ArcGIS Experience Builder Widget Development: A Guide for the GIS Layperson

Collaboration session conducted online as part of the Willamette Valley GIS Users Group Fall 2024 Quarterly Meeting

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

ArcGIS Experience Builder Widget Development: A Quick Guide for the GIS Layperson

Collaboration session conducted online for the November 2024 Idaho TECH Talk meeting.

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The Lone GIS Professional: Experiences, Challenges, and Requirements

Collaboration session conducted as part of Northwest GIS 2024

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Angela VanderPas, City of Lewiston, ID
David Jacobus, City of Albany, OR
Gary Montgomery, City of Lacey, WA
Sam Jenkins, City of Pullman, WA
Megan Wheatley, Idaho Office of Information Technology Services, Boise, ID
Kyle Kasparek
Eric Wing, City of Boise, ID
Jim Glassley, HNTB, Bellevue, WA
Al Mowbray, Oregon Metro, Portland, OR
Jesse Potts, Kittitas County, WA
Rachael Reed, HDR, Inc., Boise, ID
Nick Pappin, Washington State University Division of Governmental Studies and Services, Pullman, WA

At the 2008 Esri Developer Summit, the content was based on the assumption that most GIS professionals, especially developers, work in teams. From a rudimentary survey, however, it seemed that around half of the attendees worked on their own or were the only GIS expert in their organization. This was surprising to Esri, who, to their credit, adjusted their emphasis accordingly for future events. A few months later, a session focusing on the life of the lone GIS professional at the Washington GIS Conference attracted over a third of the attendees (around 70 people) who recognized that their experience working on their own or in small groups was a worthy basis for interaction at this and subsequent events. Eleven years on from the last session dedicated specifically to the world of the lone GIS professional, what, if anything, has changed? Is there still value in focusing on their situation in contrast to, for example, that of GIS professionals working in medium or large groups? The goal of this session is to address these and whatever other questions are of interest to lone GIS professionals. The approach will be the same as that for the complementary Things Worth Knowing session, which will involve adjusting the environment as required to facilitate healthy collaboration. As for that session, all participants will be expected to contribute to the proceedings at some point during the session.

Things Worth Knowing

Collaboration session conducted as part of Northwest GIS 2024

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Angela VanderPas, City of Lewiston, ID
David Jacobus, City of Albany, OR
Gary Montgomery, City of Lacey, WA
Sam Jenkins, City of Pullman, WA
Megan Wheatley, Idaho Office of Information Technology Services, Boise, ID
Kyle Kasparek
Eric Wing, City of Boise, ID
Jim Glassley, HNTB, Bellevue, WA
Al Mowbray, Oregon Metro, Portland, OR
Jesse Potts, Kittitas County, WA
Rachael Reed, HDR, Inc., Boise, ID
Nick Pappin, Washington State University Division of Governmental Studies and Services, Pullman, WA

At the 2022 joint GIS-Pro and Northwest GIS conference, Jack Dangermond, the President of Esri concluded his keynote presentation by saying that "the central problem of our time is our lack of understanding and failure to collaborate, which is challenging our sustainability and threatening our future." This begs the question: What are we going to do about it? Given that the word "conference" means, among other things, "a meeting of two or more persons for discussing matters of common concern," does a typical conference presentation format support effective collaboration? One could argue that it doesn’t, at least not to a great enough extent. In this session, and in a complementary session focused on the lone GIS professional, we’ll try something different. Together, the participants will arrange the room to be conducive to collaboration; they’ll initiate discussion on topics that they feel are worth knowing about, taking something of an “anything goes” approach; and they’ll encourage helpful interaction. All participants will be expected to contribute to the proceedings at some point during the session, offering their own perspectives on a topic of someone else’s choosing or requesting a focus on something of interest. It may be chaos. Ideally, it will be very helpful. It’s worth trying alternative approaches like this, though. And if we make a mess of it this time, we’ll learn from what happened and keep trying on other occasions as we evolve to be better collaborators.

Paranoid Programming: Helpful Guidance for ArcGIS Pro Python Tools and Processes Development

Collaboration session conducted as part of Northwest GIS 2024

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The purpose of this collaboration session is to provide helpful guidance for anyone interested in developing tools and processes using Python with ArcGIS Pro. A brief overview of the ArcGIS Pro Python development options will be provided, followed by an explanation of a set of tools and scripts created to support the development of endangered species protection areas. This explanation will serve as a foundation for interactive discussion and demonstrations concerning a wide variety of topics, including high-level coding considerations, in-depth techniques, and things to watch out for in ArcGIS Pro. All session attendees will be welcome to contribute to the discussion and provide, for example, tips and tricks and perspectives based on their own ArcGIS Pro and Python development experience, the goal being to provide a forum for a beneficial exchange of ideas and inspiration. Coding is especially rewarding in many respects, but it can be tricky at times. It becomes less of a challenge, however, if we help each other as much as possible.

ArcGIS Experience Builder Development Considerations

Collaboration session conducted online for the Alaska Arc User Group June 2024 Monthly Meeting

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

ArcGIS Experience Builder is described by Esri as "a highly configurable solution for building compelling web apps without writing code." Coding, however, provides significant additional benefits, either through the creation and installation of custom widgets or through more traditional application customization, which involves, for example, adding code that runs in response to browser events. An overview of these options and associated development considerations will be provided in a manner that is designed to be helpful to both developers and non-developers alike, with explanations supported by comparisons with ArcGIS Web AppBuilder development technology. In view of the scheduled retirement of ArcGIS Web AppBuilder in July 2024, transition considerations will also be addressed.

ArcGIS Experience Builder Development Considerations

Collaboration session conducted as part of the 2024 Intermountain GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

ArcGIS Experience Builder is described by Esri as "a highly configurable solution for building compelling web apps without writing code." Coding, however, provides significant additional benefits, either through the creation and installation of custom widgets or through more traditional application customization, which involves, for example, adding code that runs in response to browser events. In this session, an overview of these options and associated development considerations will be provided in a manner that is designed to be helpful to both developers and non-developers alike, with explanations supported by comparisons with ArcGIS Web AppBuilder development technology. In view of the scheduled retirement of ArcGIS Web AppBuilder in July 2024, the transition to Experience Builder will also be addressed and, as always, attendees will be encouraged to engage with their fellow GIS professionals to discuss the topic at hand.

Finding Your Way: Approaching GIS from Different Directions

Collaboration session conducted as part of the 2024 Intermountain GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Angela VanderPas, City of Lewiston, ID
Wilma Robertson, Idaho Office of Information Technology Services, Boise, ID
Laurie Ames, Nez Perce Tribe

As GIS professionals, we share a great deal of common knowledge, while often having quite different backgrounds and experiences, which shape our ways of thinking and functioning, both consciously and subconsciously, in profound ways. Is it because of nature or nurture? Are we introverts or extroverts? Do we tend to be guided by local influences or international ones? In this collaboration session, four GIS professionals based in Idaho and Washington will offer their perspectives on why they do things the way they do as they find their way in the world of GIS and as they evolve in their professional careers. They'll consider their traits, both positive and negative, and impart their wisdom with a view to inspiring a healthy discussion with and amongst their audience that may lead to positive outcomes for all involved.

ArcGIS Experience Builder Development Considerations

Collaboration session conducted as part of GIS In Action 2024

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
David Jacobus, City of Albany, OR
Aaron Paul, Clackamas County, OR

ArcGIS Experience Builder is described by Esri as "a highly configurable solution for building compelling web apps without writing code." Coding, however, provides significant additional benefits, either through the creation and installation of custom widgets or through more traditional application customization, which involves, for example, adding code that runs in response to browser events. In this collaboration session, an overview of these options and associated development considerations will be provided in a manner that is designed to be helpful to both developers and non-developers alike, with explanations supported by comparisons with ArcGIS Web AppBuilder development technology. In view of the scheduled retirement of ArcGIS Web AppBuilder in July 2024, the transition to Experience Builder will also be addressed and, as always for GISPD.com sessions, attendees will be encouraged to engage with their fellow GIS professionals to further their understanding of the topic at hand.

