Welcome to the 2026 GIS in Action Annual Conference hosted by the Oregon & SW Washington Chapter of the Geospatial Professional Network & Cascadia ASPRS.
The first USGS topographic maps in 1884 started as hand-engraved copper plates, and in the early 1900s, relief was hand-shaded. By the 1960s, maps were scribed on mylar sheets, labels were applied letter by letter, and technicians field-verified map features. Since 2009, maps are made using GIS software with remotely sensed data, produced on a predefined grid, and updated every three years. The 2022 release of topoBuilder allows users to create custom topographic maps centered anywhere in the U.S. and territories with the latest available data from The National Map.
Elaine started at USGS as an applied researcher in multi-scale cartography. She is now the National Map Liaison to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.
Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am PDT Atrium
Imagery is no longer just a snapshot in time. It is becoming an essential infrastructure for how organizations plan, operate, and make decisions. Building a Resilient Imagery Program explores how organizations can move beyond one-time image capture toward a planned, repeatable, and shared imagery program that supports standardized workflows, and broader organizational use. This session will examine the progression from ad hoc imagery collection to a resilient program model, highlighting how deliberate and repeatable design choices help sustain long-term value while reducing risk. Attendees will gain insight into how imagery programs can be structured to support continuity, improve access to historical and operational context, and better serve planning, operations, and decision-making across an organization. Ideal for GIS professionals, program managers, and organizational leaders, this session offers a practical framework for building imagery programs that endure.
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is integral to Oregon’s complete and coordinated wildfire response system. Effective incident response relies on timely, accurate, and standardized geospatial information to support tactical and public safety decisions in complex, high pressure environments. This presentation examines how GIS technologies are integrated within the incident command structure - from field data collection to map production and data dissemination. A key focus will be the use of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Geosptial Operations (GeoOps) data standard to create efficient workflows, maintain data integrity, and ensure interoperability across all responding agencies. The session will also provide a glimpse into life at fire camp, where GIS specialists work alongside firefighters, planners, and operational staff to deliver critical geospatial intelligence.
Protection Division GIS Coordinator, Oregon Department of Forestry
As the GIS Coordinator with the Fire Protection Division of the Oregon Department of Forestry, my work focuses on implementing geospatial solutions for wildfire response and detection systems while supporting the Department’s efforts to promote healthy, fire-resilient forests through... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm PDT Atrium
Real-world lidar datasets rarely behave as cleanly as theory suggests. Multi-time-around artifacts, shoreline ringing, mission-level inconsistencies, and environmental effects such as steep terrain or water interfaces can introduce systematic noise that standard workflows struggle to resolve. This presentation examines common lidar artifacts encountered in coastal, tropical, and complex terrain environments and discusses practical strategies for diagnosing root causes and applying targeted cleanup methods. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing systematic artifact patterns from random noise and adapting classification parameters to existing spatial behavior. Then implementing repeatable mitigation strategies and structuring workflows to improve coherence without relying solely on reflying data. Attendees will gain insight into how critical analysis, structured automation, and adaptive classification approaches can improve data quality while preserving efficiency in production environments.
Topographic-bathymetric lidar is a critical tool for coastal resilience, infrastructure planning, and nautical charting. Woolpert, Inc. collects topo-bathymetric lidar using Leica’s HawkEye5 system mounted on a fixed-wing aircraft, enabling efficient, high-resolution mapping of coasts, rivers, and lakes. The system simultaneously collects topographic and bathymetric data, allowing continuous coverage across the littoral zone. Compared to traditional vessel based acoustic surveys, airborne topo-bathymetric lidar excels in nearshore and shallow regions (~0–20 m) where vessel operations can be unsafe or inefficient. Clients include the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). These projects support applications such as change analysis, disaster response, navigational charting, and deeper water applications (up to 50m) such as benthic habitat mapping, underwater obstacle detection. Collection and processing challenges, including weather, water clarity, turbidity, and vegetation, require careful planning and adaptive workflows. GIS plays a central role in the workflow, supporting flight planning, coverage assessment, quality control, result validation, and product creation. Examples of final deliverables include seamless topo-bathymetric digital elevation models (DEM), web maps, and derived feature layers to support informed decision making.
Water managers, farmers and communities across the United States are increasingly seeking better information about how water is used across the landscape. One of the most important- and historically difficult- components of water accounting is consumptive use: the water that is actually used by crops and vegetation and returned to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration (ET).
OpenET is a collaborative, satellite-based platform that provides field-scale evapotranspiration data across the western United States. By combining satellite imagery, weather data and multiple ET models, OpenET makes it possible to estimate consumptive water use consistently across large areas while also making the information accessible through an easy-to-use online platform and open data tools.
