WLIA 2025 Annual Conference Appleton: Full Schedule

I'm a cartographer and User Experience designer in glorious Michigan. I work with Esri, promoting geographic content and quality through cartography, videos, writing, occasional keynotes, and other shenanigans.Some of my work has been featured in National Geographic Magazine, FastCompany... Read More →

Kimberly Christman

Real Property Lister/GIS Manager, Racine County

Thursday February 27, 2025 8:30am - 10:15am CST
Grand Ballroom AB

General

10:15am CST

Exhibit Hall Opening

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:15am - 10:30am CST

Grand Ballroom

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:15am - 10:30am CST
Grand Ballroom

General

10:30am CST

Leveraging GIS for Telecommunications Design Hub

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CST

Rosewood/Linden

Through utilizing ArcGIS Server, Field Maps, an Enterprise Database and ArcGIS Pro, ISG has created a robust solution hub for scalable telecom design through ESRI products. Field Crew, Designers, Project Managers, and clients can use real-time data from our web maps, direct database connections, monitoring dashboards, oriented imagery viewing and ArcGIS Pro to deliver high quality accurate solutions that fit our clients’ needs quickly and extend what is possible in the field of telecommunication design.

Speakers

Zach Nemeth

Project Manager, ISG

Zach focuses on the integration of cutting-edge geospatial technology, allowing him to consistently evolve and advance the energy, telecommunications, and oil/gas industries. His professional experience encompasses the entire project life cycle, from drafting proposals, to delivering... Read More →

Isaac Sorensen

Senior GIS Specialist, ISG

I am a Senior GIS Specialist on ISG's Applied Technology Business Unit. ISG is an industry leading Engineering consulting firm that's working on projects across ISG's 12 Business Units which include Commercial, Education, Food + Industrial, Government + Cultural, Healthcare, Mining... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CST
Rosewood/Linden

Apps & Stuff, Intermediate

10:30am CST

Linking GIS to Community Collaborative Grants

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CST

Pippin

Are you curious on how you can use GIS to improve your community through grant programs? If the answer is yes, then this presentation is for you!

Outagamie County recently received a Community Connectors Grant from Smart Growth America to develop a vision for West College Avenue (just a short walk away from the conference hotel). The Avenue stretches over 2.5 miles through the Town of Grand Chute and the City of Appleton, connecting numerous commercial and residential hubs. Despite the significance of West College Avenue, it grapples with numerous challenges such as lack of bicycle/pedestrian facilities, lack of visual appeal, and dangerous road conditions. So what does this all have to do with GIS? For this grant we used ArcGIS Hub to create a website to reach residents, business owners, and visitors about this new grant program. We also used ArcGIS Online to create a variety of maps, so individuals could orientate themselves and identify areas of interest. Survey123 was also used so people could voice their opinion on the future of the Avenue. Drones were used to do an aerial tour of the Avenue to better visualize the entire study area and how adjacent properties play a role into the current conditions. Business Analyst was also used to pull demographic and commercial data for our study area. For this presentation you will learn more about the grant as a whole and how the above GIS tools were all used in tandem with one another to elevate this project. You will also learn how you can take these ideas back to your communities’ to elevate your own programs, regardless if it’s grant funded or worked into your annual budget.

Speakers

Tyler DeBruin

GIS Utility Analyst, Town of Grand Chute

Tyler DeBruin is a GIS professional with over a decade of experience with local and regional government, all in the state of Wisconsin. With experience in numerous municipal services, he brings a wealth of knowledge for all things municipal and utility. Tyler has worked directly with... Read More →

Lindsey Smith

Principal Planner, City of Appleton

Lindsey Smith is an experienced urban planner specializing in community development, zoning, and long-range planning. As the Principal Planner for the City of Appleton, she focuses on public engagement, data analysis, and strategic planning. Lindsey has a strong track record in securing... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CST
Pippin

Funding/Grants, Intermediate

10:30am CST

Making Wisconsin Historic Aerial Imagery Available to the World

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CST

Evergreen

First released in 2011, the Wisconsin Historic Aerial Imagery Finder (“WHAIFinder”) has been our primary means of providing download access to over 38,000 scanned aerial photographs acquired between 1936 and 1941. We recently reached a major new milestone: we now have nearly 150,000 photos available for free download, dating from 1936 to 2022. In addition to acquiring and organizing new scanned photography, we completely redesigned the WHAIFinder Web app from the ground-up. We also now maintain an Esri feature service that GIS users can utilize for searching and then downloading GeoTIFF-format images, and a “bulk download” option for grabbing large volumes of data for specific areas of interest. In this presentation I will talk about what is available and lessons learned along the way.

Speakers

Jim Lacy

Associate State Cartographer, Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office

Jim is the Associate State Cartographer at the WI State Cartographer's Office, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CST
Evergreen

Imagery, Beginner

10:30am CST

Utility Asset Management Using Esri’s Web Experience Builder

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CST

Briarwood/Ebony

Explore ways the City of Sun Prairie has improved their sanitary and stormwater asset management systems using the Esri ArcGIS Enterprise Portal environment. GIS staff and public service crews worked together to update the database schema, field maps, and eventually create centralized web experiences using Esri’s Experience Builder. The project is ever-evolving, but crews are already able to better track and plan their work.