ArcGIS Experience Builder Development Considerations

Collaboration session conducted as part of Big Sky GeoCon 2024

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

An overview of ArcGIS Experience Builder development considerations will be provided in a manner that is designed to be helpful to both developers and non-developers. As a result, the explanations may be helpful for those engaging in their own development endeavors as well as for those seeking to understand how the technology works. Examples will include a simple requirement for which a widget-based solution may at first be tempting, but for which a more traditional application extension approach makes more sense. As always, attendees will be encouraged to contribute their thoughts and seek guidance during the session. An overview of ArcGIS Experience Builder development considerations will be provided in a manner that is designed to be helpful to both developers and non-developers. As a result, the explanations may be helpful for those engaging in their own development endeavors as well as for those seeking to understand how the technology works. Examples will include a simple requirement for which a widget-based solution may at first be tempting, but for which a more traditional application extension approach makes more sense. As always, attendees will be encouraged to contribute their thoughts and seek guidance during the session.

Wisdom, Guidance, and Inspiration from the World of the GIS Coordinator

Collaboration session conducted as part of Big Sky GeoCon 2024

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Erin Fashoway, Montana State Library, Helena, MT
Lee Macholz, City of Missoula, MT
Tom Kohley, Carbon County, MT
Aaron Vaughn, City of Great Falls, MT
Mike Powell, Yellowstone County, MT

Manager, analyst, salesperson, administrator, therapist, scientist, leader, developer, provider, teacher? However it's described, the role of the GIS coordinator is often complex and can vary according to many factors. In this collaboration session, a group of inspiring Montana GIS coordinators will provide a sense of their world, offering perspectives, wisdom, and guidance of potential value to all of their fellow GIS professionals. As is always the case for GIS professional development sessions of this nature, the audience will be invited to enhance the collective experience by engaging in a helpful and mutually beneficial discussion on the topics at hand.

ArcGIS Experience Builder Development Considerations

Collaboration session conducted as part of the Willamette Valley GIS Users Group Winter 2024 Quarterly Meeting

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

An overview of ArcGIS Experience Builder development considerations will be provided in a manner that is designed to be helpful to both developers and non-developers. As a result, the explanations may be helpful for those engaging in their own development endeavors as well as for those seeking to understand how the technology works. Examples will include a simple requirement for which a widget-based solution may at first be tempting, but for which a more traditional application extension approach makes more sense. As always, attendees will be encouraged to contribute their thoughts and seek guidance during the session.

ArcGIS Experience Builder: No Widget Required

Collaboration session conducted as part of the Washington State 12th Annual Joint Agency GIS Day

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Widget development is typically seen as the primary customization option for extending the capabilities of an ArcGIS Experience Builder application. But, developing a widget may be overkill and a more traditional application extension approach may make more sense for technical and economic reasons. This presentation will focus on a simple example requirement for which this is the case and will provide an appreciation for the customization process as well as for modern web development techniques.

ArcGIS Experience Builder: Widget or Not?

Collaboration session conducted as part of Northwest GIS 2023

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

ArcGIS Experience Builder is an Esri solution for building rich web applications and allows for customization and extension via widgets. In this session, an overview of widget development will be provided in a manner designed to be helpful to both developers and general GIS professionals. A simple example requirement will then be described for which a widget-based solution may at first be tempting, but for which a more traditional application extension approach makes more sense. The explanation of this approach will provide the audience with an appreciation for a modern web development construct, which may be helpful for their own development endeavors as well as for understanding how the technology works. As always in GISPD sessions, attendees will be welcome to engage in a discussion and to contribute their thoughts regarding the topic at hand.

Guidance for ArcGIS Pro Tools and Processes Development

Collaboration session conducted as part of Northwest GIS 2023

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The purpose of this session is to provide helpful guidance with respect to the development of Python tools and processes to support ArcGIS Pro workflows. Examples are drawn from an endangered species protection area project that was originally supported by ArcMap-based .NET (C#)/ArcObjects procedures, but which is now largely supported by ArcGIS Pro Python geoprocessing tools and scripts, accompanied by a .NET feature navigation add-in. Transition considerations will be discussed and a review of tools for creating Public Land Survey System quarter sections will help illustrate the benefits of straightforward respectful and flexible coding practices that are applicable to programming in any language.

ArcGIS Pro Add-Ins: Characteristics and Development Considerations

Collaboration session conducted as part of Northwest GIS 2023

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The purpose of this session is to review a range of ArcGIS Pro add-in characteristics and related development considerations. Using examples pertaining to address point management, map making, and cadastral map feature creation, the session will demonstrate the value of add-ins for streamlining processes and for extending the capabilities of ArcGIS Pro. Respectful approaches to development of any kind will be emphasized and the session content will be elucidated in a manner that will be palatable to anyone with an interest in ArcGIS Pro and the possibilities for creating new and valuable functionality. Attendees will be welcome to engage in a discussion and to contribute their thoughts regarding the topic at hand.

The Value of Respectful ArcGIS Pro Add-In Development

Collaboration session conducted as part of the Willamette Valley GIS Users Group Spring 2023 Quarterly Meeting

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The Ups and Downs of Being a GIS Analyst

Collaboration session conducted as part of GIS In Action 2023

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Johanna Bailey, Avion Water Company, Bend, OR
Rachael Haggen, HDR, Inc., Boise, ID
Jack Colpitt, Crook County, Prineville, OR
Dion Webster, The Freshwater Trust, Portland, OR

The professional life of the GIS analyst can be diverse. Many hats may be involved and the demands may be wide-ranging. For some, that suits their personality. For others, it may be a source of difficulty and frustration. In this collaboration session, a group of GIS analysts from the Pacific Northwest will provide an insight into their successes, their failures, and their needs, and, in so doing, encourage a healthy exchange of experiences and ideas with their audience. Of course, we have good reason to be optimistic that the needs tend more towards successes than towards failures. Above all else, the goal of the session is to be as helpful as possible. For the presenters, it provides an opportunity to further their ability to share their thoughts and, where appropriate, seek guidance from their peers. For the audience, it provides an opportunity to contribute to the GIS community by assisting and encouraging each other with respect to the many requirements and challenges typically encountered by GIS analysts.

Guidance for ArcGIS Pro Tools and Processes Development

Collaboration session conducted as part of GIS In Action 2023

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The purpose of this session is to provide helpful guidance with respect to the development of Python tools and processes to support ArcGIS Pro workflows. Examples are drawn from an endangered species protection area project that was originally supported by ArcMap-based .NET (C#)/ArcObjects procedures, but which is now largely supported by ArcGIS Pro Python geoprocessing tools and scripts, accompanied by a .NET feature navigation add-in. Transition considerations will be discussed and a review of tools for creating Public Land Survey System quarter sections will help illustrate the benefits of straightforward respectful and flexible coding practices that are applicable to programming in any language.

Guidance for ArcGIS Pro Tools and Processes Development

Collaboration session conducted as part of Big Sky GeoCon 2023

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The purpose of this session is to provide helpful guidance with respect to the development of Python tools and processes to support ArcGIS Pro workflows. Examples are drawn from an endangered species protection area project that was originally supported by ArcMap-based .NET (C#)/ArcObjects procedures, but which is now largely supported by ArcGIS Pro Python geoprocessing tools and scripts, accompanied by a .NET feature navigation add-in. Transition considerations will be discussed and a review of tools for creating Public Land Survey System quarter sections will help illustrate the benefits of straightforward respectful and flexible coding practices that are applicable to programming in any language.

The Importance of Coding for GIS

Collaboration session conducted as part of Big Sky GeoCon 2023

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Kenny Ketner, Montana State Library, Helena, MT
Scott Raznoff, Headwaters Geographic, Helena, MT
Ken Wall, Geodata Services, Inc., Missoula, MT

Coding is important for GIS professionals. It's important for analysts who need to demonstrate their commitment to efficiency and effectiveness and it's important for managers who need to ensure that the needs of their organization and customers are being met in a fiscally responsible manner. The purpose of this collaboration session is to help each other appreciate and understand this message, to encourage those who aren't coding to get started, and to support those who are coding as they realize its substantial benefits with respect to GIS and other technology operations.

