# Blue Raster | GIS Consulting, Mapping and Applications > Blue Raster helps you transform your data into actionable insights, solving real world problems and delivering solutions you can trust ## Pages - [AEC Solutions](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/aec-gis-architecture-engineering-construction/): GIS for Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) Companies Purpose-built GIS solutions for AEC firms Contact Us + Request a Demo - [News & Press](https://blueraster.com/press/): News & Press See how our work is being highlighted across news, media, and the GIS community Let’s Have A... - [Microsoft Solutions](https://blueraster.com/partnerships/microsoft-azure-arcgis-gis-solutions/): Blue Raster brings together advanced GIS expertise and proven Azure architecture practices to deliver secure, scalable ArcGIS deployments. This includes seamless single sign-on (SSO) integration using Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory/Azure AD), enabling organizations to streamline access control, strengthen security, and simplify user management across enterprise systems. Our experience extends to architecting cloud-native solutions on Azure, supporting everything from ArcGIS Enterprise base deployments to high-availability configurations and hybrid environments. - [Accessibility and ADA Compliance](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/gis-ada-accessibility-solutions/): Accessibility Compliance Audit Web maps and digital assets are subject to the new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2. 1... - [Federal Government](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/gis-services-for-federal-government/): Federal Government GIS Solutions Mission-Critical Mapping & Analysis Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster provides comprehensive geospatial solutions... - [Stories](https://blueraster.com/stories/): Explore insights, innovation and success stories from our latest geospatial solutions and activities - [AI & GeoAI Solutions](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/ai-geo-ai/): AI Solutions for Geospatial Workflows Spatial Intelligence. Amplified by AI Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster helps organizations - [Sitemap](https://blueraster.com/resources/sitemap/): Blue Raster Site Map - [State and Local Government](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/gis-services-for-state-and-local-government/): State and Local Government GIS Solutions Transforming Public Service Through Geospatial Intelligence Contact Us + Request a Demo State and... - [ArcGIS Configurable Apps](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/arcgis-applications-and-solutions-for-gis-mapping/): Low-Code & No-Code GIS Applications Build powerful spatial tools, no coding required. Contact Us + Request a Demo In today’s... - [Data Engineering & Analytics](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/microsoft-fabric-arcgis-data-pipelines/): Data Science, Analytics & Engineering Intelligent data integration. Spatially smarter decisions. Contact Us + Request a Demo Most data engineering... - [Indoor Mapping](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/arcgis-indoors-indoor-mapping-wayfinding/): Indoor Mapping & Wayfinding Solutions Smart indoor mapping. Smarter workplace operations. Contact Us + Request a Demo ArcGIS Indoors is... - [Business Intelligence](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/arcgis-maps-for-power-bi/): Business Intelligence Turning data into insights and decisions Contact Us + Request a Demo Power BI Certified Consultants ArcGIS Maps... - [Parcel Management](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/arcgis-parcel-fabric/): Parcel Management Solutions Smarter parcel insights powered by an enterprise parcel fabric, enabled through GIS and operational workflows. Contact Us - [Disaster & Emergency Response GIS Solutions](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/gis-for-disaster-response-emergency-management/): GIS for Disaster Response & Emergency Services Equipping agencies to respond faster with real-time maps, dashboards, and data insights Contact... - [Real-Time Visualization & Analytics](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/arcgis-velocity-geoevent-server/): Real-Time Visualization & Analytics Your Operations Visualized as They Happen Contact Us + Request a Demo Traditional GIS works with... - [Commercial Real Estate](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/commercial-real-estate-gis/): GIS For Commercial Real Estate Smarter site selection starts with location intelligence Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster... - [Cloud Services](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/arcgis-cloud-services-arcgis-enterprise/): Cloud Services Scalable. Sustainable. Secure. Smart. Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster brings over two decades of expertise... - [Field GIS](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/field-gis-arcgis-field-maps-asset-management/): Field GIS & Asset Management Workflows Your Workforce. Connected to Live Data Contact Us + Request a Demo Field GIS... - [GIS for Good](https://blueraster.com/about/gis-for-good-and-sustainability/): Our Commitment to Sustainability and GIS for Good 20+ Years of Mission-Driven GIS Global International Project Reach SDG UN Goal... - [Conservation](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/conservation-gis/): Conservation GIS Advancing conservation outcomes through innovative GIS tools and analysis Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster helps... - [Imagery Analysis & Remote Sensing](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/arcgis-image-server-imagery-remote-sensing/): Imagery Analysis & Remote Sensing Transform imagery into actionable intelligence Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster helps organizations... - [Drone Mapping for GIS](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/gis-for-drone-mapping-arcgis-drone2map/): Drone Mapping for GIS Precision aerial imagery and 3D mapping for data-driven decision making Contact Us + Request a Demo... - [Election GIS Services](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/gis-mapping-for-election-services/): Election GIS Services Accurate Data. Transparent Democracy. Contact Us + Request a Demo Elections are inherently geographic. Every voter has... - [Public Gardens](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/gis-mapping-for-public-gardens/): Modernize Public Gardens Transform garden management with advanced geospatial solutions Contact Us + Request a Demo Botanical Expertise Our History... - [About](https://blueraster.com/about/) - [Events](https://blueraster.com/about/events/): Catch Us In Action Stay in the loop with where Blue Raster is headed next, literally. We’re hitting the road... - [Newsletters](https://blueraster.com/resources/newsletters/): Stay in the Loop with Blue Raster Blue Raster Newsletter Archive Let’s Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400,... - [Esri ArcGIS Solutions](https://blueraster.com/partnerships/esri-arcgis-solutions/): Official ArcGIS Software Reseller Esri Cornerstone Partner & Expert Implementation Services Our Partnership Gold & Cornerstone Partner with Deep Platform - [Partnerships](https://blueraster.com/partnerships/) - [Privacy Policy](https://blueraster.com/resources/privacy-policy/): Privacy Policy Effective Date: January 1, 2025 Last Updated: April 1, 2025 This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and protect... - [Capabilities](https://blueraster.com/capabilities/): Blue Raster Capabilities & Case Studies Discover how Blue Raster leverages geospatial technology to drive impact Accessibility & ADA Business - [Services](https://blueraster.com/services/) - [Mobile Application Development](https://blueraster.com/services/gis-mobile-applications/): Mobile Applications Empowering operations in the field with mobile GIS Take Your Data & Mapping Tools Anywhere Enhance your geospatial... - [Web Application Development](https://blueraster.com/services/gis-web-applications/): Web Applications Interactive web solutions that turn data into decisions Bring Your Maps and Data to Life We specialize in... - [UX | UI Design](https://blueraster.com/services/gis-ux-ui-design/): UX | UI Design Creating impactful designs and immersive user experiences UX|UI Design for Geospatial Applications In the world of... - [Resources](https://blueraster.com/resources/) - [Planet Labs Imagery](https://blueraster.com/partnerships/planet-labs-imagery-image-gis/): Trusted Imagery Data from the Planet Orbit Real-Time Imagery from Planet Labs Our Planet Labs Partnership Trusted Imagery Data From - [REGRID Parcel Data](https://blueraster.com/partnerships/regrid-parcel-data-gis-parcel-management/): Official REGRID Reseller Unlock Powerful Parcel Data with REGRID + Blue Raster REGRID Partnership Complete Property Intelligence for Every Project - [Branding & Styling](https://blueraster.com/resources/branding-styling/): Brand Element Guidelines If you’ve received permission to use our logo, follow these guidelines. Blue Raster Logo The Blue Raster - [Webinars](https://blueraster.com/resources/gis-webinars/): Explore Our Webinar and Tutorials Library Catch up on past Blue Raster webinars and tutorials anytime, anywhere. From data-driven decision-making - [Managed Services](https://blueraster.com/services/arcgis-enterprise-managed-services/): ArcGIS Enterprise Deployment & Managed Services 150+ ArcGIS Enterprise Deployments 60+ Cloud Services Clients 30+ Managed Services Clients ArcGIS Enterprise... - [Careers](https://blueraster.com/about/careers/): Careers Grow With Us At Blue Raster We are committed to creating a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative work environment where employees... - [GIS Consulting](https://blueraster.com/services/gis-services-consulting-gis-support/): GIS Consulting The Blue Raster team is passionate about helping businesses unlock their full potential through tailored solutions. We specialize... - [Software & Data Solutions](https://blueraster.com/services/buy-esri-arcgis-licenses-software/): Software License Sales & Data Solutions Blue Raster is an authorized Esri Partner Reseller, offering ArcGIS software licensing and professional... - [About Us](https://blueraster.com/about/about-blue-raster/): About Us Who We Are We are driven by the potential of using data and technology to make a positive... - [Contact Us](https://blueraster.com/about/contact-us/): Contact Us Today Visit Us 2200 Wilson Blvd. , Suite 400 Arlington, VA 22201 (703) 875-0911 By Car: There is... - [Capability Statements](https://blueraster.com/resources/capability-statements/) - [Home](https://blueraster.com/): Blue Raster helps organizations turn data into actionable insights through mapping, spatial analysis, and GIS solutions. We design and manage custom GIS platforms that improve decision-making, optimize workflows, and enhance collaboration. Our expertise spans ArcGIS deployments, data migration, enterprise GIS modernization, and interactive web mapping, delivering scalable, sustainable solutions. ## Posts - [Strengthening Multi-Hazard Risk Modeling: How Blue Raster Helped AIWEX Build a More Reliable Geospatial Platform](https://blueraster.com/stories/aiwex-multi-hazard-risk-modeling/): As hazard models grow more complex, keeping spatial data and analytical workflows accurate and reproducible becomes a real challenge. Learn how Blue Raster partnered with AIWEX to rebuild their geospatial platform, creating a scalable, trusted foundation for multi-hazard risk modeling across coastal storms, hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes - [Smarter Retail Expansion Achieved Through 3 Proven GIS Analytical Frameworks with CD One Price Cleaners](https://blueraster.com/stories/cd-one-price-cleaners-analytical-framework/): In an increasingly competitive retail landscape, knowing where to grow is just as important as knowing how to grow. CD One Price Cleaners partnered with Blue Raster to integrate location intelligence into their expansion strategy, leveraging GIS to evaluate markets, understand customer demand, and build a repeatable framework for smarter, data-driven decision-making. - [GeoAI in 2026: What's Real, What Isn't, and Where to Start](https://blueraster.com/stories/geoai-ai-gis-in-2026/): GeoAI is transforming how GIS teams work, and Blue Raster helps you find where to start. As an Esri partner, we turn your existing ArcGIS data into real GeoAI use cases, no data science team required. Get a free GeoAI readiness assessment today. - [Darsana Capital Partners is Leveraging Geospatial Analytics to Guide Retail Investment Decisions in 2026](https://blueraster.com/stories/darsana-geospatial-investment-strategy/): Darsana Capital Partners, a New York-based hedge fund, partnered with Blue Raster to bring a new level of intelligence to their retail investment strategy. By leveraging geospatial analytics, the partnership moved beyond intuition and into data-driven, location-specific decision making. - [Mapping Progress: How Data Is Shaping Affordable Housing on the Atlanta Beltline](https://blueraster.com/stories/atlanta-beltline-affordable-housing/): To help Atlantans explore affordable housing options and track progress toward this goal, Blue Raster partnered with Atlanta Beltline's Affordable Housing and Data and Impact teams to develop the Atlanta Beltline Affordable Housing Dashboard and mobile application. - [ArcGIS Velocity Is Now Available for ArcGIS Enterprise. Here Is What It Means For Your Organization](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-velocity-for-arcgis-enterprise/): Esri has officially extended ArcGIS Velocity beyond the cloud with a self-hosted option for ArcGIS Enterprise 12.1. If your organization needs real-time IoT analytics inside your own infrastructure, the landscape just changed significantly. Learn how Blue Raster can help you enable ArcGIS Velocity for your real-time needs - [How GIS-Driven Market Intelligence Is Transforming Retail Expansion](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-market-intelligence-retail-expansion/): Retail growth and market intelligence doesn’t happen by gut instinct anymore. At Blue Raster, we’ve worked alongside retail organizations that are great at what they do but are being held back by the tools and workflows they’ve outgrown. - [Recap of Blue Raster at South Central Arc User Group (SCAUG) 2026: Presenting, Exhibiting, and Engaging the GIS Community](https://blueraster.com/stories/scaug-2026-recap/): Blue Raster was proud to attend the 36th Annual South Central Arc User Group Conference (SCAUG) in Corpus Christi, Texas from May 4 through 7, 2026.As both an exhibitor and a presenter, Blue Raster came ready to engage, sharing lessons from client work in the region and joining conversations about how organizations are building stronger, more sustainable GIS programs. - [How Re:Wild Connected ArcGIS and Airtable Into One Seamless Workflow](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-airtable-synchronization/): Blue Raster designed an automated synchronization workflow to keep Re:Wild's Airtable and ArcGIS Online data in lockstep eliminating manual entry and establishing a single source of truth. - [The 2026 LEARN Tool Update Expands Forest Analysis and Reveals New Insights on Harvest Emissions](https://blueraster.com/stories/url-harvest-emissions-forest-analysis-learn-tool/): The LEARN Tool's latest update delivers deeper insight into harvest emissions, introducing new disturbance intensity categories and expanded forest boundary analysis for climate-focused communities. - [How Blue Raster Used GIS to Optimize Wind Farm Construction Scheduling](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-construction-scheduling/): Construction scheduling on large projects requires precise asset coordination. Learn how Blue Raster uses GIS and network analysis to optimize wind farm builds, reduce crane downtime, and keep projects on track - [Utilizing GIS for Billboard Site Selection: Parcel Suitability for Heritage Outdoor Media](https://blueraster.com/stories/billboard-site-selection-gis/): Blue Raster built a GIS-driven billboard site selection platform for Heritage Outdoor Media, turning zoning rules into scalable parcel scoring across markets. - [Solving Construction Data Silos with GIS Data Interoperability](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-data-interoperability-construction-engineering/): Data interoperability is the key to managing spatial data across large construction projects. Learn how Blue Raster developed custom GIS tools to eliminate data silos and save teams hours of manual work. - [Hahn Horticulture Garden Launches Interactive Plant Map](https://blueraster.com/stories/hahn-horticulture-garden-interactive-plant-map/): Blue Raster launched Hahn Horticulture Garden’s interactive plant map, helping visitors explore over 500 trees and shrubs in an ArcGIS app. - [Are Your Maps and GIS Apps Ready for the ADA Title II WCAG 2.1 Mandate?](https://blueraster.com/stories/ada-gis-accessibility-wcag-compliance/): The ADA Title II rule is here. State and local governments must bring their web mapping applications into WCAG 2.... - [Blue Raster Selected for State of Missouri GIS Services Qualified Vendor List](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-state-of-missouri-gis-qvl/): Blue Raster has been selected be on the State of Missouri’s GIS Services Qualified Vendor List, enabling state agencies to access expert geospatial services, including Esri platform support, mobile and field solutions, system integration, and GIS training, to enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and public service delivery. - [ArcGIS Hub for Community Health: Blue Raster Supports the Orange County Regional Workforce Summit](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-hub-for-chw-workforce-summit/): Blue Raster partners with Coast Community College District to deliver the CHW Workforce Summit experience through a custom ArcGIS Hub site. - [Blue Raster Earns Microsoft Solutions Partner Designation for Digital & App Innovation](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-microsoft-solutions-partner-gis/): Blue Raster is proud to announce it has earned the Microsoft Solutions Partner Designation for Digital & App Innovation, recognizing... - [Blue Raster Highlights From Esri DevTech Summit 2026](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-esri-devsummit-2026/): This year’s Esri Partner Conference (EPC) and Developer & Technology Summit (DevTech Summit) in Palm Springs, California was an especially... - [From the Field to the Command Center: Powering Advanced Situational Awareness](https://blueraster.com/stories/advanced-situational-awareness/): When crews are deployed across a fast-moving incident, clarity matters. Where are our assets? Who is assigned to which district?... - [Exploring Gilroy’s Trails with GilroyPathways](https://blueraster.com/stories/city-of-gilroy-gilroypathways/): Blue Raster partnered with the City of Gilroy to develop GilroyPathways, an interactive web mapping application showcasing trails and bike lanes. - [Telling Baltimore’s Living Heritage Through StoryMaps](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-storymap-baltimore-living-heritage/): Discover how Blue Raster partnered with BNHA to create an ArcGIS StoryMap that transforms cultural funding into a place-based narrative experience. - [Blue Raster Earns Esri Parcel Management Specialty](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-esri-parcel-management-specialty-gis-parcel-fabric/): Blue Raster has earned the Esri Parcel Management Specialty, recognizing our expertise delivering modern parcel management solutions across the ArcGIS... - [ArcGIS Enterprise 12.x is Out Now: Planning for Your Upgrade and What to Expect](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-enterprise-12/): ArcGIS Enterprise 12x is out now. Learn about the new features, what to expect and how Blue Raster can support your deployment, upgrade and migration to the latest version of ArcGIS Enterprise. - [Thinking About Migrating Your ArcGIS Enterprise to the Cloud? Here Are Some Helpful Tips to Help You Make Your Decision](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-enterprise-cloud-migration/): Considering migrating ArcGIS Enterprise to the cloud? Learn how GIS teams can leverage AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud to balance cost, optimize cloud architecture, and improve scalability, performance, and resilience for their enterprise GIS environments - [ArcGIS Enterprise Security: From Guidance to Practice](https://blueraster.com/stories/stearns-weaver-miller-arcgis-enterprise-security-hardening/): As enterprise GIS platforms become increasingly central to organizational operations, security is no longer optional, it’s foundational. From sensitive spatial... - [Improving ArcGIS Enterprise Performance for Orange County, Virginia with ArcGIS Monitor](https://blueraster.com/stories/orange-county-va-arcgis-monitor-managed-services/): When a public-facing GIS application slows down, users notice immediately. Administrators, however, often don’t see the warning signs until performance... - [Esri Imagery Specialty: Showcasing Expertise in Imagery Services and Raster Analysis](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-esri-imagery-specialty-for-analysis-and-geo-ai/): Blue Raster has earned the Esri Imagery Specialty, showcasing expertise in deploying ArcGIS Image Server, imagery services, raster analytics, and scalable imagery management across ArcGIS Enterprise and cloud deployments. - [Modernizing Parcel Mapping Workflows for Moore County, NC](https://blueraster.com/stories/moore-county-parcel-tools/): Moore County, NC partnered with Blue Raster to modernize its parcel mapping workflows by migrating legacy ArcMap tools to powerful ArcGIS Pro add-ins. - [Blue Raster: We ❤️ New York](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-heart-new-york/): Discover how Blue Raster supports New York City through GIS solutions for parks, public health, and global development. Learn about our work with Central Park Conservancy, New York Botanical Garden, Green-Wood Cemetery, Columbia University, and the United Nations. - [State and Local Government GIS Projects: Fall Roundup](https://blueraster.com/stories/state-and-local-government-gis-projects-fall-roundup/): See how Blue Raster is helping state and local governments modernize GIS workflows. Explore recent projects using deep learning, parcel fabric modernization, and custom ArcGIS Pro tools. - [Empowering OneEnergy Renewables with a Modern and Managed ArcGIS Enterprise Environment](https://blueraster.com/stories/one-energy-arcgis-enterprise-managed-services/): Blue Raster partnered with OneEnergy Renewables to modernize and manage their ArcGIS Enterprise environment in their Microsoft Azure cloud environment.... - [Advancing Regional Planning Organizations with Strategic GIS and ArcGIS Enterprise Services](https://blueraster.com/stories/strategic-support-arcgis-enterprise-puget-sound/): Blue Raster has partnered with the Puget Sound Regional Council to provide strategic GIS support and ArcGIS Enterprise managed services.... - [Honoring Dr. Jane Goodall: A Visionary Who Brought People, Nature, and Technology Together](https://blueraster.com/stories/honoring-dr-jane-goodall-a-visionary-who-brought-people-nature-and-technology-together/): Honoring Dr. Jane Goodall’s legacy, highlighting collaborations with the Jane Goodall Institute using GIS and StoryMaps to advance conservation. - [New Webinar: Unlocking Location Intelligence for Commercial Real Estate and Retail](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-webinar-unlocking-location-intelligence-for-commercial-real-estate-and-retail/): The future of commercial real estate and retail depends on smarter decisions. From site selection to trade area analysis, GIS helps uncover new opportunities, reduce risk, and compete in a fast-changing market. Join us for a practical webinar that shows GIS in action. - [Streamlining Wind Farm Design and Optimizing Construction Planning with GIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/wind-farm-gis-design-tools/): Blue Raster built custom GIS tools for Mortenson to optimize wind farm design, streamline workflows, and reduce construction costs. - [Supporting Drought Resilience in Angola Through a Data-Driven Decision Support Tool](https://blueraster.com/stories/drought-management-tool-angola-2/): Blue Raster, in partnership with the MIT Media Lab’s Space Enabled program and Angola’s National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN),... - [Bringing Water Data to Life: Enhancing National Geographic’s World Water Map](https://blueraster.com/stories/world-water-map/): Blue