified data that you want to publish? Do you have appropriate Metadata? What Open Data sources are already available? What will happen with the data after the download? This session will help you understand these areas of consideration and more.
Session Moderator: Susan Muleme Kasumba, Eastern Sales Manager, Airborne Imaging
How do you manage large volumes of inventory? This session will demonstrate how users are managing and sharing terabytes of imagery, coordinating the replacement of all of the street lights in their jurisdiction, and solutions that are designed to assist agencies move towards greater ADA compliance.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: John Nolte, GISP, Infrastructure Support Services Lead, City of Westminster, Lakewood, CO
Web app builders and big data come together to provide GIS users new capabilities for identifying trends and patterns. Attend and learn how to simply build web apps to leverage your data and get the most out of your GIS investment.
AICP CM Approved 1.0
Moderator: James Armstrong, AICP, GISP, Spatial Relationships, Boston, MA
These presentations will show how GIS can be used to model and depict environmental conditions, threats and hazards, such as erosion, that affect our livable communities, not only for us humans but also our turtles.
Moderator: Susie Saliola, GIS/Planning Technician, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
This session will present unique approaches to imagery use in your organization. Whether your needs are asset management, real estate assessment, or emergency management, new types of imagery deliver real benefits – attend and see how.
AICP CM Approved 1.0
Moderator: Alex Hepp, Director, Assessment, CycloMedia Technology, Inc.
AICP CM Approved 1.0
Location information is an expected part of today’s geographic and economic environment. The ability to streamline address and location information is being harnessed worldwide. This session will explore creative approaches to addressing and location information beyond what we think of in terms of traditional addressing.
AICP CM Approved 1.0
Moderator: Josh Greenberg, GISP, Senior GIS/RS Analyst, Skagit County GIS, Mount Vernon, WA
Open source software has uses in many organizations. This session will focus on often overlooked open source geocoding tools and developing a platform in an open source stack. Attend and obtain skills that you can apply immediately.
Moderator: Ashley Littell Hitt, GISP, Director, GIS Services, Connected Nation, Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States
This session will highlight GIS in education and careers. It will not only discuss GIS Day can be used to increase awareness and outreach to students and teachers in K-12 classrooms, but also what attracts or inhibits newcomers to geospatial education and industry. Then learn about the GIS job market in Canada.
Moderator: Amy Esnard, GISP, Elevon Solutions, Hood River, Oregon, United States
Mobile and web GIS can streamline workflows for typical day-to-day operations, but so can incorporating small Aerial Systems (sUAS) (aka drones) into data collection. Attend this session to learn about how you can incorporate mobile and web GIS solutions into your organization’s workflow, as well as some of the common barriers to adopting and deploying sUAS.
Moderator: Tripp Corbin, GISP, eGIS Associates, Dacula, Georgia, United States
Land parcels and cadastral data is the foundation for many other geospatial data layers. This session will discuss topics from tools that can be used to ensure accuracy, as well as lessons learned from organizations that have implemented large scale parcel mapping projects.
AICP CM Approved 1.5
Moderator: Brent Jones, PE, PLS, Global Manager, Cadastre/Land Records, Esri, Vienna, Virginia – United States
Leadership that Transforms: The Next 50 Years of Sticky Issues
Leslie Woo will speak to the key issues that will shape the cities of the future and the leadership needed to creatively guide that future. She will draw from her professional and personal experiences on how strategic infrastructure planning is one of our best but riskiest future-proofing tools.
URISA's Annual Business Meeting - This meeting is open to all URISA members.
Board members who have completed their terms of service will be recognized and new board members will be introduced. Hear from the Board Secretary, Ashley Hitt, who will summarize the actions taken by the Board in the past year. The Association's financial report will also be presented during the annual business meeting.
Celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and hear about plans for the future!
At the conclusion of this meeting, new Board members will begin their three-year terms and Tripp Corbin's presidential term will commence.
