2024 SCHEDULE

This presentation reports on progress towards processing and orthorectifying historic aerial photography of Pennsylvania with a goal of producing seamless 1-meter spatial resolution orthomosaics of at least 10-meter horizontal positional accuracy. To date, ten collections comprised of 1,753 individual photographs covering 2,150 square miles with years ranging from 1949 to 2001 have been completed. Not all collections met project goals. Challenges and lessons learned will be discussed as well as next steps for the project.

The use of spatial data has been a crucial development to the conservation movement and provides organizations with a fundamental understanding of the landscape. With funding from the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Vermont (UVM), Chesapeake Conservancy produced 1-meter resolution land use/land cover data to provide cutting-edge technology to conservation groups to empower data-driven conservation and restoration. Unique for not just their spatial resolution, but also their categorical resolution, these data offer over 50 classes of land use/land cover that can be rolled up into 18 general land use classes. Made openly and freely available, these data have been used by a variety of organizations to support watershed planning and modeling, public outreach, and legislation reformation. This session will explore the creation and use of these data and how it can help drive decision-making for conservation throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Pennsylvania.

The ArcGIS Utility Network (UN) is a transformational technology change, a modernization effort replacing earlier widely adopted Esri network technology and data models, embedding logic and functionality that will further empower organizations. At the same time, the UN represents a significant deviation from more traditional data schemas and requires a thoughtful and deliberate approach to help ensure organizational and technological readiness. As support for Arc Desktop is getting ready to be retired have you planned for how you will transition to ArcPro for your Utility data?

This presentation will highlight the ArcGIS Utility Network adoption pathway and address considerations for existing utilization patterns, required server infrastructure, integrations with Asset Management and other business systems. This transition is not a one size fits all approach and this presentation will help assist your decision process for the approach that best fits your needs and if the UN is the right fit for your organization. Additionally, this presentation will include an overview of what's next for Water Utilities addressing vertical assets and into the future with digital twins.

The use of virtual and augmented reality tools (AR, MR - mixed reality or XR - extended reality) in GIS and engineering is ever-expanding and evolving to make it easier to implement in AEC, building construction, 3D scanning and reality capture, and GIS data collection. Designs, as-builts, and models can be brought to the project site and visualized in the field in a 1:1 scale providing interactive analysis not capable from viewing these same datasets conventionally.

JMT has begun to explore these tools including iTwins.js, vGIS and GeoBIM and how they can better serve AEC projects. For instance, vGIS is a leading AR/MR solution and 2023 ESRI Partner Conference Award recipient for innovation. It aggregates and transforms spatial data (BIM, GIS, and LIDAR) onto a view frame of your mobile device. Through integration with high resolution GPS, this data is accurately juxtaposed onto your screen simply by pointing your device at the project area.

Allow JMT to take you on an AR/VR tour as we explore the benefits and possibilities that these AR tools can offer to the GIS and AEC industry. We will discuss various use cases like utility conflict detection, as-built development/confirmation, clash detection and project documentation providing key learnings and best practice tips along the way.

Ever found a constantly-changing website containing location information, but it is not a table or an easily consumable format to convert to features? This technical presentation will highlight an example of using Python in an ArcGIS Notebook to web-scrape changing event information from a website and update the data on an ArcGIS Online feature service. We will go over how to use the ArcGIS API for Python, and the Requests, Beautiful Soup, and Pandas Python libraries to extract information from websites and transform them into meaningful location data. We will also go over some tips and tricks for how to inspect websites to target specific elements for web scraping. GIS users who want to build on their Python, HTML, and spatial data science skills will not want to miss this presentation!

Effective data management is paramount in ensuring the precision and reliability of information for Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911). This presentation advocates for the utilization of ArcGIS Enterprise to optimize workflows, enhance automation, and facilitate seamless enablement within the NG911 framework. Delving into the specifics, we will delineate how ArcGIS Enterprise serves as a robust platform to maintain accurate in addressing data for NG911. Furthermore, we will explore the platform's capabilities in providing enablement solutions to addressing authorities, streamlining the process of tracking, and submitting change request forms. An enterprise-centric approach data management will elevate the efficiency and accuracy of NG911 data management, impacting the overall effectiveness of emergency response systems.