Raster partnered with National Geographic to power the World Water Map, helping students explore global water demand and gaps through 2050. - [San Patricio County Launches Hurricane Preparedness Viewer](https://blueraster.com/stories/san-patricio-hurricane-gis/): Blue Raster partnered with San Patricio County, Texas, to launch a Hurricane Preparedness Viewer that delivers real-time alerts, maps, and evacuation resources. - [Atlanta Food Access Explorer: Mapping Healthy Food Access in Atlanta](https://blueraster.com/stories/atlanta-food-access-explorer/): Explore the Atlanta Food Access Explorer, an ArcGIS dashboard by Blue Raster & Emory University that maps healthy food access to support public health. - [Connecting Communities: A Global Quaker Meeting Finder Built with ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript](https://blueraster.com/stories/quaker-meeting-finder-arcgis-custom-app/): Discover how Blue Raster and FWCC built a global Quaker meeting finder using ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, with multilingual support and a scalable data model. - [Flora Finder: Blue Raster Helps Holden Forests & Gardens Launch First Public Collections Viewer](https://blueraster.com/stories/flora-finder-public-collections-viewer/): Blue Raster partnered with BG-BASE to develop Flora Finder, a public application showcasing the living collections at Holden Forests & Gardens. - [World Forest ID’s Evaluation Platform: Strengthening Supply Chain Transparency with Blue Raster](https://blueraster.com/stories/timber-supply-chain-transparency/): Blue Raster and World Forest ID (WFID) have partnered to create a powerful custom digital solution that enhances traceability and... - [3D Visualization of Tornadic Mesocyclones Using Voxel Rendering](https://blueraster.com/stories/3d-visualization-of-tornadic-mesocyclones-using-voxel-rendering/): Discover how we used voxel rendering in ArcGIS Pro to visualize the Grand Junction, TN tornado. Explore 3D radar layers including hail reflectivity, storm-relative motion, and spectrum width for deeper insight into tornadic mesocyclones. - [Flood Risk Mapping for Future Planning: Blue Raster and Climate Central Drive Climate Resilience in 2025](https://blueraster.com/stories/climate-central-flood-vision/): Blue Raster partnered with Climate Central to support the development of FloodVision, an ArcGIS Experience Builder application that helps communities... - [2025 Esri UC: Connect with Blue Raster in San Diego](https://blueraster.com/stories/2025-esri-uc-connect-with-blue-raster/): Join Blue Raster at the 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego! Discover our GIS solutions, see our posters in the Esri UC Map Gallery, and connect with our team. - [Upper San Pedro WHIP: Revolutionary Watershed Monitoring and Community Engagement Tool](https://blueraster.com/stories/whip-upper-san-pedro-watershed-tool/): The Upper San Pedro Web-Based Hydrologic Information Portal (WHIP) is a groundbreaking watershed monitoring tool for the Upper San Pedro... - [What’s New in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.5: Unleashing Power, Performance, and Exciting Possibilities](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-enterprise-11-5/): ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5 marks the final release in the 11. x series and a major leap forward for modern... - [Plano ISD Find My School App: A New Tool for Easy School Enrollment](https://blueraster.com/stories/plano-isd-find-my-school-app/): Discover how the Plano ISD Find My School app helps families quickly identify assigned schools, explore academic programs, and access... - [The New NC Equitable Foodshed Map is Amplifying Support for Farmers and Ranchers in North Carolina](https://blueraster.com/stories/foodshed-map-experience-builder-croatan/): Blue Raster recently partnered with the Croatan Institute to enhance the NC Equitable Foodshed Map, a crucial resource for underserved... - [Driving Primary Care Insights with Blue Raster and HealthLandscape: The Milbank Primary Care Scorecard Data Dashboard](https://blueraster.com/stories/driving-primary-care-insights-with-blue-raster-and-healthlandscape-the-milbank-primary-care-scorecard-data-dashboard/): Developed by the Milbank Memorial Fund in partnership with HealthLandscape and other key stakeholders, the Milbank Primary Care Scorecard Data... - [Promoting Tourism Development Strategy in Canada with GIS and Data-Driven Insights](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-tourism-development-canada/): Blue Raster is supporting Destination Canada by enhancing TourismScapes, an interactive tool that provides insights into Canada’s tourism sectors. We’ve... - [Utilizing Smart GIS Solutions to Drive California Recycling Mandates](https://blueraster.com/stories/san-mateo-california-recycling-compliance-dashboard/): Blue Raster helped San Mateo County meet California recycling mandates using GIS, streamlining compliance tracking for AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383. - [Revealing The Henry Ford Museum from Above: Blue Raster’s Drone Mapping Imagery](https://blueraster.com/stories/revealing-the-henry-ford-museum-from-above-blue-rasters-drone-mapping-imagery/): Blue Raster led a drone mapping project at The Henry Ford Museum, creating a custom vector basemap with Drone2Map and ArcGIS Pro to support operations. - [Connecting Quaker Communities Across the Americas: Blue Raster & FWCC Partner for an ArcGIS Experience Builder App](https://blueraster.com/stories/connecting-quaker-communities-arcgis-experience-builder-app/): Blue Raster built an ArcGIS Experience Builder app for FWCC to help Quaker communities across the Americas connect, find worship, and build fellowship. - [The Enduring Importance of Report Maps](https://blueraster.com/stories/the-enduring-importance-of-report-maps/): Discover how Blue Raster uses ArcGIS Pro to create printable report maps for partners like UNICEF and CDC—perfect for reports, records, and offline access. - [Analyzing The Impact of Sackett v. EPA on Federal Wetlands Protection](https://blueraster.com/stories/federal-wetlands-protection/): Blue Raster and NRDC used GIS to model the loss of wetlands protection after Sackett v. EPA, highlighting the impact on U.S. wetlands under the Clean Water Act. - [San Patricio County's GIS Workflows for Election Management](https://blueraster.com/stories/san-patricio-elections-gis/): Blue Raster Deployed Esri's Election Management Solution for San Patricio County, Texas during the 2024 Presidential Election. The solution gave... - [Blue Raster and Columbia University Launch Columbia Impact Exchange for Global Collaboration](https://blueraster.com/stories/columbia-impact-exchange-for-global-collaboration/): Blue Raster partnered with Columbia University to launch the Columbia Impact Exchange, a platform that maps global projects, fosters collaboration, and amplifies research impact across health, climate, and social justice. - [Unlock Smarter Decisions with Location Intelligence: Blue Raster and Decision Lens Partner for ArcGIS Online Integration](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-online-integration-with-decision-lens/): Discover how Blue Raster enabled ArcGIS Online integration with Decision Lens to bring powerful location intelligence to strategic planning and resource allocation. - [Blue Raster Expands Commercial Real Estate Solutions with GIS Technology](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-expands-commercial-real-estate-solutions-with-gis-technology/): Blue Raster provides custom GIS commercial real estate solutions for site selection, portfolio analysis, and real-time data visualization. - [ArcGIS Pro Training in Action: Unlocking GIS Power with Blue Raster](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-pro-training-in-action/): Blue Raster conducted a comprehensive virtual training ArcGIS Pro training session for a leading commercial real estate company. - [Empowering Global Conservation with the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tapestry of Hope](https://blueraster.com/stories/empowering-global-conservation-with-the-jane-goodall-institutes-tapestry-of-hope/): Jane Goodall Institute’s Tapestry of Hope weaves together uplifting stories of individuals, organizations, and communities to protect the environment, wildlife, and well-being. - [Blue Raster Named Esri Federal Small Business Specialty Partner of the Year at FedGIS 2025](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-named-esri-federal-small-business-specialty-partner-of-the-year-at-fedgis-2025/): Blue Raster, an Esri Gold Partner, received the Esri Federal Small Business Specialty Partner of the Year at the Esri Federal GIS Conference. - [Blue Raster & Esri Host ArcGIS Hub Innovation Workshop](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-hub-innovation-workshop/): Blue Raster & Esri team up to host an ArcGIS Hub Innovation Workshop for State and Local governments from Northern... - [The LEARN Tool: Everything You Need to Know About its Exciting 2025 Updates](https://blueraster.com/stories/learn-tool-2025-updates/): Launched in 2021, the Land Emissions and Removals Navigator (LEARN) Tool was designed to help communities easily measure greenhouse gas... - [OC Works: Redefining Career Pathways in Orange County](https://blueraster.com/stories/oc-works-redefining-career-pathways-in-orange-county/): OC Works uses ArcGIS Hub to help students and jobseekers explore career pathways in Orange County and make data-informed decisions for their future. - [Blue Raster & Regrid: Empowering Parcel Data Solutions](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-regrid-empowering-parcel-data-solutions/): Blue Raster partners with Regrid to provide industry-leading parcel data solutions, integrating nationwide parcel data into GIS for enhanced property... - [Blue Raster Collaborates with MIT to Address Environmental Hazards in Carceral Facilities](https://blueraster.com/stories/equity-and-environmental-justice/): Our latest collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab - Space Enabled Research group and Fight Toxic... - [Supporting the 2024 AANHPI National Unity Summit](https://blueraster.com/stories/2024-aanhpi-national-unity-summit/): Blue Raster supported the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) at the 2024 AANHPI Unity Summit in Washington, D. C. ,... - [Recap of Blue Raster’s 2024 North Carolina ArcGIS Users Group Conference Experience](https://blueraster.com/stories/recap-of-blue-rasters-2024-north-carolina-arcgis-users-group-conference-experience/): The 2024 North Carolina ArcGIS Users Group Conference brought together the North Carolina GIS community in Wilmington, NC. - [Preserving History with Technology: Blue Raster Partners with Historic Oakland Foundation](https://blueraster.com/stories/preserving-history-with-technology-blue-raster-partners-with-historic-oakland-foundation/): Discover how Blue Raster partnered with the Historic Oakland Foundation to digitize and transform 150 years of burial records into... - [Enhanced Performance with Blue Raster's Cloud-Managed Services: Integrating Zabbix and ArcGIS Monitor for Proactive Management](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-enterprise-cloud-managed-services/): Blue Raster’s Cloud-Managed Services provides a comprehensive solution, taking the burden off your internal teams and ensuring your systems are optimized and up-to-date - [Enhancing Accessibility in City of Aurora Water Esri Data for HB21-1110 GIS Compliance](https://blueraster.com/stories/city-aurora-gis-accessibility-esri-hb21-1110/): Blue Raster is transforming City of Aurora Water District's Esri GIS to set a new standard in accessibility, ensuring compliance... - [Accountability Framework Initiative and Compliance with GFW Pro](https://blueraster.com/stories/accountability-framework-initiative-and-compliance-with-gfw-pro/): With the Accountability Framework Initiative, producers can better ensure that their supply chains adhere to international standards of sustainability and report to stakeholders and consumers the steps they are taking to secure a better future for people and the planet. - [Blue Raster's Recap from The American Public Gardens Association 2024 Conference](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-rasters-recap-from-the-american-public-gardens-association-2024-conference/): Last month, Blue Raster showcased its flourishing Public Garden practice at the American Public Gardens Associations Annual Conference in Boston,... - [Navigating the Future of Transportation with SEMCOG's Multimodal Tool](https://blueraster.com/stories/semcog-multimodal-transportation-planning-tool/): Blue Raster collaborated with Fehr and Peers and SEMCOG to develop a custom transportation planning tool that leverages GIS technology. - [Enabling Cooperative Engagement within the Asian American Community](https://blueraster.com/stories/aauc-asian-american-community-network/): Blue Raster and the Asian American Unity Coalition partnered to deliver updates to the AAPI Network Dashboard and the associated... - [Blue Raster at the 2024 Esri User Conference](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-at-the-2024-esri-user-conference/): We’re looking forward to the 2024 Esri User Conference in San Diego on July 15-19. Our team of experts will be on hand to showcase what we’ve been up to! - [Revitalizing Main Street: Tracking Community Opportunities with BOOMS Tracker](https://blueraster.com/stories/tracking-community-opportunities-with-booms-tracker/): Discover how Blue Raster supports Main Street America with the BOOMS Tracker, a property inventory tool designed to address community challenges and revitalize historic commercial districts. - [Mapping Food Security: Blue Raster and USAID Zones of Influence](https://blueraster.com/stories/mapping-food-security-blue-raster/): Blue Raster partners with ICF for the Surveys for Monitoring in Resilience and Food Security (SMRFS) project to monitor progress towards combating global hunger and enhancing food security. - [Blue Raster Takes to the Skies at Holden Forests & Gardens](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-drone-basemap-holden-forests-gardens/): Blue Raster created a high-precision drone basemap for Holden Forests & Gardens in Spring 2024 - [Conservation.gov Launched for Earth Day 2024](https://blueraster.com/stories/conservation-dot-gov-earth-day-2024/): On Friday April 19th the White House announced the launch of Conservation. gov, an information hub supporting locally led efforts... - [World Water Day: New ways to see WASH data on the Spatial Data Repository](https://blueraster.com/stories/world-water-day-new-ways-to-see-wash-data-on-the-spatial-data-repository/): World Water Day: New ways to see WASH data on the Spatial Data Repository with better visualizations available in both vector and raster format! - [Transform Your Website with AI Services to Enhance Capabilities](https://blueraster.com/stories/using-open-ai-service-to-enhance-your-website/): Using AI, Blue Raster engineered a cutting-edge solution that allows website visitors to interact with data in a conversational manner,... - [Blue Raster Pioneering Imagery Management Technology and Delivery Workflows with ArcGIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/imagery-management-and-delivery-with-arcgis/): Blue Raster excels in tapping into the full potential of ArcGIS for imagery hosting, analysis, and delivery workflows across ArcGIS... - [Modernize your GIS with Blue Raster's Expert ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro Services](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcmap-to-arcgis-pro/): Blue Raster offers comprehensive migration services to streamline your transition from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free... - [Transitioning from Web AppBuilder to Experience Builder: Get Ready for a New Experience](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-web-app-builder-to-experience-builder/): Blue Raster has assisted numerous clients, spanning a variety of industries, in both developing Experience Builder applications and migrating existing... - [New Updates to The DHS Program Spatial Data Repository: A one stop shop for Spatial Analysis Datasets](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-updates-to-the-dhs-program-spatial-data-repository/): You may be familiar with the USAID funded DHS Program Spatial Data Repository (SDR) and use it to access spatial... - [Exploring KoopJS: Simplifying and Enhancing Geospatial Data Integration](https://blueraster.com/stories/exploring-koopjs-geospatial-data-integration/): In the ever-expanding landscape of web development, the integration and presentation of geospatial data poses unique challenges. As applications increasingly... - [Templeton Roots & Shoots Prizes: Honoring International Changemakers Who Are Making A Difference](https://blueraster.com/stories/templeton-roots-shoots-prizes/): This StoryMap showcases the Templeton Roots & Shoots Prizes and elevates the extraordinary efforts of visionary youth leaders and their adult mentors worldwide. - [Above the Waters: A Cinematic Journey Through the Delaware River Watershed](https://blueraster.com/stories/cinematic-journey-through-the-delaware-river-watershed/): The Delaware River holds a rich tapestry of history, playing a pivotal role in the development of the United States... - [Blue Raster & Smithsonian Promote Internship Program with ArcGIS StoryMaps](https://blueraster.com/stories/si-affiliations-internship-arcgis-storymap/): Blue Raster developed an ArcGIS StoryMap to promote Smithsonian Affiliations Leadership for Change Internship Program. - [Expanding Nutritious Food Access with the Healthy Corners Mobile App](https://blueraster.com/stories/expanding-nutritious-food-access-healthy-corners-mobile-app/): See how Blue Raster helped a nonprofit’s Healthy Corners Shopper app connect low-income communities in DC to affordable produce in... - [South Park Arboretum's Plant Finder uses ArcGIS Experience Builder to Showcase Restoration Efforts](https://blueraster.com/stories/bopc-uses-arcgis-experience-builder-to-showcase-restoration/): Blue Raster used ArcGIS Experience Builder to help the Buffalo Olmstead Parks Conservancy showcase the South Park Arboretum's “outdoor museum of trees” - [ArcGIS Monitor Maintains Healthy ArcGIS Enterprise for Collin County, TX](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-monitor-maintains-healthy-arcgis-enterprise-for-collin-county-tx/): Blue Raster deployed ArcGIS Monitor for Collin County, TX to help their GIS team gain insights and quickly resolve issues with ArcGIS Enterprise. - [Creating Effective Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources for the Nevada Division of Emergency Management](https://blueraster.com/stories/creating-effective-disaster-preparedness-response-and-recovery-resources-for-the-nevada-division-of-emergency-management/): In 2020, the State of Nevada’s Department of Public Safety began discussing the possibility of using Esri’s ArcGIS disaster response... - [Changing Lanes with Configurable Solutions in MCDOT’s Bus Rapid Transit Planning Study](https://blueraster.com/stories/changing-lanes-with-configurable-solutions-in-mcdots-bus-rapid-transit-planning-study/): Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is giving its citizens a say in the latest Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)... - [Blue Raster Exhibits and Presents at the 2023 North Carolina ArcGIS Users Group Conference](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-exhibits-and-presents-at-the-2023-north-carolina-arcgis-users-group-conference/): The North Carolina ArcGIS Users Group (NCAUG) 2023 conference brought together GIS professionals, industry leaders, and innovators within the North... - [Georgia Uses GIS to Match Voters with Polling Places](https://blueraster.com/stories/georgia-uses-gis-to-match-voters-with-polling-places/): Ahead of the November 2022 election, the Georgia Secretary of State (SOS) Elections Division approached Esri and Blue Raster to... - [Meet the Beautiful Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College](https://blueraster.com/stories/meet-the-beautiful-scott-arboretum-of-swarthmore-college/): Blue Raster partnered with Scott Arboretum to establish a synchronization process between GIS and the arboretum’s botanical repository, BG-BASE. - [2023 Esri UC Top Takeaways](https://blueraster.com/stories/2023-esri-uc-top-takeaways/): Our team is back from exhibiting at the 2023 Esri UC in San Diego. This year we had over 500 people stop by our booth to say hi! - [TrailsMV Mobile Application: Explore Martha's Vineyard's Nature Trails](https://blueraster.com/stories/trailsmv-mobile-application-explore-marthas-vineyards-nature-trails/): Discover new places to connect with nature across the island of Martha’s Vineyard on the all-new TrailsMV mobile app from Sheriff's Meadow Foundation. - [Exploring Commercial Real Estate from a New Perspective: Blue Raster Partners with AerialSphere](https://blueraster.com/stories/exploring-commercial-real-estate-from-a-new-perspective-blue-raster-partners-with-aerial-sphere/): Use of an Oriented Imagery Catalog (OIC) and Esri widget affords the opportunity to explore properties in an immersive 3D environment. - [What Are the Discovery, Execution, and Maintenance Phases of ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud Migration?](https://blueraster.com/stories/what-are-the-discovery-execution-and-maintenance-phases-of-arcgis-enterprise-cloud-migration/): It’s important to know what the discovery, execution, and maintenance phases of ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration entail. - [Esri UC 2023: Visit with Blue Raster!](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-uc-2023/): Blue Raster is looking forward to getting back to San Diego to exhibit at Esri UC 2023. Stop by our booth or make a plan to meet with us! - [Building Bridges to Progress: The Inter-American Development Bank's HIT Platform for Infrastructure and Transport](https://blueraster.com/stories/building-bridges-to-progress-the-inter-american-development-banks-hit-platform-for-infrastructure-and-transport/): Blue Raster collaborated with IDB to develop the HIT Platform, a groundbreaking initiative that serves as a regional infrastructure and transport hub - [Empowering Freshwater Communities and Indigenous People through Immersive StoryMaps](https://blueraster.com/stories/empowering-freshwater-communities-and-indigenous-people-through-immersive-storymaps/): Blue Raster partnered with the Nature Conservancy's Freshwater Community-Led Conservation Program to develop a series of StoryMaps - [Advancing Sustainable Development in West Africa: A Geospatial Toolkit for Monitoring SDG Goals](https://blueraster.com/stories/advancing-sustainable-development-in-west-africa-a-geospatial-toolkit-for-monitoring-sdg-goals/): Blue Raster partnered with the Biospheric Sciences Lab at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and MIT Media Lab to develop a desktop-based geospatial toolkit for calculating and reporting key indicators within Goal 15 of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. - [HSF Affiliates Sets Out on a Mission to Improve Mapping Capabilities and Customer Service](https://blueraster.com/stories/hsf-affiliates-sets-out-on-a-mission-to-improve-mapping-capabilities-and-customer-service/): HSF Affiliates is a global organization that operates some of the most recognized real estate brands in the world, including... - [APGA Puts on a Texas-Sized Show in Fort Worth](https://blueraster.com/stories/apga-puts-on-a-texas-sized-show-in-fort-worth/): Last week was the American Public Garden Associations’ (APGA) Annual Conference in Forth Worth, Texas. Over 1,000 people in the... - [Conducting Research and Data Analysis for The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Restoration Opportunities Project](https://blueraster.com/stories/conducting-research-and-data-analysis-for-the-nature-conservancys-coastal-restoration-opportunities-project/): The Nature Conservancy required Blue Raster’s support in meeting its main goals for the Coastal Restoration Opportunities project. - [Bringing Modern GIS Capabilities to Natural Lands](https://blueraster.com/stories/bringing-modern-gis-capabilities-to-natural-lands/): Uur team reviewed Natural Lands’ existing GIS architecture, datasets, and services, and proposed a migration strategy to ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 - [New Features in the LEARN Tool Expand Functionality for Assessing GHG Emissions from Land Use](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-features-in-the-learn-tool-expand-functionality-for-assessing-ghg-emissions-from-land-use/): Blue Raster is pleased to release the new build for the LEARN (Land Emissions and Removals Navigator) Tool to assess