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Events - Webinars -  Workshops - Mentoring Program


Upcoming events

    • October 17, 2023
    • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    • Webinar
    Register



    Automating Land Planning Applications using ArcGIS Pro 

    Date: October 17, 2023, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (networking opportunity from 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM)

    Presenter

    Webinar will be led by Matt Davis and Soham Shah

    Matt Davis, Director - Canopy Mapping Co.

    Soham Shah, Digital Technology Director - Canopy Mapping Co.

    (biographies listed below)

    See how you can develop automation processes to accept user inputs in the land planning application process using ArcGIS Pro. Simplify your repetitive processes to one click with the development of automation processes using Python. We will walk through technical options that you can get started with today and more complex options that enable you to reduce repetition on your land planning applications.

    Remain on the call after the webinar to network and socialize with your fellow BeSpatial members!


    Matt Davis is a highly skilled and forward-thinking professional with a strong background in innovation management. With extensive experience in project management and a proven track record of success, Matthew excels at driving innovative initiatives and implementing cutting-edge technologies. His expertise lies in GIS policies, open data software, advanced analysis systems, and architecture deployment of digital content.

    Throughout his career, Matthew has consistently delivered exceptional results by focusing on quality, consistency, and improvement strategies. He is adept at conducting site visits and predictive analysis, ensuring the successful execution of projects. Matthew’s ability to monitor budgets and draft comprehensive reports demonstrates his strong attention to detail and strategic thinking.

    An inspiring leader, Matthew has a talent for leading and empowering technical teams. He builds productive relationships with clients, technologists, businesses, and stakeholders, which enables him to drive collaboration and achieve shared goals. His background in Fast, Agile, and Urban design processes further strengthens his ability to navigate complex technological landscapes and drive successful technology implementations.

    Matthew’s career highlights include his role as the Director/Founder of Canopy Mapping Co., where he has led the company to become an award-winning spatial technology company. He has also made significant contributions as a Strategic Innovation Officer for the City of Hallandale Beach, where he designed and implemented digital maps, software, and usable data, leading to substantial improvements in efficiency and user perception. As a Senior GIS Technologist for Haldimand County, Matthew played a pivotal role in data visualization, analysis, and the implementation of new technology, resulting in significant cost savings and improved performance.

    With a diverse educational background, including a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management and several certifications in cybersecurity, project management, and GIS, Matthew possesses a strong foundation of knowledge. He is committed to professional development and is an active member of prestigious associations such as the Canadian Institute of Geomatics, BeSpatial Ontario, and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association.

    Soham Shah, our esteemed Digital Technology Director, brings an impressive wealth of experience in GIS, making him an invaluable asset to our organization. With a remarkable track record spanning both private and public sectors over the past 7 years, Soham has consistently demonstrated his ability to fully leverage and extract the maximum value from the entire ESRI Suite, resulting in substantial benefits for the public interest.

    Soham’s educational background is equally remarkable, holding a Bachelor of Science in GIS from the renowned University of Toronto, along with a post-graduate certificate in GIS Applications Specialist from Fleming College. This comprehensive academic foundation has equipped him with a deep understanding of the field and its applications.

    One of Soham’s standout strengths lies in his proficiency in customizing application processes, data workflow, and diagramming. His expertise in these areas enables him to develop tailored solutions that precisely meet the unique needs of each project. Additionally, Soham’s mastery of Python automation further enhances his skill set, allowing for streamlined and efficient operations.

    Soham’s exceptional talents have not gone unnoticed, as he has garnered recognition as an award-winning GIS programmer. His involvement in prestigious projects speaks volumes about his capabilities. Notable contributions include the County of Grey Economic Development Web Application, the Agricorp GIS Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the Mohawk College IDEAWORKS - Precision Agriculture Research Report, and the Ontario Provincial Premises Registry Project with Geocortex.

    With Soham Shah at the helm as our Digital Technology Director, our organization is empowered with an industry-leading expert. His profound understanding of GIS, coupled with his remarkable programming skills and project accomplishments, positions him as a true trailblazer in the field. Soham’s dedication to excellence and his unwavering commitment to delivering optimal results make him an indispensable asset to our team.


    Interested in offering a Webinar?  Contact Wendy for details.

    • October 24, 2023
    • 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, 700 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge ON
    • 137
    Register

    Leveraging Geospatial Data for Health and the Environment

    BeSpatial is thrilled to announce the upcoming Health and the Environment using GIS Event! This highly anticipated gathering will delve into the dynamic realm where Geographic Information Systems (GIS), health, and the environment intersect, promising a day of insightful discussions and knowledge exchange.