This presentation will demonstrate several applications that were stood up to help manage and assist Commonwealth staff and agency partners make critical decisions during emergency situations. Examples will be shown from the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and PA Department of Agriculture. Also a behind the scenes look will be provided of the newest CEDC GIS Framework based interactive mapping application - the Geographic Environmental Emergency Response (GEER) app.

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania is migrating to Next Generation 911 services and asked JMT Technology Group (JMT) to help prepare their data to meet NENA/PEMA standards. As a final step in the process, JMT provided the county with a web-based toolkit to support their addressing protocol and best practices guidelines positioning them for long-term success to maintain compliance.

Because soft/hard copy guidance can be cumbersome and seldom used, JMT integrated a web-based address toolkit in an Esri Experience Builder which allows users to confirm if a proposed address or street name is unique when checked against the county’s authoritative layers and sends them for county review. Also, the tool performs critical quality control checks and tracks the quality of the address points through a dashboard.

This direct workflow and communication between the municipalities and the county ensures all parties are reviewing the same information.

The City of Philadelphia, Streets Department is responsible for reviewing and approving hauling permits for freight that is transported within the City’s limits over the roadways. The Streets Department staff then reviewed the provided route to determine if it violated any low clearances or weight restrictions by using a combination of institutional knowledge and internal data sources. Since the City reviews thousands of permits an annual basis, they sought a solution that would help reduce the frequency of communications with applicants when clarification regarding provided routes was required.

To help improve this process, JMT and the Streets Department worked together to enhance their existing comprehensive bridge geodatabase containing all navigable bridges within the City. JMT then created an intuitive and interactive GIS-based route validation application. The application provides hauling permit applicants with the ability to construct the route to be traversed while providing validation and warning messages when inappropriate streets are selected. This validation helps increase the speed and accuracy of the permitting review process by standardizing the method of creating each route. This validation helps mitigate the possibility of freight being hauled on a route that has prohibitive restrictions. The route validation application provides administrative functionality so that Streets Department staff can review, modify, and approve routes. The application will fully integrate with the existing Hauling Permit and access the bridge geodatabase and the existing street centerline GIS data maintained by the City.

This presentation will provide an overview of how the route validation application is helping the City improve the hauling permit review process. In addition, the presentation will include an overview of the bridge geodatabase and the Esri-based map interface that serves as the main component of the application.

One of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey’s greatest challenges in the production of elevation-derived hydrography has been creating a product that can be applied effectively across multiple disciplines and in distinct landscapes. This product, the Pennsylvania Hydrography Dataset (PAHD), is created using a variety of technical methods, including geomorphon production and least-cost analysis. These methods target the digitization of channel structures based on surface elevation, but do not address greater concerns involved with the representation of subsurface features. This is particularly relevant in Pennsylvania, where karst topography and subsurface flow result in substantial uncertainty when it comes to modeled data. Applications that rely on traditional hydrologic and hydraulic modeling may not be as impacted by these “uncertain” hydrography data, but there are a number of scientific pursuits that are only interested in “known” surficial features or field-validated subsurface features. The distrust of modeled data by disciplines reliant on field validation techniques has resulted in backlash against the concept of elevation products that have undergone any editing—including hydro-enforcement and -conditioning. The PAHD workflow and schema aim to provide a product that meets the needs of data users who require a fully articulated modeled network versus those who need only channelized surficial features.

The Pennsylvania Geological Survey is establishing a quantitative assessment of landslide occurrence in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. This assessment utilized a dataset encompassing around 600 landslides compiled by the survey. Various raster datasets, including slope, elevation, topographic position, slope aspect, vegetation canopy height, soil water storage, regolith thickness, proximity to mapped formation contacts, and fold axes, were employed to unveil statistical relationships with landslide occurrences.

For each raster dataset, values were extracted from both known landslide locations and randomly generated control points. The resulting ratios of landslide occurrence functions to control location functions formed a set of landslide correlation indices. Ratios significantly exceeding 1 signified a higher likelihood of landslide occurrence, while those below 1 indicated a lower likelihood. Analyzing these ratios across different raster datasets revealed the most influential conditions contributing to landslide risk. Steep land surface slopes emerged as the primary predictor, but elevation, topographic position, vegetation, soil characteristics, and geologic structure also played substantial roles. Overburden thickness and hillslope direction demonstrated minimal impact on landslide occurrence.