GHG emissions. - [Making Coastal Habitat Mapping Possible with Clark Labs](https://blueraster.com/stories/making-coastal-habitat-mapping-possible-with-clark-labs/): Blue Raster helped Clark Labs with enhancements to its coastal habitat mapping application that maps mangroves, pond aquaculture, and coastal habitats. - [Blue Raster Joins List of Pre-qualified Vendors for the North Carolina Department of Information and Technology](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-llc-joins-list-of-pre-qualified-vendors-for-the-north-carolina-department-of-information-and-technology/): Blue Raster named a pre-qualified vendor for the purpose of providing GIS, cloud, and IT support to the North Carolina... - [Blue Raster to Exhibit at PA GIS Conference](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-at-pa-gis-conference/): Blue Raster is excited to be exhibiting and presenting at the PA GIS Conference on April 10-12, 2023 in State College, PA.. - [Blue Raster Receives Sustainable Development Award and is Named Esri Cornerstone Partner at 2023 Esri Partner Conference](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-receives-sustainable-development-award-and-is-named-esri-cornerstone-partner-at-2023-esri-partner-conference/): Blue Raster received two honors at the 2023 Esri Partner Conference: the Esri Award for Sustainable Developement and recognition as a Cornerstone Partner. - [AppStudio Retirement: Esri Announces Major Update](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-announces-arcgis-appstudio-retirements/): AppStudio will be fully supported for the next two years, but it's upcoming retirement necessitates a seamless transition for your applications. - [Esri Streams Real-Time Data to ArcGIS Online with Velocity](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-streams-real-time-data-to-arcgis-online-with-velocity/): It’s no secret that data empowers educated decision-making; however, with our rapidly evolving data landscape, this cannot be a stagnant... - [Saratoga County Launches Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard](https://blueraster.com/stories/saratoga-county-launches-substance-use-surveillance-dashboard/): Saratoga ounty launched the Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard to help enhance the county’s opioid education, prevention, treatment, and response efforts. - [Map Creation Made Easy With WRI’s MapBuilder](https://blueraster.com/stories/map-creation-made-easy-with-wris-mapbuilder/): Our team assisted the World Resources Institute with some updates to make MapBuilder more user-friendly for the general public to access and use. - [Building Out the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard: An Accessible, Hands-On Approach to Conservation Education](https://blueraster.com/stories/building-out-the-asean-biodiversity-dashboard-an-accessible-hands-on-approach-to-conservation-education/): Building Out the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard with NatureServe: An Accessible, Hands-On Approach to Conservation Education - [Answering the Call for More Sustainable Groundwater Management with GRAT](https://blueraster.com/stories/answering-the-call-for-more-sustainable-groundwater-management-with-grat/): The Groundwater Recharge Assessment Tool (GRAT) was developed in partnership with The Earth Genome and Sustainable Conservation. - [National Audubon Society's Bird Migration Explorer](https://blueraster.com/stories/national-audubon-societys-bird-migration-explorer/): Audubon partnered with Blue Raster to create the Bird Migration Explorer- an immersive application that teaches users about the joy of migration. - [Esri ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty: Elevating Our Clients' GIS Capabilities to the Sky](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-arcgis-cloud-specialty-elevating-our-clients-gis-capabilities-to-the-sky/): The Esri ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty designates Blue Raster as an expert in deploying and managing ArcGIS in cloud environments. - [Haverford College Campus Placefinder](https://blueraster.com/stories/haverford-college-campus-placefinder/): Like most colleges, Haverford College has a dynamic campus life that requires significant management and planning to run smoothly. But... - [National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Carbon Benefits Calculator](https://blueraster.com/stories/national-fish-and-wildlife-foundation-carbon-benefits-calculator/): Blue Raster partnered with NFWF to create a robust Carbon Benefits Calculator to estimate and visualize the carbon impact of conservation efforts. - [2022 Esri UC Top Takeaways](https://blueraster.com/stories/2022-esri-uc-top-takeaways/): Blue Raster attended the largest GIS event of the year: the 2022 Esri UC in San Diego, CA! We’re excited to share our experience and what we learned. - [Disposal of Debris after Disaster: Blue Raster partners with CDR Maguire to quantify and monitor disposal of debris material](https://blueraster.com/stories/disposal-of-debris-after-disaster-blue-raster-partners-with-cdr-maguire-to-quantify-and-monitor-disposal-of-debris-material/): Blue Raster helps CDR Maguire use the Esri Debris Management Solution with a custom enhancement to support online and offline use. - [In It For the Long Haul: Transload Distribution Association partners with Blue Raster to visualize, analyze and prioritize](https://blueraster.com/stories/in-it-for-the-long-haul-transload-distribution-association-partners-with-blue-raster-to-visualize-analyze-and-prioritize/): Blue Raster partners with Transload Distribution Association of North America (TDANA) to develop an interactive ArcGIS Dashboard that elevates transloading. - [Esri UC 2022 Preview](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-uc-2022-preview/): Blue Raster is looking forward to getting back to San Diego to exhibit at Esri UC 2022. Stop by our booth near the Sustainable World Showcase! - [Celebrating ArcGIS Enterprise Implementation with Blue Raster’s Scott Geistmann](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-enterprise-system-design-professional/): Blue Raster is proud to celebrate our own Scott Geistmann for achieving the Esri Enterprise System Design Professional (ESDP2201) Certification. - [Inspiring Children to Innovate for Success: The Henry Ford and the Innovation Atlas Explorer](https://blueraster.com/stories/inspiring-children-to-innovate-for-success-the-henry-ford-and-the-innovation-atlas-explorer/): The Innovation Atlas Explorer Score is calculated using socio-economic attributes, school attributes and validated research - [Esri DevSummit 2022: Live From Palm Springs CA](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-devsummit-2022-live-from-palm-springs-ca/): The Esri DevSummit is Blue Raster’s chance to reflect on the latest technologies and enhancements available in the ArcGIS Platform. - [New Era for Plant Mapping at New York Botanical Garden with PlantTracker](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-era-for-plant-mapping-at-new-york-botanical-garden-with-planttracker/): Looking to upgrade their public mapping presence and expand internal use of GIS, NYBG and Blue Raster partnered to develop PlantTracker. - [Driving Forward with VDOT's Integrated Directional Signing Program](https://blueraster.com/stories/driving-forward-with-vdots-integrated-directional-signing-program/): Blue Raster partnered with Directional Signing Program (DSP) to put in place Esri workflows that help ensure you can trust highway signs. - [Improving Deforestation Risk Management in Commodity Supply Chain](https://blueraster.com/stories/improving-deforestation-risk-management-in-commodity-supply-chain/): Blue Raster developed Global Forest Watch Pro, a decision support tool that empowers companies to monitor supply chains for responsible environmental practices. - [Mekong Monitor – Providing Vital Insight for River-dependent Communities](https://blueraster.com/stories/mekong-monitor-providing-vital-insight-for-river-dependent-communities/): Blue Raster helped develop the Mekong Dam Monitor to provide unprecedented transparency of water flow along the Mekong River. - [Modeling a Decision Support System in Response to COVID-19](https://blueraster.com/stories/modeling-a-decision-support-system-in-response-to-covid-19/): We are proud to work in partnership with the Space Enabled Research Group at the MIT Media Lab and East... - [Green Keeper Africa - Utilizing Invasive Plant Species to Mitigate Lake Pollution in Benin](https://blueraster.com/stories/green-keeper-africa-utilizing-invasive-plant-species-to-mitigate-lake-pollution-in-benin/): Green Keeper Africa created a transformation path that takes harvested hyacinths and converts them into an absorptive product that can soak up oil spills. - [Promoting Sustainable Forestry Practices with High Resolution Imagery](https://blueraster.com/stories/improving-sustainable-forestry-practices-with-high-resolution-imagery/): Blue Raster recently integrated clearer, high resolution satellite imagery from Planet and Sentinel into the FSC audit area tool. - [Asian American Pacific Islander Community Hub](https://blueraster.com/stories/aapi-hub/): Blue Raster is proud to help launch the Asian American Pacific Islander Pilot Hub as a place for the AAPI community to connect, coordinate, and collaborate. - [Automating Workflows for COVID-19 Response](https://blueraster.com/stories/automating-workflows-for-covid-19-response/): Saratoga County, NY partnered with Blue Raster for support with automating workflows with ArcGIS Notebooks and deploying ArcGIS Enterprise. - [Work Locations Tool for Landscape Crews](https://blueraster.com/stories/work-locations-tool/): The Work Locations Tool replaces manual processes and paper maps. Management dashboards allow the Lovin team to see the status of all of their work sites. - [Innovation 2.0: Draper Innovation Index launches new version](https://blueraster.com/stories/innovation-2-0-draper-innovation-index-launches-new-version/): Following up on the previous versions of the Draper Innovation Index (DII), Blue Raster is proud to announce the launch... - [Manassas Park Deploys ArcGIS Tools to Modernize IT Infrastructure](https://blueraster.com/stories/manassas-park-deploys-arcgis-online-to-modernize/): We helped Manassas Park centralize data and modernize their IT infrastructure to make critical decisions about public safety, recreation, and investments. - [Esri State and Local Specialty: <br>Enabling Digital Communities Nationwide](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-state-and-local-specialty-enabling-digital-communities-nationwide/): Blue Raster is now a proud member of the Esri State and Local Specialty due to our experience in working with local and state governments - [Public Health & GIS: HealthLandscape Addresses Today’s Public Health Challenges](https://blueraster.com/stories/public-health-and-gis/): With HealthLandscape, we provide a visual look at health indicators, infrastructure data, and geographies of high risk for better public health planning - [Esri Nonprofit Specialty: Enabling Nonprofits to Use GIS for Greater Impact](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-nonprofit-specialty/): Blue Raster is a proud member of the Esri Nonprofit Specialty. We are recognized for our alignment with Esri’s Nonprofit Organization Program. - [Health GIS: From Data Entry to Dashboard in Real Time](https://blueraster.com/stories/from-data-entry-to-dashboard-in-real-time/): GIS continues to be used in public health research and planning. To demostrate, Blue Raster's Phil Satlof presented at the HIMSS 2021 Conference. - [Make Way for Whales (And Environmental Hope)](https://blueraster.com/stories/smithsonian-whales-storymap/): Using ArcGIS Online & ArcGIS StoryMaps, the Blue Raster team built the “Make Way for Whales” StoryMap that highlights ways to increase safety for whales. - [Ensuring Sustainable Forestry Practices](https://blueraster.com/stories/ensuring-sustainable-forestry-practices/): FSC combines imagery and data, including the Esri Living Atlas, to aid in pre-audit evaluations to streamline and standardize their auditing workflows. - [Keeping Sacramento Moving](https://blueraster.com/stories/keeping-sacramento-moving/): Transportation officials can view the collected crowd-sourced input in dashboards for a quick view of the community’s priorities. - [Trillion Trees: An Interactive Look at Forest Regeneration](https://blueraster.com/stories/trillion-trees-an-interactive-look-at-forest-regeneration/): Trillion Trees is a joint venture between three of the world's largest conservation organizations aimed at ending deforestation and restore tree cover. - [Getting Conservation Efforts On The Map](https://blueraster.com/stories/getting-conservation-efforts-on-the-map/): Blue Raster built the Conservation Guidance Web Tool to identify areas where conservation activity will have the most impact. - [Explore Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the USA with The Draper Innovation Index U.S.](https://blueraster.com/stories/explore-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-in-the-usa-with-the-draper-innovation-index-u-s/): Built using ArcGIS Hub, Dashboards, and StoryMaps, the Draper Innovation Index US includes three major scenarios that provide a look at state performance. - [Tracking Trends of Innovation and Entrepreneurship with The Draper Innovation Index](https://blueraster.com/stories/tracking-trends-of-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-with-the-draper-innovation-index/): The Draper Innovation Index consists of a series of data indicators on the state of entrepreneurial activity, environment, and drivers. - [Jane’s Green Hope: Blue Raster supports 87 Years of Jane Goodall's Impact](https://blueraster.com/stories/janes-green-hope-blue-raster-supports-87-years-of-jgis-impact/): To celebrate her 87th birthday, Dr. Goodall is asking you to pledge to make a difference via the Jane's Green Hope campaign, - [FedGIS 2021](https://blueraster.com/stories/fedgis-2021/): FedGIS 2021 provided two thought-provoking days of powerful stories and examples about how GIS is making a difference in the world. - [Blue Raster at NC GIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-at-nc-gis/): The annual NC GIS Conference was held virtually this year, from Feb 16-19, instead of the usual location of Winston-Salem. - [Estimating Community GHG Emissions from Land Use Change](https://blueraster.com/stories/estimating-community-ghg-emissions-from-land-use-change/): As communities seek to mitigate the impact of climate change by reducing their GHG emissions, the importance of land use to the GHG balance is apparent. - [Bringing Transparency to Transboundary Water Policy in the Mekong River Basin](https://blueraster.com/stories/bringing-transparency-to-transboundary-water-policy-in-the-mekong-river-basin/): The newly launched Mekong Dam Monitor provides unprecedented transparency of the flow of water and conditions of dams and reservoirs along the Mekong. - [Arboretum Botanical Explorer Revitalized at the U.S. National Arboretum](https://blueraster.com/stories/arboretum-botanical-explorer-revitalized/): The US National Arboretum revitalized its Arboretum Botanical Explorer application, a web-mapping application powered by ArcGIS. - [GIS Day 2020](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-day-2020/): On November 18th, we celebrated GIS Day 2020 by hosting GIS students from Washington-Liberty High School for the first-ever virtual celebration. - [Look Good, Feel Good: DHS Program Launches Re-Designed Website](https://blueraster.com/stories/look-good-feel-good-dhs-program-launches-re-designed-website/): Blue Raster worked with The DHS Program to re-design and launch its new, modern website. Find tools and resources on desktop and mobile. - [SubsidyExplorer Tool: Design for Decisions](https://blueraster.com/stories/subsidyexplorer-tool/): The SubsidyExplorer Tool is a first-of-its-kind interactive tool that allows users to explore potential impacts of fisheries subsidy reform scenarios. - [Build Your First Power BI Report Using the Inbuilt Sample Data](https://blueraster.com/stories/build-your-first-power-bi-report-using-the-inbuilt-sample-data/): Making the shift from Excel to Power BI to display meaningful data is more simple than you think. Get started with your first Power BI report today! - [Track Industrial Spaces in the Mekong Region with the Updated Mekong Infrastructure Tracker](https://blueraster.com/stories/track-industrial-spaces-in-the-mekong-region-with-the-updated-mekong-infrastructure-tracker/): In addition to major transportation hubs, the latest release of The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker includes data on Industrial Spaces. - [GIS-based Mapping in America's First Garden Cemetery](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-based-mapping-in-americas-first-garden-cemetery/): Blue Raster helped implement GIS-based mapping and a virtual mapping application in America’s first garden cemetery, Mount Auburn Cemetery. - [Power BI Resource Guide](https://blueraster.com/stories/power-bi-resource-guide/): Learn about Power BI Resources and online introductory trainings that are essential to understanding how Microsoft Power BI works. - [Intern Experience at Blue Raster: Summer 2020](https://blueraster.com/stories/intern-experience-at-blue-raster-summer-2020/): Part of being an intern is learning, and at Blue Raster we were very fortunate to see a new side of the GIS field during our summer internship. - [Blue Raster at the Esri User Conference 2020](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-at-the-esri-uc/): Blue Raster attended the largest GIS event of the year: the annual Esri User Conference. Over 86,000 people from 180 countries registered to take part. - [Emerging Hot Spots and Tracking Global Forest Loss: A New Chapter in GIS for Science](https://blueraster.com/stories/emerging-hot-spots-tracking-global-forest-loss-a-new-chapter-in-gis-for-science/): Blue Raster collaborated with the World Resources Institute and Esri to publish a study about spatial statistics and Emerging Hot Spots of forest loss. - [Enhanced Visualization of DHIS2 Data](https://blueraster.com/stories/enhanced-visualization-of-dhis2-data/): DHIS2, the District Health Information Software, is an open-source platform for data collection, analysis and reporting of healthy system data. - [Esri UC 2020 is Virtual!](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-uc-2020-is-virtual/): Esri UC is virtual in 2020! Visit Blue Raster in the virtual expo, view our map gallery submissions, and watch the plenary via live-stream. Register today. - [Celebrating 60 Years of Discovery with Jane Goodall](https://blueraster.com/stories/celebrating-60-years-of-discovery-with-jane-goodall/): To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dr. Jane Goodall's research, we teamed up with the Jane Goodall Institute to launch a new interactive story map - [Data Visualization Training](https://blueraster.com/stories/data-visualization-training/): Using our industry expertise, Blue Raster developed a comprehensive, virtual data visualization training package to meet the needs of our client, IBTCI. - [Mekong Infrastructure Tracker](https://blueraster.com/stories/mekong-infrastructure-tracker/): The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker provides data to analyze the different infrastructure projects in relation to socioeconomic and environmental factors. - [StoryMaps in the Time of COVID-19: Telling the Story of the Red Cross Response Efforts](https://blueraster.com/stories/redcross-storymap-covid19/): Blue Raster helped publish a new Red Cross StoryMap highlighting response efforts: How the Red Cross is Helping During COVID-19. - [Getting Started with Power BI](https://blueraster.com/stories/getting-started-with-power-bi/): Blue Raster’s experienced team of business intelligence experts can help your organization with getting started with Power BI. - [Tracking Grassland Loss in the Great Plains: WWF and Blue Raster Release Plowprint Web Application](https://blueraster.com/stories/tracking-grassland-loss-in-the-great-plains-wwf-and-blue-raster-release-plowprint-web-application/): Tracking Grassland Loss in the Great Plains: Blue Raster has partnered with the World Wildlife fund to bring the annual Plowprint Report online. - [COVID Response Dashboard](https://blueraster.com/stories/covid-response-dashboard/): Blue Raster created an interactive COVID Response dashboard to present crucial data in an easy to understand and consumable format. - [Esri Partner Conference 2020](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-partner-conference-2020/): The Esri Partner Conference is a yearly meeting of Esri's global partners who are reshaping the world through the application of geospatial technology. - [Esri FedGIS 2020](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-fedgis-2020/): The Blue Raster team attended the 2020 Esri FedGIS Conference, focusing on best practices for location intelligence and working with geospatial community. - [Clearview Analytics Tool: Accelerating Economic Insight](https://blueraster.com/stories/avenu-clearview-analytics-economic-insights/): Blue Raster and Avenu create Clearview Analytics Economic Development Insights tool, combining revenu data with demographic and drive time capabilities - [Virtualizing ArcGIS in the Cloud](https://blueraster.com/stories/virtualizing-arcgis-in-the-cloud/): Explore options to virtualize your ArcGIS Desktop environment by migrating to scalable, cost-efficient cloud solutions within Amazon Web Services or Azure - [2019 Esri Mid-Atlantic User Group Conference: Five Major Takeaways from our GIS Team](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-mug-2019/): The two-day Esri Mid-Atlantic User Group Conference brought together over 400 Esri users and GIS professions from around the region. - [Field Report: Supporting TRACE in Eswatini, Rwanda, and Ethiopia](https://blueraster.com/stories/field-report-supporting-trace/): Blue Raster is supporting the implementation of Power BI and ArcGIS to provide real-time data about recent HIV infections. - [GIS Day at Blue Raster](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-day-2019/): For GIS Day, we helped local high school students learn about geography and GIS applications that are making a difference in our society. - [A Look at the Ohio River: Past, Present, and Future](https://blueraster.com/stories/ohio-river-story-map/): To take readers on an interactive tour of the Ohio River, Blue Raster produced a StoryMap called Highlights of the Ohio for the Good River project launch. - [Blue Raster Wins Esri's StoryMap Challenge](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-storymap-challenge/): View the winning StoryMap from Esri's Federal StoryMap challenge. It explores how Blue Raster mapped America's wine regions. - [Using StoryMaps to Celebrate Arlington County's 1920 Centennial](https://blueraster.com/stories/storymap-celebrates-arlington-centennial/): Blue Raster celebrates the 100th anniversary of Arlington County with a vivid StoryMap highlighting the county's numerous historical landmarks. - [ArcGIS Training at Blue Raster: Teaching the Fundamentals of Esri ArcGIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-training-session/): The Blue Raster team led a training on the fundamentals of web and desktop GIS, including the basics of GIS workflows in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. - [Mapping America's Wine Growing Regions](https://blueraster.com/stories/mapping-americas-wine-regions/): Blue Raster has been working with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to map wine with GIS: over 270 of America’s Viticultural Areas (AVA). - [Green-Wood Mobile App: Celebrating Life in one of America's Historic Cemeteries](https://blueraster.com/stories/green-wood-mobile-app/): Green-Wood Mobile App is a free mobile application that allows users to discover the history, nature and wildlife at this National Historical Landmark. - [ArcGIS Maps for Microsoft Power BI: Make Spatially Informed Business Decisions](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-maps-power-bi/): ArcGIS Maps for Microsoft Power BI allows businesses to harness the true potential of asset location in order to improve their revenue and productivity. - [Global Forest Watch Fires: New Fire Monitoring Capabilities](https://blueraster.com/stories/global-forest-watch-fires/): Global Forest Watch Fires (GFW Fires) is an online platform for monitoring and responding to forest and land fires using near real-time information. - [Using GIS to Inform Workforce Development](https://blueraster.com/stories/workforce-development/): Using these customized maps from the American Institutes for Research (AIR), teams can better contextualize their workforce