    Event Details:

    October 24, 2023

    8:30 am - 3 pm

    Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, 700 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge ON

    Morning Sessions:

    Making space for health: The essential role of the GIS analyst in public health preparedness

    Speaker: Alexander Watts, PhD, Industry Manager - Public Health, Esri Canada

    A Twenty Year Journey in using GIS in healthcare and Social Services

    Speakers: Paul Beach, GISP Director of Geomatics and Data Services Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, Karen Lehtonen Acting manager of Health and Social Services Projects Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre

    Burnout: Changing fire regimes and changing health threats for Indigenous Amazonia

    Speaker: Hannah Flores, Undergraduate Student, University of Toronto

    Supporting awareness of environmental racism in Canada using geospatial tools

    Speaker: Raj Ubhi, GIS Analyst, Arup Canada

    Afternoon Sessions:

    Impacts to health equity from changes in Ontario, Canada’s regulation of alcohol, cannabis, and vaping product sales

    Speaker: Shiran Zhong, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Western Ontario

    Using GIS & Community Health Data to improve decision making

    Speaker: Carey Price, SVP, Extended Channel, Environics Analytics

    Data to Web Tool: Building out national climate change & environmental online GIS tools

    Speakers: Devin Tu, President, Affordable360 and Joey Joey Syer, Data Director, CANUE University of Toronto

    What Awaits You:

    Keynote: Alexander Watts PhD, Public Health Industry Manager, Esri Canada will be sharing his insight in the field of Public Health will be our keynote speaker.

    Engaging Presentations: Esteemed speakers will share groundbreaking research, compelling case studies, and practical applications of GIS in addressing health and environmental challenges. Their valuable insights are sure to inspire you!

    Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow attendees who share your ardor for GIS, healthcare, and environmental solutions. Build meaningful professional connections and foster collaboration.

    Interactive Q&A Sessions: Engage in lively and enriching Q&A discussions with our esteemed speakers. Pose questions and delve deeper into the GIS applications presented.

    Best Practices: Immerse yourself in learning best practices from others showcasing the latest GIS tools and technologies. Witness firsthand how GIS is revolutionizing healthcare and environmental efforts.

    How to Register:

    We encourage early registration, as seats are limited, and we anticipate a high demand for this remarkable event.

    Registration fees:

    Member $100

    Non-Member $175

    Student $75

    Your contribution plays a crucial role in supporting the event and ensuring its success.

    Join the Movement: Together, let us be a driving force behind positive change and the pursuit of a healthier, more sustainable world through the power of GIS. We envision this event as a catalyst for innovative solutions and lasting impact.

    Save the Date, Share the Invitation: Mark your calendars and extend our invitation to your peers and colleagues. Your presence will undoubtedly enrich the event, and we hope to see you there!

    • October 26, 2023
    • 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
    • Webinar
    Register


    The City of Welland CCTV Inspection and Rehabilitation Program Development 

    Date: October 26, 2023, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM (networking opportunity from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM)

    Presenter

    Webinar will be led by James Burn, Jax Vollmer, and Matt Main

    James Burn, GIS and Data Management Lead - GM BluePlan

    Jax Vollmer, Asset Management - GM BluePlan

    Matthew MainInfrastructure and Asset Manager - City of Welland

    (biographies listed below)

    The City of Welland retained GM BluePlan Engineering to assist in a comprehensive review and documentation of existing data holdings and processes with respect to CCTV inspections and rehabilitation of sewers.   The main objective of the project was to develop a new condition-based CCTV program in conjunction with a prioritized pipe rehabilitation program. These new programs were designed to be evidence based using the information and findings from condition inspections as opposed to the traditional geographic area-based methodology currently being used.

    As with many municipalities, the challenges put forth by budgetary constraints and aging sewer networks generated the need for a programmatic approach to the inspection and rehabilitation process.  In the City the traditional geographic area-based inspection programs resulted in the over inspection of pipes known to be in good condition, while chronically problematic sewers had the potential for being missed. Utilizing a new tool and programmatic approach based on existing CCTV data allowed the City to take a holistic view of their system, which opened the door to a more efficient, evidence based, and defensible program.

    The pairing of complete CCTV datasets with the City’s extensive and well-maintained geographic information system was integral to the success of this project. Mutually agreed upon parameters were applied to the resulting overview, narrowing inspection and rehabilitation selections based on not only condition grade, but age, material and other mitigating factors affecting deterioration of pipelines.

