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Kentucky GIS Conference 2026
Venue: The Bluegrass Ballroom - B clear filter
Wednesday, September 30
 

1:30pm EDT

AI: The Superpower Your GIS Toolbox Has Been Missing
Wednesday September 30, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept for GIS professionals — it's a practical, accessible tool reshaping how we collect, analyze, and interact with spatial data. This session explores real-world AI applications in a regional planning and transportation GIS environment, drawing on hands-on experience integrating AI into everyday workflows.


Examples include: using AI to generate Python scripts for GIS functions; automating real-time data collection with ArcGIS Notebook Server; building natural language interfaces to create geospatial features in ArcGIS Pro; and leveraging AI with Survey 123 to analyze field-collected photos.


We'll address both the potential and limitations of AI in GIS, including accuracy, data privacy, and the continued importance of professional judgment. You'll leave with actionable ideas and a clearer sense of where AI fits — and where it doesn't — in the modern GIS toolbox.
Speakers
avatar for David Shuey

David Shuey

Director of Information Systems and Analytics, OKI Regional Council of Governments
We will submit later
Wednesday September 30, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B

2:10pm EDT

Modernizing GIS Applications: An AI-Assisted Approach to Migrating from Web AppBuilder to Experience Builder
Wednesday September 30, 2026 2:10pm - 2:40pm EDT
Migrating from ArcGIS Web AppBuilder to Experience Builder is more than a technical lift — it's an opportunity to rethink how your applications are built, maintained, and extended. But without the right approach, teams risk losing functionality, accumulating technical debt, or producing inconsistent results across a large application portfolio. Dymaptic partnered with PDS to tackle this challenge using an AI-assisted migration workflow. In this session, we'll share how that workflow helped the team interpret existing application patterns, reduce conversion gaps, and deliver Experience Builder apps that are more flexible, consistent, and easier to support long-term.

We'll also walk through how AI can accelerate the development of custom Experience Builder widgets — giving teams a practical path to extending their applications beyond out-of-the-box functionality. Along the way, we'll share real examples, lessons learned, and a candid look at where AI helps most (and where human judgment still matters).
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 Kevin Sadrak

Kevin Sadrak

Sr. GIS Developer, dymaptic
Kevin, as a child, used to sit and read the CIA World Factbook, captivated by the geographical information and fold-out maps. Fast forward twenty years, and he is now making maps, performing analysis, and teaching others GIS. From task automation and custom integration to data warehouses... Read More →
Wednesday September 30, 2026 2:10pm - 2:40pm EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B

2:50pm EDT

Applications and Benefits of Geospatial AI
Wednesday September 30, 2026 2:50pm - 3:20pm EDT
Geospatial AI (GeoAI) means different things to different people, but at its core, it combines artificial intelligence with remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to unlock new ways of analyzing and understanding geospatial data.

This webinar takes a practical look at the latest advancements in GeoAI and demonstrates how these technologies can automate workflows, streamline operations, and improve efficiency. Through real-world examples and use cases, you'll discover how organizations are applying GeoAI to solve complex challenges, reduce manual effort, and make more informed decisions. We'll also discuss the key benefits, considerations, and opportunities for integrating GeoAI into your own geospatial workflows.
Speakers
avatar for Rick Wallace

Rick Wallace

Southeast Region Manager, NV5 Geospatial
Feel free to contact me on my Cell - 910-899-7837
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Austin Coates

Director of Product Management, NV5 Geospatial
Austin Coates is a product leader specializing in geospatial technology, remote sensing, and Earth observation, with extensive experience leading product strategy and cross-functional teams across the imagery ecosystem. He currently serves as Director of Product Management at NV5... Read More →
Wednesday September 30, 2026 2:50pm - 3:20pm EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B

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
 
Thursday, October 1
 

8:45am EDT

24/7-(M)365: GIS Support Modernized and Automated with Microsoft 365
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:45am - 9:15am EDT
Providing quality GIS support 24/7/365 is a key goal for the KYTC GIS Team. With a growing customer base and limited resources, this is a challenge.  
  
We approached this challenge by building a scalable, automated support framework using Microsoft 365 tools, including Teams, SharePoint Online, Power Automate, and Planner. We also modernized our SharePoint Online GIS support site to better connect our customer community with the resources they need.  
  
This presentation will outline how we designed and implemented this continuous support system. We’ll share how Power Automate helps us triage application requests, and how it automates processes like Teams notifications, Planner task creation, and application access approval notifications. We will also discuss the importance of modernizing customer support resources. 
  
