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Kentucky GIS Conference 2026
Type: 1-hour Breakout Session clear filter
Wednesday, September 30
 

4:00pm EDT

ArcGIS: A Geospatial AI Platform
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
This session will provide an overview of ArcGIS as a geospatial AI platform bringing artificial intelligence and machine learning directly into GIS workflows, enabling users to extract deeper insights from spatial data. This session will explain Esri’s approach to AI, introduce ArcGIS assistants, and provide a current overview of GeoAI capabilities available across the platform today. Attendees will see live demonstrations highlighting how GeoAI can accelerate analysis, improve decision‑making, and scale spatial intelligence.
Speakers
avatar for Shawn Barbie

Shawn Barbie

Solution Engineer, Esri
Shawn is a solution engineer with Esri based out of the St. Louis Regional Office supporting state and local governments in Kentucky and other states throughout the Midwest. He has over seven year's experience working in state government spanning desktop GIS analysis, web mapping... Read More →
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B

4:00pm EDT

Designing Interactive GIS with Experience Builder
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
This presentation explores strategies for updating existing web applications to ArcGIS Experience Builder, highlighting how widgets, layouts, and data integration can improve usability, design, and functionality.


The session will focus on design considerations, implementation approaches, and early insights from transitioning web apps into Experience Builder. Attendees will gain practical guidance, including tips and tricks for working efficiently within Experience Builder, to modernize their GIS applications and enhance user experience.
Speakers
avatar for Rachel Stuckey

Rachel Stuckey

GIS Analyst, OKI Regional Council of Governments
We will submit later
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - A 1375 South Broadway, Lexington, KY, USA

4:00pm EDT

KyFromAbove & FAIR: How Kentuckians Benefit from Free and Open Data
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Kentucky From Above Program (KyFromAbove) is now in its third year participating in the Open Data Registry on AWS. Over the past two years,  I presented on our transition from compressed, limited-access formats to fully cloud-optimized imagery and elevation data (DEMs and point clouds). I also demonstrated how we launched a SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) API, implementing the STAC specification as a RESTful interface for accessing geospatial data. More recently, we have expanded this architecture by incorporating Titiler and Titiler-PgSTAC APIs to enable dynamic tiling and visualization.
 
But the real impact is not only moving data or building an API—its what this enables. By making data FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), we are seeing measurable improvements in how users interact with statewide datasets.
 
Users in QGIS and ArcGIS Pro can now search, stream, and mosaic data directly into their projects without downloading. At the same time, developers are integrating the STAC API into workflows to build tools, notebooks, and web applications.
 
This presentation will highlight how KyFromAbove operates in the cloud, demonstrate fast access patterns, and showcase STAC ecosystem tools applied to real-world workflows.
Speakers
avatar for Ian Horn

Ian Horn

GIS Analyst, COT-Division of Geographic Information
Ian has served the Commonwealth of Kentucky for 13 years, with over a decade of GIS experience, including seven years as a Systems Engineer and GIS Analyst with the Division of Geographic Information.
In recent years, his work has focused on backend development, workflow automatio... Read More →
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Rockbridge Reserve 1375 South Broadway, Lexington, KY, USA

4:00pm EDT

LOJIC On-Demand - A Self-Serve Web Application for Data Extraction
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
LOJIC On-Demand is a full-service web application that enables users to extract and purchase geographic data online in a convenient, self-service format.  It is a replacement solution for LOJIC’s custom ArcMap based extractor.  Under the previous process, users were required to contact the LOJIC Solutions team to request data, after which staff manually prepared and delivered the requested datasets. This labor-intensive workflow is eliminated by LOJIC On-Demand’s fully automated solution, allowing LOJIC staff to reclaim valuable time and resources.  Technologies used to support LOJIC On-Demand are: ArcGIS API for JavaScript version 4,  ArcGIS Server 10.9, .NET ASP.NET MVC 8, Python 3.7, Power Automate, and Elavon, a third-party credit card processing system. 
Speakers
SD

Scott Dickison

GIS Programmer Analyst III, LOJIC
Scott Dickison is an application developer with over 25 years of experience specializing in GIS desktop solutions and backend geoprocessing. He develops primarily in C# and Python and also brings experience with web application development. A 1996 graduate of the University of Kentucky... Read More →
avatar for Jess Hamner

Jess Hamner

LOJIC Solutions Analyst III, LOJIC
Jess Hamner, GISP, is an experienced GIS professional and Solutions Analyst III with LOJIC, where he has spent nearly a decade designing, implementing, and optimizing geospatial solutions that support critical operations across LOJIC and partner agencies. With a career spanning nearly... Read More →
BH