Speakers

Lou Rada

GIS and Asset Management Manager, City of Sun Prairie

My geospatial background includes experience in managing all aspect of the GIS workflow: marketing, planning, implementation, and education. I have experience in public, private, and citizen action groups and comfortably cross boundaries to create new solutions through GIS. My Municipal... Read More →

Samantha Keehan

GIS Coordinator - Utilities, City of Sun Prairie

Sam currently works for the city of Sun Prairie as the GIS Coordinator for its sanitary and stormwater systems. She began her career as a product engineer with Esri in Redlands, CA, after graduating from UW Madison with a degree in Cartography and GIS. She eventually decided she missed... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CST
Briarwood/Ebony

Utility, Beginner

10:30am CST

A GIS Professional's Guide to Navigating Generative AI

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

McIntosh

Generative AI is becoming an invaluable tool for GIS professionals, streamlining everyday tasks such as project planning, workflow automation, and documentation. This presentation explores how AI can assist with automating workflows, drafting and reviewing scripts, answering geoprocessing questions, and refining written content. We will examine the strengths and limitations of AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and GovAI, while also sharing best practices for crafting effective prompts. Additionally, we will address key concerns such as data privacy and job security. By focusing on practical applications, this session will demonstrate how GIS professionals can leverage AI to boost productivity and efficiency in their daily work.

Speakers

Chris Dickerson

LIS Analyst, Waukesha County

Chris Dickerson is a GIS professional with degrees in Business-Management Information Systems, Urban & Regional Planning, and a GIS Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Currently, he is an LIS Analyst at Waukesha County working to automate himself out of a job... Read More →

Emily Sudar

LIS Analyst, Waukesha County

Emily Sudar is an LIS Analyst at Waukesha County with over seven years of experience in the public sector, encompassing state, county, and municipal levels. She has a deep appreciation for integrating technology with creative thinking to enhance GIS solutions and support informed... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
McIntosh

AI, Beginner

10:30am CST

FuzionView: 811 - Underground Data Mapping

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

Parchment/Oaktag

In 2017, representatives of Gopher State One Call (GSOC) reached out to the leadership of Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council (EPC) in hopes of learning what could potentially be done to improve the use of geospatial technology in the underground utility community. From ensuing discussions over the next three years, the Underground Utilities Mapping Project Team (UUMPT) came into existence under the auspices of the EPC in early 2020. Now comprised of over 25 individuals from various sectors of the underground Facility Operator (FO) community, since mid-2021 the UUMPT has been championing development of software called "FuzionView". In October 2022, a FuzionView prototype successfully demonstrated the ability to pull together an on-the-fly, web-mapped view, of utility infrastructure within a designated dig area. This was a first in the nation achievement. In 2023, GSOC hired Minnesota geospatial research and development nonprofit SharedGeo to develop a production version of FuzionView which will be used across Minnesota and released as Open Source software. The Minnesota underground mapping project continues to evolve and move forward and will soon be released to the wider community for review. At it's core, the FuzionView software engine being developed for the project will allow for near realtime updating and sharing of data by the owners of shared data services across the State of Minnesota for the enhancement of the Gopher State One Call ticketing system as well as any other 811 ticket management operator. FuzionView is not about replacing existing ticket management systems, but instead augmenting them with additional geospatial information access by the ticket requester. Join this session to get a behind the scenes view of the FuzionView software being developed and the elements that make it tick. We'll do a deep dive into the technical aspects and describe the needs of the project, how we got to where we are, and the solutions that have been developed.

Speakers

Bob Basques

Technical Director, SharedGeo

Worked for the City of St. Paul for 37 years, retiring as a GIS systems Developer. He has a background in Municipal Engineering Infrastructure and Spatial Data Management. Well versed in Civil Design software and SQL database design, integration and management. He’s also been developing... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
Parchment/Oaktag

Collabs, Beginner

10:30am CST

Essential Skills You Didn't Know You Needed

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm CST

Bond/Crown

Bring your notebooks, we're talking about all the things you didn't know you needed to know about leadership, turning your vision into action, aligning resources, and more. This lightning round style professional development session will give you a taste of different topics that will boost your knowledge about how to be a better leader from wherever you are in your organization or career. Learn from experienced WLIA members as they share their favorite tip, trick, or lesson learned.

Speakers

Jennifer Borlick

Geospatial Services Administrator, Rock County

Jennifer Borlick is the Geospatial Services Administrator at Rock County Planning and Development. She is an active member of (WLIA) where she is currently Past-President of WLIA. She has tried several project management and collaborative tools to determine what would work best with... Read More →

Andy Faust

GIS Analyst, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

Andy has been with North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for over 20 years. He is a long time WLIA member and WROC program manager.

Jon Schwichtenberg

GIS Leader, GRAEF

Jon Schwichtenberg is a Past President of WLIA. He is the GIS Manager for GRAEF and has been working in the consulting business for 34 years. Jon has been assisting utilities and communities with Asset Management for over 28 years.

Zach Nienow

Manager - Aerial Mapping, Ayres Associates

Zach manages the aerial mapping group at Ayres Associates. He has been a member of WLIA since 2012 and is a past president. He is the WROC consultant program manager.