ArcGIS Pro Add-In Development: An Introduction for the GIS Layperson

Collaboration session conducted as part of URISA GIS-Pro & NWGIS 2022

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The purpose of this collaboration session is to introduce the GIS layperson to the development of ArcGIS Pro add-ins using the ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET by striking a balance between (1) explaining add-in development to those who are new to the topic, either as potential developers or as add-in users, and (2) providing helpful guidance to those who are already familiar with the add-in development process and may have experience in developing add-ins for ArcGIS Desktop. The general approach for the session, which has been well received on previous occasions, involves taking a topic that, typically, may only be palatable to a small proportion of the GIS community and making it accessible to a wider audience through the use of simplified explanations and analogies, while retaining key details that may factor into decisions regarding whether to adopt the technology and how it may be implemented. Examples will include arrow editing tools for cadastral mapping (for the State of Oregon ORMAP project), address point management tools (for the City of Albany, Oregon and the City of Lacey, Washington), and a general feature navigation tool. While the emphasis will be on ArcGIS Pro, references will also be made to ArcGIS Desktop to highlight the substantial differences between the development frameworks for the two products.

The Value of Modern and Respectful Coding: A Guide for the GIS Layperson

Collaboration session conducted online as part of GIS In Action 2022

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

When developing code of any kind it's tempting to focus solely on getting a process to work, as opposed to treating coding as a wider form of communication. By definition, however, coding, involves language and, with it, the associated responsibility to practice clarity and consideration for all intended audiences, not just a computer processor. The purpose of this collaboration session is to emphasize such respect when it comes to coding in support of GIS operations while also explaining the benefits of modern Esri coding options. Specifically, the session will highlight three languages: (1) JavaScript and the related TypeScript, for ArcGIS API for JavaScript Version 4.x application development and ArcGIS Experience Builder widget development; (2) Python, for ArcGIS Pro tools and processes development; and (3) C#, for ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET add-in development. In the spirit of considering respect, the session is designed for the GIS layperson, such that, regardless of their background and interests, anyone in the audience who doesn't understand something may, at any time, scream, yell, or raise their web conference hands, to demand a clearer explanation. Such interaction is always welcome to enhance the value of the occasion for all involved.

A Guide to Managing Application Updates for the Mere Mortal

Collaboration session conducted online as part of GIS In Action 2022

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Gary Montgomery, City of Lacey, WA
Jennifer Radcliff, City of Tumwater, WA
Tonya Kauhi, City of Tacoma, WA

Upgrading GIS applications is easy. All you have to do is download a few programs, install them, tweak a few settings and, bingo, you have the latest and greatest capabilities in place for you and your users. Maybe you have to hand over some money too, but, really, how hard can it be? In this collaboration session, you'll have the opportunity to help your fellow GIS professionals deal with the reality of keeping applications up to date. Of course, that reality can vary widely depending on your situation and the scope of your GIS operations and there's never a one-size-fits-all solution. Recognizing, therefore, that upgrading GIS applications can typically be something of an art, four GIS professionals from Washington State will do their best to provide a guide to considerations for upgrading applications, according to their experience in small and medium-size cities, in private industry, and in the consulting world.

ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET Development Considerations

Collaboration session conducted online as part of GIS In Action 2022

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Gary Montgomery, City of Lacey, WA
David Jacobus, City of Albany, OR

The ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET provides a dizzying array of rich capabilities for customizing and extending ArcGIS Pro through add-ins and configurations and, given that ArcGIS Pro is a multithreaded application, both the use of the program and the SDK development process can really make one's head spin. But, it's a reasonable idea to try to avoid any pain and ensure that the users of one's customizations encounter a smooth and professional experience. The goal of this session is to be of assistance in that regard by providing guidance for the benefit of users as well as developers. The advantages of adopting the SDK will be illustrated and related considerations will be presented, supported by examples that include ORMAP arrow editing tools for cadastral mapping, address point management tools for the City of Albany, Oregon, and the City of Lacey, Washington, and a general feature navigation tool. As always, attendees will be invited to respond to the offerings and contribute their own ideas for maintaining the sanity of the developer and the user, such that the potential of the SDK can be realized in a positive and valuable manner.

The Value of Modern and Respectful Coding: A Guide for the GIS Layperson

Collaboration session conducted online as part of Washington State Joint Agency GIS Week

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

When developing code of any kind it's tempting to focus solely on getting a process to work, as opposed to treating coding as a wider form of communication. By definition, however, coding, involves language and, with it, the associated responsibility to practice clarity and consideration for all intended audiences, not just a computer processor. The purpose of this collaboration session is to emphasize such respect when it comes to coding in support of GIS operations while also explaining the benefits of modern Esri coding options. Specifically, the session will highlight three languages: (1) JavaScript and the related TypeScript, for ArcGIS API for JavaScript Version 4.x application development and ArcGIS Experience Builder widget development; (2) Python, for ArcGIS Pro tools and processes development; and (3) C#, for ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET add-in development. In the spirit of considering respect, the session is designed for the GIS layperson, such that, regardless of their background and interests, anyone in the audience who doesn't understand something may, at any time, scream, yell, or raise their web conference hands, to demand a clearer explanation. Such interaction is always welcome to enhance the value of the occasion for all involved.

Yours to Make: Building Your Success as a GIS Professional

Collaboration session conducted online as part of Northwest GIS 2021

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Gary Montgomery, City of Lacey, WA
Jennifer Radcliff, City of Tumwater, WA
Tonya Kauhi, City of Tacoma, WA

Assuming that we have as much control over our lives as we tend to think we do, it could be argued that we can evolve our GIS careers in whatever ways we want, usually, of course, striving to be successful. But, is this true? In this collaboration session, panelists with many years of combined GIS experience, covering a wide range of expertise within the public and private sectors, will impart their thoughts on the question. Their goal will be to stimulate a fruitful engagement with attendees, the purpose of which is to help facilitate successful and enriching professional occupations. Topics presented for consideration will include attitude, with respect to, for example, having the required initiative and vision to accomplish whatever we set out to do; awareness, regarding, for example, our own needs and those of the organizations we serve; clarity, a critical requirement for communicating our capabilities, needs, results, and so on; and recognition, which may refer to our ability to accurately read situations and determine, for instance, what moves we need to make to support our continued growth. Given that the factors affecting careers of any kind are highly variable and involve skills that may or may not be teachable, particular care will be taken to avoid oversimplifying matters or being overly prescriptive in any advisory guidance. As usual for these GIS professional development sessions, the point is simply to help each other as best we can through rich and positive interaction.

ArcGIS Pro: Adapting to the Modern GIS World

Collaboration session conducted online as part of Northwest GIS 2021

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
John Sharrard, Esri
Eric McAvoy, Polk County, OR
David Jacobus, City of Albany, OR

When Esri released its new powerful and modern desktop application called ArcGIS Pro in 2015, it could be claimed, for example, that it wasn't ready to replace ArcGIS for Desktop, that it didn't do all the things an Esri desktop product should do, or that it's better to stick with the status quo. But those are no longer reasonable claims. ArcGIS Pro now does everything ArcGIS for Desktop can do and much more. It's a mature 64-bit multithreaded product that supports advanced data visualization and analysis, authoritative data maintenance in 2D, 3D, and 4D, and integration with web services technology through ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise. It should, therefore, be central to current Esri-based desktop and enterprise GIS operations. The purpose of this collaboration session is to support that assertion for the benefit of both potential and existing users of ArcGIS Pro. The content of the session will include (1) an overview of the product, including core capabilities and customization and configuration options, (2) an assessment of ArcGIS Pro's role with respect to current and future technology trends, (3) counterarguments in response to perceived obstacles to ArcGIS Pro adoption, (4) perspectives on ArcGIS Pro implementation, and (5) helpful advice related to various aspects of the technology and its use. With many years of rich ArcGIS Pro experience between them, within Esri, local government, and private sector consulting, the panelists have much to offer, but attendees will be encouraged to enhance the session by offering their own perspectives and guidance.