    This approach allows the City to select the highest risk pipes for immediate rehabilitation and inspection, while meeting their annual budgetary needs. It provided a clear snapshot for future planning, simultaneously utilizing the budget to its maximum effectiveness to improve the overall health of the sanitary and storm sewer systems.

    Built using common off-the-shelf software applications, these tools not only integrate with the City’s current systems seamlessly but may also be easily maintained and adjusted to meet the City’s future goals and needs.

    Remain on the call after the webinar to network and socialize with your fellow BeSpatial members!


    James Burn first attended Brock University where he received his B.Sc. in Environmental Geology, and later attended Niagara College receiving a post graduate certificate in GIS and Geospatial Management.

    Over the past 24 years, James has worked in the engineering field in both the public and private sectors and is currently the GIS Lead and a partner at GM BluePlan Engineering. In this position, he supports core engineering services as well as the Infrastructure Planning, Hydraulic Modeling and Asset Management teams. James' strengths include spatial analysis, data management and ETL.

    James is a Licensed and Certified Engineering Technologist in geomatics as recognized by the PEO and OACETT respectively and is also certified with the Canadian Institute of Geomatics in Geospatial Management and GIS/LIS in addition to being a certified GISP.

    Jax Vollmer has over 20 years of experience working in underground utility management, inspection, and repair in the private sector, utilizing an in depth understanding of WRc and the NASSCO Pipeline Assessment Certification Program. She was WRc certified under NAAPI in 2000 and certified under NASSCO in 2013. She is well versed in database applications including SQL, ESRI, QGIS and MS Access. When she moved into consulting in 2021, she brought with her a variety of skills and disciplines to her team, and endeavours to represent the interests of her clients, the general public and the environment in her work.

    Her practical experience includes site and field works, which rounded out her understanding and application of installation, rehabilitation, maintenance and repair methods to underground utilities. Jax enjoys a depth of knowledge of CCTV inspection hardware in addition to multiple CCTV Data Collection software packages and has been instrumental in the design and building of field CCTV inspection units from the installation of reels and cameras to PC building and software implementation and training, and particularly enjoys the integration of asset condition to GIS.

    Matthew Main has been with the City of Welland’s Engineering team for 6 years and is currently their Infrastructure and Asset Manager.  Prior to his time at Welland, Matt worked for the Town of Grimsby for 10 years as an integral part of the Engineering department.  He was not only tasked with administering Grimsby’s GIS, but also spearheaded the project management of capital, maintenance and development projects.

    Matt is a Professional Engineer but he’s also passionate about GIS and ensuring the best and most accurate data drives Welland’s decision making.


    Interested in offering a Webinar?  Contact Wendy for details.

    • November 02, 2023
    • 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
    • Webinar
    Register

    GIS for Equity & Social Justice Workshop

    Date: Thursday, November 2nd, 2023

    Time: 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM 

    Presenter:  Workshop will be led by Greg Babinski


    Greg Babinski is a GIS management consultant and found of GIS Management Consulting Services LLC, located in the greater Seattle area.

    He holds an MA in geography from Wayne State University. Greg is a GISP – Certified GIS Professional.  

    Greg is Past-President of URISA and founder and Past-Chair of URISA’s GIS Management Institute. In 2005 he founded The Summit – the Washington State GIS Newsletter. In 2019 Greg was awarded an Ethical GEO Fellowship by the American Geographical Society. In addition to GIS consulting, he is a GIS researcher, author, and instructor. He has spoken about GIS management across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Greg has taught GIS for Public Policy as an instructor with the University of Washington Evans Graduate School of Public Administration.

    Overview

    This workshop will serve as an introduction to recent trends and practices related to using GIS for Equity and Social Justice (ESJ). GIS professionals are bound by the GIS Code of Ethics to consider the impact of their work on society. For hundreds of years, mapping has sometimes been a tool for creating and preserving inequity. During the past 25 years, there have been some uses of GIS for issues related to equity or social justice.
     
    We will explore critical race theory (CRT) and trends in critical race spatial analysis. We will review recent literature and academic programs around the topic of GIS for ESJ. Most importantly we will outline best practices for GIS professionals in doing GIS for ESJ work. This includes creating a data/mapping/application support framework both for their own work and to support the work of non-GIS professionals. Non-GIS professionals will become the largest community doing actual ESJ work with GIS. 