Kelly Felton

Cartographer/LIO, Sauk County

Kelly Felton is Cartographer/LIO for the Sauk County Land Information/GIS department. She has worked at Sauk County for 29 years and has served as LIO for the last 20+ years. She has been involved with WLIA throughout that time, participating on various committees, workgroups, task... Read More →

Jeremiah Erickson

GIS Coordinator/LIO, Monroe County

I am in my 19th year with my current employer Monroe County. I have spent about 25 years working with land information or related spatial data-based industries. I graduated from UW-Platteville with a Geography degree in 2000. I am a proud past-president of the WLIA '20-'21 and the... Read More →

Larry Cutforth

GIS Section Supervisor, Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources

Larry is the GIS Section Supervisor at the WI Department of Natural Resources. He has over 25 years of GIS management experience with state and federal agencies.

Adam Dorn

GIS Administrator, Winnebago County

Adam Dorn is the GIS Administrator in Winnebago County and has served in GIS roles in several other Wisconsin counties and cities over the last 20+ years. He is currently the Chair of the WLIA Judicial Office Privacy Task Force.

Eric Damkot

IS Manager/LIO, Washington County

Eric is a UWGB alum where he majored in biology and environmental sciences. After graduation he joined a GIS program at Washington County that was in its infancy and for the past 25+ years has been involved in nearly all aspects of the county’s growing GIS program. Eric is a WLIA... Read More →

Kimberly Meinert

Land Information Systems Supervisor, Waukesha County

Kim Meinert is the Land Information Systems Supervisor at Waukesha County and LIO. Over the last twenty years at the County, she’s helped support a variety of programs with GIS services. She is also a past Wisconsin Land Information Association board member and is currently on the... Read More →

Michael Koutnik

Michael A. Koutnik Consulting, Owner

I focus on helping conservation and environmental protection organizations apply geographic information systems technology (GIS) to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. With 25 years experience with GIS industry leader Esri, I have worked with many public, private and nonprofit... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm CST
Bond/Crown

Essential Skills, Beginner

10:30am CST

ESRI Hands-On Learning Lab (HOLL)

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 3:45pm CST

Lawrence

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:30am - 3:45pm CST
Lawrence

General

11:00am CST

The Journey of Making Our First ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript Application (Making WHAIFinder v3)

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am CST

Rosewood/Linden

Join in and listen close as I tell you the tale of our first foray in the ArcGIS JS SDK. With the goal of rebuilding the Wisconsin Historic Aerial Imagery Finder application, our first task was to formulate a plan by determining our requirements and choosing a technology—spoiler, we chose the ArcGIS JS SDK. Next, we began prototyping the interface; how were we going to provide access to all of these aerial imagery points?! And finally, at long last, we got to start writing code. But wait! How exactly were we going to do that; what software to use? Well, I guess you’ll have to attend to find out.

Speakers

Hayden Elza

Software Engineer/Developer, Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office

Hayden is a GIS Developer at the Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office where develops and maintains spatial web applications. His interests include free and open source GIS, open data, and spatial web tools.

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am CST
Rosewood/Linden

Apps & Stuff, Intermediate

11:00am CST

Crash Course on Safer Streets: Paving the Way with Data

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am CST

Pippin

There are several new federal funding opportunities pertaining to safety, such as Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) which require a significant degree of GIS analysis. To capitalize on the funding opportunity, ECWRPC has developed a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to allow communities in the Appleton and Oshkosh MPO to apply for federal SS4A funding. Using Wisconsin’s Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory crash data, as well as environmental factors determined by community stakeholders, a High Injury Network was defined for the roadway network. With the first solicitation of SS4A funding following Plan approval, the City of Oshkosh was able to successfully apply for SS4A Implementation funding to build a pedestrian bridge over IH-41, mitigating the conflict between non-motorists and vehicles occurring at the roundabouts surrounding the interstate.

Speakers

Casey Peters

GIS Analyst I, East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

Casey has been a GIS Analyst for East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for 3 years. Having started his career at the same time as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law came into effect, Casey was tasked reviewing many of the new funding sources that became available, and... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am CST
Pippin

Funding/Grants, Intermediate

11:00am CST

Modeling Urban Forest Canopy in Wisconsin

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am CST

Evergreen

DNR staff created new statewide urban landcover models for Wisconsin for 2020 and 2022 derived from USDA aerial imagery. This presentation will describe the creation and validation of these models and highlight urban forest canopy differences between Wisconsin communities. In addition, this presentation will highlight the relationships between urban landcover and several variables including temperature, cooling, population demographics, and housing values. Finally, this presentation will demonstrate how the model can be used to optimize the beneficial effects of urban forests.

Speakers

Robert Smail

Research Scientist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Bob Smail is a research scientist for the Division of Forestry in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. His research topics include public land economics, urban heat island effects, historical forest cover change, and the effects of groundwater and climate variation on forest... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am CST
Evergreen

Imagery, Advanced

11:00am CST

BIM Supports 3D Asset Management

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am CST

Briarwood/Ebony

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District utilizes 3D modeling and BIM to support vertical asset management and improve operations at their two Water Reclamation Facilities. Learn how MMSD's BIM Vision guides the organization towards a Digital Twin!