It's Time to Move On: A Persuasive Case for Transitioning from ArcGIS Desktop to ArcGIS Pro

Collaboration session conducted online for the Alaska Arc User Group June 2021 Monthly Meeting

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

ArcGIS Pro is Esri's powerful and modern desktop application, supporting data visualization, advanced analysis, and authoritative data maintenance in 2D, 3D, and 4D, as well as integration with Esri's web GIS technology through ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise. Now at version 2.8, ArcGIS Pro reached parity with ArcGIS Desktop some time ago and is a stable and mature product. Nevertheless, two polls conducted during recent local conference sessions suggested that 60% of attendees had not started using ArcGIS Pro, which makes it incumbent on those of us who are taking full advantage of ArcGIS Pro to encourage them to start to make the transition from ArcGIS Desktop. The purpose of this collaboration session is to support that effort. The session will consist of four parts: (1) An overview of ArcGIS Pro and why it's worth switching from ArcGIS Desktop; (2) An example of a hybrid ArcMap/ArcGIS Pro approach for completing a complex project, while gradually transitioning from existing workflows to new and improved ones; (3) ArcGIS Pro tips and tricks; and (4) A period of audience engagement, during which attendees will be invited to offer their own perspectives and seek advice from other attendees. As the session title states, a persuasive case will be made, on the grounds that it is better to be persuaded to make the move to ArcGIS Pro now than it is to stressfully make the transition in the face an impending deadline, beyond which ArcGIS Desktop will no longer be usable.

It's Time to Move On: A Persuasive Case for Transitioning from ArcGIS Desktop to ArcGIS Pro

Collaboration session conducted online as part of the 2021 Washington GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

ArcGIS Pro is Esri's powerful and modern desktop application, supporting data visualization, advanced analysis, and authoritative data maintenance in 2D, 3D, and 4D, as well as integration with Esri's web GIS technology through ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise. Now at version 2.8, ArcGIS Pro reached parity with ArcGIS Desktop some time ago and is a stable and mature product. Nevertheless, two polls conducted during recent local conference sessions suggested that 60% of attendees had not started using ArcGIS Pro, which makes it incumbent on those of us who are taking full advantage of ArcGIS Pro to encourage them to start to make the transition from ArcGIS Desktop. The purpose of this collaboration session is to support that effort. The session will consist of four parts: (1) An overview of ArcGIS Pro and why it's worth switching from ArcGIS Desktop; (2) An example of a hybrid ArcMap/ArcGIS Pro approach for completing a complex project, while gradually transitioning from existing workflows to new and improved ones; (3) ArcGIS Pro tips and tricks; and (4) A period of audience engagement, during which attendees will be invited to offer their own perspectives and seek advice from other attendees. As the session title states, a persuasive case will be made, on the grounds that it is better to be persuaded to make the move to ArcGIS Pro now than it is to stressfully make the transition in the face an impending deadline, beyond which ArcGIS Desktop will no longer be usable.

ArcGIS Experience Builder: Development, Implementation, and Associated Considerations

Collaboration session conducted online as part of the 2021 Washington GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
John Sharrard, Esri
Eric McAvoy, Polk County, OR
David Jacobus, City of Albany, OR

ArcGIS Experience Builder is Esri's latest web mapping application development technology and has the same look and feel as, for example, the new ArcGIS Online Map Viewer, ArcGIS Hub, and ArcGIS StoryMaps, all of which are built using the React JavaScript library, Version 4 of the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, and TypeScript. The purpose of this collaboration session is to introduce this technology, especially for the benefit of anyone interested in extending the capabilities of Experience Builder through the development of and use of custom widgets. The session will consist of four parts: (1) An introduction to the builder capabilities; (2) An overview of the development technology and implementation options; (3) A review of associated considerations regarding adoption of Experience Builder; and (4) An opportunity for audience engagement. For the technical part of the session, a balance will be struck between explaining widget development to those who are new to the topic, either as potential developers or as widget users, and providing helpful guidance to those who are already familiar with the widget development process and may have experience in developing widgets for ArcGIS Web AppBuilder. A simple example widget will be used to illustrate the development process and concepts and to highlight the substantial differences between the widget development frameworks for Experience Builder and Web AppBuilder. Naturally, some users of Web AppBuilder may have concerns regarding what the availability of Experience Builder means for their installations and operations, especially with respect to custom widgets. Parts three and four of the session will address these concerns.

It's Time to Move On: A Persuasive Case for Transitioning from ArcGIS Desktop to ArcGIS Pro

Collaboration session conducted online as part of the Intermountain GIS 2021 Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

ArcGIS Pro is Esri's powerful and modern desktop application, supporting data visualization, advanced analysis, and authoritative data maintenance in 2D, 3D, and 4D, as well as integration with Esri's web GIS technology through ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise. Now at version 2.8, ArcGIS Pro reached parity with ArcGIS Desktop some time ago and is a stable and mature product. Nevertheless, two polls conducted during recent local conference sessions suggested that 60% of attendees had not started using ArcGIS Pro, which makes it incumbent on those of us who are taking full advantage of ArcGIS Pro to encourage them to start to make the transition from ArcGIS Desktop. The purpose of this collaboration session is to support that effort. The session will consist of four parts: (1) An overview of ArcGIS Pro and why it's worth switching from ArcGIS Desktop; (2) An example of a hybrid ArcMap/ArcGIS Pro approach for completing a complex project, while gradually transitioning from existing workflows to new and improved ones; (3) ArcGIS Pro tips and tricks; and (4) A period of audience engagement, during which attendees will be invited to offer their own perspectives and seek advice from other attendees. As the session title states, a persuasive case will be made, on the grounds that it is better to be persuaded to make the move to ArcGIS Pro now than it is to stressfully make the transition in the face an impending deadline, beyond which ArcGIS Desktop will no longer be usable.

ArcGIS Experience Builder: Development, Implementation, and Associated Considerations

Collaboration session conducted online as part of the Intermountain GIS 2021 Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Eric McAvoy, Polk County, OR
John Sharrard, Esri
Jan Cunningham, Esri

ArcGIS Experience Builder is Esri's latest web mapping application development technology and has the same look and feel as, for example, the new ArcGIS Online Map Viewer, ArcGIS Hub, and ArcGIS StoryMaps, all of which are built using the React JavaScript library, Version 4 of the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, and TypeScript. The purpose of this collaboration session is to introduce this technology, especially for the benefit of anyone interested in extending the capabilities of Experience Builder through the development of and use of custom widgets. The session will consist of four parts: (1) An introduction to the builder capabilities; (2) An overview of the development technology and implementation options; (3) A review of associated considerations regarding adoption of Experience Builder; and (4) An opportunity for audience engagement. For the technical part of the session, a balance will be struck between explaining widget development to those who are new to the topic, either as potential developers or as widget users, and providing helpful guidance to those who are already familiar with the widget development process and may have experience in developing widgets for ArcGIS Web AppBuilder. A simple example widget will be used to illustrate the development process and concepts and highlight the substantial differences between the development frameworks for Experience Builder and Web AppBuilder. Naturally, some users of Web AppBuilder may have concerns regarding what the availability of Experience Builder means for their installations and operations, especially with respect to custom widgets. The session will address these concerns.

ArcGIS Experience Builder: Development, Implementation, and Associated Considerations

Collaboration session conducted online as part of GIS In Action 2021

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Eric McAvoy, Polk County, OR
John Sharrard, Esri
John Ruffing, Esri

ArcGIS Experience Builder is Esri's latest web mapping application development technology and has the same look and feel as, for example, the ArcGIS Online Map Viewer Beta, ArcGIS Hub, and ArcGIS StoryMaps, all of which are built using the React JavaScript library and, where applicable, Version 4.x of the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. The purpose of this collaboration session is to introduce this technology, especially for the benefit of anyone interested in extending the capabilities of Experience Builder through the development of and use of custom widgets. The session will consist of three parts: (1) an introduction to the technology; (2) considerations regarding implementation of Experience Builder, especially for users of ArcGIS Web AppBuilder; and (3) a moderated discussion, with support from Esri representatives. For the technical part of the session, a balance will be struck between explaining widget development to those who are new to the topic, either as potential developers or widget users, and providing helpful guidance to those who are already familiar with the widget development process and may have experience in developing widgets for Web AppBuilder. A simple example widget will be used to illustrate the development process and concepts and to highlight the substantial differences between the widget development frameworks for Experience Builder and Web AppBuilder. Naturally, some users of Web AppBuilder may be concerned about what the introduction of Experience Builder means for their installations and operations, especially with respect to custom widgets. Parts two and three of the session will address these concerns.