This presentation will introduce the fundamentals of satellite-based evapotranspiration and provide an overview of the OpenET platform. Attendees will learn how ET can be estimated from satellite observations, how OpenET integrates multiple scientific models, and how these data can help water users, researchers and resource managers better manage water.
The talk will also highlight emerging ways OpenET data are being explored and applied in Oregon. Across the state, satellite-derived ET information is helping improve understanding of agricultural water use, support water management planning and provide new insights into how water moves through landscapes and watersheds.
The Freshwater Trust (TFT) is a solutions-oriented nonprofit that uses precision analytics to quantify high-priority conservation projects that achieve watershed-scale outcomes. I will highlight the water resource tools we are currently applying to solve problems across the Western U.S. and show examples of decision-support applications and the geospatial workflows we use in arid regions such as Colorado. We are partnering with water managers, farmers, and conservation districts to design programs that build resilience through large-scale water delivery and on-farm irrigation modernization projects. The foundation for these programs is TFT’s BasinScout® Analytics: automated diagnostics that assess large landscapes and watersheds to estimate environmental benefits and prioritize feasible conservation actions at targeted sites. For irrigation-related programs, we aggregate public data sets to focus on conserving high-value farmland, improving water quality, and supporting agricultural economies and communities impacted by drought and decades of water speculation. TFT’s analytics and customized decision-support tools can help communities adapt to changing water conditions and direct funding to the most impactful actions that balance agricultural productivity and competing water demands.
For over 2.5 years, City of Salem Environmental Services has accumulated both internally and externally collected PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) samples, but these results were not integrated into GIS until recently. Our GIS team developed an internal ArcGIS Experience Builder application, built on Survey123 forms and hosted feature layers, with an automated FME workflow to standardize and consolidate the data. The application allows users to generate chain of custody forms, submit new lab results to update the dataset, filter sites by matrix and category, track regulatory exceedances, explore time-series trends for 40 PFAS analytes, and access associated lab reports and data files. By linking sampling events to mapped locations, the system turns years of scattered environmental data into an interactive, easy-to-use resource that supports better decision-making.
I’m a GIS Analyst with the City of Salem, Oregon, with over 10 years of experience in GIS and remote sensing. I manage the Public Works CCTV database for pipeline inspections and primarily support projects involving wastewater, drones, and imagery. I focus on using programming and... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm PDT Atrium
This presentation shares the benefits of applying recycled water to a degraded urban wetland, using remote sensing and spatial analysis to document and quantify the impacts of recycled water upon vegetation health, soil biome, and site ecology.
As Washington County densifies, the volume of wastewater effluent that can be released into the Tualatin River each day remains limited by the stream ecology of the Tualatin. CWS has partnered with Oregon DEQ to define a new beneficial use of recycled water to restore jurisdictional wetlands that have been degraded by decades of agricultural use.
This presentation showcases how geospatial data and analysis can advance the use of recycled water for wetland restoration in Washington County and beyond. Using Thomas Dairy as a case study, we use UAS data collected at the site since 2019 to monitor vegetation health before, during, and after reuse application. Field measurements using advanced sensors (TEROS and ATMOS devices) are used to: 1.) Monitor the fate of land-applied recycled water, ensuring compliance with rules and regulations around recycled water use; and 2.) Quantify and confirm the agronomic rate of the native plant community. We also compare UAS data to satellite imagery (Sentinal-2 sensor) to analyze relationships between GNDVI and NMDI indices at different scales. We hope that this analysis will encourage other wastewater treatment agencies to invest in reuse programs that restore degraded wetlands across the state.
The City of Gresham, with assistance from Dewberry, is working on a comprehensive Fire Data Hub site to better inform the public on how our Fire Department operates and responds to incidents. The project consists of a data pipeline built with the ESRI Data Interoperability extension (FME), an Experience Builder application for exploring incident data, and an ArcGIS Hub site. We will discuss what went into planning for this project, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and our goals for the future.
We will share our practical lessons learned from migrating and operating enterprise GIS in the cloud, specifically AWS and Azure based implementations. Topics include right sized architectures; performance tuning (caching, tiling, storage tiers); secure identity, roles, and governance; data pipelines that connect CAD/BIM, IoT, and analytics; and automation for updates and deployments. Attendees will learn migration patterns to pursue and avoid and a lightweight operating model for cost control, reliability, and collaboration. Throughout this presentation we will focus on three key topics, 1. Cost Benefits, 2. Security Benefits, and 3. Maintenance Benefits.
