Call for Content

GIS Management
This track is aimed towards helping GIS Managers. Whether you are a seasoned professional, or new to the role, presentations in this session will provide you some valuable insight and lessons learned from both the public and private sectors. We encourage the submission of abstracts for presentations highlighting methods and tactics used by GIS managers in public and private sectors.

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Water/Wastewater/Stormwater Utilities
Water/Wastewater/Stormwater utilities are challenged with increased regulatory reporting requirements regarding their field assets. GIS applications and approaches have enabled operators to meet these new challenges for data analysis, field inspections, data management, quality control, outreach and regulatory reporting. The recent EPA Lead and Copper rule is just one example of how GIS has play the key role in the operations of water utilities by using or deploying Machine Learning, Survey123, the HUB, predictive analysis and Dashboards. Another such example is the application of stormwater fees, where GIS is being used to better understand the percent cover of impermeable surfaces. Data management workflows require a unique approach to suite the challenges facing each operation. Submit your abstract and join this discussion at the PA GIS Conference to learn more about how communities in Pennsylvania are making GIS work for them in the water/wastewater/stormwater utilities space. 

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Engaging the Public
Cartographers, GIS analysts, and map application developers build all sorts of map tools to engage the public, whether for informing, soliciting input to a decision-making process, or both. The crux is knowing your target audience, but what does that really mean? We seek presentations that highlight not a map tool per se, but the design and thought processes that went into trying to engage the public with that tool. Our definition of a map tool is broad and may include any tool in the toolbox: small animated GIFs, large-format paper maps, mobile data collection apps, hub portals, etc.  We're interested in both design successes and failures, because lessons can be learned from reflecting on and sharing our design experiences. Submit your abstract and join this discussion at the PA GIS Conference to share how you are making your GIS work for or with the public.

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Public Safety, 911, and Crime Mapping
Public safety and emergency response organizations have been early adopters of GIS and spatial technologies. GIS supports all facets of public safety and emergency response including 9-1-1 dispatch, smart policing, planning and response for mass casualty scenarios, natural disaster risks and response, and infrastructure failures. With the increase in data and expansion of the technology into the 3D realm, the importance of GIS in the public safety and emergency response arenas will continue to grow in the coming years. In Pennsylvania, Next Generation 9-1-1 will use GIS to make use of those emerging technologies and expand the capabilities of the organizations serving the public. In recent years, crime mapping and analysis has incorporated spatial data analysis techniques that add statistical rigor and address inherent limitations of spatial data, including spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity. Spatial data analysis helps one analyze crime data and better understand why and where crime is occurring. This session is seeking proposals for presentations centered around the theme of Public Safety, Emergency Response, NG 9-1-1, and/or crime mapping.

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(Semi-)Automated Detection Algorithms using AI, ML, and DL
The feature extraction process from geospatial datasets has been predominantly been preformed manually. However, with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) methods, the features are now extracted from geospatial data with the accuracy of a trained geospatial professional. These methods are repeatable in the sense that the models can be applied to a given geography and produce consistent results. Additionally, (semi-)automated detection models are scalable as they can further be deployed quickly on multiple platforms. With the addition of new data, these models can be trained to improve the consistency and accuracy of the results. We invite contributions from those employing (semi-)automated detection methods/approaches with a focus on enhanced detection, recognition, and characterization of natural and anthropogenic features.

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GIS Programming & Development
Whether you are creating custom popups using Arcade, automating geoprocessing workflows with Python scripts or ModelBuilder, creating custom web mapping applications with JavaScript, or developing desktop GIS applications with .NET or Java, programming skills are essential to the GIS professional's toolkit. This session is for you to show off your latest technical tips and tricks or highlight your custom script or mapping application. Presentation will lean toward the technical side, but could also focus on how you overcame certain development or design obstacles. Submit your abstract and join this discussion at the PA GIS Conference to share how you are utilizing GIS programming and development in your everyday GIS use.

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Geoscience & Environmental Applications
GIS is one of the most useful tools in analyzing the Earth and the impact human activity has on the planet. This is a broad session covering the ways in which GIS and remote sensing can be used to research, evaluate, and problem solve in the geo and environmental sciences. There are an array of topics and specialties that fit into this session. Among other fields, presentations may cover work being done in: Earth and Environmental Science, Environmental Protection and Remediation, Mining, Archaeology, Seismology, Hydrology, Energy Exploration, Geology, Marine Science, and Engineering. This session seeks presentations focused on remote sensing and GIS as applied to geoscience and environmental analysis in Pennsylvania.

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Augmented/Virtual Reality, AI, and Digital Twins
In this track, presenters will be discussing their work in augmented and virtual reality, AI, and digital twins. Augmented and virtual reality complement each other, allowing individuals to combine computer-generated information with the real world. Artificial Intelligence (AI) creates immersive experiences to gain more significant insights into patterns and relationships than could have been discovered otherwise. A digital twin is literally a copy or “twin” of a real object or space. A digital twin can be a building, a park, a city, etc. The use of these technologies has expanded rapidly over the last several years and is used in everything from transportation, planning, building/construction, and mining to emergency response, tourism, utility management, and scenario planning. For an example, in Pennsylvania the PA GeoBoard has created the PA Basemap 2030 Initiative and is working toward a 3D PA.

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Accessibility & GIS
Accessibility continues to be an issue in all aspects of the GIS industry, from employment/entry to products/services. Over the last century, the geosciences (including the geospatial industry and sciences) have trailed other technical fields in the recruitment, retention, and inclusion of a diverse workforce. Efforts thus far have not led to significant increases in participation by members of underrepresented groups, particularly people of color. Furthermore GIS products, such as maps, websites, and tools, are not always designed with all users in mind. This session looks to bring light to accessibility issues, from employment in the industry to user products and tools. We encourage the submission of abstracts that provide insights and solutions to accessibility issues within the GIS fields

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