The aggregation of these indices produced a comprehensive landslide susceptibility map. This approach marks a critical initial step in formulating a methodology for the quantitative assessment of landslide susceptibility. Our objective is to generate highly detailed landslide risk maps, providing valuable insights for municipal planners and engineers to make informed decisions. This effort contributes to an enhanced understanding of landslide susceptibility in the region. The potential impact of this research is significant, with the capacity to markedly improve landslide risk assessment and management strategies across Pennsylvania.

Falls Township aimed to upgrade its GIS mapping with survey-grade GPS data and Esri ArcGIS software. RVE led the effort, focusing on field location, collection, and mapping of utility data for sanitary, stormwater, and potable water systems.

A significant collaboration was with the Township of Falls Authority (TOFA). TOFA's invaluable contribution was pivotal to the project's success, offering GIS field information specific to the sanitary system manholes. This data incorporated details on rims, inverts, and precise locations of all sanitary sewer manholes within the township boundaries. RVE seamlessly integrated this data into its collection to offer a comprehensive dataset.

RVE collaborated with Jones Engineering Associates (JEA), leveraging their combined expertise to address the challenges faced during the Phase I pilot project. These challenges ranged from traffic control measures, acquiring property access permissions, addressing structural location/access issues, to handling the GIS mapping of various pipe layers.

A detailed roadmap was set, with specific tasks ranging from initial land surveying services, capturing USGS research data, employing GPS control points, to sanitary sewer and stormwater system land surveying services. Each task was executed, using advanced tools such as the Trimble Geo7x GPS unit. RVE's dedicated efforts culminated in the creation of an integrated GIS Utility Infrastructure Mapping Database for Township. This database showcased the intricate details of existing utility systems, spatially aligned to a base map.

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) is the practice of using geophysical technologies to designate and locate underground utilities, such as water pipes, electrical conduits, and gas features. SUE plays a huge role in the development of GIS-based asset management systems, as facilities grapple with the maintenance of their aging infrastructure. But the process from getting from a positive “hit” in the field via ground penetrating radar (GPR) to a feature logged in GIS involves many facets. This presentation will provide an overview of SUE and GIS integration, while covering key factors such as accuracy, attribution, and quality control through recent case studies. We will also discuss applications for connecting the “underground to the indoors” with the rise of 3D GIS and accessible scanning technologies for full-circle asset management.

This presentation outlines the application of GIS tools in expanding hydraulic modeling within the City of Pittsburgh. These tools were pivotal in team planning, coordinating a complex program scope, managing deliverables, and transforming data for long-term enterprise-wide use. Our approach and coordination with PWSA led to improvements in data accuracy and project efficiency. A diverse array of GIS tools was utilized, including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Hub Sites, Field Maps, StoryMaps, Dashboards, Python, and Model Builder.

A thorough suitability analysis was done to identify appropriate sewersheds for detailed H&H model expansion. The project team developed multiple alternatives for expansion using mapbooks, web applications, and StoryMaps. Tracing tools identified potential sites for flow monitoring equipment installation. Field Maps was instrumental in conducting site investigations and tracking the approval and installation process.

A specialized workflow was created for surveyors. This involved using Field Maps in conjunction with a high-accuracy GNSS, enabling multiple crews to track their progress and data in real time using a Dashboard. ArcGIS Pro reports were used to create user-friendly deliverables for PWSA field crews, assisting in locating and opening stuck manholes.

Data was integrated with DEMs and asset management data . Harmonizing this diverse data set posed a challenge, addressed by developing a Model Builder tool and custom Python geoprocessing scripts. These tools rigorously compared all datasets to select the most current and relevant data for the model.

The final output, was tailored for PCSWMM (PC Storm Water Management Model) compatibility. This output marked a substantial improvement in data quality for the model. It enhanced the accuracy and reliability of the H&H models and facilitated the development of submodels before survey completion for the entire project.

Stafford County, Virginia deploys indoor GIS for administration buildings as a platform for public access routing, tracking and security with enhancements planned for facilities and emergency services departments.