Brock is currently Langan's Digital Solution Client/Sales Director, managing Langan’s Digital Solutions/GIS team in the western United States. Brock’s client focus is centered around resorts, K-12, higher education, healthcare, data centers, and local/state government service... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am PDT Atrium
This presentation highlights a mobile health van application that uses ArcGIS workflows to visualize service locations, overlay public health indicators, and better align care delivery with community need. From a business perspective, it supports more efficient resource deployment, cross-agency coordination, and data-driven decisions that improve community health outcomes/goals.
I’ll share a roundup of recent work from Metro’s Data Resource Center (DRC), which continues to enhance the region’s shared GIS infrastructure through new open datasets and improved public tools that support planning, analysis, and decision‑making across the region. Highlights include newly released RLIS (Regional Land Information System) layers—such as refreshed contours and a subset of nationally published jobs and commuting data—along with enhancements to MetroMap and updates to the Safe Routes to School Walkshed App. I’ll also offer a sneak preview of new features in the Social Vulnerability Explorer. Finally, I’ll touch on what’s coming next, including digital accessibility work, 2024 lidar derivatives, and other data and application improvements planned for the year ahead.
Madeline Steele is a GIS Manager in Oregon Metro’s Data Resource Center. There, she leads the team that delivers the Regional Land Information System (RLIS) in collaboration with local partners. She has 15 years of experience in the geospatial field, a Master’s in Geography from... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am PDT Atrium
This presentation showcases an animated visualization created in ArcGIS Pro using Metro’s RLIS Housing data. Designed for the Urban Growth Report (and shown in a previous GIS in Action presentation), the animation helps communicate patterns of urban expansion and housing development over time. This presentation will walk through the steps of how this animation was created directly from GIS data in ArcGIS Pro, and some lessons learned along the way.
As a Senior GIS Specialist in the Data Resource Center, I serve as Metro’s UAS Coordinator and DRC Liaison to WPES. I started at Metro in 2015 doing basic map analysis and visualization for many of Metro’s various departments, including Parks, Solid Waste, and the Zoo. My current... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:30am PDT Atrium
In the fall of 2025—at the height of the federal government shutdown, resulting in the lack of federal funds to provide needed services in Oregon—thousands of Oregon residents faced the threat of losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food security benefits. In response, dozens of Portland-area restaurants announced they would provide free or reduced meals to those with an Oregon Trail SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card or, in some cases, to anyone in need,“no questions asked." Lists of participating restaurants were compiled and circulated online, updated on a near daily basis. Recognizing the need for a simpler way to find a nearby meal, a team of alumni, staff, and students from Portland Community College’s GIS and Geospatial Technologies program used these lists to create a “Portland Food Aid - Resources Finder” webmap tool with Experience Builder, using Arcade coding to show which participating restaurants were both nearby and open. Data for food banks and pop-up pantries was also included. This tool answered the question “Where can I get something to eat right now?” for anyone impacted by hunger due to SNAP benefit cuts. This tool was used over 400 times between mid-November and the end of December, when benefits had been fully restored.
The ability to “animate” a City’s GIS with real-time IoT data has long been a goal for organizations managing complex infrastructure. Transforming a static map into a living operations dashboard enables teams to make decisions based on current conditions rather than yesterday’s reports. However, many critical data feeds originate from sensitive systems such as SCADA, where security and reliability concerns can make integration difficult—or seem impossible. This session will showcase how the City of Salem successfully bridged secure operational technology systems to create Geospatial Live, a real-time operational platform supporting utilities and public works. Attendees will gain practical insights into the system architecture, integration strategies, security considerations, and workflows that make real-time GIS an increasing important component of the City's GIS portfolio. Whether you are beginning your real-time GIS journey or advancing an existing deployment, this session provides actionable lessons learned, key technical decisions, and implementation strategies from a municipal government perspective.
I’m a GIS Analyst with the City of Salem, Oregon, with over 10 years of experience in GIS and remote sensing. I manage the Public Works CCTV database for pipeline inspections and primarily support projects involving wastewater, drones, and imagery. I focus on using programming and... Read More →
Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) is an independent, not-for-profit, public service organization serving Washington state. We help insurers and their customers by providing objective data on multiple risk factors. Our services enable insurers to evaluate risk efficiently and effectively, giving their policyholders peace of mind by making sure insurance rates are fair and non-discriminatory. WSRB is not connected with any insurance company except to the extent that insurers operating within Washington state can subscribe to our services; ownership of WSRB is vested in a subscriber trust agreement that is approved by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC).
WSRB leverages GIS extensively to achieve to provide subscribers with trusted information, enhancing their decision-making. This presentation will highlight how GIS architecture and processes ensure precise and timely data for WSRB customers.
GIS Manager, Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB)
Guillaume Turcotte is a GIS professional whose 18-year career has spanned multiple industries including academia, consulting, utilities, and natural resources. He joined the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) in 2023 to lead its GIS team. The 5-person team is tasked with... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT Atrium