Speakers

Emily Champagne

Geospatial Manager, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

Emily Champagne is the Geospatial Manager for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. She has over 20 years of experience in the water/wastewater industry, working in both the public and private sectors. Emily has led MMSD's geospatial team since 2013. She is responsible for... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am CST
Briarwood/Ebony

Utility, Beginner

11:30am CST

Data Automation with ChatGPT

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST

McIntosh

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we approach complex tasks, but integrating AI into everyday workflows can often feel elusive. In this talk I will demonstrate how ChatGPT has become an indispensable tool in Calumet County GIS workflows, specifically in automating data processes and streamlining Python scripting. From simplifying routine tasks in ArcGIS to developing efficient, reusable code for spatial data management, I will share practical examples of how AI bridges the gap between innovation and productivity. Join me to see how AI can move from being a fascinating concept to a powerful ally in enhancing efficiency and accuracy in geospatial workflows.

Speakers

Andy Hess

GIS Administrator, Calumet County

Andy has been doing GIS for Calumet County since 2001, and running the County's Land Information program since 2007. He has his hands in everything from address management to zoning, but lately has spent much of his energy on exploring the practical application of AI in the County's... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST
McIntosh

AI, Intermediate

11:30am CST

Using the Esri GIS Request Management Solution to Track, Organize, and Share GIS Projects

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST

Rosewood/Linden

Like many organizations, the GIS Division at the City of Waukesha has encountered a problem: the need to keep up with an increasing interest in GIS across the organization while maintaining a high level of service. This presentation will show how the City’s GIS Division used Esri’s new GIS Request Management Solution as the foundation for GeoHub, a management nexus for GIS staff and a central application destination for non-GIS staff. Using a combination of out-of-the-box and custom applications, GeoHub keeps stakeholders engaged throughout the duration of their GIS projects, provides a destination for them to access their final project deliverables, and clearly documents and communicates the role of GIS at the organization, all within the Esri ecosystem.

Speakers

Brad Blumer

GIS Coordinator, City of Waukesha

Brad has been the GIS Coordinator for the City of Waukesha since 2018.

Megan Roessler

GIS Specialist, City of Waukesha

Megan is the GIS Specialist at the City of Waukesha where she has worked since 2020.

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST
Rosewood/Linden

Apps & Stuff, Beginner

11:30am CST

Integrating Microsoft Power BI and GIS for Improved Data Visualization and Analysis

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST

Parchment/Oaktag

In the rapidly evolving world of data analytics, the integration of GIS with business intelligence tools like Power BI offers unprecedented opportunities for GIS professionals. The combination of Power BI’s powerful visualization and interaction capabilities with spatial insights through GIS data will open doors to more robust data analysis. This presentation will explore topics such as using GIS feature services as a Power BI data source for real-time dynamic visualizations, utilizing GIS and Power BI with Microsoft Power Automate for increased workflow efficiency, Power BI reports as an alternative for ArcGIS Dashboards, and the limitations of Power BI as a geospatial tool. I will discuss my process of trial and error, present case studies, and leave time to hear some of your experiences with Power BI and GIS!

Speakers

Elisabeth Geiger

GIS Analyst, Mead & Hunt

Elisabeth Geiger initially joined Mead & Hunt as an intern after graduating from UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and conservation biology, before making the transition to a full-time position as GIS Analyst. Since then, she has had the opportunity to... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST
Parchment/Oaktag

Collabs, Beginner

11:30am CST

Cross-Species Connections: How Turtles Find Love Beyond Their Shells

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST

Pippin

You "shell" attend this session, if you want to learn more about how four individuals came together from different backgrounds to work on mapping broadband connectivity for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Grant program.

Speakers

Mike Zuege

GIS Manager, East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

Mike has been with ECWRPC since 2000. His primary duties include representing GIS interests on project teams, coordinating work with staff and external business partners, and managing the GIS Data Analysis and Visualization Program. Mike’s interests of technology and love of mapping... Read More →

Jessica Hatch

Broadband Coordinator, Door County

Jessica Hatch is an Appleton native that transplanted to Door County in 2008 and lives in Baileys Harbor with her family. She was hired as the Broadband Coordinator for Door County in April 2022 to work with and provide local coordination for their municipal broadband committees... Read More →

Barbara Koldos

Vice President, Business Development, New North, Inc

Leveraging her strengths in communication, connectivity, and collaboration to positively impact Northeast Wisconsin, Barbara is a passionate advocate for community engagement, regional prosperity for all, and a firm believer in actively being a part of the community versus simply... Read More →

August Neverman

President, Neverman Consulting

August W. Neverman IV is a seasoned IT leader with over 35 years of experience in sectors such as government, healthcare, and military. He serves as the President of Neverman Consulting, focusing on broadband, IT, AI, cybersecurity, and economic development. His previous roles include... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST
Pippin

Funding/Grants, Intermediate

11:30am CST

WROC 2025 - Program Update

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST

Evergreen

The Wisconsin Regional Orthoimagery Consortium (WROC) is in full swing for 2025. Many counties across the state will be participating, along with a variety of partners. This presentation will go over consortium structure, participation levels, ortho and mapping options, and current trends. Please join us for a program update and discussion of future orthoimagery cycles in Wisconsin.

Speakers

Andy Faust

GIS Analyst, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

Andy has been with North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for over 20 years. He is a long time WLIA member and WROC program manager.