development initiatives. - [ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management Workshop](https://blueraster.com/stories/emergency-management-workshop/): Emergency Management response training be prepared with location-based solutions to empower critical decision-making that can help save lives. - [ArcGIS Urban: Take City Development Further](https://blueraster.com/stories/city-development-with-arcgis-urban/): ArcGIS Urban, the latest city planning and 3D visualization tool by Esri, creates 3D renderings of landscapes, buildings, and proposed site projects. - [Esri User Conference 2019: The Blue Raster Experience](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-user-conference-blue-raster-experience/): The Esri User Conference is the biggest GIS event of the year. Blue Raster had an amazing time in San Diego. Read about our EsriUC experience here. - [Highlighting Jane Goodall's Conservation Approach with a New Story Map](https://blueraster.com/stories/jgi-story-map/): Blue Raster, Esri and The Jane Goodall Institute teamed up on an exciting new Story Map, built with the brand new StoryMaps for ArcGIS template. - [The TRACE Initiative: Using real-time data to identify hot spots of current HIV transmission](https://blueraster.com/stories/trace/): The TRACE (Tracking with Recency Assays to Control the Epidemic) project is a new effort that contributes to the global fight to reach HIV epidemic control. - [Public Gardens on Display in Washington, DC](https://blueraster.com/stories/public-gardens-conference/): Blue Raster was proud to showcase our Public Gardens and Cemetery solutions at the 2019 American Public Gardens Association Conference in Washington, DC. - [City of Lynnwood ArcGIS Hub Support](https://blueraster.com/stories/lynnwood-hub/): Blue Raster recently worked with the City of Lynnwood, Washington to support their Connect Lynnwood ArcGIS Hub launch. - [Esri UC 2019: Visit the Blue Raster Team](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-uc-2019/): Blue Raster will be attending Esri UC in San Diego. Visit our booth near the Sustainable World Community, see our presentations, or attend our events! - [GFW Pro: Managing Deforestation Risk in Commodity Supply Chains](https://blueraster.com/stories/gfw-pro/): GFW Pro was designed to translate geospatial data into actionable insights to quickly and accurately monitor deforestation around the world. - [Forest Products Without Compromise](https://blueraster.com/stories/forest-stewardship-council/): Forest Stewardship Council dashboards provide an interactive outlet to explore where FSC Certified Forests and Certificates currently are. - [World Environment Day: Today and Everyday](https://blueraster.com/stories/world-environment-day/): On World Environment Day, we take pride in our projects that promote the conservation and well-being of our environment and planet. - [The Magic of Maps: Presenting Esri StoryMap Beta](https://blueraster.com/stories/themagicofmaps/): Blue Raster recently had the opportunity to create and present a StoryMap using the new ArcGIS StoryMaps for Esri’s The Magic of Maps event. - [Sustainable World Conference in Geneva: Collaborating for a better world](https://blueraster.com/stories/sustainable-world-conference-2019/): As a proud a sponsor of this event, we had the chance to share some of our GIS projects that are making an impact on global sustainability. - [Using Drones to Advance Turfgrass Science at Green-Wood Cemetery](https://blueraster.com/stories/drones-green-wood-cemetery/): In a new initiative with Green-Wood Cemetery, Cornell University, and turfgrass experts, Blue Raster is using drones to confront climate change in urban landscapes. - [Following the Student Journey: Education to the Workforce](https://blueraster.com/stories/following-the-student-journey/): The TalentED Story Map platform brings students, counselors, and local business together to explore the student journey from education to the workforce - [Saving Wilderness Areas with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)](https://blueraster.com/stories/wcs-mapbuilder/): We worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society to customize unique workflows to connect their API with a custom Global Forest Watch MapBuilder platform. - [Blue Raster Takes on Esri DevSummit 2019](https://blueraster.com/stories/2019-devsummit/): Blue Raster team attends the 2019 Esri DevSummit to learn the latest about the ArcGIS platform, advanced spatial analysis and new visualizations. - [Explore the Indoors with ArcGIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-indoors-training/): Our team had the opportunity to attend an ArcGIS Indoors workshop. This new technology provides 3D maps and location data to explore the indoors. - [India Water Tool Helps Turn Water Risks to Water Solutions](https://blueraster.com/stories/india-water-tool-helps-turn-water-risks-to-water-solutions/): Blue Raster continues to support to the India Water Tool which helps companies understand water risks for their operations and supply chains. - [Esri FedGIS 2019](https://blueraster.com/stories/esri-fedgis-2019/): The Blue Raster team took part in the annual Esri FedGIS conference in Washington, DC, where we received the Partner of the Year Award. - [Identifying Connectivity Across US Communities](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-america-storymap/): Blue Raster recently collaborated with New America on a story map highlighting city and community connectedness across the US. - [Understanding our Students with MapED](https://blueraster.com/stories/understanding-students-with-acs-ed-maps/): ACS-ED Maps identifies conditions of school-age children in school districts across the United States for holistic understanding of the success of students. - [Make Meaningful Policy Maps For Your Community](https://blueraster.com/stories/policy-maps/): Esri's Policy Maps site is a place where you can explore and share policy maps related to topics such as the opioid epidemic, housing, and poverty. - [Habitat and biodiversity in the ‘Urban Century’](https://blueraster.com/stories/protecting-nature-urban-century/): The Nature Conservancies recent report is a global assessment of humans urban growth impact on natural habitat and biodiversity - [3D Zoning in Washington D.C.](https://blueraster.com/stories/3d-zoning-washington-dc/): The new 3D Zoning Map is an innovative public tool from DCOZ for citizens, developers, and agencies to visualize zoning regulations in the nations Capitol. - [Towards Zero Deforestation with GFW Pro](https://blueraster.com/stories/towards-zero-deforestation-with-gfw-pro/): Global Forest Watch Pro provides organizations a secure environment to bring in their whole supply chain for analysis, turning data into actionable insights - [LOOK UP and take a Skyfie](https://blueraster.com/stories/lookup-skyfie/): Working with the Dorothy Jemison Foundation, Blue Raster helped develop the Sky Tapestry 3D Globe for the October 18th Look Up event. - [China: Then and Now - A Story Map](https://blueraster.com/stories/matthews-asia-story-map/): Matthews Asia collaborated with Blue Raster to launch "China: Then and Now", a new story map spotlighting China's economic transformation. - [Workforce Development Through Story Maps](https://blueraster.com/stories/cccd/): The Coast Community College District & Blue Raster partnered to publish story maps that prepare tomorrow's workforce for the new economy. - [A Summer at Blue Raster: Internship Edition](https://blueraster.com/stories/summer-internship-recap/): The internship provided the opportunity to contribute to a multitude of projects. I was able to contribute to a variety of GIS work. - [Highlights from the Esri UC 2018](https://blueraster.com/stories/highlights-esri-uc-2018/): Blue Raster is excited to learn and collaborate every year at the Esri UC, check out some of our favorites from 2018! - [Maret School: Exploring Inequality through GIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/maret-school/): Blue Raster developed and delivered basic and intermediate GIS instruction for Maret School's Mapping Inequality in DC class. - [Blue Raster attends the American Public Gardens Association Annual Conference](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-attends-american-public-gardens-association-annual-conference/): Blue Raster attends the American Public Gardens Association Annual Conference and presents on the US National Arboretum project. - [Education Data Leaves the Classroom with EDGE Geodata](https://blueraster.com/stories/education-data-edge-geodata/): Geography plays a vital role in our schools: EDGE Geodata site gives the public access to some of the most prominent, up-to-date geographic education data - [Arlington Democrats: Organizing Volunteers with Accessible Maps](https://blueraster.com/stories/arlington-dems/): Volunteer organization is the backbone of local political parties, and these volunteers is are increasingly supported by accessible mapping. Recently,... - [Mapping for a World Without Malnutrition](https://blueraster.com/stories/gain-v2/): Driven by the vision of a world without malnutrition, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Blue Raster worked... - [Blue Raster in Geneva: GIS for a Sustainable World](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-sustainable-world/): GIS takes us all over the world, and most recently it took Blue Raster to the GIS for a Sustainable World conference in Geneva, Switzerland. - [ArcGIS Hub: Grow Your Local Economy](https://blueraster.com/stories/arcgis-hub-econ-dev/): Show business owners and entrepreneurs why your city is the ideal place to attract top industry talent an ArcGIS Hub Initiative. - [Come Visit Us! At the Esri FedGIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/come-visit-us-esri-fedgis/): Come visit Blue Raster at the 2018 Esri Federal GIS Conference in Washington, D. C. ! We will be a... - [Highlights From Esri DevSummit 2018](https://blueraster.com/stories/2018-devsummit/): Blue Raster team attends the 2017 Esri DevSummit to learn the latest about the ArcGIS platform, advanced spatial analysis and new visualizations. - [Story Map Delivers #ProtectOurCoast Campaign](https://blueraster.com/stories/protectourcoast-say-no-offshore-drilling/): In January 2018, the White House proposed opening nearly all U. S. waters to offshore drilling. On the East Coast,... - [Data to Decisions with the Jane Goodall Institute](https://blueraster.com/stories/janegoodallinstitute-blueraster-forest-monitor/): Blue Raster works with JGI to create the Western Tanzania Forest Monitoring Dashboard to manage forests and habitats in Tanzania. - [Dig deeper with new Topics pages from The DHS Program](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-topics-pages/): Blue Raster is a long term partner of USAID funded The DHS Program – since 2009 we have collaborated on... - [Conserve and Protect with The Land Trust Alliance](https://blueraster.com/stories/redesigned-find-a-land-trust-map/): With the Find a Land Trust Map, the Alliance gives individuals around the country a means of identifying local organizations working on conservation. - [Open Data and Cool Apps: Blue Raster Presents at IMIA](https://blueraster.com/stories/imia-meetup-dc/): Blue Raster Senior Project Manager, Phil Satlof, presented as an invited guest for the International Map Industry Association (IMIA) DC... - [Protecting Indigenous & Community Lands With LandMark](https://blueraster.com/stories/updated-landmark/): Blue Raster is pleased to work with the World Resources Institute (WRI) on a recent initiative to release new datasets... - [ArcGIS Pro & ArcMap Training in Austin, TX](https://blueraster.com/stories/air-training-arcgispro/): Last week, we traveled to Austin, TX to give a hands-on GIS training for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and... - [Danger in the Air: UNICEF](https://blueraster.com/stories/danger-in-the-air-unicef/): Blue Raster collaborated with UNICEF to help produce Danger in the Air: How air pollution can affect brain development in young children. - [World AIDS Day 2017: Blue Raster visualizations in PHIA Project Reports](https://blueraster.com/stories/world-aids-day-2017-blue-raster-visualizations-phia-project-reports/): On World AIDS Day 2017, the PHIA Project announced the release of new survey data from five countries, bringing the... - [WHO Malaria Threats Map: Tracking challenges of malaria control to 2030](https://blueraster.com/stories/malaria-threats-map-tracking-challenges-malaria-control-2030/): Blue Raster is proud to announce the debut of the Malaria Threats Map application, a collaboration with the World Health... - [DCPS Recycles Right](https://blueraster.com/stories/dcps-recycles-right/): Have you ever wondered where plastic comes from, how plastic bottles are made, or where it goes when recycled? The... - [The Future of 3D Zoning](https://blueraster.com/stories/dcoz_3d_preview/): Wouldn't it be great to be able to digitally knock down a few buildings, upload your own architectural wonder and see how it will fit into the landscape? - [Improving the APTA Industry Footprint](https://blueraster.com/stories/improving-apta-industry-footprint/): We are very proud to announce that we are in our fourth year of supporting the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Industry Footprint. - [GIS for Community Engagement with the World Bank](https://blueraster.com/stories/world-bank-azrip/): With over 2,000 projects benefiting 3. 5 million people, the Azerbaijan Rural Invest Project (AzRIP) launched by the World Bank... - [Solving the Water Balance Equation for California](https://blueraster.com/stories/onfarm-recharge-grat-earth-genome/): Through dedicate recharge basins and on-farm recharge sites, it may be possible to balance the water budget and reverse the damage of years of over-pumping. - [Mapping Global Polio Eradication](https://blueraster.com/stories/global-polio-eradication/): It is a global effort to eliminate the last 0.1% of polio cases. Blue Raster assists WHO in the fight by supporting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. - [See What's New with the Texas Water Explorer!](https://blueraster.com/stories/see-whats-new-texas-water-explorer/): New data now in the Texas Water Explorer, Texas Nature Conservancy's definitive resource for exploring water health, use, governance, and quality in Texas. - [Unlocking Data With WRI Open Data Portal](https://blueraster.com/stories/wri-ckan/): Blue Raster is excited to announce the release of the World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Open Data Portal. Built with the... - [Integrating Field GIS at Green-Wood Cemetery](https://blueraster.com/stories/field-gis-green-wood-cemetery/): At Green-Wood Cemetery, staff are phasing out paper forms for Field GIS apps such as Collector and Workforce for ArcGIS to assign and manage work orders. - [A New Chapter on Tsunami Design](https://blueraster.com/stories/tsunami-design-asce/): To provide the authoritative distribution of tsunami design information, Blue Raster and ASCE have created the Tsunami Design Geodatabase application, - [Highlights from the 2017 Esri UC](https://blueraster.com/stories/2017-esri-uc/): Blue Raster shares top insights from the 2017 Esri UC in San Diego. A new story map features their experiences at the conference. - [Weaving Together Baltimore's Culture with GEOLOOM](https://blueraster.com/stories/baltimore-culture-geoloom-bnia/): Blue Raster and Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance launch Geoloom, a mapping application weaving together the cultural fabric of Baltimore. - [Keeping America's Infrastructure Safe with ASCE](https://blueraster.com/stories/infrastructure-asce/): Blue Raster and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) are pleased to announce the launch of the ASCE 7... - [Global Fires Analyzed by Country](https://blueraster.com/stories/fires-global-reports/): GFW Fires can now be used to explore fire events for every country around the world over the last five years, using two sensor products: VIIRS and MODIS. - [Keeping Trees Green with DDOT](https://blueraster.com/stories/tree-watering-ddot/): Blue Raster and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) worked together to create and launch a mobile-friendly Tree Watering Application. - [Inspiring Student Innovation with Planet3](https://blueraster.com/stories/planet3/): Blue Raster worked with Planet3 on their digital learning platform that combines game design, storytelling, and data sets to bring science to life for students. - [Going Mobile at U.S. National Arboretum!](https://blueraster.com/stories/explore-national-arboretum/): Blue Raster developed a new mobile application for The United States National Arboretum, giving scientists and visitors a new way to explore the grounds. - [Discover Cambodia's Watersheds and Ecosystems with WESTool](https://blueraster.com/stories/westool-cambodia-winrock/): Blue Raster announces a partnership with Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future (CLF) and a redesigned Maryland Food System Map. - [Untangling the Food System Web in Maryland](https://blueraster.com/stories/maryland-food-system/): Blue Raster announces a partnership with Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future (CLF) and a redesigned Maryland Food System Map. - [Helping Secure Land Rights With LandMark](https://blueraster.com/stories/landmark-new-release/): Blue Raster is proud to announce a major update to the LandMark interactive global mapping platform of community and indigenous... - [Biodiversity Monitoring With Soundburst](https://blueraster.com/stories/soundburst/): Remote monitoring devices are evolving into an essential tool for biodiversity monitoring. In conjunction with Blue Raster, scientists at the... - [Exploring George Washington's Mount Vernon in 3D](https://blueraster.com/stories/mount-vernon-3d/): Blue Raster created a prototype online 3D GIS portal to view the available spatial, structural, and historical information. - [Thirsting for a Future: UNICEF](https://blueraster.com/stories/thirsting-for-a-future-unicef/): Blue Raster collaborated with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to help produce Thirsting for a Future: Water and children... - [Esri DevSummit 2017: The Science of Where](https://blueraster.com/stories/2017-esri-devsummit/): Blue Raster team attends the 2017 Esri DevSummit to learn the latest about the ArcGIS platform, advanced spatial analysis and new visualizations. - [Partner of the Year: Federal Small Business Specialty](https://blueraster.com/stories/2017fsbs/): Blue Raster is excited to be recognized as the first ever Partner of the Year as part of the Esri... - [Field Trial Success: Farming Sustainability With Esri Collector and ArcGIS Online](https://blueraster.com/stories/farming-sustainability-with-arcgis-collector/): In 2016, The Proforest Initiative asked Blue Raster for help implementing their vision for an easy-to-use mobile-data-collection application coupled with... - [New Paper Identifying Emerging Hot Spots of Deforestation](https://blueraster.com/stories/publication-emerging-hot-spots/): Blue Raster is proud to have worked with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Esri Big Data Team to... - [Measuring Conservation with Biodiversity Dashboard](https://blueraster.com/stories/biodiversity-dashboard/): Every year, billions of dollars are invested in conservation actions across the world. The Biodiversity Indicators Dashboard displays trends in... - [PHIA Project: A Drop That Counts](https://blueraster.com/stories/phia-project-drop-counts/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce the debut of the Population HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) Project website. The PHIA Project,... - [Visualizing Evolution of Atmospheric Deposition](https://blueraster.com/stories/epa-critical-loads-mapper/): Blue Raster launches the Critical Loads Mapper for the Environmental Protection Agency, the latest tool in a collection of EPA’s... - [STATcompiler et l’Appli Mobile disponibles en français](https://blueraster.com/stories/statcompiler-french/): The DHS Program STATcompiler and Mobile App — now available in French! Following the successful launches of the updated STATcompiler... - [Geography Added to the Common Core!](https://blueraster.com/stories/school-district-navigator/): Blue Raster, Sanametrix, and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) announce the release the School & District Navigator. Working... - [Local Students Celebrate GIS Day at Blue Raster](https://blueraster.com/stories/gis-day-2016/): On November 16th, we celebrated GIS Day by inviting GIS students from Washington-Lee High School to visit Blue Raster. Led... - [Penn State GIS Day](https://blueraster.com/stories/psu/): Penn State Graduates Stephen Ansari (Earth Science, 1998) and Chris Gabris (Geography, 2009) are proud to share a Blue Raster... - [London Zoo and Sustainable Palm Oil](https://blueraster.com/stories/zsl/): The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has devoted its efforts to wildlife conservation in Britain and around the world for... - [TNC Story Map: Planting Healthy Air](https://blueraster.com/stories/tnc-story-map-planting-healthy-air/): By 2050, the majority of humanity will live in cities, towns, and other urban areas. Among the most pressing of... - [Clear the Air for Children: UNICEF](https://blueraster.com/stories/clear-air-children-unicef/): Blue Raster collaborated with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to help produce Clear the Air for Children: The impact... - [New Release: APTA Industry Footprint](https://blueraster.com/stories/apta-industry-footprint/): Following the successful launch of American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Industry Footprint, Blue Raster has delivered Version 2. The web... - [GFW Map Builder](https://blueraster.com/stories/map-builder/): Environmental restoration is becoming a top priority for many countries around the world, but it can be difficult to synthesize... - [Ceres Digs Deeper into Water Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing](https://blueraster.com/stories/ceres-digs-deeper-impacts-hydraulic-fracturing/): In 2014 Blue Raster created a series of maps for Ceres highlighting drought intensity and groundwater depletion as a result... - [Blue Raster at the White House AAPI Data Challenge](https://blueraster.com/stories/aapi/): Blue Raster is excited to attend and present at the 2016 White House Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Data... - [Finding the Right School with The College Map](https://blueraster.com/stories/ipeds-the-college-map/): Finding Schools is now easier than ever with the College Map, the first geographic search tool published by IPEDS (Integrated... - [Historic Zoning in DC](https://blueraster.com/stories/historic-zoning-dc/): Blue Raster worked with the DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ) to compile scanned versions of the 1958 zoning data as... - [Staying Ahead of the Global Water Supply Shortage](https://blueraster.com/stories/gfw-water/): Global water supply is rapidly becoming a topic that crosses international borders and stretches across watersheds, communities, and livelihoods. Well... - [Cultivating Business Centers by Harvesting Data](https://blueraster.com/stories/wdcep/): The Washington D. C. Economic Partnership (WDCEP) attracts new organizations to the D. C. area by assessing the needs of... - [Putting Trees on the Map: Adventures at the 2016 Esri UC](https://blueraster.com/stories/trees/): The Blue Raster team had a fantastic time at the 2016 Esri User Conference in San Diego earlier this month!... - [New Analysis Tools for Greenpeace](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-analysis-tools-greenpeace/): Greenpeace Indonesia has released its latest addition: custom Fires and GLAD (Global Land Analysis & Discovery) Analysis. Users easily create... - [Blue Raster now an Esri Federal Small Business Specialist](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-fsbs/): Blue Raster is proud to announce our participation in Esri’s Federal Small Business Program. This program creates opportunities for small... - [Blue Raster at Esri UC, June 27–July 1](https://blueraster.com/stories/blue-raster-esri-international-user-conference-june-27-july-1/): Blue Raster is proud to attend our 16th Esri User Conference in San Diego! This year we have teamed up... - [Zoning Washington D.C.'s Future](https://blueraster.com/stories/dc-zoning-maps-2016/): Blue Raster and the DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ) worked together to create the DC Zoning Map of 2016, a... - [Pinpoint Deforestation with PALM Risk Tool](https://blueraster.com/stories/palm-risk-tool/): Global Forest Watch – Commodities is proud to announce the integration of the PALM Risk Tool (Prioritizing