WLIA 2025 Annual Conference Appleton

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.

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!

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.

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.