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Kentucky GIS Conference 2026
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The Evolution of GIS in Bobwhite Conservation
Wednesday September 30, 2026 TBA
The Northern Bobwhite Quail and associated grassland species have faced persistent, long-term population declines, demanding conservation strategies that are both targeted and evidence-based. To meet this challenge, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) launched a statewide planning effort in the early 2000s, with GIS as a cornerstone for mapping habitat conditions and tracking vegetation change over time.


This presentation traces a decade of habitat mapping at KDFWR (2010–2020), examining how evolving imagery, expanding data availability, and advancing analytical methods drove workflow development and shaped conservation products. We compare outputs across multiple platforms and data sources, highlighting key differences in accuracy, scalability, and utility for on-the-ground decision-making.


That foundation set the stage for what comes next. Dymaptic partnered with the National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative Foundation (NBGIF) to transform how conservation is planned, tracked, and delivered. Using ArcGIS Field Maps and Notebooks, on-the-ground management activities are automated into an enterprise resource platform (ERP) that connects conservation planning directly with financial tracking. As NBGIF and its partners continue to explore how technology can strengthen relationships with private landowners, the potential of this system is only beginning to be realized.


Together, these two phases illustrate how sustained investment in GIS practice evolves over time, with mapping remaining central while expanding into the full arc of conservation delivery, from project planning to financial tracking to landowner engagement.
Speakers
avatar for Jessica Lott

Jessica Lott

Director of Technical Solutions, dymaptic
Jessica Lott is the Director of Technical Solutions at dymaptic, where she leads a skilled team of developers and works closely with clients to design and architect GIS solutions that align with their goals. With over 14 years of experience in GIS, software development, and automation... Read More →
avatar for Keith Wethington

Keith Wethington

Retired, National Bobwhite & Grassland Initiative
Keith Wethington retired from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in 2021.  After teaching high school biology and earth science he began working at KDFWR as a Wildlife Biologist in 1995, then transitioned to serve 23 years as GIS Coordinator of the Kentucky Fish... Read More →
Wednesday September 30, 2026 TBA
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