Areas, Landscapes and... - [Looking Forward with MapEd School Feeder Patterns](https://blueraster.com/stories/school-feeder-patterns-give-us-a-look-forward/): Blue Raster has created new, one-of-a-kind functionality for the MapEd Project that displays School Feeder Patterns across the United States.... - [Greenpeace Indonesia](https://blueraster.com/stories/gfw-greenpeace/): Blue Raster partnered with Greenpeace and Global Forest Watch (GFW) to help protect one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems:... - [Watersheds New Release for EPA](https://blueraster.com/stories/watersheds/): Blue Raster worked with the U.S. EPA to redesign and improve their 20 Watersheds mapping application. The project simulates changes in water quality and quantity. - [Take a Dip in The Texas Water Explorer](https://blueraster.com/stories/take-dip-texas-water-explorer/): Blue Raster has long worked with The Nature Conservancy to tackle complex environmental problems using GIS analysis and expertise. The... - [2016 Esri DevSummit: Learning with the Best](https://blueraster.com/stories/2016-esri-developers-summit/): The Blue Raster team returned energized more than ever from the Esri Developers Summit in Palm Springs, California. The DevSummit... - [REL Midwest Releases New EdMaps](https://blueraster.com/stories/ap-pre-k-suspension/): This year, REL Midwest EdMaps launched two new story maps analyzing education trends in the Midwest. With the ArcGIS Online... - [Turning Concept into Reality: Green Infrastructure](https://blueraster.com/stories/turning-concept-reality-green-infrastructure/): Water is one of the world’s most pressing challenges. Faced with the opportunity to find better water solutions for global... - [ArcGIS Online Accelerate Training](https://blueraster.com/stories/austin-training/): We visited Austin, Texas last week to lead a second round of ArcGIS Online Accelerate training for the American Institutes... - [Enhancing Public Access to GIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/napsg-resources/): The National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation (NAPSG), is committed to enhancing public safety one community at a time... - [New Climate and Land Use Tools for EPA](https://blueraster.com/stories/iclus/): The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnered with Blue Raster to release a new version of ICLUS (Integrated Climate and Land... - [DHS Program Mobile App v2.0 Released](https://blueraster.com/stories/dhs-mobile-v2/): Blue Raster and The DHS Program recently released a brand-new version of The DHS Program Mobile App. From its sleek design, to blazing performance, this release has both visible and under-the-hood changes to give you a more effective, engaging experience. - [Building a Prototype for FDA Food Data](https://blueraster.com/stories/18f/): In response to 18F’s challenge to build a next generation application using the openFDA API, Blue Raster developed the openFDA... - [Unless We Act Now: UNICEF](https://blueraster.com/stories/unless-we-act-now-unicef/): Blue Raster is proud to announce a collaboration with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to contribute to Unless We... - [Securing Land Rights for Indigenous Peoples and Communities](https://blueraster.com/stories/landmark/): LandMark is the world’s first interactive global platform to provide maps on lands collectively held and used by indigenous peoples and local communities. - [Blue Raster Presents Emerging Hotspots of Global Tree Cover Loss](https://blueraster.com/stories/aws-earth-obs-day/): Blue Raster's Michael Lippmann and Jon Nordling will be presenting on our tree cover loss work with AWS and Earth Observation Data at the 2015 Earth Observation in the Cloud Demo Day. - [STATcompiler Redefined: Into the Modern Era](https://blueraster.com/stories/statcompiler-into-the-modern-era/): More than 15 years after initial creation, STATCompiler has reached a level of unparalleled excellency with the latest release. The... - [Appalachia Community Data Portal](https://blueraster.com/stories/appalachia-portal/): Blue raster is pleased to announce the release of the newest HealthLandsape tool - the Appalachia Community Data Portal. Explore demographic, income, and health disparities for more than 400 Appalachia counties. - [Easy Data Collection for School Attendance Boundaries](https://blueraster.com/stories/easy-data-collection-for-school-attendance-boundaries/): Due to the widespread success of School Mapper for the 2013-2014 school year, it has now been released for the... - [Three Compelling Story Maps for Agriculture Risk](https://blueraster.com/stories/vital-signs/): Blue Raster worked with Conservation International to upgrade their Vital Signs mapping applications, providing data on agriculture and ecosystems. - [The Hidden Cost of Suspension](https://blueraster.com/stories/rethink-discipline/): As part of the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) new public awareness campaign, #RethinkDiscipline, Blue Raster launched The Hidden Cost of Suspension story map in partnership with Sanametrix. - [Bear Basics - New Portal Into the World of Bears](https://blueraster.com/stories/bear-trust/): Blue Raster collaborated with Bear Trust International, a non-profit dedicated to conservation education, to create the Bears of the World story map. - [Fires in Indonesia Park seen with GFW Fires App](https://blueraster.com/stories/tesso-nilo/): The World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Global Forest Watch Fires is currently being used to respond to a massive outbreak of... - [Visualizing Open Data's Global Reach](https://blueraster.com/stories/open-data-impact-map/): Blue Raster worked with the Center for Open Data Enterprise to build a mapping application showcasing a centralized, searchable database of organizations using open data worldwide. - [From Data to Decisions on Global Malnutrition](https://blueraster.com/stories/gain/): GAIn, malnutrition, map, advocacy, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition, Health, Esri, Blue Raster - [New Mobile-Friendly Water Risk Atlas](https://blueraster.com/stories/mobile-water-risk-atlas/): Earlier today, Blue Raster and the World Resources Institute (WRI) released a new version of Aqueduct Atlas, an application helping... - [APTA Story Map Amplifies Advocacy Message](https://blueraster.com/stories/stand-up-for-transit/): APTA asked Blue Raster to create a story map to launch in coordination with national Stand Up For Transportation Day on April 9th, a keystone event. - [Department of Education Open Data](https://blueraster.com/stories/open-data-ed/): Did you know that websites you visit every day, such as weather. com, are powered by open data from government... - [2015 Esri Partner Conference Award – Public Web Application](https://blueraster.com/stories/2015-esri-partner-conference-award-public-web-application/): Blue Raster has been chosen to receive the Public Web Application Award for the 2015 Esri Partner Conference. The award... - [India Water Tool Offers Strategies for Water Risk](https://blueraster.com/stories/india-water-tool/): In India, businesses develop water management strategies with updated India Water Tool - [New Release of REL Midwest EdMaps](https://blueraster.com/stories/edmaps/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce a new release of the REL Midwest’s EdMaps, an interactive web mapping application that... - [Development Alert! Awareness of Infrastructure Projects](https://blueraster.com/stories/developmentalert/): The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) announced today the launch of the newest tool from... - [Future Ready Map Video for White House ConnectED Event](https://blueraster.com/stories/futureready/): Blue Raster is proud to have produced the Future Ready video for the White House ConnectED conference on Wednesday in partnership with All4Ed. - [City of Boston Zoning Viewer for Urban Planning](https://blueraster.com/stories/boston-zoning-viewer/): View planning and zoning information for properties across the City of Boston with the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s (BRA) new Boston... - [APTA Maps American Public Transportation with ArcGIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/american-public-transportation-with-arcgis/): Blue Raster has always been a big fan of public transportation. Our office is strategically located across the street from... - [Mapping Education and Demographic Trends with MapED](https://blueraster.com/stories/mapping-education-and-demographic-trends-with-maped/): The Census Mapping program at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) – U. S. Department of Education has just... - [ED Moves ArcGIS Servers to Amazon's GovCloud](https://blueraster.com/stories/govcloud/): Blue Raster, AWS, Amazon Web Services - [Global Forest Watch Fires Story Map - An Inside Look](https://blueraster.com/stories/global-forest-watch-fires-story-map/): fires, conservation, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Singapore, illegal burning, environment, Global Forest Watch, story map, storymap, map journal, ArcGIS Online - [DHS Program Indicator Data API Opens Door for Innovative Apps](https://blueraster.com/stories/usaid-dhs-program-indicator-data-api-opens-door-innovative-app-development/): Adobe ColdFusion, API, MeasureDHS, Open Data, USAID, health - [Global Forest Watch-Fires using High-Resolution Imagery to better respond to Fires](https://blueraster.com/stories/global-forest-watch-fires-using-high-resolution-imagery-better-respond-fires/): Indonesia, Blue Raster, Fires, Global Forest Watch, ArcGIS Server - [Explore Natural Communities On Your Next Hike](https://blueraster.com/stories/rockcreekpark/): At the heart of Washington D. C. lies Rock Creek Park, America’s oldest and largest urban national park. Spanning 2,000... - [Smithsonian Story Map - Tradition & Art of Living China](https://blueraster.com/stories/smithsonian-story-map-tradition-art-living-china/): Folklife, folk, music, art, tradition, Smithsonian Institution, story map, storymap - [Smithsonian's Virtual Field Trip around the Globe‏](https://blueraster.com/stories/folklife-story-map/): The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and Cricket Media, an education media company and global learning network, recently... - [GFW Commodities – Tools for Greenhouse Gas Emissions](https://blueraster.com/stories/global-forest-watch-commodities-geospatial-tools-help-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-land-use-change/): Global Forest Watch, image extension, World Resources Institute, conservation, sustainability, deforestation - [Atlas of Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunities](https://blueraster.com/stories/forest-restoration-opportunites/): The world has lost almost half of its original forest cover, largely tied to accelerated population growth and agricultural expansion.... - [Suitability Mapper: Finding Sustainable Palm Oil Sites](https://blueraster.com/stories/suitability-mapper-finding-sustainable-palm-oil-sites/): Suitability Mapper was built on top of Esri’s ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS API for JavaScript. Using the Image Extension for ArcGIS Server, we are able to analyze and compute accurate suitability maps in realtime based on user-supplied criteria. - [Ceres Maps Analyze Drought and Ground Water Depletion in Shale Development Areas](https://blueraster.com/stories/ceres-maps-analyze-drought-ground-water-depletion-mining-areas/): ArcGIS map, Water Risk, Hydraulic Fracturing, Shale Energy - [NAPSG Redesigns A Roadmap for Public Safety GIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/napsg/): Public Safety, GIS, NAPSG, Planning, Preparedness - [REL EdMaps Helps Analyze School Data in the Midwest](https://blueraster.com/stories/edmaps-school-data/): How has poverty changed in the Midwest region since 2000? This question as well as others related to education priorities... - [New WRI map confirms long suspected notions of natural resource rights across sub-Saharan Africa](https://blueraster.com/stories/wri-institutions-governance-rights-app/): The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced today the launch of their newest online mapping application, the Rights to Resources map.... - [NFWF maps 12K Conservation Grants with ArcGIS](https://blueraster.com/stories/national-fish-wildlife-foundation-launches-work-web-map/): To help illustrate the extensive geographic reach of their mission and impact of their conservation programs, Blue Raster built the... - [Famine Early Warning Systems Network New Website](https://blueraster.com/stories/fewsnet/): How does USAID (U. S. Agency for International Development) prepare for famine assistance to the world’s neediest? One success story... - [National School Boundaries - Attendance Area Maps](https://blueraster.com/stories/school-boundary-digitizer/): Beginning in November 2013, school districts across the United States will be able to draw, upload, or update previous year... - [WRI: New Agricultural Exposure to Water Stress map](https://blueraster.com/stories/wri-launches-agricultural-exposure-water-stress-map/): Blue Raster recently worked with the World Resources Institute (WRI) to build the Agricultural Exposure to Water Stress interactive map... - [Guerrilla Gardening- Baltimore Crowdsourcing Map](https://blueraster.com/stories/baltimore-gardens/): The Interactive Map of Community-Managed Open Space assists city residents in discovering natural spaces they can protect, claim, and effectively... - [Story Map for Amnesty International - "Will I Be Next?"](https://blueraster.com/stories/will-next-us-drone-strikes-pakistan/): Pakistan, Drone Strikes, Amnesty International, Drone, Esri, Geoblog - [MEASURE DHS Launches the Spatial Data Repository](https://blueraster.com/stories/measure-dhs-launches-the-spatial-data-repository/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce the launch of the Spatial Data Repository (SDR), a new open data tool that... - [Rapid Response WebMaps - Indonesia Fires Case Study](https://blueraster.com/stories/rapid-response-web-maps-indonesia-forest-fires-case-study/): News happens fast. Are you prepared (in a moments notice) to deliver a rapid response map to help illuminate an... - [MEASURE DHS Mobile Featured in Adobe PhoneGap Success Story](https://blueraster.com/stories/measure-dhs-mobile-featured-in-an-adobe-phonegap-success-story/): Blue Raster is excited to announce the Demographic and Health Surveys – MEASURE DHS mobile application is featured in a... - [Phase II of eMammal Project ‘Captures’ Attention](https://blueraster.com/stories/phase-ii-of-emammal-project-captures-attention/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce the completion of the second phase of eMammal, a collaboration between researchers at the... - [Enhancing Press Releases with Interactive Story Maps](https://blueraster.com/stories/enhancing-press-releases-with-interactive-story-maps/): You can find press releases everywhere. To increase the effect of an online press release, Blue Raster recommends including a... - [Aqueduct - Mapping Water Risk Around the Globe](https://blueraster.com/stories/aqueduct-mapping-water-risk-around-the-globe/): Blue Raster and the World Resources Institute (WRI) recently launched the latest version of Aqueduct Atlas, helping businesses around the... - [New Department of Education Profile Viewer: Mapping Our Nation’s School District Demographics](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-department-of-education-profile-viewer-mapping-our-nations-school-district-demographics/): Blue Raster and partner, Sanametrix, are pleased to present the Demographic Profile Viewer. This is the newest addition to the... - [Increasing Forest Transparency in the Congo Basin](https://blueraster.com/stories/increasing-forest-transparency-in-the-congo-basin/): Current information relating to land rights, agriculture, and forestry in Cameroon is now easily accessed with the development of the... - [Mapping the Global Adoption of Digital Media](https://blueraster.com/stories/mapping-the-global-spread-of-digital-media/): The explosion of digital media has created new ways to distribute news and information with global audiences. Events in almost... - [eMammal - A Citizen Scientist Camera Trapping Project](https://blueraster.com/stories/emammal-a-citizen-scientist-camera-trapping-project/): eMammal is a project where citizen scientists work in collaboration with researchers at the Smithsonian Institution and North Carolina Museum... - [World Bank Georesults: Interactive Maps for Project Storytelling](https://blueraster.com/stories/world-bank-georesults-interactive-maps-for-project-storytelling/): Blue Raster and the World Bank Institute teamed up to create Georesults, an online mapping tool that allows users to... - [On the Go: USAID MEASURE DHS Data Available in New Mobile App](https://blueraster.com/stories/on-the-go-dhs-data-available-in-new-mobile-app/): With pressure to base policies and programs on meticulously collected data, there is a need to make USAID funded Monitoring... - [National Arboretum Launches Explorer for Touring and Research](https://blueraster.com/stories/u-s-national-arboretum-launches-botanical-explorer-for-tour-planning-and-research/): With over 440 acres of trees, shrubs and plants, as well as a massive collection of plant records and specimens,... - [Supporting Sustainable Palm Oil in Indonesia](https://blueraster.com/stories/supporting-sustainable-palm-oil-in-indonesia/): The World Resources Institute (WRI) is launching two powerful online mapping applications that offer unprecedented capabilities to support industry and... - [Identifying and Understanding Changes to Protected Areas](https://blueraster.com/stories/identifying-and-understanding-changes-to-protected-areas-with-padddtracker/): Conservation policy assumes that national parks and other protected areas are permanent fixtures on the landscape, but recent World Wildlife... - [IUCN Threatened Species Now Available via ArcGIS Online](https://blueraster.com/stories/iucn-threatened-species-now-available-via-arcgis-online/): Julia Marton-Lefevre, Director General of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and Keynote Speaker at the 2012 Esri International... - [MOBILE APP MODELS HIV PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND OUTCOMES](https://blueraster.com/stories/mobile-app-models-hiv-prevention-strategies-and-outcomes/): Each year, nations spend millions of dollars on efforts to prevent HIV infections without completely understanding the most effective ways... - [Introducing the School Boundaries Geodatabase](https://blueraster.com/stories/introducing-school-boundaries-geodatabase/): It is an exciting year for the School District Demographics System (SDDS), which was developed by Blue Raster for the... - [Geocoding Our Nation’s Schools - NCES Stats-DC 2012](https://blueraster.com/stories/geocoding-our-nations-schools-nces-stats-dc-2012/): Blue Raster’s Adrienne Allegretti presented Geocoding Our Nation’s Schools at the 2012 NCES Stats-DC Data Conference in Washington DC. Geocoding... - [School District Demographics System (SDDS) Goes Mobile!](https://blueraster.com/stories/school-district-demographics-system-goes-mobile/): The Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics turned to Blue Raster to enhance the content and accessibility of... - [New Tools Help Forest Legality Alliance Reduce Illegal Logging](https://blueraster.com/stories/new-tools-help-forest-legality-alliance-reduce-illegal-logging/): The Forest Legality Alliance, a joint effort of the World Resources Institute and the Environmental Investigation Agency, partnered with Blue... - [Green Belt Movement Maps Progress of Community-Based Tree Planting in Kenya](https://blueraster.com/stories/gbm-maps-progress-community-based-tree-planting-kenya/): With the launch of their new website, the Green Belt Movement (GBM) is sharing the good news about forest restoration... - [IUCN Maps Threatened Species in Protected Areas](https://blueraster.com/stories/iucn-maps-threatened-species-in-protected-areas/): To inform the world about the important connections between threatened species and protected areas, the International Union for Conservation of... - [WISEmaps Puts New Focus on Wisconsin Education Data](https://blueraster.com/stories/wisemaps-puts-new-focus-on-wisconsin-education-data/): Wisconsin educators, policy makers and parents now have a new way to visualize and analyze the state’s education data and... - [Spatial Analysis to Prioritize and Protect Marine Areas](https://blueraster.com/stories/spatial-analysis-to-prioritize-and-protect-marine-areas/): Conservation International (CI) partnered with Blue Raster to analyze and map an enormous marine species dataset—an initiative that will help... - [WildFinder Advances Knowledge of Species Biodiversity](https://blueraster.com/stories/wildfinder-advances-knowledge-of-species-biodiversity/): To promote understanding of global species biodiversity and conservation, World Wildlife Fund partnered with Blue Raster to launch an updated... - [Preserving Rainforests with Project POTICO](https://blueraster.com/stories/preserving-rainforests-with-project-potico/): To preserve endangered rainforests in Indonesia, the World Resources Institute (WRI) has launched Project POTICO (Palm Oil, Timber, Carbon Offsets),... - [Rethinking Health Mapping with Rich Visualizations](https://blueraster.com/stories/rethinking-health-mapping-with-rich-visualizations/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce the release of the new version of HealthLandscape, an interactive web-based mapping tool for... - [Aqueduct Atlas Helps Project Water Risks](https://blueraster.com/stories/aqueduct-atlas-helps-project-water-risks/): As the world’s rapidly growing population places increasing stress on global water resources, companies and investors are paying closer attention... - [WRI Tracks Nutrient Pollution in Coastal Waters](https://blueraster.com/stories/wri-tracks-nutrient-pollution-in-coastal-waters/): When the World Resources Institute (WRI) wanted to draw attention to nutrient pollution of coastal waters, they turned to Blue... - [MEASURE DHS Releases New Website, STATcompiler](https://blueraster.com/stories/measure-dhs-releases-new-website-statcompiler/): The new MEASURE DHS website (www. measuredhs. com) and STATcompiler (www. statcompiler. com) were launched today, introducing the global community... - [Amnesty International – Eyes on Syria](https://blueraster.com/stories/amnesty-international-eyes-on-syria/): Blue Raster announces the launch of Eyes on Syria for Amnesty International, the world’s largest human rights organization. Created using... - [Australia Megafauna](https://blueraster.com/stories/australia-megafauna/): Blue Raster has developed Australia Walkabout Through Time for the Carnegie Institution for Science using ArcGIS Server and Flex API.... - [World Resources Institute - Forest Atlas of the Democratic Republic of Congo](https://blueraster.com/stories/world-resources-institute-forest-atlas-of-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/): The World Resources Institute partnered with Blue Raster to create an interactive map viewer that shows development in the forests... - [Amnesty International – Eyes on Nigeria](https://blueraster.com/stories/amnesty-international-eyes-on-nigeria/): Blue Raster is proud to announce the launch of Eyes on Nigeria for Amnesty International, the world’s largest human rights... - [Smithsonian WILD](https://blueraster.com/stories/smithsonian-wild/): Candid Cameras Show Rare Glimpses of Wildlife As part of a Smithsonian Web 2. 