ArcGIS Experience Builder: Development, Implementation, and Associated Considerations

Presentation given as part of the 2021 Alaska Virtual Geospatial Gathering

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Eric McAvoy, Polk County, OR

ArcGIS Experience Builder is Esri's latest web mapping application development technology and has the same look and feel as, for example, the ArcGIS Online Map Viewer Beta, ArcGIS Hub, and ArcGIS StoryMaps, all of which are built using the React JavaScript library and, where applicable, Version 4.x of the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. The purpose of this collaboration session is to introduce this technology, especially for the benefit of anyone interested in extending the capabilities of Experience Builder through the development of and use of custom widgets. The session will consist of three parts: (1) an introduction to the technology; (2) considerations regarding implementation of Experience Builder; and (3) a moderated discussion, with support from Esri representatives. The session may be of particular interest to users of ArcGIS Web AppBuilder who may be concerned about what the introduction of Experience Builder means for their installations and operations.

ArcGIS Experience Builder Widget Development

Demonstration supporting John Sharrard, Solutions Engineer, Esri at MAGIP Mini GeoCon 2020

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

ArcGIS Experience Builder Widget Development: An Introduction for the GIS Layperson

Presentation given as part of Northwest GIS 2020

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The purpose of this presentation is to introduce the GIS layperson to the development of custom widgets for Esri's new web application development technology, ArcGIS Experience Builder, which is built using the React JavaScript library and Version 4.x of the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. A balance will be struck between (1) explaining widget development to those who are new to the topic, either as potential developers or as widget users, and (2) providing helpful guidance to those who are already familiar with the widget development process and may have experience in developing widgets for Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS. Following this approach, a topic that, typically, may only be palatable to a small proportion of the GIS community will be made accessible to a wider audience through the use of simplified explanations and analogies, while retaining key details that may factor into decisions regarding whether to adopt the technology and how it may be implemented. The presentation will rely on simple example widgets (1) to illustrate the development process and concepts and (2) to highlight the substantial differences between the widget development frameworks for Experience Builder and Web AppBuilder. Naturally, some users of Web AppBuilder may be concerned about what the introduction of Experience Builder means for their installations and operations, especially with respect to custom widgets. In response, important considerations regarding whether, when, and how to upgrade to the newer technology will be addressed.

ArcGIS Pro Add-In Development: An Introduction for the GIS Layperson

Presentation given as part of Northwest GIS 2020

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

The purpose of this presentation is to introduce the GIS layperson to the development of ArcGIS Pro add-ins using the .NET SDK by striking a balance between (1) explaining add-in development to those who are new to the topic, either as potential developers or as add-in users, and (2) providing helpful guidance to those who are already familiar with the add-in development process and may have experience in developing add-ins for ArcGIS Desktop. The positive response to the initial version of the presentation at the 2019 Northwest GIS Conference reinforced the value of the general approach adopted for the presentation, which involves taking a topic that, typically, may only be palatable to a small proportion of the GIS community and making it accessible to a wider audience through the use of simplified explanations and analogies, while retaining key details that may factor into decisions regarding whether to adopt the technology and how it may be implemented. The presentation will rely on a Feature Navigation example add-in that allows a user to cycle through features visually, optionally selecting them or specifying a corresponding definition query. Further developed since 2019, the add-in follows Esri development standards, as illustrated in their community samples, and will be offered as an additional sample at an appropriate time. While the emphasis will be on ArcGIS Pro, references will also be made to an ArcGIS Desktop version of the add-in, which will serve to highlight the substantial differences between the add-in development frameworks for the two products.

Securing Related ArcGIS Online Data by Owner to Support Reporting Via a Custom Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS Widget

Presentation given as part of Northwest GIS 2020

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

For some situations it would be helpful if ArcGIS Online included record-level security, such that a subset of a related dataset made available through a single feature service can be provided to a secure application and the remaining data cannot be accessed in any way. For example, consider a feature service consisting of polygon features and related table records that include an owner field and are published collectively from ArcGIS Pro to ArcGIS Online. Different applications could access portions of the data via an owner field value tied to a user account. This presentation focuses on how to accomplish this requirement using as an example a secure Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS application that displays polygons belonging to a particular user. By means of a custom reporting widget, the user may click on a polygon and see a report in PDF format that shows their data from related tables included in the polygon feature service. The initial solution that was used to secure the data involved maintaining a set of intermediate tables using a custom JavaScript utility that employed the ArcGIS Server REST API, but this approach was subsequently rendered unnecessary by an ArcGIS Online update. As well as explaining the final security solution, the presentation will show how the development of the more complex initial solution was valuable as a professional development exercise and involved addressing some noteworthy peculiarities associated with managing ArcGIS Online data using REST API select, add, and delete instructions that are issued in rapid succession.

ArcGIS Pro Add-ins: An Introduction for the GIS Layperson

Collaboration session conducted at Northwest GIS 2019

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Riverhouse on the Deschutes, Bend, OR

The purpose of this collaboration session is to introduce the GIS layperson to the development of ArcGIS Pro add-ins using the .NET SDK. In doing so, the aim is to strike a respectful balance between (1) explaining add-in development to those who are new to the topic, perhaps because they are interested in learning the process themselves or because they may see a need to make use of the add-in technology, and (2) providing helpful guidance to those who are already familiar with the add-in development process and may have experience in developing add-ins for ArcGIS Desktop. The basis for the session will be an example Feature Navigation add-in, which allows a user to cycle through features visually, optionally selecting them or specifying a corresponding definition query. While the emphasis will be on ArcGIS Pro, references will also be made to an ArcGIS Desktop version of the add-in, which will serve to highlight the substantial differences between the add-in development frameworks for the two products. Attendees will be encouraged to enhance the session during a period of audience engagement.

Models, Scripts, and Consultants: Guidance for Ensuring Successful Geoprocessing Outcomes

Collaboration session conducted at Northwest GIS 2019

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Anthony Falkner, First American Title

Riverhouse on the Deschutes, Bend, OR

When using the ArcGIS desktop products to support geoprocessing requirements, an analyst will typically consider either, or a combination of, (1) building their own models, (2) writing their own Python code, or (3) hiring a consultant to help them. This collaborative professional development session will focus on a range of matters pertinent to these possibilities with a view to providing guidance for GIS analysts from both a technical perspective and a soft skills perspective. With respect to the former, topics will include the relative value and applicability of different approaches, how to transition from one approach to another, and the related challenges and opportunities. With respect to the latter, topics will include the benefits of seeking external support, the nature of the client-consultant relationship, and the range of reasonable expectations useful for ensuring successful outcomes. The presenters will establish a basis for collaboration using examples drawn from their current work for First American Title in Portland, which pertains to the development of tools and processes for tax lot information management. Attendees will be encouraged to build on this basis and, thus, enhance the discussion by contributing their own, examples, ideas, and responses.

Python Geoprocessing for Rangeland Management: Guidance for Developing Efficient Tools and Processes

Presentation given at Northwest GIS2019

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Eric Sant, Open Range Consulting

Riverhouse on the Deschutes, Bend, OR

With examples developed for Open Range Consulting, LLC, a Utah-based provider of advanced techniques for rangeland management, the goal of this presentation is to offer guidance that may be helpful to anyone interested in developing geoprocessing tools and processes, particularly using Python. Specifically, the presentation will address three primary topics: (1) the development of a set of Python tools to support raster processing workflows for rangeland management; (2) the use of multiprocessing to significantly reduce processing times, and (3) recommendations for producing clean and consistent code. The tools to be described in the presentation have evolved over a number of years, with a focus on streamlining the use of existing ArcGIS geoprocessing functionality in association with the statistics software R. In simple terms, the development path has involved three steps: (1) develop the initial tools; (2) make them run faster, and (3) expand their capabilities and versatility. In implementing these steps, the aim was not only to meet specific operational needs, but also to enhance the professional development of the Open Range Consulting staff.