    These non-GIS professionals include those who work for agencies, non-profits, and NGO’s with an ESJ mission, as well as government policy professionals who want to use GIS to support an ESJ lens for developing upstream agency policies.

    Agenda and Topics Covered

      • Why GIS for Equity and Social Justice
      • GIS code of ethics and moral imperative
      • Principles of equity and social justice
      • The role of GIS professionals
      • The role of ESJ practitioners
      • The role of public policy
      • Critical race theory
      • Critical race spatial analysis
      • How upstream policies impact downstream outcomes
      • Understanding how maps and GIS can be used to create long-term inequity
      • How GIS and maps can expose oppression and inequity
      • How GIS can be used to manage and monitor pro-equity policies
      • Examples of public agencies with ESJ policy priorities
      • Educational resources for GIS professionals

      This workshop has been presented 30 times to more than 700 students. While most of the core concepts are universal, this session is being modified to include some examples and issues unique to Canada. 

      Interested in offering a Webinar?  Contact Programs for details.

      • November 09, 2023
      • 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
      • Webinar
      Register


      More than the Numbers - ForestEDGE: a first in-kind Geospatial platform

      Date: November 9, 2023, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (networking opportunity from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM)

      Presenter

      Webinar will be led by Sarah Benčić.

      (biography listed below)

      The ForestEDGE platform is a first in kind geospatial platform, open to the public and free to use ForestEDGE provides users with the opportunity to learn more about Ontario’s Forests, novel forest product opportunities, opportunity wood volumes & regional profile information. This set of tools are being constantly updated and improved with industry and stakeholder feedback. In our webinar we will explore integrating community feedback, and the value of qualitative data even in quantitative issues like economic development.

      Remain on the call after the webinar to network and socialize with your fellow BeSpatial members!

      Sarah Benčić is a multi-disciplinary professional with a great eye for cartography, design, and compelling analysis, and years of experience in the Silviculture, Forestry, and Energy sectors. Sarah is passionate about working with our Nextfor partners to configure new tools and datasets that support geospatial decision-making with our partners in Ontario and around the world. Sarah loves the Thunder Bay region and is very excited to see positive change and growth in the space of bio-economy.


      Interested in offering a Webinar?  Contact Wendy for details.

