Pregame Picks: Special *Interest* Teams!

Every Annual Conference, we make room for Special Interest Groups to meet so they can really get in the weeds about a particular issue or area of technology.  It's also a great place to network with people who just might have a solution to the problem you're having.  All SIGs meet on Thursday from 4pm - 5 pm before the Exhibitors Reception.  Find your favorite SIG and put it on your online schedule.

Lidar SIG  - Moderated by Jim Giglierano, Geographic Information Officer, WI DOA

The Lidar Special Interest Group has been meeting at WLIA for nearly 10 years.  We provide an open forum for both new and experienced users to discuss data uses, accuracy, technology changes, software, data extraction, culvert mapping, water studies, challenges with the data, and more.  Basic topics of discussion include:

• Improving Industry Standards and Specifications
• UAS Lidar vs Photogrammetry
• Industry Trends
• Lidar in Wisconsin

While we plan to hit a few key topics this an open discussion so bring your questions, ideas, use cases, or just come to learn.

NG911 SIG - Moderated by Andy Faust, GIS Analyst, North Central WI Regional Planning Commission and Fred Iausly, Sr GIS Analyst, Dane County

The NG911 SIG is a forum to get together with others to discuss issues, challenges and opportunities.  At this meeting, we will be discussing the recent DMA GIS Grant program and learn what programs were funded and which were not.  We will be discussing publishing standards for address points and street centerlines using the WLIA and NENA standards.  We are also looking to have those that are in the NG911 Onboarding process with AT&T to share their experience and what could be improved.  This meeting is an open forum to get feedback and share thoughts and strategies.  We are also looking for future discussion items for the NG911 SIG and suggestions for future WLIA meetings.

 Developers GIS SIG - Moderated by Chris Dickerson, LIS Analyst, Waukesha County

Automation, Design, Process deployment, we are talking developing for GIS! Come meet other aspiring coders/developers, all skill levels welcome. We'll be talking briefly about functional coding and can show some practical examples. We can talk basic foundation elements, ETL process, and even Python API as we look at server management; not saying we have to talk about these topics but we’re open. Bring your questions or a process you’re working on and we can all brainstorm together.

UAS - Moderated by Paul Crocker, Sr Project Manager, Ayres Associates

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) SIG is an informal peer-led discussion focusing on sharing knowledge, experience and solving UAS-related issues that government and industry encounter when adopting this rapidly evolving technology.  This is an opportunity to discuss recent developments in UAS including compliance with  the FAA Remote ID deadline coming in September, the move to US-government approved 'blue listing' of hardware by many government entities and the proliferation of new aircraft and sensor vendors. Come join the conversation or simply come to learn.

MUG - Moderated by Lou Rada, GIS and Asset Management Coordinator, City of Sun Prairie

The Municipal and Utilities Group (MUG) is looking forward to seeing you at the WLIA 2023 Annual Conference.  We are looking to continue the dialogue with you about challenges and successes you have had in the Municipal government and Utility sectors throughout the year.  We also will be discussing reviving our free MUG Friday conference in the Fall, share our experiences and best practices on a variety of topics, and networking. 

Riverine State Borders - Moderated by Bryan Meyer, La Crosse County Surveyor and Mari Pietz, GIS Coordinator/LIO, La Crosse County

Many state borders are defined by rivers and legal descriptions, legal descriptions that were written when states were added to the union. For the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa that were admitted to the union between 1846-1858, all their river boundary descriptions share the same language, the main channel.

As we all know, the main channel in 1850 is not the same main channel now as rivers forever change. This ambiguity of where in the river the state border is becomes an issue for emergency response, fishing and natural resource regulations and even for states that must divide up the cost of a new bridge.

With the move to NG911 and efforts to edge match our county borders, it has us wonder if the concept could be applied to the state borders.