Bob Harris

Application Programmer Analyst III, Louisville MSD
Bob Harris is an application developer with over 40 years of experience in the software industry. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Louisville’s Speed Scientific School. Throughout his career, Bob has worked across a wide range of technologies... Read More →
avatar for Lindsay Kindle

Lindsay Kindle

Application Programmer Analyst III, LOJIC
Lindsay Kindle is a graduate of the Purdue College of Technology and a seasoned web application developer with over 20 years of experience delivering robust, effective web applications. She has two years of experience developing GIS applications using ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Maps... Read More →
HP

Hank Pritchard

LOJIC Solutions Analyst II, LOJIC
Hank Pritchard is a Solutions Analyst with the Louisville/Jefferson County Information Consortium (LOJIC) and is primarily focused on supporting our 450+ partner GIS users and public consumers of LOJIC GIS content.  He manages the LOJIC ArcGIS Online organization, provides user... Read More →
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Carriage Room 1375 South Broadway, Lexington, KY, USA

4:00pm EDT

The "Definitive" Map of Ancient Mayapan
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
I present a new map of the ancient Mayan city of Mayapan and describe the process used from fieldwork in the forests of Mexico to the creation of a digital online map for scientific research. Mayapan is a preindustrial Mayan city founded in approximately AD 1220 and destroyed and abandoned around AD 1440. It was made famous, at least among archaeologists, in the 1950s with the publication of an amazing map of the entire walled portion of the city, drawn with tape and a compass.   
In 2000, I began a long sequence of projects that gradually remapped the walled portion of the city and an additional 20 sq. km outside the defensive wall. The results include refining the accuracy of previously mapped features, locating thousands of new ruins, identifying a complex network of property walls and pathways cross-crossing the city, and hundreds of additional landscape features used by ancient people.  
The work is not over, but the results are now available as an online database for scholars to study and explore an ancient Mayan urban society, better understand Postclassic Mayan people, and support and encourage a new generation of researchers to make new discoveries. 
Speakers
avatar for Timothy Hare

Timothy Hare

Professor of Anthropology, Morehead State University
Timothy Hare has conducted archaeological and historical research in the northern Mayan lowlands of the Yucatan of Mexico for over 25 years. He specializes in mapping and analysis using geospatial technologies, including GIS, airborne and terrestrial laser scanning, photogrammetric... Read More →
Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Barrel Room 1375 South Broadway, Lexington, KY, USA
 
Thursday, October 1
 

10:05am EDT

Introduction to ArcGIS Velocity
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
This session will provide an overview of ArcGIS Velocity, Esri’s cloud-native real-time and big data analysis capability. It lets organizations ingest, visualize, and analyze data from real-time feeds, such as sensors, assets, and other dynamic data sources. They can also store accumulated data as big data and run fast queries and analytics on the data. Attendees will then see demonstrations of practical solutions that showcase Velocity’s ability to turn real-time data into actionable insights.
Speakers
avatar for Shawn Barbie

Shawn Barbie

Solution Engineer, Esri
Shawn is a solution engineer with Esri based out of the St. Louis Regional Office supporting state and local governments in Kentucky and other states throughout the Midwest. He has over seven year's experience working in state government spanning desktop GIS analysis, web mapping... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - A 1375 South Broadway, Lexington, KY, USA

10:05am EDT

KAMP GeoAI Panel
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
Artificial intelligence is transforming geospatial work on two fronts. Purpose-built GeoAI tools are advancing feature extraction, spatial prediction, and remote sensing analysis, while general-purpose AI — large language models, code assistants, and automation platforms — are quietly reshaping how professionals write scripts, manage data, and communicate results. This panel examines both dimensions, exploring where domain-specific and general AI tools complement each other, the risks of applying generalized models to spatially sensitive decisions, and practical strategies for integration. Panelists will share real-world experiences and offer guidance for organizations navigating this rapidly shifting landscape.
Speakers
avatar for Cole Waymeyer

Cole Waymeyer

Geospatial Solutions Analyst, LINK-GIS/PDS
Cole is an emerging GIS professional (GISP-E) and Geospatial Solutions Analyst based in Northern Kentucky. In his current role, he leverages GIS technology to support public sector decision-making and strengthen community engagement. He collaborates regularly with leaders across public... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B

