| MidAmerica GIS ConsortiumWe believe geospatial technology creates value far reaching from ourselves. We are a network of dedicated leaders in the fields of mapmaking, location services, & data management. |
Expanded Sessions - 2026MAGIC is again offering expanded sessions for our Wednesday morning session. These are not as long as a full course but a deeper dive into a technical topic. No additional fee or registration required! Options include: Young Professional and Student panels, Remote Sensing for Underwater Search and Recovery, R for Open Source Programming, Python in ArcGIS Pro, How to Become a GISP, and Women in GIS. Additionally, during this time we will have an open session on scripting including ArcPy and Arcade in the Sponsor area. Stop in and ask an expert for help or visit with our awesome sponsors. |
Session 1: April 15, 8:00 – 10:00 Breakout Rooms Why do we fail? A quick start training on Field Data Collection Best Practices Council Bluffs Room Dr. Nikolas Smilovsky and Anthony Mireles, Bad Elf, LLC Tags: Field Data Collection, GPS, GNSS, Esri Field Maps, BMPs, Geodesy, Land Surveying Why Do We Fail? A Quick Start Training on Field Data Collection Best Practices is a two hour, fast paced training that examines why field data collection and surveying efforts break down, how those failures occur in real world workflows, and what teams can do to correct them. The course begins by identifying the common causes of failure, from planning and field execution to quality control and communication, then shifts to proven best practices that help prevent errors, reduce rework, and improve data reliability. Designed to be engaging and practical, this training benefits anyone involved in field data collection, from beginners building a strong foundation to experienced field professionals refining their workflows. Participants leave with actionable insights and best practices they can immediately apply to strengthen individual performance and organizational results.
Building Your GISP Portfolio Big Blue A Tony Spicci GISP CGMP, GIS Certification Institute Tags: GISP, GISCI, certification, professional This session will focus on building your GISP portfolio whether it’s for becoming a GISP or recertifying as a GISP. We will take a dive into each of the submission areas: Education, Experience and Contributions to the Profession. And we’ll also spend some time on ethics and professional certification. Anyone interested in learning more about creating their portfolio is encouraged to attend. The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) is a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement of proficient GIS professionals through its international GISP® (Certified GIS Professional) certification program. The Institute fosters rigorous professional and ethical standards, community engagement, and professional mentoring within the GIS industry.
Lost in Translation: Communicating the Value of Geospatial Work Big Blue B Katilin Belk and Tom Vought, Missouri Spatial Data Information Service Tags: Geospatial, Outreach, Communication, Data Stewardship, Integration Geospatial work plays a critical role across sectors, yet it is often misunderstood or undervalued. Whether supporting research, informing policy, guiding infrastructure decisions, or driving business outcomes, geospatial professionals frequently face the same challenge: communicating the scope, complexity, and value of their work to non-geospatial audiences. This engaging 90-minute session explores why geospatial work is so often “lost in translation” across organizational and sectoral boundaries. Participants will reflect on foundational questions: How do you communicate that to colleagues? What silos exist because the full capacity of geospatial work is not understood? Facilitated breakouts will encourage cross-sector discussion, shared reflection, and collaborative problem-solving. Team MSDIS does not claim to have geospatial communication “figured out.” Instead, this session creates space to openly discuss challenges, missteps, and lessons learned across sectors, with the goal of starting, and continuing, a dialogue on how geospatial professionals can better support one another in outreach, advocacy, and cross-disciplinary communication. 