Zach Nienow

Manager - Aerial Mapping, Ayres Associates

Zach manages the aerial mapping group at Ayres Associates. He has been a member of WLIA since 2012 and is a past president. He is the WROC consultant program manager.

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST
Evergreen

Imagery, Intermediate

11:30am CST

The Integration of GIS at WisDOT

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST

Briarwood/Ebony

Over the past few years, the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has expanded exponentially. This presentation will explore the numerous ways GIS has been embedded across our divisions, highlighting the development of a strong, collaborative GIS community within the department and the governance structures that support this technology.
We will also discuss the challenges we've faced in addressing significant GIS technical debt, the steps we've taken to drive GIS innovation, and how we are prioritizing future projects and services to ensure continued growth and efficiency.
Our goal is for this presentation to spark meaningful conversations with our partners, allowing for questions and input that will help guide and "drive" the future of GIS initiatives at WisDOT

Speakers

Adam Feidt

GIS Unit Supervisor, Wisconsin Dept of Transportation

Adam serves as the GIS Supervisor at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), where he has worked for the past 12 years. Before joining WisDOT, he held positions as the GIS Coordinator for the City of Eden Prairie, MN, and as a GIS Specialist for Sherburne County, MN... Read More →

Bill Shockley

GIS Project Coordinator, Wisconsin Dept of Transportation

Bill has over 25 years of experience in the GIS field in Wisconsin. For the past 2.5 years, he has served as the GIS Project Leader/Coordinator in the GIS Unit at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). His career also includes roles with the Wisconsin Department of Natural... Read More →

Tony J. Van Der Wielen

GIS Infrastructure Architect, Wisconsin Dept of Transportation

Tony has served the State of Wisconsin for the last 26 years in the Geographic Information Systems field. For the last 5 years he has worked at Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT), where he is currently the GIS Infrastructure Architect. He previously worked as a GIS Specialist... Read More →

Joe Klang

GIS Solutions Architect, Wisconsin Dept of Transportation

Joe is the GIS Solutions Architect at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and has been with WisDOT for the last 3 years. Previously Joe worked at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources within multiple divisions and roles. Before that, Joe spent time working within the... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm CST
Briarwood/Ebony

Utility, Beginner

12:00pm CST

Afternoon General Session/Lunch

Thursday February 27, 2025 12:00pm - 1:45pm CST

Grand Ballroom AB

Lunch, 50/50 Raffle, Hand-Drawn Map Contest, Town Hall Part 1, Scholarships, Platinum Sponsors Talk

Thursday February 27, 2025 12:00pm - 1:45pm CST
Grand Ballroom AB

General

2:00pm CST

Accessing and using USGS 3DEP Lidar Data

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm CST

Evergreen

Through partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), Wisconsin has complete coverage of high-resolution elevation data representing the surfaces of the state as lidar point clouds (LPC) and Digital Elevation Models (DEM). Comprised of trillions of data points and many terabytes of information, this vast amount of publicly available data can be intimidating for users and requires investment in resources to download and manage on local systems. This presentation will demonstrate how to search, view, interact with and download USGS 3DEP LPCs and DEMs using various web applications and web services available through The National Map.

Speakers

Mitch Bergeson

USGS National Map Liaison, U.S. Geological Survey

Mitch is the USGS National Map Liaison for IA, MN, and WI and performs outreach and coordination related to key initiatives of the USGS National Geospatial Program, including elevation, hydrography, and US Topo.

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm CST
Evergreen

2:00pm CST

Utilizing Drones and Arc FieldMaps to Moniter Farmland Preservation Compliance

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm CST

Briarwood/Ebony

This presentation will show how Calumet County has been utilizing drones and Arc FieldMaps to conduct field compliance checks for Farmland Preservation requirements. Once the field data has been gathered, compliance reports are generated automatically through Arc Pro Map Series. Utilizing these tools has significantly reduced the amount of time Land and Water staff members spend to conduct the compliance checks.

Speakers

Max Grueneberg

GIS Specialist, Calumet County

I graduated from UW-Whitewater in 2019 with a Environmental Science Degree with an Emphasis on Resource Management and GIS. I have worked for Calumet County for three years as our GIS Specialist, and get to aid all of our departments with their GIS wants and needs. I acquired my part... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm CST
Briarwood/Ebony

Drone, Intermediate

2:00pm CST

Using ArcGIS Pro to Efficiently Manage Data in ArcGIS Online

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm CST

Rosewood/Linden

Join this session to discover tips and tricks for integrating ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. Learn how to use web maps and data in ArcGIS Online with Pro, explore SaaS-based GIS implementations that use ArcGIS Online as a system of record and data editing platform, and see how analysis is performed with Pro using web-based tools and desktop software. This presentation will be a valuable resource for GIS professionals looking to optimize their data management workflow and leverage the full capabilities of ArcGIS Online.

Speakers

Alex Lange

Solutions Engineer, Pro-West & Associates

Alex supports local governments by evaluating, configuring and deploying GIS applications that help solve organizational challenges. His expertise spans the breadth of GIS from data editing to strategic planning and program management. Before joining Pro-West he served as GIS Specialist... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm CST
Rosewood/Linden

Pro Time, Beginner

2:00pm CST

Efficiently Managing ArcGIS with FME: How Terracon's Data Services Automates Operations

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm CST

Parchment/Oaktag

At Terracon, efficient management of our ArcGIS organization is key to supporting diverse projects. Using Safe Software’s FME platform, we automate tasks like account maintenance, usage monitoring, and reporting to optimize resource management and platform health.

