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PA GIS Conference

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​Monday, June 13 - Pre-Conference Workshops
There is an additional charge to attend the Pre-Conference workshop(s). The Pre-Conference workshops are not included in the cost of your Conference registration.
8:30 a.m. - noon
Pennsylvania Hydrography Dataset (PAHD) Generation Workflow
Location: Room 203, Second Floor
 
Speakers: Ellen Fehrs and Al Guiseppe, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Geological Survey
 
Description: The Pennsylvania Bureau of Geological Survey (BGS) will demonstrate the most recent iteration of the workflow used to derive three-dimensional geometries for the Pennsylvania Hydrography Dataset (PAHD) from elevation products. PAHD is composed of hydrography data generated from the most recent quality level 2 (QL2) light detection and ranging (lidar) elevation data. Conflation with the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is a goal for PAHD, and as such the BGS is working with the USGS to make sure that PAHD geometries meet the specifications and requirements for elevation-derived hydrography (EDH). Major concepts to be discussed include geomorphon production, connectivity calculations, masking techniques, least-cost analysis, and networking relationships.
 
Technical Requirements: Arc Pro version 2.5 or more recent; Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions. (Note: This course can be completed entirely in ArcMap, but instructions and terminology will be tailored to Pro.)
 
 
1 – 4:30 p.m.
Help Communicate the Business Value of GIS by Creating a Strategic Portfolio
Location: Room 203, Second Floor

Speakers: Rachel Weeden, Drew Fioranelli and Jacqueline Nova, Esri

Description: We all strive to ensure that the work we do is beneficial to our organization and community, but often struggle to communicate the positive impacts that we, as GIS professionals, provide. Is it difficult for your organizational leadership to really understand the capabilities of your GIS team/program? Do you face regular challenges when it comes to growing your team/program through budget and hiring? Do others in your organization view your team/program as those who ‘just make maps’? If any of these ring true, then it’s time to take a new approach to communicating the business value of the work you do! This workshop will provide practical guidance and techniques designed to help you understand what a strategic portfolio is, the impact that it can have, what content should be included, and how to get started. Throughout the workshop, we’ll look at real-world examples and share tips and tricks that will help you design a compelling strategic portfolio that you can share as an interactive web app using ArcGIS StoryMaps. After completing the workshop, you’ll be able to continue to develop your organization’s strategic GIS portfolio, and put to work for you to increase the value of your GIS program.​
 

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
County GIS Professionals Association of Pennsylvania Membership Meeting
​(By invitation only)
Location: Room 207, Second Floor
​
​Tuesday, June 14
​8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Registration Open
 
9 - 10:30 a.m.
Opening General Session
Location: Presidents Hall 1-2

  • Conference Kickoff
  • Presentation: Vaccinating Thousands: Using Spatial Analysis to Target Emergency Outreach Efforts
    Speakers: Margaret Dunn, AICP and Will Melville, FEMA Region 3

    March 2021: the COVID-19 pandemic had been raging for a year and finally, vaccines were becoming available at scale. Communities called on FEMA to manage the logistics of a massive vaccination mission. In Philadelphia, this took the form of two vaccination pilot clinics at the Convention Center and at Esperanza Community Center. The crushing demand for vaccines waned early in the pilot program and it became clear in Philadelphia, and across the country, that extensive outreach was necessary to meet the nation’s vaccination goals. This presentation will cover how urban planners, health experts and GIS analysts worked together using spatial analysis to develop a high-impact outreach plan in an ultra-condensed timeframe. Within 10 weeks, we built an outreach team, developed a trusted-messenger program, implemented a “street team” to conduct outreach to 240 businesses in the City’s most underserved neighborhoods, provided vaccine information to over 280 community organizations, and piloted vaccine outreach at food distribution centers.​
 
10:30 - 11 a.m.
Refreshments/Networking with Exhibitors
Location: Second Floor Break Area
 
11 - 11:50 a.m.
Breakout Sessions (click here for session descriptions and room locations)
Location: First and Second Floors
 
noon - 1:45 p.m.
Conference Luncheon/General Session
Location: Presidents Hall 1-2
 
  • County GIS Pros Award presentation
  • PaMAGIC Excellence Award presentation
  • Presentation: ArcGIS Adoption - A Roadmap for Success
    Speaker: Joe Nestor, Esri

    Successful ArcGIS modernization initiatives are reliant on people adopting and utilizing the technology from the onset. We will explore how to generate awareness for your GIS initiatives that creates desire in employees to adopt the new technology. We will discuss how to develop sponsors and create advocates in both leaders and employees that drive and enhance your GIS goals. GIS success is about accelerated adoption and utilization. We will discuss the need, the techniques, and outcomes that are created with a cohesive communications strategy and GIS brand focus.
 
1:45 - 2 p.m.
Refreshments/Networking with Exhibitors
Location: Second Floor Break Area
 
2 - 2:50 p.m.
Breakout Sessions (click here for session descriptions and room locations)
Location: First and Second Floors
 
3 - 3:30 p.m.
Refreshments/Networking with Exhibitors
Location: Second Floor Break Area
 
3:30 - 4:20 p.m.
Breakout Sessions (click here for session descriptions and room locations)
Location: First and Second Floors
 
5 - 7 p.m.
PaMAGIC InfoSwap Reception
Location: Presidents Hall 3
​Wednesday, June 15
​8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Registration Open​
 
8:30 - 10 a.m.
Conference Networking Breakfast/General Session
Location: Presidents Hall 1-2

  • Presentation: Looking Back to Look Ahead
    Speaker: Eric Jespersen, Executive Director, State Geospatial Coordinating Board​

    Winston Churchill wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” With first and second-generation GIS practitioners retiring we could lose sight of some of the lessons they learned. Eric will share his thoughts and ideas on past and future in PA GIS.


10:15 - 11:05 a.m.
Breakout Sessions (click here for session descriptions and room locations)
Location: First and Second Floors

 
11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.
Breakout Sessions (click here for session descriptions and room locations)​
Location: First and Second Floors​
 
12:15 - 2 p.m.
Conference Luncheon/Closing General Session
Location: Presidents Hall 1-2

  • Awards Presentation - AGOL Middle-High School Competition
  • Presentation:TBD
    Speaker: Kevin Cooley, Director of the OPPSD (Office of Planning and Programming for Service Delivery), National Weather Service

 
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