    Past events

    September 21, 2023 GIS Management Academy™ - Introduction to the Locus Charter for GIS Projects, Programs, and Professionals
    September 19, 2023 GIS and Digital Water: Transforming the Global Water Industry,
    September 12, 2023 Canadian Open Data Society & LinkDigital Present an Open Data Revolution
    June 29, 2023 'Learn what I Learned' - A BeSpatial Eastern Regional Event
    June 06, 2023 GIS Management Academy™ - Introduction to the Locus Charter for GIS Projects, Programs, and Professionals
    May 02, 2023 BeSpatial'23 BeCreative
    April 18, 2023 GIS Capability Maturity Model
    March 30, 2023 City of Mississauga Migrates to the ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric
    March 27, 2023 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network's Working with APIs in GIS
    March 17, 2023 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network's MApps Contest
    February 16, 2023 BeSpatial February Webinar: A Cloud Based Data Library for Managing Municipal Survey and Asset Applications
    January 26, 2023 BeSpatial January Webinar: Region of Peel: Census Information Hub
    January 17, 2023 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network's Introduction to FME in GIS
    December 08, 2022 BeSpatial December Webinar: ClickUp - A Project Management Tool
    December 07, 2022 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network's Open Source GIS with Cliff Patterson
    November 23, 2022 BeSpatial November Webinar: How the Broadband One Window Online Map Based Platform...
    November 03, 2022 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network's GISP Exam 101
    October 26, 2022 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network's Professional Development and Advancing Your Career
    October 19, 2022 BeSpatial October Webinar: Hamilton's Enterprise GIS Roadmap: How to Measure Progress and Report Successes
    September 28, 2022 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network's Back to School Social & Mentorship Launch
    September 22, 2022 BeSpatial September Webinar: Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis with Geospatial Data
    June 09, 2022 BeSpatial Webinar: Federal Airborne LiDAR data acquisition Guideline and the USGS LiDAR Base Specification
    May 04, 2022 Workshop: Application Integration in a SAAS context using FME
    May 03, 2022 BeSpatial'22 BeConnected
    April 07, 2022 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network presents – GISP Exam 101
    February 17, 2022 BeSpatial Webinar: VertiGIS (Geocortex) Studio for Forestry & Extractive Industries
    November 17, 2021 BeSpatial Webinar: Open Data: Driving Economic Development
    October 28, 2021 BeSpatial Webinar: Using High-Resolution Imagery and AI-led Vector Creation to Transform Municipal Data Procurement
    October 07, 2021 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network presents – GIS Trivia Day!
    September 29, 2021 BeSpatial Webinar: Work Task and Infrastructure Projects completed with Go360 Dispatch and CrewOps powered by Location Warehouse and municipal data
    June 17, 2021 BeSpatial’s Young Professional Network presents – GISP Exam 101
    June 02, 2021 BeSpatial Webinar: 6 Steps to a Better Business
    May 20, 2021 BeSpatial Webinar: Source Water Protection Program
    May 05, 2021 Build your own Esri Operations Dashboard using open data and FME
    May 04, 2021 NG9-1-1 Townhall
    May 04, 2021 BeSpatial'21 Going Virtual
    March 22, 2021 BeSpatial YPN’s Talk to a Geospatial Hiring Manager
    December 17, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar: Alternative Data Collection and Surveillance using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems
    December 14, 2020 BeSpatial YPN December Virtual Social - Ask me anything!
    December 07, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar: Visualizing Urban Density
    October 20, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar: NextGen 9-1-1 and GIS
    October 14, 2020 BeSpatial Northern Region Webinar: Spatial Data to Drive Value Chain Development: Economic Fibre Supply Model Case Study
    September 23, 2020 BeSpatial: A Special Virtual Program Event with AGM meeting
    September 21, 2020 BeSpatial Young Professional Network Fall Social
    August 25, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar: Enabling better interoperability with road condition reporting
    June 23, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar: Taking the Plunge into Open Source GIS
    June 03, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar: Clarity from Chaos: Maps and Apps that Drive Decisions
    May 12, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar - Preparing and Validating your data for Next Gen 9-1-1 standards using FME
    May 05, 2020 BeSpatial: COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall
    April 23, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar - Enforcing Cannabis Ordinance Using Satellite Imagery
    February 26, 2020 Esri Canada GIS Partner's Session for BeSpatial's Western Region
    February 20, 2020 BeSpatial Webinar - Mobile LiDAR Surveying For Municipal Infrastructure Asset Management Applications
    December 04, 2019 BeSpatial Webinar - Peer Success Stories: Unlocking the Secrets of Maturity-Driven Strategy
    October 29, 2019 Utilities and Municipal Assets
    October 22, 2019 BeSpatial Webinar: It’s All About the Data – York Region’s Analytics Journey
    September 25, 2019 BeSpatial Webinar: The Next Generation of Growth Forecasts: A Data Science Approach
    May 02, 2019 FME Workshop - server technology - PM session
    May 02, 2019 Intro to FME Workshop - AM session
    May 02, 2019 BeSmart _Executive Forum!
    May 01, 2019 BeSpatial'19 - Day 1 or 2 Full Days!
    February 20, 2019 BeHealthy Event
    February 14, 2019 BeEmployed Webinar
    December 06, 2018 LiDAR 301 - How do I do it? Software Applications
    September 18, 2018 LiDAR for Dummies Webinar: Published LiDAR Specifications and How To Use Them
    June 28, 2018 Implementation of an Enterprise-wide Common Street Address Database
    May 03, 2018 Preparing your Data for Smart Cities using FME 2018
    May 01, 2018 LiDAR 201 - Applications of LiDAR Data
    April 25, 2018 Northern Ontario GIS Users Event
    November 08, 2017 Learn What I Learned
    September 22, 2017 22nd Annual Geodetic Picnic
    September 22, 2017 2017 Open and Smart Communities Forum
    September 19, 2017 Back to School - LiDAR 101
    May 04, 2017 FME and Asset Management Workshop
    May 03, 2017 BeSpatial 2017
    October 31, 2016 GIS-Pro 2016
    May 05, 2016 BIM Workshop by Consortech
    May 04, 2016 BeSpatial 2016
    April 28, 2016 Peterborough Leverages Ecopia's Visual Recognition Solution for HQ Property Vector Map
    April 14, 2016 Introduction to sUAS
    October 20, 2015 Asset Management

    About Us

    We are recognized as the premier geospatial and information non-profit organization in Ontario. where members share their experiences through networking and program events for the use and integration of spatial data, information, applications and technologies that provide solutions and solve challenges in both the public and private sectors.


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