2025 Texas GIS Forum: The Intersect

Transcript

Ariel Waldman - Nat Geo Explorer, Filmmaker, Author, & Former NASA Advisor

What excites me the most about being here is being with people who are really passionate about mapping and looking at our world from multiple different angles and perspectives, and that's something that I try to bring to my work, and it's something I'm really excited to see everyone here doing.

Dwayne McClam - IT Solutions Architect, City of Austin

GIS is important to Texas because we are all connected spatially. We all share this land and we're all connected. Geospatial data is used for utilities, water, development, you name it. It connects it all.

Kelsey Bonnell - GIS Analyst, Texas General Land Office

Texas has a lot of natural resources. We're also disproportionately affected by natural disasters. So, we have a rich need for GIS data to protect our resources and also recover from all of the events that we experience.

J.B. Sauceda - Host & Executive Producer, Texas Country Reporter

There are a few slides that I typically don't get to show off because most people don't geek out on it in the way that I think you all will. So, this is just like a match made in heaven. I'm super thankful to be here. It's awesome.

Christopher Zuniga - Geospacial Enablement Specialist, Bad Elf

So, from here, you can see your accuracy values, you can see your elevation, even got a little digital tilt sensor.

Lauren Saracene - Sr. Project Manager, Sanborn Map Company

You know, this event is very memorable and offers, you know, an opportunity for students and professionals of every level to be able to talk about their GIS solutions that are covering this huge variety of challenges.

Eli Seal - GIS Analyst, Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Events like this are important because it allows us to share ideas, see how other people are doing the same problems or not reinventing the wheel. It's just great to be able to get people talking so we can work together better.

DianaJoyce Ojeda - Flood Mapping Specialist, Texas Water Development Board

GIS improves lives in my community. I'd say since I work in floodplain mapping, it's very, very topical right now but I'm glad that we're able to use GIS and our skills to be able to map floodplains and help people stay out of risk and reduce loss of property.

Cassidy Barkalow - Applications Specialist, Blue Marble Geographics

There are basic cartography tools. And what I've heard from folks who actually do use them and like them is they like how quick it is to just produce a map-huge range of stuff, it's GIS. Of course, people use it for all different things, right?