GeoDecisions created ArcGIS Indoors application for the Stafford County Administration Building which provided the ability for users to find and route to locations in the building. GeoDecisions also created a web scene allowing for viewing the administration building in 3D. The rooms in the application contain deep links to Stafford County’s Matterport application. Clicking on the links launches a virtual layout of the room in a separate tab. Enhancements are planned for various departments including Facilities and Emergency Services.

The purpose of the project was to locate, identify, and calculate the Diameter Breast Height (DBH) for every tree within a 525 square mile proposed development in Sarasota, FL. The tree locations and identifications were used to aid developers in proper land clearing practices within the AOI to maintain Southwestern Florida’s natural feel.

To achieve this task, Dewberry co-acquired lidar and RGB imagery. Lidar data was acquired at approximately 200 ppsm using a Riegl VQ-1560 II-S sensor mounted in a Cessna Caravan aircraft. The project was flown with overlapping, perpendicular lines to ensure sufficient penetration through the tree canopy. 14 lines were acquired in ~1 hour of flight time.

The co-acquired RGB imagery was collected using a 150 megapixel integrated camera and met a ground sample distance of 5.0 cm.

Using a semi-automated approach, the RGB imagery was fused with the lidar and leveraged in the location and classification of each tree. Additionally, to verify the tree species, stereo imagery was compiled to provide 3d views. The automated DBH estimations were made based on a power function equation that relates tree height and DBH based on a species specific scaling parameter. The species specific scaling parameter was determined by calculating the average difference between the field collected DBH value with the predicted DBH value for the scaling parameter. Standard deviation and range between predicted and actual DBH were also considered.

This presentation aims to provide a comprehensive examination of three prominent remote sensing techniques — lidar, nadir imagery, and oblique imagery—in the context of creating textured and non textured digital twins. As the demand for accurate and detailed digital representations of our environments grow, understanding the strengths and limitations of these techniques becomes crucial for informed decision-making in urban planning, infrastructure development, and asset management.

With an overview of each remote sensing technique, outlining the underlying principles and acquisition methods. Lidar, known for its precision in capturing elevation data, will be contrasted with nadir imagery, which provides top-down views, and oblique imagery that captures multiple perspectives. Measuring the pros and cons of each combination.

Are you a dinosaur? You must be if you're still using ArcMap or if you haven't started harnessing the power of AGOL! This presentation will give an overview of how a municipality or small organization can utilize the power of AGOL. Use cases include a completely online based GIS platform for permitting and inspections. We'll touch upon some of the super cool tools like Dashboards, Story Maps, Survey123 (my favorite) and with the deprecation of web app builder, we'll briefly explore the world of ArcGIS Experience Builder. Get ready to open a whole new world of online adventures with ArcGIS Online!

A cloud-first ArcGIS System enables an innovative GIS System and reduces infrastructure costs – but moving to the cloud can be daunting. What workflows will change? How does a cloud environment differ from an on-premises deployment? In this session, we will share some best practices for deploying ArcGIS in the Cloud and examine the benefits of a cloud-native environment against the realities of users and their workflows. We will discuss cloud deployment options, cloud providers, and the new possibilities cloud deployments offer organizations.

When used as directed, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) lowers the risk of contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Improving access to PrEP is a successful strategy for reducing HIV exposure among at-risk populations, including queer-identifying people, Black and transgender women, and drug users. However, only a quarter of Pennsylvania's 1.2 million people recommended for PrEP have a prescription. In Pennsylvania, only pharmacists, in conjunction with a physician, can provide PrEP, which limits access.

Using ArcGISPro3.1, data on pharmacy location, and current PrEP provider locations in Pennsylvania, this study examines if allowing pharmacists to prescribe PrEP would increase accessibility and, if accessibility improves, where and to what degree. Accessibility is measured by generating 15-minute, 30-minute, and 60-minute drive time trade areas for pharmacies that currently provide PrEP. The 60-minute drive time polygons are considered PrEP deserts. The analysis is then re-run, adding in all pharmacies. The assumption underlying this analysis is that if pharmacies were allowed to provide PrEP without a physician, then any pharmacy could give the medication.