Models, Scripts, and Consultants: Guidance for Ensuring Successful Geoprocessing Outcomes

Presentation given at the 2019 Washington GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Anthony Falkner, First American Title

Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, Tacoma, WA

When using the ArcGIS desktop products to support geoprocessing requirements, an analyst will typically consider either, or a combination of, (1) building their own models, (2) writing their own Python code, or (3) hiring a consultant to help them. This collaborative professional development session will focus on a range of matters pertinent to these possibilities with a view to providing guidance for GIS analysts from both a technical perspective and a soft skills perspective. With respect to the former, topics will include the relative value and applicability of different approaches, how to transition from one approach to another, and the related challenges and opportunities. With respect to the latter, topics will include the benefits of seeking external support, the nature of the client-consultant relationship, and the range of reasonable expectations useful for ensuring successful outcomes. The presenters will establish a basis for collaboration using examples drawn from their current work for First American Title in Portland, which pertains to the development of tools and processes for tax lot information management. Attendees will be encouraged to build on this basis and, thus, enhance the discussion by contributing their own, examples, ideas, and responses.

Models, Scripts, and Consultants: Guidance for Ensuring Successful Geoprocessing Outcomes

Presentation given at GIS In Action 2019

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Anthony Falkner, First American Title

Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR

When using the ArcGIS desktop products to support geoprocessing requirements, an analyst will typically consider either, or a combination of, (1) building their own models, (2) writing their own Python code, or (3) hiring a consultant to help them. This collaborative professional development session will focus on a range of matters pertinent to these possibilities with a view to providing guidance for GIS analysts from both a technical perspective and a soft skills perspective. With respect to the former, topics will include the relative value and applicability of different approaches, how to transition from one approach to another, and the related challenges and opportunities. With respect to the latter, topics will include the benefits of seeking external support, the nature of the client-consultant relationship, and the range of reasonable expectations useful for ensuring successful outcomes. The presenters will establish a basis for collaboration using examples drawn from their current work for First American Title in Portland, which pertains to the development of tools and processes for tax lot information management. Attendees will be encouraged to build on this basis and, thus, enhance the discussion by contributing their own, examples, ideas, and responses.

Guidance for Web AppBuilder Widget Development

Presentation given at Northwest GIS 2018

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Kitsap Conference Center, Bremerton, WA

Esri’s Web AppBuilder supports the creation of web applications that can be extended using JavaScript widgets. In this rich instructional session, targeted at the beginner and intermediate level, guidance will be offered with respect to the creation, implementation and deployment of widgets, using as examples simple widgets, created from scratch during the session, and more complex examples developed for Polk County (Oregon) GIS and the City of Seattle Department of Transportation’s Bike and Pedestrian Safety Analysis project. Following an introduction to core widget concepts, further considerations will be addressed, including development and deployment strategies, useful tools and the direction of the Esri Web AppBuilder program. In keeping with the GISPD.com goal of supporting GIS professionals at all levels, the session is designed to be as helpful as possible while striking a balance between specific details and general concepts. The session was prepared with assistance from Eric McAvoy, GIS Programmer/Analyst II at Polk County, Oregon, whose contributions are gratefully acknowledged.

Guidance for Web AppBuilder Widget Development

Presentation given at the 2018 Washington GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Hotel Red Lion Olympia, 2300 Evergreen Park Dr SW, Olympia, WA

Esri’s Web AppBuilder supports the creation of web applications that can be extended using JavaScript widgets. In this rich instructional session, targeted at the beginner and intermediate level, guidance will be offered with respect to the creation, implementation and deployment of widgets, using as examples simple widgets, created from scratch during the session, and more complex examples developed for Polk County (Oregon) GIS and the City of Seattle Department of Transportation’s Bike and Pedestrian Safety Analysis project. Following an introduction to core widget concepts, further considerations will be addressed, including development and deployment strategies, useful tools and the direction of the Esri Web AppBuilder program. In keeping with the GISPD.com goal of supporting GIS professionals at all levels, the session is designed to be as helpful as possible while striking a balance between specific details and general concepts. The session was prepared with assistance from Eric McAvoy, GIS Programmer/Analyst II at Polk County, Oregon, whose contributions are gratefully acknowledged.

Guidance for Web AppBuilder Widget Development

Presentation given at GIS In Action 2018

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Eric McAvoy, Polk County, OR

Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR

Esri’s Web AppBuilder supports the creation of web applications that can be extended using JavaScript widgets. In this rich instructional session, targeted at the beginner and intermediate level, guidance will be offered with respect to the creation, implementation and deployment of widgets, using as examples simple widgets, created from scratch during the session, and more complex examples developed for Polk County GIS and the City of Seattle Department of Transportation’s Bike and Pedestrian Safety Analysis project. Following an introduction to core widget concepts, further considerations will be addressed, including development and deployment strategies, useful tools and the direction of the Esri Web AppBuilder program. In keeping with the GISPD.com goal of supporting GIS professionals at all levels, the session is designed to be as helpful as possible while striking a balance between specific details and general concepts.

Parallelizing a Python Geoprocessing Tool

Lightning talk given at the 32 ^nd Annual Northwest GIS User Group Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Eric Sant, Open Range Consulting

Boise Centre, 850 W Front St, Boise, ID

The Art of the Helpful Lightning Talk

Lightning talk given at the 32 ^nd Annual Northwest GIS User Group Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Boise Centre, 850 W Front St, Boise, ID

Guidance for Web AppBuilder Widget Development

Presentation given at the 32 ^nd Annual Northwest GIS User Group Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Boise Centre, 850 W Front St, Boise, ID

Esri’s Web AppBuilder supports the creation of web applications that can be extended using JavaScript widgets. In this presentation, guidance will be offered for the development and implementation of these widgets, using as examples two widgets that were created as part of the City of Seattle Department of Transportation’s Bike and Pedestrian Safety Analysis project. The first widget is an Exploration widget, which extends Esri’s out-of-the-box Query widget by incorporating dependency in the construction of query expressions. In this way, a user may filter map features in a step-wise exploratory manner, with results reflected in both the map view and, by means of an updated version of the out-of-the-box Attribute Table widget, in the table view. The second widget is a Countermeasures widget that supports interactive review of project-specific information related to street intersection features and measures to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. In keeping with the GISPD.com goal of supporting GIS professionals at all levels, the presentation is designed to be as helpful as possible while striking a balance between specific details and general concepts.

The Art of the Helpful Lightning Talk

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Boise, ID

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Leku Ona, 117 S 6th St, Boise, ID

Building Web AppBuilder Widgets

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Boise, ID

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Leku Ona, 117 S 6th St, Boise, ID

The Value of Coding for GIS

Presentation given to the University of Washington Master of Geographic Information Systems GIS Programming class (Geog 565)

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Building Web AppBuilder Widgets

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Seattle, WA

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Makers, 92 Lenora St, Seattle, WA

Integrating Microsoft Office 365 and ArcGIS: Developing Skills for the Modern GIS Age

Presentation given at the 2016 Washington GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, Tacoma, WA

This presentation will illustrate how the Office 365 productivity suite, one of Microsoft’s fastest growing products, can be enhanced through integration with ArcGIS technology. An approach involving an Excel add-in, ArcGIS Server .NET and Python geoprocessing functionality and an ArcGIS Online web map will be described to demonstrate how GIS practitioners may leverage their existing infrastructure to further extend the value of their GIS data and processing services. A business case for coupling the technology components will be explained and a review of various development considerations will be provided to support a primary goal of the exercise, which is to show how cloud-based services can be integrated to deliver spatial processing capabilities in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The work is being conducted as an ongoing personal research project and is proving to be a valuable mechanism for developing a variety of skills that are useful for the modern GIS developer at any level. These skills pertain to, for example, technology integration, cloud/online GIS and handling JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) data. As complex some of the components of the project can be, the concepts will be carefully explained to ensure that those new to development or with peripheral interest in this topic may find the content as beneficial as those with more advanced development capabilities.