10:05am EDT

Louisville's Urban Forest: Quilting the Canopy with GIS
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
Louisville’s tree canopy is a quilt of data, complied by numerous organizations and municipalities, stitched together through GIS and thoughtful analysis. Across a fragmented urban forestry landscape, organizations often compete for limited space, funding, and capacity, even while working toward common canopy goals. This presentation shows how GIS integrates diverse datasets, including canopy trends, Tree Equity Scores, field data collection, and climate trend analysis, to guide planting and maintenance strategies and support collaboration across sectors. In Louisville, this geospatial approach has helped inform citywide planting efforts, contributed to more than 15,000 trees planted by one organization over the past decade, and supported the award of a $12 million U.S. Forest Service grant for street tree maintenance and planting. GIS helps transform scattered efforts into a connected urban forest strategy.
Speakers
avatar for Mary Chambless

Mary Chambless

GIS Analyst, Louisville Parks and Recreation: Division of Urban Forestry
Mary Chambless, MGIS, is a GIS Analyst with over six years of professional experience in geospatial analysis, cartographic design, and spatial data management. With a strong background in zoological studies, environmental science, and mapping industries, she brings a unique interdisciplinary... Read More →
avatar for Trevor Harry

Trevor Harry

GIS Analyst, Louisville Parks and Recreation: Division of Urban Forestry
Trevor Harry, MS, is a GIS Analyst with Louisville Parks & Recreation Division of Urban Forestry. Trevor serves in a unique role as a GIS Analyst for the Louisville Equitable Forestry Initiative, where he utilizes GIS to maintain tree inventories, planting locales, maintenance records... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
The Barrel Room 1375 South Broadway, Lexington, KY, USA

10:05am EDT

Putting the Experience in Experience Builder: Enhancing GIS Through Custom Widget Development
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
As organizations continue transitioning to Esri’s Experience Builder platform, many organizations are finding that standard tools alone do not always support the unique workflows required by staff, clients, and citizens. Custom widget development creates opportunities to build more intuitive, efficient, and user-focused GIS applications that improve both internal operations and public engagement.


In this session, representatives from Engineering Mapping Solutions (EMSOL) and the Kenton County Planning and Development Services will demonstrate how custom Experience Builder development can transform GIS applications through streamlined workflows, consolidated functionality, and configurable user experiences. The presentation will showcase EMSOL’s xUI widget framework and how it has been implemented to enhance usability, simplify navigation, and improve access to GIS data and tools.


Phil Ponce, PE, Vice President of EMSOL, will discuss the development philosophy behind custom GIS solutions and how configurable widgets can address operational challenges across both public and private sectors. Joe Busemeyer, GIS Application Development Coordinator for Kenton County Planning and Development Services, will provide a real-world client perspective by sharing how Kenton County has utilized the xUI widget framework to improve platform functionality, user experience, and accessibility for staff and the public.


Attendees will gain insight into how custom widget development can help organizations maximize their GIS investment while creating more engaging, efficient, and adaptable web applications.
Speakers
avatar for Joe Busemeyer

Joe Busemeyer

GIS Applications Development Coordinator, Planning and Development Services of Kenton County
Joseph Busemeyer, GISP, is the GIS Applications Development Coordinator at Planning and Development Services of Kenton County. A University of Cincinnati alumnus, he holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Geography and a Master of Arts in Geography with a concentration in GIS... Read More →
avatar for Phil Ponce, P.E.

Phil Ponce, P.E.

Vice President, Engineering Mapping Solutions
Phil Ponce, PE, is the Vice President of Engineering Mapping Solutions (EMSOL), where he brings more than 30 years of experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), engineering support, and municipal infrastructure solutions. Throughout his career, Phil has worked closely with... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
The Rockbridge Reserve 1375 South Broadway, Lexington, KY, USA

10:05am EDT

Safe Routes to Common Spaces: Network Analysis
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
This project engages students and multiple organizations to digitize sidewalks and pathways in Cincinnati neighborhoods, starting with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) areas. Using network-based walkshed analysis, we identify the safest routes for students to walk to school, highlighting gaps in pedestrian infrastructure. After the CPS phase, the project will expand regionally, providing data-driven insights to support safer, more accessible walking routes across the Cincinnati area.
Speakers
avatar for David Shuey

David Shuey

Director of Information Systems and Analytics, OKI Regional Council of Governments
We will submit later
avatar for Rachel Stuckey

Rachel Stuckey

GIS Analyst, OKI Regional Council of Governments
We will submit later
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:05am - 11:05am EDT
The Carriage Room 1375 South Broadway, Lexington, KY, USA
 
Kentucky GIS Conference 2026
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