This presentation highlights practical FME workflows, including integration with ArcGIS REST API, user data processing, and dashboard generation. Attendees will see how automation simplifies ArcGIS organization management, ensuring a scalable and efficient ArcGIS platform.

Join us to discover how Terracon leverages FME to sustain a well-maintained, efficient, and scalable ArcGIS platform.

Speakers

Katie Godding

GIS Analyst, Terracon

Katie Godding is a GIS Analyst with 10 years of experience in the GIS industry. She currently works at Terracon, an engineering consulting company, where she provides support to its GIS users. Outside of work, she can be found spoiling her 5-year-old cattle dog/lab mix Lily, being... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm CST
Parchment/Oaktag

Troubleshooting, Beginner

2:00pm CST

Artificial Intelligence and Parcels / The Search for Monuments

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm CST

McIntosh

Much interest and speculation is being focused on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it can help GIS Practitioners in their daily work. This presentation will discuss the possibilities and limitations related to parcel mapping, the generation of digital representation of land ownership, what you can expect, and how to best prepare for its impact.

Speakers

Frank Conkling

Owner, Panda Consulting

Frank J. Conkling, the proprietor of Panda Consulting, a GIS Professional Services company established in 1998, holds a recognized expertise in GIS, Surveying, and Mapping technologies, particularly in mapping various land ownership interests. Since 1974, Frank has been actively... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm CST
McIntosh

AI, Intermediate

2:00pm CST

What the Judicial Privacy Act (Act 235) Really Means for You

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Pippin

What does the Judicial Privacy Act (Act 235) really mean for you? Intended to protect judicial officers by limiting public access to personal information, this law also brings unintended challenges for government and private sector operations. Join this panel to explore the Act’s intent, its practical impacts, and WLIA’s recommendations for implementation. Learn how groups like the State Courts Office, WLIA Judicial Privacy Task Force, PRIA Local, and other professional associations are working together to refine the law and advocate for practical amendments that balance protection with core service needs.

Speakers

Howard Veregin

State Cartographer, Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office

Forty years of experience in digital cartography and GIS (Geographic Information Systems). PhD in Geography from UC Santa Barbara. Nearly 10 years of experience as a university professor, with teaching and research interests in cartography and GIS. Nearly 10 years of experience directing... Read More →

Staci Hoffman

Staci Hoffman serves as the Jefferson County Register of Deeds, a role she has held since 2007. She is past president of the Wisconsin Register of Deeds Association, and current member of their legislative committee. Staci serves on the Wisconsin Counties Association Board of Directors... Read More →

Fred Iausly

Senior GIS Analyst, Dane County Land Information Office

Fred Iausly is a Senior GIS Analyst with the Dane County-Land Information Office and been with Dane County for 28 years. He manages Fly Dane, to NG911 GIS implementation, and numerous other projects. He has been an active member of WLIA for many years, serving on the WLIA Board, and... Read More →

Kristen Anderson

Chief Executive Officer, Transcendent Technologies, LLC

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Pippin

Collabs, Intermediate

2:00pm CST

Career Connections

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm CST

Bond/Crown

Join in the Career Connections session to learn tips and tricks to kickstart your professional career or take your career to the next level. Stop in for advice, networking opportunities, resume and interview tips, and more. We’ll have open time for discussion, resume reviews, and networking. Open to all career levels, especially college students or those looking to break into the GIS industry. More to come as the conference approaches.

30 Minutes - Speaker: Matthew Haffner, PhD, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire on the topic, “From Theory to Practice: Cultivating Geospatial Success in Industry” - Geospatial industries are complex, and the needs of individual organizations can vary greatly. This challenge is compounded by a frequent disconnect between what geospatial professionals look for in entry-level hires and what university students are taught in the GIS classroom. In this talk I will discuss some observed pinch points between academia and industry, how both groups can work to bridge these gaps, and how career seekers can position themselves for success. I'll additionally cover networking, building an online presence, and resume and cover letter tips that have worked for many UWEC geography graduates. Finally, I'll present a comprehensive list of GIS interview questions that former students have encountered over the years.

45 Minutes – Industry Expert Panel with Q&A
• Frank Romo, CEO of RomoGIS Enterprises
• John Nelson, Cartography and UX at Esri
• Emily Champagne, Geospatial Manager, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)
• Grace Condit, GIS Analyst, Mead & Hunt

15 Minutes – Open time for one-on-ones, resume reviews, etc.

Speakers

Kristen Vincent

GIS Manager, City of De Pere

Matthew Haffner, PhD

Associate Professor of Geography, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Frank Romo

CEO, RomoGIS Enterprises

Frank is an educator, activist, and tech entrepreneur with a deep commitment to community empowerment. His leadership spans over a decade of impactful community organizing work which focused on strengthening community bonds and creating healthier, safer, and more economically viable... Read More →

John Nelson

Cartographer, Esri

Emily Champagne

Geospatial Manager, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

Grace Condit

GIS Analyst, Mead & Hunt

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm CST
Bond/Crown

Career Connections, Beginner

2:30pm CST

Creating Cartographic Quality Contours from Recent or Historic QL2 Lidar Data and Breaklines

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm CST

Evergreen

What do you do with your existing QL2 Lidar data and breakline files? Highlighting a current project, I will discuss the considerations and pitfalls for using QL2 lidar data and breakline files to create cartographic quality contours. Following the USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5167, “Creation of Digital Contours that Approach the Characteristics of Cartographic Contours” workflow in current ArcGIS Pro environment this presentation will discuss how to implement this approach to your data set. We will highlight examples of initial data preparation, contour generation, different data QC methods, and common issues or errors that happen in each step.