Preliminary analysis of current PrEP accessibility shows that areas with 60-minute drive times to current providers are in central, rural areas of Pennsylvania. Shorter 30-minute drive times are standard in the collar counties of Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, Cambria, and Somerset counties near Pittsburgh and counties in northwest Pennsylvania. In some counties, 60+ minute drive times are the norm. Statewide, drive times are limited to sixty minutes, benefiting previously underserved areas in the Allegheny mountains. Northeast mountain counties see decreased drive times to thirty minutes or less, except Luzerne, Monroe, and Carbon, remaining within sixty minutes. Laurel Highlands witnessed improved accessibility, with driving times reduced to thirty minutes or less, except for Greene County.

Drones are an excellent tool for GIS. You can use them to create new, updated basemaps and 3D models. Did you know that you can use drone video in GIS? Did you know that you can connect live drone feeds with applications that give field personnel the eye in the sky? Imagine if you could add GIS data to those live feeds. Oh, wait, what? You can already do that with tools that don't cost extra for that $olution? Join Will and Steve as they demonstrate Drones and GIS working together in live, real-time situational awareness tools.

In a globalized economy, many factors can impact economic indicators. Supply chains, war, politics, but most importantly, economic geography is expanding to see how climate change can impact a nation’s economy. For this study, 3 main economic indicators (GDP, unemployment rate and debt ratio) are compared to each other and in response to natural disasters. Using IMF and EM-DAT Disaster Database, six countries of the southeast Asian region were examined: Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Their changes in GDP were compared in response to disaster events over a 30-year period (1992-2022). Panel data which is also known as longitudinal or cross-sectional time-series data was prepared using these open data sets. Panel Data Model (plm) library of functions in the R Studio were used to run financial model estimation to compare disaster intensities (deaths per population) to GDP. Hausman Test on the data set determined that a fixed effect model estimation is required due to unobserved heterogeneity, thereby rejecting the study’s null hypothesis that natural disasters and GDP or economic indicators are independent. Further use of geographic weighted regression modelling using ‘spgwr’ functionalities of R are also considered.

Impermeable surfaces contribute to and worsen the urban heat island effect, reduce water percolation rates, and reduce air quality. Street trees and urban tree canopies are vital tools for counteracting each of these environmental issues. Research indicates that the distribution of street trees varies greatly across individual urban places, with the lowest tree inventories and the poorest quality trees in low-income neighbourhoods and communities of color. As a result, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color often have worse air quality and higher surface temperatures than predominately white, affluent neighborhoods. This research examines the distribution of street trees and variations in air quality across the city of Pittsburgh by taking advantage of publicly available data on multipoint tree surveys and temporal air pollution values (PM 2.5 concentration), with further plans to use raster temperature data from NASA’s AρρEEARS data center to measure the urban heat island effect. The results of this study show that significant environmental inequalities exist across Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The number of street trees and tree canopy density is highest in white, affluent neighborhoods and lowest in predominately non-white, low-income neighborhoods. With an R-squared of 0.016, the correlation between PM 2.5 concentration and tree canopy, though intuitive, was not statistically significant. This may have been due to the small sample of air quality data available. The final empirical result of this study testing the heat mitigating capacity of street trees will be completed shortly. This project was largely completed through an internship with Operation Better Block, a long-standing community development organization in Homewood which runs several green initiative programs, including the installation of PurpleAir monitors to continue the tracking of air quality data in the neighborhood.

The goal of this research was to determine what gravity-surveying approaches, if any, can aid in determining where there are existing mine pools in the Nanticoke region and which ones have collapsed. To aid in ensuring site selection over top of expected mine pools, we used georeferenced, historical mine maps for the region. The Earth Conservancy granted us access for one of their Nanticoke properties - a reclaimed mine land now used for all- terrain vehicle (ATV) recreation. At the site, we established a gravity base station using Wilkes University’s own base station as a reference, then collected 3 to 6 readings (for averaging) every 5 meters using a Lacoste & Romberge Model G Gravimeter. We tested different approaches, including microgravity vertical gradient (MVG) and standard microgravity surveying methods, and further tested different spacing of readings to determine the best quality-efficiency balance. MVG proved difficult to obtain given the necessary height differential and the impact of wind on the stability of the gravimeter, so we were forced into using a standard survey approach. Additionally, the results from 5 meter spacing was determined to be the best for further data analysis, though 10 m could be argued for the purpose of greater efficiency. All data was corrected for instrument drift & tide, and the bouguer anomaly was calculated using a density determined from site samples and known lithologies. Geostatistical interpretation was used to generate a 2D surface map of continuous data in the study area, as well as to determine a polynomial best-fit surface for area. Subtracting the latter from the bouguer surface, we were able to highlight localized anomalies, which mimic the expected size and distribution of mine pools near the surface. Deeper mine pools were not obvious in the results. Further research is necessary to peel back the anomalies due to the upper mine pools from lower ones to see if deeper reaches can be mapped using our approach.