GISPD.com: GIS Professional Development Perspectives

Session conducted at the 2016 Washington GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Aaron Paul, First American Title
Jeff Berry, Erlandsen, Inc.
Jason Eklund, Kittitas County, WA

Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, Tacoma, WA

As we adapt to the evolving GIS world, there is significant potential for enhancing associated professional development activities, especially with respect to soft skills, of which communication is, perhaps, the most important. In this session, four GIS professionals, who are long-standing supporters of the GIS community, will offer their perspectives on new and innovative approaches to GIS professional development and will invite you to contribute your thoughts and learn from what we all have to offer.

The four presenters are all keen proponents of the thinking underlying GISPD.com (GIS Professional Development), an entity that was established by David Howes and Jason Pardy in 2014 to help GIS professionals by providing resources, conducting activities (including conference sessions and events) and encouraging enriching interactions. The GISPD.com approach to professional development, in which balanced consideration of technical/domain skills and soft skills is a central facet, has, it seems, struck a nerve in a very positive way for many GIS professionals in the Pacific Northwest (including Alaska) and beyond. Likely reasons for this outcome include, for example, an emphasis on bringing together professionals who may not otherwise know each other to prepare and deliver high quality presentations that are designed to be as helpful as possible and support strong engagement with the audience. These activities are, therefore, not presentations in the traditional sense, but rather collaboration sessions, in which the audience contributions are as important as the prepared remarks. For the collaboration leaders, the preparation process is also designed to be as valuable as the delivery and is supported by the belief that continually learning how to work well together is just as important as developing work products, a philosophy that allows for the creation of safe environments in which participants may thrive together.

Integrating Office 365 and ArcGIS

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Anchorage, AK

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, AK

Alaska GIS Professional Development Day

One-day event conducted at the 50 ^th Annual Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference

David Howes, Ph.D., David Howes, LLC
Luke Boggess, GISP, URISA Alaska
Patricia Gallagher, State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
Sydney Thielke, M.S., GISP, USDA NRCS Alaska State Office
Paul VanDyke, Kodiak Island Borough
Angie Southwould, National Park Service
Terri Morganson, Esri
Mike Hendricks, Ph.D., State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
Tobin Lilly, GISP, HDR, Inc.
Tom Duncan, Fairbanks North Star Borough
John Bean, M.S., GISP, University of Alaska Anchorage
Michelle Pearson, AECOM

Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, AK

Integrating Office 365 and ArcGIS

Presentation given at the Washington State Joint Agency GIS Day - 2015

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Legislative Building, 401 Sid Snyder Avenue SW, Olympia, WA

This presentation will illustrate how the Office 365 productivity suite, one of Microsoft’s fastest growing products, can be enhanced through integration with ArcGIS technology. By way of a basic species data example, an approach involving an Excel add-in, an ArcGIS Server server object extension and an ArcGIS Online web map will be described to demonstrate how GIS users may leverage their existing infrastructure to provide what Esri refers to as geoenrichment capabilities.

Integrating ArcGIS Geoprocessing and Mapping Capabilities into Office 365

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Seattle, WA

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

SURF Incubator, Seattle, WA

The Value of Coding for GIS

Keynote presention given at the GeoAlberta 2015 conference

Jason Pardy, Jason Pardy Consulting

Delta Edmonton South Hotel and Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

In early 2013, Madeline McSherry of the New America Foundation stated in an article for Slate Magazine that "coding is the hottest skill on the job market, the modern-day language of creativity, and a powerful force in the economy". Around the same time, Bill Dollins wrote a well-received post entitled “Yes, You Need to Code,” extolling the virtues of coding for the GIS analyst. Jason will build on these wise and pertinent comments to explain the many ways in which coding is increasingly valuable for the GIS professional. If you don’t have any coding experience, he’ll encourage you to start right away to enhance your capabilities and your employability. If you already have coding experience at any level, he’ll encourage you to help others and provide you with a set of points that you can use in that endeavor. For both groups, he’ll provide helpful recommendations that are applicable to any coding options of relevance to GIS professionals.

Adapting to the Evolving GIS World

Session conducted at URISA GIS-Pro & NWGIS 2015 , Spokane, WA

Aaron Paul, First American Title
David Wallis, Cowlitz County, WA
Randy Bonds, Jr., City of Yakima
David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Grand Hotel, Spokane, WA

The world of GIS is evolving at an unprecedented and increasing rate. As a result, GIS professionals are constantly being challenged to enhance their capabilities and must find effective and efficient ways to adapt as the field advances. In this session, presenters will share their perspectives and engage the audience to collectively consider not only the accompanying technical trends, but also the associated professional development needs. A goal of the session will be to contribute to an ongoing discussion on how to adapt to the evolving GIS world and help the GIS professional be successful in the coming years.

The Value of Coding for GIS

Session conducted at URISA GIS-Pro & NWGIS 2015 , Spokane, WA

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Jeff Berry, Erlandsen, Inc.
Aaron Paul, First American Title
Eldan Goldenberg, Freelance Developer
Spencer Gardner, Toole Design Group

Grand Hotel, Spokane, WA

In early 2013, Madeline McSherry of the New America Foundation stated in an article for Slate Magazine that “coding is the hottest skill on the job market, the modern-day language of creativity, and a powerful force in the economy”. Around the same time, Bill Dollins wrote a well-received post entitled “Yes, You Need to Code,” extolling the virtues of coding for the GIS analyst. In this session and in collaboration with their audience, a group of experienced GIS analysts/developers will build on these wise and pertinent comments to explain the many ways in which coding is increasingly valuable for the GIS professional. For those without any coding experience, the aim is to encourage you to start right away to enhance your capabilities and your employability. If you already have coding experience at any level, the aim is to encourage you to help others and to provide you with a set of points that you can use in that endeavor. For both groups, the session will provide helpful recommendations that are applicable to any coding options of relevance to GIS professionals.

Integrating ArcGIS Geoprocessing and Mapping Capabilities into Office 365

Presentation given at URISA GIS-Pro & NWGIS 2015 , Spokane, WA

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Eric Sant, Open Range Consulting
Jason Pardy, Jason Pardy Consulting

Grand Hotel, Spokane, WA

As adoption of cloud-based computing increases, the use of the Microsoft Office 365 productivity software is growing at the individual and business level. At the same time, the Esri ArcGIS Online platform is being widely adopted to provide mapping and geoprocessing services. By way of a basic species distribution example, this presentation will show how these technologies can be integrated to enhance the capabilities of Excel. In this example, a user is able to select a set of species location records in an Excel worksheet, determine the spatial pattern of the data and see the resulting description in map and textual form. The main components of the supporting functionality are an Office 365 add-in application, an ArcGIS Server geoprocessing service and an embedded ArcGIS Online web map. A primary goal of the exercise is to demonstrate how cloud-based services can be integrated to deliver spatial processing capabilities in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Thus, the presentation will serve to illustrate one of many evolving mechanisms through which GIS professionals can further serve their user community as they adapt to the changing GIS world.

The Value of Coding for GIS

Presentation given to the University of Washington Master of Geographic Information Systems GIS Programming class (Geog 565)

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

In early 2013, Madeline McSherry of the New America Foundation stated in an article for Slate Magazine that "coding is the hottest skill on the job market, the modern-day language of creativity, and a powerful force in the economy". Around the same time, Bill Dollins wrote a well-received post entitled “Yes, You Need to Code,” extolling the virtues of coding for the GIS analyst. This presentation will build on these wise and pertinent comments to explain the many ways in which coding is increasingly valuable for the GIS professional. For those without any coding experience, the aim is to encourage you to start right away to enhance your capabilities and your employability. If you already have coding experience at any level, the aim is to encourage you to help others and to provide you with a set of points that you can use in that endeavor. For both groups, the session will provide helpful recommendations that are applicable to any coding options of relevance to GIS professionals.

Eastern Washington GISPD Day

One-day event conducted at Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA

Adapting to the Evolving GIS World

Session conducted at GIS In Action 2015, Vancouver, WA

Aaron Paul, First American Title
David Howes, David Howes, LLC
David Wallis, Cowlitz County, WA
Joanne Markert, Leon Environmental, LLC
Blair Deaver, GeoEngineers
Bridget Brown, HDR, Inc.