Remote Sensing for Underwater Search and Recovery Big Blue C Jim Sholly, Ventura Fire Department and Iowa Underwater Search and Rescue Tags: Remote Sensing, SAR Readily available technology has significantly advanced the capabilities of emergency services in conducting underwater searches for victims, vehicles, and evidence. This session will present the remote sensing tools currently deployed by the Ventura Fire Department and highlight their operational partnership with the divers of Iowa Underwater Search and Rescue. Together, they use sonar to detect anomalies on lake and river bottoms, then guide divers to investigate and recover what has been identified. The underlying science of sonar technology and its practical application in emergency scenarios will be presented, supported by case studies and lessons learned from recovery missions over the last decade. Additionally, we will demonstrate how these tools enhance situational awareness and support incident command staff in making informed decisions during time-critical operations. |
Session 2: April 15, 8:00 – 10:00 Break out Rooms
Airborne Lidar Processing
Council Bluffs Room
Brad Barker and Jack King, Bowman
Tags: lidar
Airborne lidar processing is a structured workflow that converts raw flight data into accurate geospatial products. It begins with mission planning, where point density, overlap, and altitude requirements guide flight design. After acquisition, data is securely ingested, archived, and prepared through automated initialization routines. Early validation via Flown Extent Inspection confirms coverage and specification compliance, identifying gaps or nonconformances that may require reflights. Boresighting and project wide adjustments correct system misalignments and refine heading, roll, and pitch to produce a spatially consistent dataset. With geometry finalized, swath publishing and tiling establish the framework for automated and manual classification, ensuring accuracy across complex terrain and features. Hydrographic processing enforces monotonicity, integrates breaklines, and supports hydro flattened surfaces. Final deliverables including DEMs, DSMs, intensity images, hydro data, and classified LAS files which undergo rigorous quality control to ensure they meet technical and client specifications.
Virtual Work Relationships and Interorganizational Collaboration
Big Blue A
John Kirchgesner, University of Illinois
Tags:
In the first half of this workshop, we will discuss examples of miscommunication and different perspectives that can lead to reduced cooperation on projects. We will cover approaches to reducing these hurdles and allow time for participants to share successes of their own in this area for the group’s benefit.
In the second half of this workshop, we will share ways to find grants and create project opportunities, break into smaller groups to form specific proposal ideas, and hopefully leave with new potential collaborators and applications action items.
-attendee participation encouraged but not required.
-attendees encouraged to bring device with internet access."
Leadership Without the Title
Big Blue B
Katilin Belk and Casey DunnGossin Missouri Spatial Data Information Service / Michael Baker
Tags: GeoWomen
Many women in GIS are already leading, shaping workflows, setting standards, mentoring peers, and driving innovation, without formal authority or recognition. This session explores how to lead effectively from technical and specialist roles, advocate for yourself and your work, and build influence across teams and organizations. Through discussion and real-world scenarios, participants will identify leadership behaviors they already practice and learn strategies to strengthen their presence, decision-making power, and professional confidence.
Launching Your Career: Skills, Strategies, and Real Talk
Big Blue A
Michael Kamin, GISP, City of Batavia IL / ILGISA / MAGIC
Tags:
Panel for Students / new to the career professionals.
Session 1 & 2: April 15, 8:00 – 12:00 – In Exhibit Hall
Ask Me Anything FME: A Drop-In Help Desk for Real-World Problems
Mark McCart, SAIC
Tags: FME, Integration
Have an FME question you’ve been meaning to ask? Running into issues with a workspace, automation, or deployment? This drop-in help desk session is designed as an open, welcoming space for users of all experience levels to get hands-on support with the FME platform.
Whether you’re brand new to FME, just starting to explore what the platform can do, building complex workflows, or managing enterprise solutions, bring your questions, challenges, and curiosities. If you’re completely new to FME and want to understand where it fits into your GIS workflows, this is also a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more in an informal, low-pressure setting.
For the best support experience, attendees are encouraged to bring their laptop and any relevant FME workspaces or examples they’d like help with. We’ll troubleshoot FME workspaces, review FME Flow configurations, talk through best practices, and help you move past roadblocks that are slowing you down.
No formal presentation, just practical help, real conversations, and solutions tailored to your needs. If you’re attending the MAGIC symposium and use FME or are simply curious about it—stop by and let’s work through it together."