0 grant, Blue Raster has developed... - [National Geographic Fieldscope: Tools for Citizen Science](https://blueraster.com/stories/fieldscope/): citizen science, education, conservation, National Geographic, Adobe Flex, ArcGIS for Server - [USGS (NBII) launches AmphibiaTrends](https://blueraster.com/stories/national-biological-information-infrastructure-nbii-launches-amphibiatrends/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce the launch of AmphibiaTrends application for National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) – a part... - [Smithsonian - North American Mammals](https://blueraster.com/stories/smithsonian-mammals/): Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has asked Blue Raster to recreate its interactive searching tool for North American Mammals.... - [Climate Adaptation Knowledge Environment (CAKE)](https://blueraster.com/stories/climate-adaptation-knowledge-environment-cake/): Partnering with EcoAdapt and Island Press, Blue Raster has developed a revolutionary online platform using ArcGIS Online and Drupal (open... - [UDS Mapper](https://blueraster.com/stories/uds-mapper/): Blue Raster is proud to have contributed to the development of the UDS Mapper for HRSA, (Health Resources and Services... - [Footprint Map of Medical School Graduates](https://blueraster.com/stories/medschool-mapper/): This year Blue Raster launched a data tool mapping the reach (or footprint) of medical school programs and graduates across the country. - [Southern Forests for the Future](https://blueraster.com/stories/southern-forests-for-the-future/): Partnering with the World Resources Institute, Blue Raster has developed an innovative tool to map the health of the southern... - [National Parks - Fredericksburg Battlefield](https://blueraster.com/stories/national-parks-fredericksburg-battlefield/): Blue Raster is working with the National Park Service and International Mapping to create an interactive modeling application for the... - [Forest Carbon Index](https://blueraster.com/stories/forest-carbon-index/): Blue Raster has created a new application for the Forest Carbon Index (FCI) which compiles and displays trends relating to... - [<p><em>Health</em>Landscape](https://blueraster.com/stories/healthlandscape/): Blue Raster has partnered with HealthLandscape to design an interactive web atlas that allows health professionals, policy makers, academic researchers... - [Adaptation Atlas](https://blueraster.com/stories/adaptation-atlas/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce a partnership with Resources for the Future, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that conducts... - [Measure DHS](https://blueraster.com/stories/measure-dhs/): The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has selected the ICF Macro team, including Blue Raster as a substantial subcontractor, to implement the MEASURE Phase III Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) contract. - [World Wildlife Fund – Coral Resilience Mapping Application](https://blueraster.com/stories/world-wildlife-fund-coral-resilience-mapping-application/): Blue Raster has contributed an ArcGIS Server Flex API application for the World Wildlife Fund to support the Climate Change... - [Wildfinder - WWF](https://blueraster.com/stories/wildfinder-wwf/): World Wildlife Fund officially released the new and dramatically improved WildFinder II. This new version showcases ArcGIS Server 9. 3.... - [Costs of Anti-retroviral Therapy - Interactive Flex Application](https://blueraster.com/stories/future-art-costs/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce a partnership with Avenir Health, which is dedicated to assisting developing countries design and... - [Department of Education](https://blueraster.com/stories/department-of-education/): Blue Raster is pleased to be working with the U. S. Department of Education (National Center for Education Statistics- Institute... - [LandScope America](https://blueraster.com/stories/landscope/): LandScope America is an online resource for the land-protection community and the public. Developed in collaboration by NatureServe, the National... - [Natural Disaster Hotspots - A Global Risk Analysis](https://blueraster.com/stories/natural-disaster-hotspots-global-risk-analysis/): Featured in the Nature scientific journal, Blue Raster worked with the World Bank to support the Natural Disaster Hotspots report,... ## News - [2015 Computerworld Data+ Editors' Choice Award - GFW Commodities](https://blueraster.com/press/computerworld-award/): Global Forest Watch Commodities (GFW Commodities) has been chosen to receive a Computerworld Data+ Editors' Choice Award for 2015. The award is given to organizations who demonstrate intriguing and novel ways of using data analytics. - [2015 Esri Award - Special Achievement in GIS (SAG)](https://blueraster.com/press/sag-award-2015/): Blue Raster won the Esri 2015 User Conference Special Achievement in GIS Award (SAG) in partnership with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - [Blue Raster at Esri International User Conference, July 20-24](https://blueraster.com/press/uc-2015/): It’s that time of year again! Blue Raster is proud to be a Nonprofit Showcase Sponsor and excited about attending... - [The Power of Story Maps, Data, and Analysis](https://blueraster.com/press/the-power-of-story-maps-data-and-analysis/): We had a great webinar today with NetHope on non profits and the power of story maps. If you missed it, catch a full recording here. - [2015 Esri Partner Conference Award - Public Web Application](https://blueraster.com/press/2015-esri-partner-conference-award-public-web-application/): Blue Raster has been chosen to receive the Public Web Application Award for the 2015 Esri Partner Conference. - [Blue Raster Celebrates GIS Day with Washington-Lee Students](https://blueraster.com/press/gis-day/): we celebrated GIS Day by inviting GIS students from Washington-Lee High School to visit Blue Raster. Led by teacher, Ryan Miller, Washington-Lee offers several technology classes linked to James Madison University. - [Esri Names Blue Raster ArcGIS Online Specialty Partner](https://blueraster.com/press/esri-names-blue-raster-arcgis-online-specialty-partner/): Blue Raster is honored to be one of the first companies granted the ArcGIS Online Specialty Partner distinction by Esri. - [Blue Raster Hosts Young GIS Enthusiasts to Mark GIS Day](https://blueraster.com/press/blue-raster-hosts-young-gis-enthusiasts-to-mark-gis-day/): Blue Raster welcomed twenty-three students from Washington-Lee High School for GIS Day. The annual celebration takes place on November 14th to salute GIS technology. - [Blue Raster Joins Amazon Partner Network](https://blueraster.com/press/blue-raster-becomes-an-amazon-partner-network-consulting-partner/): Blue Raster is an official Amazon Web Services Partner Network Consulting Partner. The AWS Partner Network (APN) Consulting Partners are professional services firms that help customers design, architect, migrate, or build new applications. - [2012 Esri Partner Conference Award - Public Web Application](https://blueraster.com/press/2012-esri-partner-conference-award-public-web-application/): Blue Raster has won the 2012 Esri Partner Conference Award in the Public Web Application category for its Indonesian Rainforest Preservation (Forest Cover Analyzer) application. - [UDS Mapper wins first place in Esri UC Application Fair](https://blueraster.com/press/uds-mapper-wins-first-place-in-esri-uc-application-fair/): Blue Raster is pleased to announce UDS Mapper took first place in the Web-Based GIS Application category at the Esri UC User Software Applications Fair. - [Smithsonian Wild featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams](https://blueraster.com/press/smithsonian-wild-featured-on-nbc-nightly-news-with-brian-williams/): Smithsonian Wild was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams tonight. Watch the full report, including comments from Robert Costello. # # Detailed Content ## Pages GIS for Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) Companies Purpose-built GIS solutions for AEC firms Contact Us + Request a Demo Large-scale construction projects operate across dozens of teams, vendors, and data systems. When spatial data can't flow freely between those systems, projects pay the price in delays, rework, and missed milestones. Blue Raster brings AEC firms a proven, GIS framework that centralizes project data, automates repetitive workflows, and ensures every stakeholder is working from the same authoritative source of truth, from planning through demobilization. We have deep, hands-on experience deploying enterprise GIS platforms across the full AEC project lifecycle. By combining Blue Raster's customer first approach with our technical expertise, we ensure that our clients always have access to the right tools to accomplish their mission. From cloud infrastructure and field mobility to data interoperability and workflow automation, we bring our technology partnerships to bear on the challenges that matter most to your project, so your GIS environment scales with your program and never becomes a bottleneck. What We Deliver Our AEC GIS Capabilities End-to-end GIS solutions across every phase of management. Built for the complexity of AEC workflows GIS Managed Services We deploy and manage ArcGIS Enterprise on cloud infrastructure, handle system administration, and deliver on-call support for the life of your project so your staff stays focused on delivering results. ArcGIS Enterprise · AWS / Azure · Proactive Support Workflow Automation Custom GIS tools that eliminate manual processes across project teams. From optimizing crane routes with Network Analysis to location-based task assignment, we automate the workflows that keep schedules on track and enable fast recovery when plans change. Network Analyst · ArcGIS Workforce · GPS Tracking Data Interoperability Custom ingestion and export tools that move CAD, KML, BIM, and drone data into Enterprise GIS in minutes, not hours. Every vendor gets the latest design. No manual translation, no data silos, no lost information. CAD / DWG · KML / KMZ · Custom ETL Field GIS & Asset Management We configure ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, and Workforce to digitize inspections, track on-site equipment, and manage assets in real time. Every field update flows directly into your enterprise GIS, connected or offline. ArcGIS Field Maps · Survey123 · Offline Ready Enterprise Asset Management We build GIS-centric EAM solutions that connect spatial data with work orders, maintenance schedules, condition assessments, and lifecycle planning. Integrating ArcGIS Field Maps with leading EAM platforms gives your team a single, authoritative view of every asset across the project site. ArcGIS Field Maps · EAM · Work Orders Site Analysis & Project Planning We use GIS to evaluate topography, environmental constraints, utility networks, and access routes before construction begins, giving project teams a complete spatial picture to reduce costly surprises and accelerate preconstruction planning. Spatial Analytics · Terrain Modeling · Site Selection Get in touch to start the conversation Project Spotlight Optimizing Wind Farm Construction with GIS Network Analysis Constructing a wind farm requires coordinating dozens of crews, suppliers, and high-cost assets across a large geographic footprint. Main erection cranes, costing tens of thousands of dollars per day to operate, must move from turbine site to turbine site with every preceding task completed on arrival. Blue Raster applied GIS tools to determine the most efficient crane routing sequence, minimizing total operating days. Those optimized dates then anchored all preparation and post-installation activities across the site. GPS and Field GIS tools provided real-time visibility into asset positions and enabled location-based task assignment for field crews. When weather or equipment delays occurred, planners could generate a revised schedule immediately rather than rebuilding manually. Read The Full Story Your Trusted AEC GIS Partner Why Blue Raster AEC Deep Construction Experience We have deployed GIS on large-scale construction programs, including wind farm builds where scheduling precision directly drives project cost. We understand the stakes and deliver solutions built for how AEC projects actually operate. Esri Gold & Cornerstone Partner As an Esri Gold and Cornerstone Partner with an ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty, we bring direct platform access, deep product expertise, and a direct line to Esri resources to maximize your ArcGIS investment on every project. Custom Purpose-Built Tools We build the tools your project actually needs. Our custom interoperability and workflow automation solutions are designed around your vendors, data formats, and construction workflows, not generic templates or off-the-shelf configurations. 20+ Years of GIS Expertise Since 2002, Blue Raster has delivered enterprise GIS solutions for complex programs across AEC, government, and infrastructure. We bring the institutional knowledge and proven delivery track record your project demands. Ready to Bring GIS to Your Next AEC Project? Whether you are managing a large construction program or looking to modernize how your team handles spatial data, Blue Raster has the AEC GIS expertise to deliver results from day one. ArcGIS Enterprise ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Field Maps Survey123 ArcGIS Workforce ArcGIS Dashboards ArcGIS GeoBIM Network Analyst ArcGIS Pro Experience Builder ArcGIS Velocity ArcGIS StoryMaps ArcGIS Image Server KML / KMZ CAD / DWG BIM / Revit Custom ETL Pipelines IFC Drone Imagery GPS Asset Tracking Offline Data Collection Real-Time Streaming AWS Azure Google Cloud Download our AEC GIS Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Subscribe to Our Newsletter About Services Resources Capabilities Partnerships News & Press See how our work is being highlighted across news, media, and the GIS community Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Certified Microsoft Solutions Partner Cloud GIS Solutions Powered by Microsoft Azure Our Microsoft Solutions Partnership Digital & App Innovation with Azure Blue Raster brings together advanced GIS expertise and proven Azure architecture practices to deliver secure, scalable ArcGIS deployments. This includes seamless single sign-on (SSO) integration using Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory/Azure AD), enabling organizations to streamline access control, strengthen security, and simplify user management across enterprise systems. Our experience extends to architecting cloud-native solutions on Azure, supporting everything from ArcGIS Enterprise base deployments to high-availability configurations and hybrid environments. Our Capabilities Azure-Powered GIS Solutions Cloud-Native ArchitectureDesign and implement robust ArcGIS Enterprise base deployments, high-availability configurations, and hybrid environments architected for Azure's cloud-native capabilities (Azure & Azure Gov Cloud) Enterprise Security & SSOSeamless single sign-on integration using Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), enabling streamlined access control, strengthened security, and simplified user management Data Integration WorkflowsConnect ArcGIS with Microsoft technologies including Azure Data Factory, Azure SQL, and cloud storage, supporting reliable ETL pipelines and real-time data synchronization Advanced Analytics & InteroperabilityEnable stable, performant enterprise GIS environments with advanced analytics capabilities and seamless system interoperability across the Microsoft and Esri ecosystem. Blue Raster Cloud Services Technology Stack Microsoft & Esri Integration Microsoft Azure Entra ID (Azure AD) Azure Data Factory Azure SQL Azure Storage Blob Storage Azure Gov Cloud ArcGIS Enterprise GIS ArcGIS Online ETL Pipelines Azure Functions High Availability Cloud Hybrid Cloud Azure Backup & Recovery Security SSO End-to-End Azure & ArcGIS Solutions Blue Raster brings together advanced GIS expertise and proven Azure architecture practices to deliver secure, scalable ArcGIS deployments. From maintaining stable and performant enterprise GIS environments to enabling advanced analytics and system interoperability, Blue Raster partners closely with clients to deliver end-to-end solutions across the Microsoft and Esri ecosystem. Our certified experts have supported commercial, nonprofit, and government organizations, including secure deployments within Azure & AzureGov Cloud, ensuring compliance, resilience, and long-term success. Let's Talk Ready to Elevate Your GIS Infrastructure? Unlock the full potential of Microsoft Azure with secure, scalable cloud solutions and streamlined workflows. Partner with Blue Raster to elevate your data applications and analytics, including ArcGIS integrations across your organization Get Started Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Subscribe to Our Newsletter About Services Resources Capabilities Partnerships Accessibility Compliance Audit Web maps and digital assets are subject to the new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2. 1 mandate and are one of the hardest digital assets to remediate. Non-compliance can trigger legal and government action as well as lost business. Blue Raster's comprehensive Accessibility Compliance Audit with actionable results is just a click away. Request an Audit Today Our Accessibility Compliance Audit IMPORTANT NOTICE: The ADA Title II rule is here. The compliance date for State and local government entities with a total population of 50,000 or more is extended from April 24, 2026, to April 26, 2027. The compliance date for public entities with a total population of less than 50,000, or any special district government, is extended from April 26, 2027, to April 26, 2028. Remediation takes time, don't wait. Blue Raster can help. The Rule Explained What Is the ADA Title II Web Accessibility Rule? On April 24, 2024, the U. S. Department of Justice finalized a landmark update to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), establishing clear requirements for digital accessibility. For the first time, the rule defines a specific technical standard for how state and local governments must make their websites and applications accessible. The Regulation at a Glance The ADA Title II rule requires state and local governments to make their digital services accessible, including websites, maps, dashboards, and applications. The rule establishes WCAG 2. 1 Level AA as the standard for compliance. This means your content must be usable by people with disabilities, without relying on a mouse, color alone, or visual interpretation. These requirements apply to all public-facing digital experiences, including those built with third-party tools. April 24, 2027 Applies to state and local governments with 50,000+ residents. All public-facing digital services must meet WCAG 2. 1 Level AA. April 24, 2028 Applies to all jurisdictions including special districts and utilities. The same WCAG 2. 1 Level AA standard applies. Accessibility Compliance Audit Blue Raster's Accessibility Compliance Audit eliminates any uncertainty and gives you a clear path forward with your GIS applications, maps, and dashboards. Services include: Accessibility Compliance Package - What's Included Discovery and Inventory Map and application inventory Identification of priority applications (up to 5)* Stakeholder interviews Usage analysis Accessibility Evaluation Automated accessibility scan Manual audit Component level review Color contrast testing User Experience and Interaction Review Keyboard testing Screen reader test Focus order and interaction validation Compliance Review WCAG 2. 1 Level AA gap mapping Section 508 alignment ADA Title II applicability review Prioritization and Road Map Risk ranking and priority tiers Effort estimation Remediation Guidance Issue-by-issue fix recommendations Developer-ready guidance notes Retest criteria and success benchmarks Ongoing compliance support available * Additional maps and applications can be included based on your organization's needs. Pricing Blue Raster will tailor our Accessibility Compliance Audit to meet your needs. Our standard package covers five (5) digital assets for $5,000. This includes: Free pre-order consultation Detailed before/after compliance road map Expertise across multiple platforms Fast delivery and clear communication Specialized Support Accessibility in GIS is not just about checking boxes. It requires a deep understanding of how geospatial systems, user experience design, and accessibility standards intersect. Learn How ADA Standards Apply to Digital Applications Watch our recent webinar covering ADA requirements, WCAG standards, and how accessibility applies to websites, maps, dashboards, and applications. What the ADA Title II rule requires Common accessibility gaps in digital applications How to approach compliance for GIS and web platforms Project Spotlight City of Aurora Water District Blue Raster partnered with the City of Aurora Water District to improve accessibility across GIS mapping applications in alignment with Colorado HB21-1110. We evaluated map symbology, color contrast, and application design within the Esri ecosystem to support ADA compliance while maintaining usability for operational teams. How We Helped Evaluated over 120 data layers to identify accessibility gaps Designed accessible color palettes aligned with WCAG standards Standardized symbology for clarity and consistency across applications Read the full story Contact Us Today Ready to make your digital applications ADA Compliant? From websites to maps, dashboards, and applications, accessibility is essential to how organizations serve their communities. Blue Raster helps you understand where you stand, what to prioritize, and confidently implement accessible solutions. Download Our Accessibility Compliance Capability Statement Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Federal Government GIS Solutions Mission-Critical Mapping & Analysis Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster provides comprehensive geospatial solutions designed for the unique requirements of federal government operations. From secure ArcGIS Enterprise deployments to national-scale data modernization, we deliver the infrastructure, expertise, and support federal agencies need to advance their mission. Our Service Offerings Comprehensive Support Security and Compliance FedRAMP, FISMA, and Section 508 compliance expertise System Architecture Enterprise design for high availability and performance Data Management Geodatabase design, ETL, and quality assurance Training and Enablement Comprehensive staff training and knowledge transfer Managed Services GIS managed services, uptime maintenance, monitoring, and technical support Accessibility and ADA Compliance WCAG 2. 