Hilton Vancouver Washington Conference Center, Vancouver, WA

The world of GIS is evolving at an unprecedented and increasing rate, with web GIS, open data, and the app revolution constituting major factors in this change. As a result, GIS professionals are constantly being challenged to enhance their capabilities and must find effective and efficient ways to adapt as the field advances. In this session, a diverse group of GIS professionals will share their experiences and perspectives and engage the audience to collectively consider not only the accompanying technical trends, but also the associated professional development needs. The goal will be to contribute to an ongoing discussion on how to adapt to the evolving GIS world and help provide a modicum of order and direction to help the GIS professional be successful in the coming years.

Parallelizing a Python Geoprocessing Tool

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Seattle, WA

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Eric Sant, Open Range Consulting

Impact Hub, Seattle, WA

Extending Data-Driven Pages with .NET and ArcObjects

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Seattle, WA

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Impact Hub, Seattle, WA

Python Performance Tips

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Seattle, WA

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Jason Pardy, Jason Pardy Consulting

Impact Hub, Seattle, WA

Species Protection Area Development with .NET

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Seattle, WA

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Impact Hub, Seattle, WA

Species Protection Area Development with .NET

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Anchorage, AK

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, AK

Extending ArcGIS Data-Driven Pages with .NET and ArcObjects

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Anchorage, AK

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, AK

Python Performance Tips

Lightning talk given at the Esri GeoDev Meetup , Anchorage, AK

Jason Pardy, Jason Pardy Consulting

Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, AK

The (not so) Secret (but very necessary) Skills of GIS Professionals

Presented at the 49 ^th Annual Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Michael Knapp, Blue Skies Solutions, LLC
Anne Johnson, Geographic Information Network of Alaska
Becci Anderson, USGS, Alaska
Scott Norton, HDR, Inc.

Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, AK

GIS professionals often have a job description that focuses on technical skills, but, in reality, need skills in other areas, most of which they learn solely from their on-the-job experience. These wider aspects of professional development, sometimes referred to as “soft skills,” traditionally receive relatively little attention at GIS conferences. Given their importance, this should no longer be the case. This presentation helps expand the nature of GIS professional development in Alaska by bringing together a diverse group of local GIS professionals to discuss a number of non-technical topics that are pertinent to their daily work lives. These topics center on marketing, project and client management, data management, continuing education and the need to, occasionally, perform the role of ombudsman. Having presenters from state, federal, small private business and engineering consulting positions will yield a rich variety of alternate perspectives to which most, if not all, attendees can relate.

The Value of Coding for GIS

Presented at the 49 ^th Annual Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, AK

In early 2013, Madeline McSherry of the New America Foundation stated in an article for Slate Magazine that “coding is the hottest skill on the job market, the modern-day language of creativity, and a powerful force in the economy”. Around the same time, Bill Dollins wrote a well-received post entitled “Yes, You Need to Code,” extolling the virtues of coding for the GIS analyst. This presentation will build on these wise and pertinent comments to explain the many ways in which coding is increasingly valuable for the GIS professional. For those without any coding experience, the aim is to encourage you to start right away to enhance your capabilities and your employability. If you already have coding experience at any level, the aim is to encourage you to help others and to provide you with a set of points that you can use in that endeavor. For both groups, the presentation will provide helpful recommendations that are applicable to any coding options of relevance to GIS professionals.

Treading Into Open Source GIS

Presented at the 49 ^th Annual Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Jason Pardy, Jason Pardy Consulting
Matt Stevenson, CORE GIS

Hilton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, AK

Exploration of the individual, organizational and cultural facets related to open source GIS and proprietary GIS is a valuable pursuit that can support GIS decision-making, communication and technological innovation. The presenters will relate their findings and experiences with respect to each domain and their observations from individual conversations, local user group meetings and international conferences. Audience participation will be encouraged to enhance the conversation, with the aim of fostering mutually beneficial interactions and helping GIS professionals help each other as best they can.

The Value of Coding for GIS

Presented at the King County GIS User Group meeting

David Howes, David Howes, LLC

King County GIS Center, King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Suite 706, Seattle, WA

In early 2013, Madeline McSherry of the New America Foundation stated in an article for Slate Magazine that "coding is the hottest skill on the job market, the modern-day language of creativity, and a powerful force in the economy". Around the same time, Bill Dollins wrote a well-received post entitled “Yes, You Need to Code,” extolling the virtues of coding for the GIS analyst. David will build on these wise and pertinent comments to explain the many ways in which coding is increasingly valuable for the GIS professional. If you don’t have any coding experience, he’ll encourage you to start right away to enhance your capabilities and your employability. If you already have coding experience at any level, he’ll encourage you to help others and provide you with a set of points that you can use in that endeavor. For both groups, he’ll provide helpful recommendations that are applicable to any coding options of relevance to GIS professionals.

Explorations into Open Source GIS

Presented at the Washington State Joint Agency GIS Day 2014

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Matt Stevenson, CORE GIS

O'Brien Building on the Capitol Campus, 504 Sid Snyder Avenue SW, Olympia, WA

The purpose of this presentation is to support GIS decision-making, communication and technological innovation through an exploration of the individual, organizational and cultural facets related to open source GIS and proprietary GIS. The presenters will relate their findings and experiences with respect to each domain and convey their observations from individual conversations, local user group meetings and international conferences.

Opening the Door to Open Source GIS

Session at the 2014 Northwest GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Matt Stevenson, CORE GIS

Lynnwood Convention Center, Lynnwood, WA

Some GIS users and organizations work entirely with proprietary tools, some work entirely with open source tools and some work with both. Why is that? Is the answer simple or is it complex? And what can it tell us about the potential for the GIS community to reap the benefits of one domain or the other or both? Is this worthy of discussion? If not, then this could be a fairly quiet session. It’s likely though that it will be otherwise and we will have the grounds for a vibrant and constructive conversation.

The organizers have strong backgrounds with proprietary GIS and, for various reasons, also see the benefits of exploring and employing open source options. They’ll relate their goals and experiences and reflect on what they’ve found so far, supported by their observations from various sources, including individual conversations, local user group meetings and international conferences. In the third part of the session, audience participation will be encouraged to explore the personal, institutional and cultural characteristics that tend to lead individuals or organizations to favor open source or proprietary GIS offerings. For example, what do the terms "open source GIS person" and "proprietary GIS person" imply and how can the answers be helpful? There are many potential benefits to a conversation of this nature, including helping people assess the value of pursuing a particular technology direction. As always with this kind of activity, the aim is to foster mutually beneficial interactions and help GIS professionals help each other as best they can.

Extending ArcGIS for Desktop: Python and .NET Add-ins in a Nutshell

Presented at the 2014 Northwest GIS Conference

David Howes, David Howes, LLC
Jason Pardy, Voyager Search

Lynnwood Convention Center, Lynnwood, WA

When you invest in Esri’s ArcGIS for Desktop software, you have access to an extensive suite of GIS functionality, including a rich set of mapping and geoprocessing tools. You also have the ability to build on this functionality in an infinite variety of ways through customization options. For example, Python scripting allows a user to streamline processes, develop their own particular workflows and create custom geoprocessing tools and toolboxes. The add-ins framework, introduced with ArcGIS for Desktop version 10.0, allows for the development of plug-in functionality that can be as simple or as complex as required. Add-in developers working with Microsoft .NET or Java can take advantage of the full suite of Windows controls along with the ArcObjects technology on which the desktop software is based to create new tools that are easily distributed and maintained. Version 10.1 extended the add-ins framework to include Python development, making the possibilities even more accessible to many users.

This presentation will demonstrate the power of add-ins through simple .NET and Python examples. Attendees will be able to see that using free development programs (Visual Studio Express and PyScripter), add-in development need not be intimidating and with a few straightforward steps they can be well on their way to seeing a significant return on their learning effort. Coding is an increasingly important consideration for the GIS practitioner and getting started with add-ins can be a rewarding way of opening the door to a whole new world of GIS possibilities as well as getting the most out of your ArcGIS for Desktop investment.