Attendees will leave with a practical, replicable approach for automating GIS support and operational workflows - empowering stronger geospatial connections without writing a single line of code. 

Speakers
avatar for Sherana Key

Sherana Key

Partner Enablement Manager, GeoComm, Inc.
Sherana Key is a Partner Enablement Manager at GeoComm, where she supports partner engagement, enablement, and collaboration around public safety GIS, location data, and mapping solutions. She brings more than 12 years of GIS experience, beginning her career as a GIS Analyst for the... Read More →
avatar for Hayden Wilkes

Hayden Wilkes

GIS Help Desk Lead, GIS Integrations, KYTC OIT GIS
Hayden Wilkes is the KYTC GIS Help Desk lead and GIS Integrations support. He supports cabinet members and the general public, leads training sessions for new and experienced GIS users, and is leading an effort to transition the GIS Team's footprint to a cloud-based environment.

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... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:45am - 9:15am EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B

9:25am EDT

Tailored solutions: GIS Request Management for the Maryland Port Administration
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:25am - 9:55am EDT
Are GIS requests coming in from multiple departments, making it difficult to prioritize work and track progress? If you are a one-person GIS team or manage a large GIS team and want clearer visibility into workload, status, and the value GIS delivers across your organization, this session is for you.
Join us for a practical overview of Esri’s out-of-the-box GIS Request Management solution. We will walk through the solution’s core components—Survey123, ArcGIS Dashboards (including a fabulous Arcade trick), and ArcGIS Experience Builder—and show how JMT tailored and deployed it to the Maryland Port Administration’s ArcGIS Enterprise environment. You’ll see how the MPA GIS team uses the solution to manage requests from 13 departments and improve transparency and reporting. The Maryland Port Administration manages the Port of Baltimore, which ranks among the top 20 U.S. ports by tonnage and container volume (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, March 2024).
Speakers
avatar for Nour Salam

Nour Salam

Senior GIS Analyst, JMT Technology Group
Certified senior GIS analyst with 7 years of experience in creating geospatial and database solutions for federal, state, local, and tribal government. I have supported diverse GIS tasks and have direct project experience in the transportation, environmental, and utility industri... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:25am - 9:55am EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B

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

11:35am EDT

Understanding and Utilizing User ArcGIS User Types
Thursday October 1, 2026 11:35am - 12:05pm EDT
 
Esri users have the opportunity to re-imagine how organizational users interact with their authoritative data utilizing ArcGIS user types.  This session will review the ArcGIS user types and their capabilities to provide a model for creating functional systems which support geo-spatial capabilities and data access to users across their organizations.  This session will review resources which can assist an organization in determining approaches that will support existing processes and enable new capabilities.
Speakers
avatar for John Borisenko

John Borisenko

Account Manager, Esri
John is a member of Esri’s State and Local Government team located in Esri’s St Louis regional office.  He has worked with clients across the Midwest for more than 25 years supporting GIS enablement applied to a variety of business in customer organizations.  In his spare time... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 11:35am - 12:05pm EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B

12:15pm EDT

Kentucky Geological Survey Story Maps and the Kentucky Arch Trail
Thursday October 1, 2026 12:15pm - 12:45pm EDT
The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) has developed interactive story maps covering geologic tours of natural areas, KGS collections, projects, and annual reports, and geologic features across the state. This presentation showcases these digital products and provides a deep dive into KGS’s Kentucky Arch Trail story map.
Kentucky has more natural arches than any other state in the Eastern United States (>3,000). The Kentucky Arch Trail highlights 40 accessible natural arches across the state and includes arches in popular destinations like Carter Caves State Resort Park, the Red River Gorge Geological Area, and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The associated story map provides geologic context on arch formation and serves as a digital trail guide.
Attendees will learn best practices for creating accessible, engaging geoscience web applications serving public education and scientific research.
Speakers
DC

Doug Curl

Director of Information Management, Kentucky Geological Survey
Doug Curl is the director of the Information Management Division at the Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky, where he has served for over 25 years leading IT operations, web development, and building systems for delivering geologic data to researchers and the public... Read More →
avatar for Steve Martin

Steve Martin

Geologist III, Kentucky Geological Survey
Steve Martin has been with the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) since 1998. Prior to KGS, Steve was at the Arkansas Geological Survey from 1997 to 1998. Steve has MS and BS degrees in geological science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a BS degree in business administration... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 12:15pm - 12:45pm EDT
The Bluegrass Ballroom - B
 
Kentucky GIS Conference 2026
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