1 AA compliant solutions and Section 508 accessibility Cloud Migration AWS GovCloud and Azure Government transitions Custom and Configurable Applications Tailored web and mobile solutions built for agency workflows Request Consultation Federal Applications Solutions for Mission Impact Transportation and Infrastructure National highway systems, bridge management, and multi-modal transportation planning with real-time traffic analytics. Natural Resources and Environment Federal land conservation, wildfire management, water quality monitoring, and climate adaptation strategies. Emergency Response Disaster coordination, critical infrastructure protection, and evacuation planning with real-time situational awareness. Public Health Disease outbreak tracking, healthcare accessibility analysis, and environmental health risk assessment across populations. Education School district planning, facility accessibility mapping, and educational resource allocation with demographic analysis. Social Services and Equity Veterans services optimization, housing accessibility, food desert mapping, and equitable resource distribution across underserved communities. We Are Your Trusted Partner Why Blue Raster for Federal GIS Solutions? Federal GIS Expertise Decades of experience delivering mission-critical GIS solutions to federal agencies with deep understanding of government workflows, security requirements, and procurement processes. Security-First Architecture FedRAMP authorized solutions with expertise in FISMA compliance, secure cloud deployments, and integration with federal authentication systems and security protocols. Esri Gold & Cornerstone Partner Direct access to Esri resources, priority support, and specialized technical expertise to maximize your ArcGIS Enterprise investment and accelerate implementation timelines. Proven Track Record Successful delivery of large-scale federal GIS programs with national coverage, high user adoption, and measurable mission impact across civilian and defense agencies. Project Spotlight National Center for Education Statistics Blue Raster partnered with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to design, deploy, and sustain a suite of national, public-facing geospatial tools that make U. S. education data more accessible, interactive, and actionable. Over a long-standing partnership, Blue Raster has supported NCES through application development, enterprise GIS modernization, cloud migration, and ongoing system operations, enabling researchers, policymakers, and the public to explore education and demographic data through intuitive, map-based platforms. How We Helped Designed and developed interactive web mapping applications including MapED, the School District Demographics System, and the School and District Navigator to visualize education and demographic data nationwide Integrated NCES education statistics with U. S. Census data to support multiscale spatial analysis and trend exploration Built and supported the EDGE Geodata open data portal to enable discovery, visualization, and download of authoritative education datasets Migrated NCES ArcGIS infrastructure to AWS GovCloud, consolidating systems into a secure, scalable, and compliant cloud environment Supported ArcGIS Enterprise deployment and optimization to improve application performance, reliability, and scalability Provided ongoing application support, data maintenance, and managed services to ensure continuity of mission-critical GIS tools Read the Full Story Advance Your Federal Mission Partner with experienced GIS professionals who understand federal requirements, security protocols, and the complexity of government operations Download our Federal Government Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Blue Raster Blog & Success Stories Explore insights and success stories from our latest geospatial solutions Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services AI Solutions for Geospatial Workflows Spatial Intelligence. Amplified by AI Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster helps organizations integrate AI with their GIS and geospatial systems in practical, meaningful ways grounded in your data, your geography, and your workflows. From automated mapping analysis to intelligent spatial queries, we integrate AI seamlessly with your geospatial data and systems to unlock new capabilities. Our AI & GeoAI Capabilities AI-Powered Geospatial Solutions Knowledge Base Chatbots AI assistants trained on your PDFs, documentation, and data, citing sources, never speculating. RAG Architecture Agentic Spatial Workflows Automate repetitive GIS tasks and accelerate analysis with agents connected to your live spatial data. Live Data Agents Imagery & Feature Extraction Deep learning models that automatically extract features from satellite and aerial imagery at scale. Deep Learning Natural Language Queries Let users ask questions in plain English against your feature services, hosted layers, and imagery. NLP + GIS GIS Workflow Automation Deploy AI agents that automate data processing, geocoding, spatial joins, and complex multi-step GIS operations with minimal intervention. AI Agents Geospatial Data Pipelines Build intelligent ETL systems that clean, transform, and enrich spatial data using AI-powered validation and quality assurance. Smart ETL Technology Stack The Right Tool For Every Project Blue Raster is platform-agnostic and works with leading AI technologies including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, LangChain, LangGraph, n8n, and Flowise. This ensures that each project uses the right tools for the job. We integrate AI with your existing GIS data and systems to create solutions tailored to your goals. Projects can range from rapid low-code deployments to fully custom architectures built with LangChain, LangGraph, and modern agent frameworks. OpenAI Anthropic Claude Google Gemini Microsoft Copilot Perplexity LangChain LangGraph n8n Flowise ArcGIS AI Assistant ArcGIS GeoAI Model Context Protocol ArcGIS MCP Server MCP Server MCP Applications AI + GIS In Action Automated Asset MappingAI agents that process field photos, extract asset locations, and update GIS databases automatically with quality checks and validation workflows. Change Detection & MonitoringAI-powered analysis of imagery and spatial data to identify changes, detect patterns, and alert stakeholders to significant spatial events. Intelligent Site SelectionConversational AI that analyzes spatial criteria, evaluates locations, and generates suitability maps based on natural language requirements. Map-Based ChatbotsConversational interfaces that answer spatial questions, generate custom maps, and provide location-based insights from your GIS data. Contact Us Today Your Trusted Partner for AI & GeoAI Solutions Why Blue Raster? Why Blue Raster 01 Platform Agnostic We work with OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. You get the right model for the job, not the one we're locked into. 02 Security First Your data stays yours. Every solution we design includes controlled access, clear governance, and no exposure to public models unless you choose it. 03 End To End Delivery From low-code deployments with Flowise and n8n to fully custom builds using modern agent frameworks. We scope, build, and deliver. 04 Spatial AI Specialists We don't bolt AI onto GIS as an afterthought. We design them together, so the result reflects the depth and credibility your organization needs. Project Spotlight DHS Program AI Chatbot The Demographic Health Survey program needed a smarter way to help site visitors navigate a vast library of survey data, technical documentation, and user forum knowledge. Blue Raster implemented an AI-powered chatbot that delivers immediate, context-aware answers drawn directly from the program's own content, including PDF reports, curated forum responses, and authoritative program documentation. An Intelligent Digital LibraryBuilt on retrieval-augmented generation, the chatbot draws only from verified content, (PDFs, forum responses, and program documentation) always citing and linking to its sources. Never speculating. Never pulling from the open web. Built on a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture, the solution was designed to be accurate and trustworthy by design. The AI was instructed to cite and link to its sources at all times, drawing only from verified content rather than speculating or pulling from the open web. It functions as an intelligent digital library, guiding visitors through complex information on spatial statistics and health demographics in a way that feels conversational and intuitive. The solution was built on AWS for hosting, OpenAI for natural language understanding, Flowise for AI workflow management, and pgvector on PostgreSQL for vector search and retrieval. The result is a chatbot that does more than answer questions. It deepens engagement, reduces the burden on support resources, and delivers a personalized experience that reflects the depth and credibility of the DHS Program itself. AWS OpenAI Flowise pgvector PostgreSQL Ready To Enhance Your GIS Workflows? You Know Your Data. We Know AI & GIS From chatbots powered by your own data to task-based agents integrated into internal workflows. When AI and GIS are thoughtfully designed together, they transform how people work. Contact Us Today Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Subscribe to Our Newsletter About Services Resources Capabilities Partnerships Blue Raster Site Map Pages About About Us Careers Contact Us Events GIS for Good Capabilities Accessibility and ADA Compliance AI & GeoAI Solutions ArcGIS Configurable Apps Business Intelligence Cloud Services Commercial Real Estate Conservation Data Engineering & Analytics Disaster & Emergency Response GIS Solutions Drone Mapping for GIS Election GIS Services Federal Government Field GIS Imagery Analysis & Remote Sensing Indoor Mapping Parcel Management Public Gardens Real-Time Visualization & Analytics State and Local Government Home News & Press Partnerships Esri ArcGIS Solutions Planet Labs Imagery REGRID Parcel Data Microsoft Solutions Resources Newsletters Privacy Policy Capability Statements Branding & Styling Sitemap Webinars Services GIS Consulting Managed Services Mobile Application Development Software & Data Solutions UX | UI Design Web Application Development Stories Posts by category Category: 3D Streamlining Wind Farm Design and Optimizing Construction Planning with GIS 3D Visualization of Tornadic Mesocyclones Using Voxel Rendering Empowering Global Conservation with the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tapestry of Hope Exploring Commercial Real Estate from a New Perspective: Blue Raster Partners with AerialSphere A Look at the Ohio River: Past, Present, and Future ArcGIS Urban: Take City Development Further Using Drones to Advance Turfgrass Science at Green-Wood Cemetery Explore the Indoors with ArcGIS 3D Zoning in Washington D. C. LOOK UP and take a Skyfie A Summer at Blue Raster: Internship Edition ArcGIS Hub: Grow Your Local Economy The Future of 3D Zoning Exploring George Washington’s Mount Vernon in 3D Category: Agriculture Answering the Call for More Sustainable Groundwater Management with GRAT Mapping America’s Wine Growing Regions Public Gardens on Display in Washington, DC Blue Raster attends the American Public Gardens Association Annual Conference Mapping for a World Without Malnutrition Solving the Water Balance Equation for California Integrating Field GIS at Green-Wood Cemetery Category: AI Category: Amazon Web Services Advancing Regional Planning Organizations with Strategic GIS and ArcGIS Enterprise Services What’s New in ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5: Unleashing Power, Performance, and Exciting Possibilities Enhanced Performance with Blue Raster’s Cloud-Managed Services: Integrating Zabbix and ArcGIS Monitor for Proactive Management Blue Raster Pioneering Imagery Management Technology and Delivery Workflows with ArcGIS Transform Your Website with AI Services to Enhance Capabilities New Updates to The DHS Program Spatial Data Repository: A one stop shop for Spatial Analysis Datasets Georgia Uses GIS to Match Voters with Polling Places What Are the Discovery, Execution, and Maintenance Phases of ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud Migration? Esri ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty: Elevating Our Clients’ GIS Capabilities to the Sky National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Carbon Benefits Calculator Celebrating ArcGIS Enterprise Implementation with Blue Raster’s Scott Geistmann Improving Deforestation Risk Management in Commodity Supply Chain Mekong Monitor – Providing Vital Insight for River-dependent Communities Virtualizing ArcGIS in the Cloud GFW Pro: Managing Deforestation Risk in Commodity Supply Chains Towards Zero Deforestation with GFW Pro Conserve and Protect with The Land Trust Alliance Helping Secure Land Rights With LandMark New Paper Identifying Emerging Hot Spots of Deforestation Building a Prototype for FDA Food Data Blue Raster Presents Emerging Hotspots of Global Tree Cover Loss Category: ArcGIS Dashboards Are Your Maps and GIS Apps Ready for the ADA Title II WCAG 2. 1 Mandate? Blue Raster Selected for State of Missouri GIS Services Qualified Vendor List Atlanta Food Access Explorer: Mapping Healthy Food Access in Atlanta Utilizing Smart GIS Solutions to Drive California Recycling Mandates Blue Raster Collaborates with MIT to Address Environmental Hazards in Carceral Facilities Supporting the 2024 AANHPI National Unity Summit Enabling Cooperative Engagement within the Asian American Community Revitalizing Main Street: Tracking Community Opportunities with BOOMS Tracker ArcGIS Monitor Maintains Healthy ArcGIS Enterprise for Collin County, TX Creating Effective Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources for the Nevada Division of Emergency Management Building Bridges to Progress: The Inter-American Development Bank’s HIT Platform for Infrastructure and Transport Saratoga County Launches Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard Building Out the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard: An Accessible, Hands-On Approach to Conservation Education In It For the Long Haul: Transload Distribution Association partners with Blue Raster to visualize, analyze and prioritize Inspiring Children to Innovate for Success: The Henry Ford and the Innovation Atlas Explorer Category: ArcGIS Data Pipelines Promoting Tourism Development Strategy in Canada with GIS and Data-Driven Insights Category: ArcGIS Desktop Modernizing Parcel Mapping Workflows for Moore County, NC Revealing The Henry Ford Museum from Above: Blue Raster’s Drone Mapping Imagery The Enduring Importance of Report Maps Modernize your GIS with Blue Raster’s Expert ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro Services Advancing Sustainable Development in West Africa: A Geospatial Toolkit for Monitoring SDG Goals Maret School: Exploring Inequality through GIS Arlington Democrats: Organizing Volunteers with Accessible Maps ArcGIS Pro & ArcMap Training in Austin, TX See What’s New with the Texas Water Explorer! A New Chapter on Tsunami Design Weaving Together Baltimore’s Culture with GEOLOOM Keeping America’s Infrastructure Safe with ASCE Watersheds New Release for EPA Securing Land Rights for Indigenous Peoples and Communities Appalachia Community Data Portal Three Compelling Story Maps for Agriculture Risk The Hidden Cost of Suspension Future Ready Map Video for White House ConnectED Event Famine Early Warning Systems Network New Website Natural Disaster Hotspots – A Global Risk Analysis Category: ArcGIS Enterprise Blue Raster Earns Esri Parcel Management Specialty ArcGIS Enterprise 12. x is Out Now: Planning for Your Upgrade and What to Expect ArcGIS Enterprise Security: From Guidance to Practice Improving ArcGIS Enterprise Performance for Orange County, Virginia with ArcGIS Monitor Empowering OneEnergy Renewables with a Modern and Managed ArcGIS Enterprise Environment Flora Finder: Blue Raster Helps Holden Forests & Gardens Launch First Public Collections Viewer Flood Risk Mapping for Future Planning: Blue Raster and Climate Central Drive Climate Resilience in 2025 The LEARN Tool: Everything You Need to Know About its Exciting 2025 Updates Preserving History with Technology: Blue Raster Partners with Historic Oakland Foundation Accountability Framework Initiative and Compliance with GFW Pro World Water Day: New ways to see WASH data on the Spatial Data Repository Transitioning from Web AppBuilder to Experience Builder: Get Ready for a New Experience Exploring KoopJS: Simplifying and Enhancing Geospatial Data Integration Bringing Modern GIS Capabilities... State and Local Government GIS Solutions Transforming Public Service Through Geospatial Intelligence Contact Us + Request a Demo State and local governments rely on accurate, reliable, and accessible geographic information to serve their communities. Blue Raster helps agencies modernize and maintain their GIS environments so they can focus on delivering essential services with confidence. Our team provides comprehensive support across the full spectrum of government GIS needs, from asset management and field data collection to cloud-based solutions and system administration. We deliver scalable, secure, and user-friendly tools that integrate seamlessly with existing IT systems while aligning with best practices in governance, data quality, and long-term sustainability. Our State & Local Government GIS Solutions Purpose-Built for Government Operations GIS Implementation and Modernization ArcGIS Enterprise deployments, cloud services, and system upgrades Application Development Web, mobile, and dashboard solutions tailored to your needs Field GIS and Enterprise Asset Management Real-time data collection and critical infrastructure tracking Systems Integration Integration with CityWorks, OpenGov, VertiGIS and more Strategic Planning and Ad-Hoc Services Data governance, specialized projects, and overflow capacity Staff Augmentation and Ongoing Support GIS administration, system management, and managed services Your Trusted Partner Why Blue Raster 01 Rapid Delivery of GIS Solutions We accelerate your GIS initiatives with proven methodologies and pre-configured solutions that get you operational quickly without sacrificing quality or customization. 02 Trusted Government Partnership With decades of experience serving state and local agencies, we understand the unique challenges, compliance requirements, and workflows that drive public sector operations. 03 Esri Gold & Cornerstone Partner As an Esri Gold and Cornerstone Partner, we bring deep platform expertise, direct access to Esri resources, and specialized knowledge to maximize your ArcGIS investment. 04 Expert Implementation & Integration Our team delivers seamless GIS integration across your enterprise systems, ensuring data flows smoothly between platforms and your staff is trained for long-term success. Contact Us + Request a Demo Project Spotlight Puget Sound Regional Council Blue Raster partnered with the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) to provide flexible outsourcing services that advanced and sustained its Esri-based GIS program. As the agency navigated a major technology transition, Blue Raster delivered project-based initiatives, on-call support, and ArcGIS managed services, guiding PSRC through modernizing its GIS infrastructure, adopting cloud-based solutions, and supporting the refinement of a long-term technology strategy to meet the needs of diverse users across the organization. How We Helped Assessed existing GIS environment, IT infrastructure, and user needs to guide system design Designed a cloud-based GIS architecture aligned with Esri best practices and agency goals Provided strategic guidance on ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise deployment in cloud environments Supported the implementation of ArcGIS Enterprise for a scalable and modern cloud solution Assisted PSRC in refining its 3 to 5-year GIS strategy, addressing future Esri technologies and licensing needs Delivered on-call GIS and IT support, including troubleshooting, application guidance, and system improvements Provided ongoing ArcGIS managed services to ensure system performance, reliability, and user support Read the full story Ready to Transform Your GIS Capabilities? Blue Raster is committed to equipping state and local governments with modern GIS solutions that strengthen operations, enhance transparency, and create lasting community impact. Let's discuss how we can help modernize your geospatial infrastructure and deliver measurable value to your community. Download our SLG Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Low-Code & No-Code GIS Applications Build powerful spatial tools, no coding required. Contact Us + Request a Demo In today's fast-paced digital environment, organizations need solutions that are agile, scalable, and user-friendly, without the complexity of traditional development. That's where low-code/no-code GIS tools come in. Blue Raster helps clients deploy intelligent, interactive, and integrated geospatial applications using ArcGIS Hub, Experience Builder, StoryMaps, Dashboards, and Survey123, all without writing a single line of code. Whether collecting field data, visualizing trends, or launching community initiatives, these tools work together to deliver high impact results. A Home For Spatial Apps, Data & Collaborations ArcGIS Hub: A Centralized Platform for Public Engagement ArcGIS Hub acts as the digital front door to your GIS ecosystem, a centralized website experience that connects your maps, apps, data, and community initiatives. Using Hub's configurable templates, we help clients build accessible, content-rich sites that serve as a launchpad for internal and public-facing tools. Launch initiatives on any topic that matters to your organization Showcase community pride and project transparency Centralize Applications, Dashboards, Surveys, StoryMaps, and Open Data Portals Collect public feedback and drive civic engagement Build modern web apps without code ArcGIS Experience Builder: Design Custom Apps with Flexibility Experience Builder is a powerful drag-and-drop app builder that allows you to create responsive, multi-page applications tailored to your needs. Whether you need a simple viewer or a complex, multi-widget portal, Blue Raster helps you design flexible apps optimized for all devices. Key Features: Mobile optimization Full UI/UX design control Interactive widgets and layouts Seamless integration with other ArcGIS solutions Embed maps, apps and URLs, or leave them out when not needed Experience Builder is ideal for organizations looking for custom layouts, enhanced storytelling, and dynamic user experiences. Real-time, data-driven decision support ArcGIS Dashboards: Visualize and Monitor What Matters Most ArcGIS Dashboards offer at-a-glance views of key metrics and spatial insights. Whether you're tracking economic indicators, monitoring public health, or evaluating performance, we help you design clean, intuitive dashboards that update in real time and respond to user input. ArcGIS Dashboards provide real-time visibility into key metrics, enabling organizations to monitor operations, identify trends, and make informed decisions quickly. By integrating multiple data sources into interactive visualizations, ArcGIS Dashboards streamline analysis, improve collaboration, and enhance situational awareness across teams. Dashboard Use Cases: Track business openings or permits Monitor citizen reports or 311 requests Analyze pedestrian injury hotspots Evaluate city service response times Visual storytelling for impact and understanding ArcGIS StoryMaps: Turn Data Into a Compelling Narrative Move beyond static reports. With ArcGIS StoryMaps, you can combine interactive maps, rich media, text, and data visualizations to engage both technical and non-technical audiences. Blue Raster helps you build immersive stories that educate, persuade, and inspire action. StoryMaps transform data into compellingthat engage stakeholders, communicate insights, and drive informed decision-making. By combining maps, multimedia, and analytics, StoryMaps help organizations showcase projects, highlight impacts, and tell powerful geospatial stories that resonate with audiences. StoryMaps Use Cases: Engage communities through compelling spatial narratives Share project updates with photos, maps, videos, and graphs Highlight initiatives, success stories, or environmental impact Easily embed into Hub sites, web pages, or social posts Collect field data online or offline with ease Survey123: Smart Forms, Smarter Decisions ArcGIS Survey123 is a form-centric data collection app designed for field teams, community members, or stakeholders. Blue Raster helps you design surveys that are smart, responsive, location-aware and can be used with or without a data connection. Survey123 Use Cases: Gather structured input from mobile or desktop users Enable offline field collection for inspections or audits Embed survey results into Dashboard or Experience Builder apps Collect photos, GPS points, and signatures in one form From community feedback to environmental observations, Survey123 turns your field collection workflows and forms into usable, mappable data. Ready to Elevate Your GIS Experience? Whether you need one tool or the entire ecosystem, Blue Raster will guide you through strategy, design, configuration, deployment, and training, all with your goals in mind. Download our Configurable Apps Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Data Science, Analytics & Engineering Intelligent data integration. Spatially smarter decisions. Contact Us + Request a Demo Most data engineering workflows treat location as an afterthought. A coordinate pair in a table. A postal code in a field. Blue Raster builds pipelines where location is a first-class dimension, enriching your data with spatial context, running geographic joins and hotspot analysis at scale, and publishing insight-ready spatial layers directly into ArcGIS and Power BI. We combine Microsoft Fabric's unified analytics platform with ArcGIS's powerful spatial data engineering tools to build modern, cloud-native data pipelines that bring together the breadth of Microsoft's data ecosystem with the depth of Esri's location intelligence, giving your organization a single, integrated data foundation for every analysis and decision. Fabric Microsoft Integration 180+ Spatial Functions End-to-End Data to Dashboard No-Code Visual Pipeline Builder Microsoft Fabric Data Factory Spark Notebooks Microsoft OneLake Power BI Microsoft Azure Databricks ArcGIS GeoAnalytics for Fabric ArcGIS Data Pipelines ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Enterprise ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Living Atlas ArcGIS Maps for Power BI Python SQL Scala DAX AWS S3 Google BigQuery Snowflake Azure Blob Storage Parquet GeoJSON Shapefile What We Build Data Engineering Capabilities Blue Raster delivers end-to-end data engineering solutions that combine spatial analytics, cloud infrastructure, and automated workflows to turn complex data into actionable intelligence. 