Pennsylvania is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including 12 Federally endangered species. Among them are the Indiana bat and Northern Long Eared bat, which rely on forested areas to survive. Pennsylvania is also home to 13 million people who require complex infrastructure and utilities to support them. This presents a unique challenge for utility companies: how can they keep the state powered without disturbing some of its most precious residents?

Introducing site selection for bats! Learn how Langan applied site selection and remote sensing techniques on a large scale to identify potential endangered bat habitats. With this GIS analysis, utility companies can compare critical habitats and use-patterns to their networks, allowing them to conduct maintenance such as tree trimming without impacting sensitive species.

The number of threatened species grows regularly, but using GIS we can work to create a symbiotic relationship between human infrastructure and the natural world. This presentation is meant to inspire GIS professionals to explore creative ways to use technology to protect the environment while providing value to clients. Join us to learn more!

The IPCC's Sixth Climate Assessment Reports stress the importance of carbon sequestration (CS) in reaching net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 to meet the 1.5 º C target of the Paris Agreement. Aligned with this objective, the Colombian government, a medium oil-producing developing countries, has an ambitious climate change strategy for 2050, with CS as a mechanism to reach carbon neutrality. Therefore, we conduct a nationwide geospatial assessment of carbon sequestration potential in Colombia in three main stages: identifying feasible areas, then characterizing them in terms of storage potential using the volumetric approach equation (CO2 screen tool) and a storage cost model (using the NETL,2017 model).

First, we evaluate the feasible areas for CS in Colombia using open-source geographical systems. Specifically, for nationwide assessment of deep-saline aquifers by screening 14 continental sedimentary basins, by overlapping with data layers relating to surface exclusion areas and leakage risk minimization. Our findings reveal over 160,000 km² distributed across six basins that are feasible locations for Carbon sequestration. Then, we characterize those areas in terms of storage potential with a gridded geospatial map that illustrates a theoretical total capacity exceeding 1.1 Tera tonnes CO2 in P50 (0.11- 1.9 Tera tonnes), and an effective capacity of 65,000 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 (16,000-183,000 M tonnes) predominantly concentrated in Colombia's eastern region, specifically the Llanos basin with efficient storage of 29,000 Mt in P50.

This comprehensive analysis yields valuable insights into the feasibility of carbon sequestration in saline aquifers for Colombia. Our study is important for guiding future investments and policy decisions related to CS and carbon management strategies in Colombia. Furthermore, these outcomes serve as a potential template for other developing nations where carbon sequestration may play a pivotal role in global climate.

The national push to leverage high resolution lidar-derived elevation models (USGS’s 3D Hydrography Program) to update hydrographic network maps has increased interest in more accurate representation of subsurface flow in urban landscapes. In most natural landscapes, surface flow is the primary hydrologic driver and can be accurately determined through analysis of terrain models using flow direction, flow accumulation, and direct channel detection analyses. In dense urban landscapes the primary hydrologic driver is often subsurface stormwater networks which cannot be mapped with optical remote sensing. NV5 will present a conceptual framework that has three alternatives:

• Level 1 – No Integration: This product is the standard USGS 3DHP network. This approach requires no knowledge of the stormwater system and no integration with it.
• Level 2 – Superficial Integration: In this option, all flow lines entering the urban areas are routed to major stormwater lines and discharge into the receiving water bodies through known outfalls.
• Level 3 – Comprehensive Integration: This level of analysis provides the most precise hydrographic representation in urban environments allowing for individual inlet-to-outlet tracking, catchments and flow accumulation to inform stormwater requirements such as pipe diameter, and identification of point source pollution initiation at network outlets.