Speakers

Jon Popelars

LiDAR Specialist, GPI GEO

Graduated from St Mary's University of Minnesota-Winona with a MS in GIS focusing on Natural Resource Managment. Has been generating GIS data from different sources for the last 17 years. With a particular focus on Lidar data for both small and large scale projects for the last 15... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm CST
Evergreen

Lidar, Intermediate

2:30pm CST

Sauk County's Road to the ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm CST

Rosewood/Linden

Sauk County is a rural county in south central Wisconsin with a population of 65,700. In 2023 the Sauk County GIS converted to the ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric. Having worked with ArcMap Parcel Fabric for many years & recent new staff, the time was right to switch. Panda Consulting guided Sauk County through the migration, providing design, planning, implementation, training, and support. We will share our story, some history, our organization structure, the challenges, new workflows, improved efficiencies, lessons learned, and how we’re continuing to improve our parcel maintenance processes.

Speakers

Kelly Felton

Cartographer/LIO, Sauk County

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm CST
Rosewood/Linden

Pro Time, Intermediate

2:30pm CST

Mapping to Support the WI DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment Program

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm CST

Parchment/Oaktag

Maintaining a publicly available database of hazardous substances or other environmental pollution reported to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is one of the required functions of the DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) program. The ability to map and display spatial data is key to this work. RR Sites Map is an interactive web mapping application that enables DNR staff members and the public to interact with the spatial information in this database. This presentation will showcase the RR Sites Map and the role of the data in program decision-making and will detail the considerations and process used during the recent migration of the RR Sites Map to a new mapping platform.

Speakers

Geoffrey House

RR Program GIS Specialist, Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources

I have been supporting the GIS work of the Wisconsin DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment program since January 2024. Prior to that, I did a variety of GIS-related work for municipal government and nonprofit organizations in northern Colorado.

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm CST
Parchment/Oaktag

Troubleshooting, Beginner

2:30pm CST

Measure Up: Leveraging UAS for Accurate Stockpile Monitoring

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST

Briarwood/Ebony

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have revolutionized the way many counties and municipalities approach stockpile volume estimation, offering a highly efficient, accurate, and cost-effective solution to traditional manual and hazardous survey techniques. Leveraging years of experience using this approach to assist local governments, this presentation explores the end-to-end process of utilizing UAS technology to calculate stockpile volumes, focusing on the technical, operational, and regulatory aspects critical to success.

We will cover the hardware and software requirements, from selecting the appropriate drone and sensors to employing desktop and cloud-based photogrammetry software for precise 3D modeling. The importance of flight planning, including optimal altitude, overlap, flight path design, and camera settings will be highlighted to ensure data accuracy and efficiency. Key considerations for establishing reliable survey control, such as ground control points (GCPs) and real-time kinematics (RTK), will also be discussed.

Additionally, the presentation will touch on the challenges of negotiating airspace regulations, including compliance with FAA requirements, no-fly zones, and ensuring operational safety in the national airspace. Attendees will gain insights into accuracy standards and strategies for mitigating common errors in volume estimation.

Whether you are new to UAS technology or looking to enhance your existing workflows, this session will provide actionable knowledge and best practices for integrating UAS into stockpile volume estimation projects with confidence and precision.

Speakers

Paul Crocker

Senior Project Manager, UAS Program Lead, Ayres Associates

Paul Crocker is a Senior Project Manager within the Geospatial Division at Ayres, having managed their enterprise UAS program since 2020. He applies over two decades of experience in GIS and remote sensing to find innovative solutions to clients' needs.

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Briarwood/Ebony

Drone, Beginner

2:45pm CST

AI and Redistricting: Insights from Two Recent Wisconsin Supreme Court Cases

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm CST

McIntosh

On January 12, 2024 seven proposals for Wisconsin’s legislative districts were submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the case Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission. One was generated by a computer algorithm, and six were created by expert human mapmakers. In this presentation, we examine a major development from the case: the map proposal generated by the FastMap algorithm significantly outperformed the other proposals. Relevant background information, an algorithm summary, and map visualizations/comparisons are provided. The case likely marks the moment when computer algorithms surpassed humans in overall mapmaking ability, but it was not the first time that FastMap outperformed a group of expert human mapmakers. A previous version of the algorithm did the same in December 2021 when it created a map proposal for Wisconsin’s legislative districts that better adhered to “least change” principles than any of the six proposals that were submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the case Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Going forward, algorithmic mapmaking promises to enhance American democracy by ensuring that congressional, state legislative, and local election districts better reflect constitutional requirements, the will of the voters, and other criteria specified by courts and legal teams. However, better maps will become the norm only if high-quality redistricting data is readily available and if redistricting commissions, nonprofit organizations, courts, lawmakers, and legal teams are interested in fairness and are open to learning from experts in mathematical optimization and algorithm design.

Speakers

Dr. Matthew Petering, PhD

Associate Professor, UW-Milwaukee

Matthew Petering is an Associate Professor of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and owner of District Solutions LLC, a Milwaukee-based redistricting consulting company. He has more than 20 years of experience developing computer algorithms... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm CST
McIntosh

AI, Beginner

3:00pm CST

Pioneering Efficiency: Geospatial Strategies in Wisconsin Governance

Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm CST

Pippin

Join us to explore cutting-edge geospatial solutions that are revolutionizing local government efficiency in Wisconsin. This presentation will showcase compelling case studies of communities that have successfully navigated time and budget constraints through inventive geospatial strategies. Attendees will gain insights into:

• Analyzing complex relationships across multiple assessment mapping layers.
• Identifying patterns and trends using advanced mapping and measurement tools.
• Enhancing impact with powerful sharing and publishing tools.
• Streamlining permits and licenses into an efficient workflow.

Learn how these innovative approaches not only save time but also lead to substantial cost savings. This session will provide a wealth of ideas for your own projects and demonstrate how geospatial innovation is reshaping the landscape of local governance.

Speakers

Ryan S.Smith

Senior Account Executive, Schneider Geospatial

Meet Ryan Smith, a seasoned GovTech senior account executive at Schneider Geospatial, specializing in pioneering land and asset management solutions to optimize decision-making and elevate public service delivery. Ryan's commitment lies in leveraging rich experiences to address the... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm CST
Pippin

Collabs, Beginner

3:00pm CST

What to Do with Your Lidar

Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm CST

Evergreen

Lidar exists in every corner of the State, more is coming, and it is only getting better. Lidar is a key foundational dataset from which many additional datasets can be derived. Cities and Counties can use their new Lidar to map their built environment with features like 2D/3D buildings, analyzing slopes on road ditches, or locating exactly where your culverts are. Many use the data for creating Enhanced Hydrography Datasets to map surface water flow, finding closed depressions, or assessing risk of soil erosion. Conservation offices are starting to the lidar with the ACPF toolset. Analysis of LiDAR can put your data to work to help derive answers for departments across your organization. This presentation will dive into the creation and use cases for the next generation of GIS layers derived from LiDAR base products.

Speakers

Adam Derringer

Senior Project Manager, Ayres Associates

Adam Derringer has over 20 years of experience consulting in the industry. He works to help local, state, and federal stakeholders collaborate, properly plan for, and apply appropriate GIS and Remote Sensing technology for innovative solutions. His career is supported by years of... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm CST
Evergreen

Lidar, Intermediate

3:00pm CST

Exploring Map Automation with ArcGIS Pro

Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm CST

Rosewood/Linden

DNR GIS staff use map automation on a daily basis. This presentation will show you how to set up a Map Series feature class and create the map series. We’ll discuss different approaches you can employ and provide tips & tricks to make your maps more effective. We will also demonstrate options for extending your Map Series using Python scripting. Examples of automated map production at DNR, such as the Public Access Lands (PAL) Atlas will be shown & discussed.

Speakers

Jonathan Kult

Planning GIS Specialist, Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources

As a GIS Specialist for the Property Planning Section at the WI DNR, Jonathan works on a variety of geospatial tasks from maintaining databases, to working with map series, to WebMapping & more!

Lily Chase

Real Estate GIS Analyst, Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources

As a GIS Analyst for the Real Estate Section at the WI DNR, Lily works on a variety of geospatial tasks from drafting legal descriptions, to working with map series, to WebMapping & more!

Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm CST
Rosewood/Linden

Pro Time, Intermediate

3:00pm CST

UTC Time ... Am I right?

Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm CST

Parchment/Oaktag

If you’ve ever collected data in the field using Survey123 or Field Maps and then opened it in ArcGIS Pro only to find timestamps shifted, you’re not alone. In this session, we’ll explore the challenges of working with date/time fields in ArcGIS Online Hosted Feature Layers and the implications for reporting in ArcGIS Pro.
We’ll share our experience tackling the challenges of UTC time in hosted feature layers, how it impacted our workflows, and the steps we took to address these issues. The session will conclude with an audience discussion, providing an opportunity to exchange ideas and strategies for managing date/time fields in GIS.

Speakers

Devin Carlson

GIS Lead, Clark Dietz, Inc.

Devin is a GIS Specialist with Clark Dietz focused on improving field inspection workflows through geospatial technology. She is currently in her final semester at UW-Madison pursuing a Master’s Degree in Cartography & GIS. Devin has passed the GISP Exam and is now working toward... Read More →

Matthew Engfer

GIS & Engineering Technician, Clark Dietz, Inc.

Matthew is a GIS & Civil Engineering Technician with Clark Dietz, where he focuses on applying GIS technologies to projects involving utility mapping, asset management, and workflow automation. With a passion for scripting and automation in ArcGIS, Matt creates tailored solutions... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm CST
Parchment/Oaktag

Troubleshooting