The objective of the project was to offer comprehensive GIS and GPS data collection survey services for the Warminster Municipal Authority (WMA). The aim was to map, document, and standardize the stormwater system assets in accordance with State guidelines. This endeavor stemmed from the Environmental Protection Agency's nationwide update that necessitated an overhaul of stormwater regulations by the PADEP. The mandate addressed groundwater pollution challenges, compelling municipalities to provide detailed maps of all municipally owned or operated outfalls that directly discharge into surface water bodies. Furthermore, municipalities were advised to keep their GIS systems up-to-date, ensuring the efficient tracking of their utility systems.

In response, RVE successfully incorporated and digitized existing GIS files, including various maps and data sets provided by the WMA. All data was georeferenced to guarantee spatial accuracy, aligning with DEP's digital submission standards. Attribute tables were updated and populated from the given datasets, ensuring compliance with DEP directives. By cross-referencing existing digital data with on-site data collected through GPS, the team assured the utmost positional accuracy. In addition, RVE also trained WMA staff on the GPS equipment and standards needed to keep his information up to date. Leveraging the capabilities of cutting-edge Autodesk AutoCAD and Esri ArcGIS software applications, a color-coded Stormwater System Map was drafted. As part of the mandate, the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan was consistently updated, adhering to MS4 regulations. To achieve comprehensive coverage and accuracy, data from various county and state resources was integrated seamlessly. Upon completion, the project yielded an integrated and exhaustive map of WMA stormwater assets, inclusive of Bucks County data. This map was complemented with a digital GIS format submission that met DEP's MS4 compliance standards.

Washington County, MD, is a Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit holder. Stormwater runoff throughout Washington County is untreated and discharges directly into streams, rivers, and lakes. This exposes waterways to the potential risks of pollution. Under this permit, Washington County has several requirements that must be met yearly. These requirements ensure no pollutants are going into the local waterways and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. GIS has become a key component of the county achieving these goals. This includes the use of Survey123, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online. Survey123 is heavily used in inspections such as dry weather outfalls, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE), trash clean ups, and stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs). ArcGIS Pro is heavily used in tracking BMP inspections and impervious acreage throughout the county. ArcGIS Online (AGOL) combines these and makes it easy to share data across departments and agencies. With the continued progression of ArcGIS, future goals of Washington County Stormwater include modeling, python scripting, and data management.

In December 2023, the Pennsylvania 9-1-1 Advisory Board voted to adopt and publish an update to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Statewide NG911 GIS Strategic Plan. This update was crafted by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) 911 office, in close collaboration with its county GIS and 911 partners. The PEMA NG911 GIS Working Group and the County GIS Pros Association made important contributions to the plan that will help ensure NG911 GIS data supports the current and future needs of Pennsylvania’s 9-1-1 community.

With the initial statewide migration to NG911 service nearing completion, this updated plan signals a shift in the Commonwealth’s geospatial approach to NG911. Compared to the last version of this plan, the updated version shifts focus from a pre-migration to post-migration posture and envisions an end state for NG911 GIS where accurate geospatial call routing is maintained and where Public Safety Answering Point’s (PSAPs/9-1-1 call centers) can more easily and efficiently adopt emerging mapping technologies that utilize geospatial data to enhance location intelligence and further improve 911 service.

The updated plan identifies six strategic goals and associated tactical action steps to realize each goal, and additional metrics to measure success. These goals include:

1. Promoting addressing in alignment with NG911 standards
2. Operationalizing 3D mapping technologies and vertical elevation data
3. Maintaining NG911-ready GIS data and keeping pace with evolving NG911 GIS data standards
4. Supporting county NG911 GIS professional recruitment and retention efforts
5. Ensuring GIS data supports interstate interoperability (for NG911 call transfers)
6. Encouraging adoption of the NENA NG911 GIS Data Model Standard across PSAP mapping platforms

In this presentation, Kyle Bodtorf and Christian Przybylek will discuss how PEMA, working closely with our county GIS and 911 partners, are operationalizing this plan to achieve these goals and reach the envisioned end state. Learn what’s in store for the future of GIS and NG911 in the months and years ahead.

Cumberland County GIS has deployed FME Server over the past year. Faced with the challenge of automating intricate data workflows, the GIS Department sought a tool to streamline data manipulation processes between disparate networks without the need for extensive coding.

We will overview the creation of a desktop model designed for seamlessly joining parcel linework with Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) attributes and calculating property tax estimates. Then observe how FME Server enables publishing web services for on demand data processing. FME brings our GIS Department a significant advancement in managing complex datasets.

The ArcGIS Parcel Fabric structures parcel managing and editing workflows in a multi-user environment. Hosted as a service, the Parcel Fabric can be shared across all platforms in your Enterprise, including desktop, web, and mobile workflows and applications.

Chester County started their effort of migrating to ArcGIS Pro in 2022. They also spent significant time and effort in evaluating the decision of integrating Parcel Fabric. The Parcel Fabric includes workflows for COGO and topology, and Attribute Rules can be authored to automatically populate data to provide quality assurance and restrict invalid data entry. In the Parcel Fabric, Chester County is managing workflows for multiple parcel types including tax parcels, subdivisions, roads, site address points, and historic features. Parcel editing workflows, configured as ArcGIS Pro Tasks, make routine operations streamlined.

Chester County employs a robust ArcGIS Enterprise consisting of a Dev, Test, and Production environments and over 200,000 parcels in the Parcel Fabric.

The proposed Pennsylvania Municipal Geospatial Group aims to address the growing need for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and support in the geospatial field within the state. Distinguishing itself from county-level groups, the initiative offers a statewide reach, focusing specifically on municipalities, towns, boroughs, and their affiliated organizations. Leveraging Keystone GIS's operational support and credibility, the initiative plans to establish a board of directors, working groups, and regular meetings to foster collaboration, capacity building, advocacy, innovation, and resource sharing among members. The proposed action plan outlines key objectives, initial steps for organization, legal structure, membership drive, communication and outreach, collaboration framework, financial planning, timeline, and progress documentation, providing a comprehensive roadmap for the group's formation and development.

Keystone GIS board member Joe Livoti, who is spearheading this initiative with its unique approach and Keystone GIS affiliation, presents a promising opportunity to create a dynamic ecosystem for geospatial development and cooperation across the state. By focusing on specific objectives, leveraging existing resources, and adopting a well-defined structure, the initiative is poised to make a significant impact on the geospatial landscape in Pennsylvania, addressing the needs of municipalities and contributing to the broader geospatial community

An opportunity for Q&A following the prior session on PMGP.

This year, 2024, marks the start of the 3rd Pennsylvania Bird Atlas, which occurs every 20 years. With advances in GIS technologies, like ArcGIS Experience Builder, Survey123, and other applications, the 3rd Bird Atlas will nearly be fully digital! Part of that digital transformation is the new Pennsylvania Bird Atlas Map created by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to better engage bird enthusiasts across the Commonwealth and to manage the hundreds of atlas volunteers who will be tracking their avian observations throughout the Bird Atlas. This presentation will walk through the technical considerations for how the Pennsylvania Bird Atlas Map was created using ArcGIS Online, Experience Builder and Survey123.

We're sitting at the table but we're all eating from our own bagged lunches. We are grateful to have access to or create data for our own purposes. However, as we continue to feed our systems I can't help thinking about our role in GIS. Every byte brings to mind several songs with lyrics like "We're all here cause we're not all there". Well, what in the world am I talking about? How about a look at the PA GIS Community as a whole? We've had many years of discussion "around the table" saying how important GIS is; how great is the work that we do, wouldn't it be nice if PA had statewide (pick a layer), how can we fund.... and here we are; yet we're not all there.

A recent sense of forward progress has been PEMA NG911 GIS and through the Geo Board talking about common layers and Basemap2030, or 3DPA. Great discussions about the same old stuff. One thing that is missing from making 3DPA/Basemap2030 a reality is a unified focus--something that helps identify how datasets are related and dependent. What is something that demonstrates the need for Lidar, Imagery, 3D Meshes, Oblique Imagery, Drones, Building Information, Property Records, Emergency Services, Transportation and Logistics, Conservation and Watershed Management, Economic Development, Community Engagement, etc.? Here's a hint; Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs). Preparing GIS data and analysis for HMPs is THE focused purpose that hits on all of these topics and truly is a silver platter that can deliver 3DPA by 2030. Join Cambria County in discovering the intrinsic creation of 3DPA via the data necessary for Hazard Mitigation Planning. If we are all here at the table, let us all be there to share the feast together!