01 Spatial ETL and Data Pipeline Design Design and build end-to-end spatial data pipelines using ArcGIS Data Pipelines, Microsoft Fabric Data Factory, Python, and SQL. We handle data extraction, transformation, spatial enrichment, and loading into ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, or Power BI. ETL · ArcGIS Pipelines · Data Factory 02 Microsoft Fabric and ArcGIS Integration Implement ArcGIS GeoAnalytics for Microsoft Fabric to add spatial intelligence to your Fabric environment. Build Spark notebooks and Data Factory pipelines that leverage over 180 spatial functions for data transformation, hotspot analysis, and spatial joins at scale. Microsoft Fabric · GeoAnalytics · Spark 03 Hotspot and Spatial Pattern Analysis Apply advanced spatial statistics to identify significant geographic clusters, hot spots, and patterns in your data. Use ArcGIS GeoAnalytics to analyze where and why things happen, providing the location context that drives smarter decisions. Hotspot Analysis · Clustering · GeoAnalytics 04 Cloud Data Ingestion and Processing Ingest and process data from Azure Blob Storage, AWS S3, BigQuery, Snowflake, and other cloud data sources. Blue Raster builds scalable cloud ingestion workflows that connect your enterprise data systems to the ArcGIS platform for spatial analysis and visualization. Azure · AWS · BigQuery · Snowflake · S3 05 Location Data Enrichment Enrich organizational datasets with Esri Living Atlas layers, demographic data, infrastructure context, and other geographic reference information. Spatial enrichment transforms simple records into deeply contextual datasets that power better analysis and smarter decisions. Esri Living Atlas · Demographic Enrichment 06 Analytics-Ready Layer Publishing Publish processed spatial data as hosted feature layers ready for ArcGIS Dashboards, Experience Builder, Power BI, and web maps. Blue Raster configures scheduled pipelines that automatically refresh your spatial data, keeping every downstream application current without manual intervention. Hosted Layers · Scheduled Refresh · ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Data Pipelines Visual Spatial Data Engineering ArcGIS Data Pipelines is a no-code, visual data integration tool built into ArcGIS Online that allows analysts and data engineers to build spatial data pipelines without writing code. It focuses on data integration tasks for non-sensor-based workflows, turning messy, multi-source datasets into clean, insight-ready spatial layers. Blue Raster uses ArcGIS Data Pipelines to build repeatable data workflows for clients who need to regularly ingest, transform, and publish spatial data from multiple sources. Whether you are combining parcel data with demographic layers or integrating field survey results with enterprise databases, we build the pipeline that keeps your data current and your teams informed. We can: Automate data updates with scheduled pipeline runs Build multi-source pipelines using spatial joins, filters & calculations Format and preview results before publishing to ArcGIS Output data as hosted layers ready for dashboards, maps, or analysis Microsoft Fabric + ArcGIS Enterprise Scale Spatial Analytics Microsoft Fabric is a unified, cloud-native SaaS analytics platform that brings together data engineering, data science, data integration, and business intelligence in one environment. ArcGIS for Microsoft Fabric brings over 180 spatial SQL and track functions directly into the Fabric Spark environment, enabling hotspot analysis, spatial joins, pattern identification, and movement analysis without moving data out of your existing infrastructure. Results flow seamlessly into Power BI and ArcGIS for visualization and action. Blue Raster integrates ArcGIS GeoAnalytics for Microsoft Fabric to add a powerful spatial layer to your Fabric workflows, enabling geospatial data transformation, enrichment, and analysis at enterprise scale using Spark notebooks and Data Factory pipelines. We can: Run location-based analyses at scale Enrich data with geographic context Identify patterns and outliers across place and time Visualize spatial relationships in reports and dashboards Foster collaboration between GIS, data science, and BI team Why Blue Raster The Spatial Data Partner at the Intersection GIS+ Spatial First, Not Spatial Afterthought Most data engineering teams add location as an afterthought. Blue Raster treats it as a first-class dimension from the start, building pipelines where geographic context enriches every dataset and spatial analytics power every downstream analysis. Both Microsoft and Esri Expertise Blue Raster is uniquely positioned to work across both the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem and the Esri ArcGIS platform. We bridge the two, building integrated pipelines that leverage the best of both environments without requiring two separate teams or vendors. Scale Built for Enterprise Data Volumes Whether you are processing millions of parcel records, enriching global health datasets, or analyzing supply chain data across continents, Blue Raster builds pipelines that scale with your data. We have handled large-scale spatial processing projects for government, nonprofit, and commercial clients. Full From Pipeline to Published Dashboard Blue Raster does not stop at data engineering. We follow the data all the way to the insight, building the ArcGIS dashboards, Power BI reports, and web maps that put your processed spatial data in the hands of the people who need it most. Ready To Add Location To Your... Indoor Mapping & Wayfinding Solutions Smart indoor mapping. Smarter workplace operations. Contact Us + Request a Demo ArcGIS Indoors is Esri's location-aware indoor mapping system that brings the full power of the ArcGIS platform indoors. It transforms CAD, BIM, and LiDAR floor plan data into dynamic, floor-aware GIS maps enabling wayfinding, space management, asset tracking, and operational intelligence across any building or campus. Blue Raster helps you design, deploy, and scale ArcGIS Indoors across your enterprise delivering intuitive, mobile-ready indoor maps powered by spatial intelligence for smarter facility operations. We provide end-to-end ArcGIS Indoors implementation from data preparation and floor plan authoring to mobile app deployment, custom UI/UX, and third-party system integration. 2D/3D Floor-Aware Maps iOS/Android Mobile Ready IPS Real-Time Blue Dot BIM/CAD Source Data Support Indoors Maps Indoors Spaces Indoors Pro ArcGIS IPS Indoors Viewer Space Planner Indoors Mobile Floor Plan Editor What We Do From Floor Plans to Live Maps 01 Floor Plan Authoring Convert BIM, CAD, IFC, and LiDAR source data into the ArcGIS Indoors Information Model using ArcGIS Pro. We create floor-aware 2D and 3D maps conforming to the Indoors schema for sites, facilities, levels, units, and details. ArcGIS Pro · BIM · CAD · IFC 02 Indoor Positioning (IPS) Deploy ArcGIS IPS to deliver real-time blue-dot indoor navigation. Users see their live location on the map and receive turn-by-turn wayfinding, matching the GPS experience indoors. ArcGIS IPS · Real-Time Location 03 Space Planning & Reservations Configure Indoors Spaces and Space Planner to manage room bookings, office hoteling, desk assignments, and occupancy analytics, essential for hybrid workplace models. Indoors Spaces · Space Planner 04 Mobile App Deployment Deploy Indoors Mobile on iOS and Android for field staff, facility teams, and visitors. Configure offline map packages, integrate calendar-linked appointments, and enable floor-level asset management. iOS · Android · Indoors Mobile 05 Routable Indoor Networks Build and publish routable indoor networks to support door-to-door wayfinding across floors, stairwells, elevators, and accessibility routes, connecting occupants to any point of interest. Indoor Routing · Wayfinding 06 Custom Integrations & UI/UX Extend ArcGIS Indoors with custom branding, Survey123 service request integration, GeoEvent Server live sensor feeds, Experience Builder dashboards, and third-party facilities management systems. Survey123 · GeoEvent · Experience Builder Industry Applications Built For Any Facility Whether it's a government facility, university campus, airport, or corporate office, ArcGIS Indoors brings powerful GIS capabilities indoors. With dynamic 2D and 3D maps, real-time location tracking, and customizable wayfinding tools, you can improve operational efficiency, enhance occupant experience, and ensure safer environments. Technology Stack ArcGIS Ecosystem Integrations ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Enterprise Survey123 GeoEvent Server Experience Builder ArcGIS Dashboards ArcGIS Field Maps ArcGIS IPS Indoors Viewer Space Planner Floor Plan Editor Revit / BIM AutoCAD IFC AWS Azure ArcGIS Indoors is built to work seamlessly across the full ArcGIS ecosystem. From data collection to visualization, every tool connects. Blue Raster deploys ArcGIS Indoors alongside the tools your team already uses. Deep integration across the ArcGIS platform means no data silos, no workarounds. Blue Raster Is Your Indoors Implementation Expert Why Blue Raster? 01 20+ Years of GIS Implementation Experience Since 2002, Blue Raster has delivered complex GIS solutions for government, universities, transportation agencies, and enterprises worldwide. We know the pitfalls and how to avoid them. 02 Esri Gold Partner and ArcGIS Indoors Specialists As a certified Esri Gold Partner, we leverage the full ArcGIS ecosystem, not just Indoors, so your indoor maps connect seamlessly to your enterprise GIS, dashboards, and existing workflows. 03 Support That Doesn't Stop at Launch Blue Raster handles data prep, authoring, deployment, and training under one roof. Facilities change, and we provide ongoing managed services to keep your indoor GIS accurate and useful long after go-live. Ready to Map Indoors? Put Your Buildings on the Map Whether you manage a single facility or a global campus portfolio, Blue Raster brings the expertise to deploy ArcGIS Indoors at any scale. Contact Us Today Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Business Intelligence Turning data into insights and decisions Contact Us + Request a Demo Power BI Certified Consultants ArcGIS Maps for Power BI End-to-End Data to Dashboard Training On-Site and Virtual Most organizations are sitting on data that could transform how they operate. The problem is not the data. It is the gap between raw numbers and the clear, visual story that drives action. Blue Raster closes that gap. We combine Microsoft Power BI, ArcGIS location intelligence, and expert data engineering to build dashboards and reporting tools that give your leadership, field teams, and stakeholders exactly what they need to make faster, better-informed decisions. Our team includes certified Power BI consultants, GIS analysts, data scientists, and application developers who work together to turn complex, disparate data sources into unified, interactive intelligence platforms. Microsoft Power BI Power BI Service Power BI Desktop Power Apps Power Automate Microsoft Azure Microsoft Fabric ArcGIS Maps for Power BI ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Enterprise Esri Business Analyst Full Service BI End-To-End Capabilities From data pipeline design and dashboard development to training and ongoing support, Blue Raster covers every phase of your business intelligence journey. 01 Dashboard Design and Development Build custom, interactive Power BI dashboards using human-centered UI/UX design principles. We focus on visual hierarchy, strategic use of color, proper alignment, and intuitive navigation so users find insights without friction. Power BI · UI/UX · Interactive Reports 02 Data Integration and Pipeline Design Unify disparate data sources including SQL databases, APIs, Excel, DHIS2, ArcGIS Online, Salesforce, and more into a clean, reliable Power BI data model. We design repeatable pipelines using Python, R, and Power Query. SQL · Python · R · Power Query · APIs 03 Spatial Analytics with ArcGIS Integrate ArcGIS Maps for Power BI to add location intelligence to your dashboards. Layer Esri basemaps, reference data, and feature services to reveal the geographic patterns and relationships driving your business outcomes. ArcGIS Maps · Spatial Analysis · Location BI 04 Real-Time and Live Dashboards Configure real-time Power BI dashboards connected to live data streams, APIs, and operational databases. Give leadership and field teams instant access to up-to-the-moment operational intelligence without manual reporting cycles. Real-Time · Power BI Service · Live Data 05 Predictive Modeling and Analysis Extend Power BI with predictive modeling, temporal trend analysis, and statistical computing using Python and R. Surface forecasts, anomaly detection, and scenario modeling directly within your existing dashboard environment. Predictive Analytics · Python · R · Time Series 06 Training and Capability Building Deliver on-site and virtual Power BI training from certified consultants. From beginner dashboard design to advanced data modeling, we build your team's capacity for self-service analytics and long-term data independence. Power BI Training · Self-Service BI · Workshops Get in touch to start the conversation Microsoft Power BI Interactive Dashboards That Drive Action Microsoft Power BI transforms your organization's data into dynamic, visual, and actionable intelligence. Blue Raster helps you design and implement modern Power BI dashboards that uncover key business insights, connect disparate data sources into a unified platform, and empower your team with self-service analytics. Our process kicks off with a critical reflection of existing data and systems, pulling together disparate sources into a single solution. We build iteratively with your team, creating an environment that fosters a culture of data-driven decision making from day one. ArcGIS Maps For power BI Location Intelligence Inside Power BI ArcGIS Maps for Power BI brings the full power of Esri's mapping and spatial analysis capabilities directly into your Power BI dashboards. Blue Raster helps you move beyond simple pin maps to rich, interactive spatial intelligence that reveals where patterns happen and why. Whether you are tracking service delivery locations, analyzing market expansion opportunities, or monitoring field operations, adding a spatial dimension to your Power BI reports transforms how your organization sees and acts on its data. The BI Partner That Speaks Both Languages Why Blue Raster BI+GIS Microsoft and Esri Under One Roof Blue Raster is uniquely positioned at the intersection of Microsoft Power BI and Esri ArcGIS. We are one of the few consulting firms that can build fully integrated BI and GIS solutions, connecting your dashboards to powerful spatial intelligence without switching vendors or teams. Cert Certified Power BI Consultants Our team includes certified Power BI consultants, data scientists, and application developers who bring both technical depth and design sensibility to every engagement. We build dashboards that are accurate, beautiful, and built to be used. 20+ Years Turning Data Into Decisions Since 2002, Blue Raster has helped government agencies, nonprofits, and global organizations unlock the value of their data. From HIV epidemic dashboards to methane detection workflows to global health reporting, we have built BI solutions that drive real-world action. UX Human-Centered Design That Gets Used A dashboard nobody uses is worthless. Our iterative process involves key stakeholders at every stage, using hands-on UI/UX design sessions to build tools that fit how your team actually works, driving adoption and a lasting culture of data-driven decision making. Get in touch to start the conversation Project Spotlight Microsoft Methane Leak Detection Project Blue Raster developed an end-to-end workflow for Microsoft to detect methane using a combination of ESA Sentinel satellite data and Ball Sensors data from aerial surveys. The solution leveraged Azure Event Grid, Blob Storage, and application functions to download, process, and analyze the data efficiently. Processed outputs included Map Tiles hosted in Blob Storage, Cloud Optimized GeoTIFFs, and KMZ files, which were automatically loaded into ArcGIS Image Services for display. Ball sensor data was also stored in Azure Blob Storage and batch processed alongside satellite data. Final results were delivered through Power BI dashboards and ArcGIS Enterprise Image Services, which were published as interactive maps in ArcGIS Maps for Power BI. This integrated workflow enabled Microsoft to visualize methane data in near real time, combining geospatial and sensor data for actionable insights. Ready To Transform Your Data Your Data Has a Story to Tell Whether you are starting from scratch or scaling your current... Parcel Management Solutions Smarter parcel insights powered by an enterprise parcel fabric, enabled through GIS and operational workflows. Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster helps counties, municipalities, and organizations streamline parcel management workflows by integrating, maintaining, and analyzing parcel data. Our team implements and supports ArcGIS Parcel Fabric, configures workflows for data editing and validation, and delivers solutions that enable accurate, efficient, and data-driven parcel operations. With our Parcel Management Specialty, we empower organizations to reduce errors, improve operational efficiency, and make informed decisions using reliable, up-to-date parcel data. Blue Raster delivers end-to-end parcel fabric solutions that support authoritative data, enterprise GIS, and operational workflows. Ensuring parcel fabric is governed, scalable, and usable across departments and applications. What We Do Comprehensive Parcel Management Services ArcGIS Parcel Fabric ImplementationDesign, configure, and deploy modern parcel fabric solutions that support authoritative data management and enterprise GIS workflows. Workflow Configuration & OptimizationEstablish efficient editing workflows, validation rules, and data quality controls to ensure accuracy across departments. Enterprise Integration Connect parcel data with assessors, permitting and other critical business systems to enable seamless workflows and daily operations. REGRID Parcel Data IntegrationAs a REGRID Partner, we integrate nationwide parcel data to enhance mapping, analysis, and decision-making across your GIS workflows. Parcel Data Migration & ModernizationMigrate legacy parcel systems to modern, cloud-based environments with improved performance and reliability. Training & SupportEmpower your team with comprehensive training, documentation, and ongoing support to maximize your parcel management investment. Nationwide Parcel Data At Your Fingertips Our Partnership with REGRID As a certified REGRID Partner, Blue Raster empowers your projects with comprehensive nationwide parcel data to enhance mapping, analysis, and decision-making. From land ownership and zoning to infrastructure planning and community development, we help you integrate REGRID's detailed parcel boundaries and attributes directly into your GIS workflows for smarter, location-based insights More About our REGRID Partnership Why Choose Blue Raster for Your Parcel Management? Our Value Proposition Reduce Errors Implement validation workflows and quality controls that ensure parcel data accuracy and integrity. Improve Efficiency Streamline parcel editing, maintenance, and distribution processes to save time and resources. Data-Driven Decisions Access reliable, up-to-date parcel information that supports informed planning and operations. Scalable Solutions Build parcel systems that grow with your organization's needs and support future requirements. Project Spotlight Chester County Parcel Fabric Modernization Blue Raster partnered with Esri and Chester County, Pennsylvania, to modernize the County's parcel management system by upgrading their ArcGIS Enterprise environment and transitioning from custom tools to a modern Parcel Fabric workflow. Our team designed and implemented the cloud-based infrastructure, configured advanced parcel workflows, and guided the County through multiple upgrades to ensure long-term performance and support. How We Helped Designed and implemented infrastructure with AWS relational database services to support Parcel Fabric Recommended and deployed the latest versions of ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, and Parcel Fabric Created the parcel fabric, loaded datasets, and built records in a file geodatabase Migrated parcel records into ArcGIS Spatial Database Engine to improve performance and ETL processes Published the Parcel Fabric Service with optimized settings for performance and scalability Ready To Modernize Your Parcel Management? Blue Raster brings the expertise and tools needed to modernize parcel management systems and ensure long term success. Our team works closely with counties and organizations to design efficient workflows, implement best practices, and deliver solutions that scale with future needs. Contact us today to learn how we can support your parcel management goals. Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services GIS for Disaster Response & Emergency Services Equipping agencies to respond faster with real-time maps, dashboards, and data insights Contact Us + Request a Demo When disaster strikes, the ability to visualize, analyze, and share spatial data in real time is the difference between effective response and costly confusion. Blue Raster builds GIS solutions that give emergency managers, first responders, and public safety agencies a common operating picture from the moment an incident begins through long-term recovery. Blue Raster helps emergency response teams and public safety agencies act quickly during wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters. From real-time situational awareness dashboards to damage assessment tools and mobile field apps, we build GIS solutions that work when it matters most. Hours Rapid Deployment Real-Time Situational Awareness FEMA Emergency Ready Surge Esri Surge Licensing ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Dashboards ArcGIS Hub Survey123 Experience Builder ArcGIS Field Maps ArcGIS Velocity ArcGIS StoryMaps ArcGIS Workforce ArcGIS Enterprise FEMA BCEA WebEOC Esri Disaster Response Program NIMS / ICS Surge Licensing IPAWS Alerting NWS Weather Feeds USGS Hazard Data AWS Azure ArcGIS Image Server Real-Time Streaming IoT Integration What We Deliver Emergency GIS Capabilities Blue Raster delivers end-to-end GIS solutions across every phase of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. 01 Real-Time Situational Awareness Build real-time ArcGIS Dashboards and common operating pictures that give incident commanders and EOC staff an up-to-the-minute view of assets, personnel, affected areas, and response activity across the entire incident. ArcGIS Dashboards · Common Operating Picture 02 Damage Assessment Tools Deploy Preliminary Damage Assessment tools using ArcGIS Online, Survey123, and Experience Builder. Capture property damage data in the field, aggregate it in real time, and generate FEMA-ready reports for disaster declarations and recovery funding. PDA Tools · Survey123 · FEMA Reporting 03 Resource and Asset Tracking Track emergency personnel, vehicles, equipment, shelters, and staging areas on a live map. Give dispatch and command staff real-time visibility into resource locations, availability, and deployment status across an entire incident. Asset Tracking · ArcGIS Velocity · Dispatch 04 Evacuation Planning and Routing Map and publish evacuation zones, shelter locations, and route guidance to residents through public-facing web applications. Enable dynamic zone updates as conditions change and push real-time alerts to residents through ArcGIS Hub and Experience Builder. Evacuation Zones · ArcGIS Hub · Public Apps 05 Mobile Field Data Collection Deploy ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey123 to field inspectors, damage assessors, and first responders. Capture location-aware data with photos in connected or offline environments and sync instantly to the EOC common operating picture. Field Maps · Survey123 · Offline Capable 06 Public Communication and Outreach Build ArcGIS StoryMaps, Hub sites, and public-facing dashboards that communicate incident status, recovery resources, and preparedness guidance to residents and stakeholders. Bilingual, mobile-first, and accessible. ArcGIS Hub · StoryMaps · Public Safety Geospatial Intelligence For Critical Moments Ready To Deliver Real World Impact Blue Raster has attended Esri's ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management workshop at Esri's Redlands campus, giving our team hands-on experience with the full emergency management operations gallery, including seven applications, seven unique maps, and 33 feature layers built specifically for crisis response. We work closely with Esri's Disaster Response Program to secure Surge Licensing for clients, ensuring agencies can scale ArcGIS access rapidly without managing large user counts day-to-day. Get in touch to start the conversation The Emergency GIS Partner Agencies Rely On Why Blue Raster Fast Rapid Deployment When It Matters Blue Raster can stand up emergency GIS solutions in hours, not weeks. Our team is ready to configure ArcGIS emergency tools quickly, whether you are facing a hurricane, wildfire, flood, or declared disaster. Esri Deep ArcGIS Emergency Solutions Expertise Blue Raster has hands-on experience deploying the full Esri emergency management stack: ArcGIS Dashboards, Survey123, Hub, Experience Builder, Field Maps, and Velocity, configured and integrated into operational workflows that work under real incident pressure. 20+ Years of Public Sector GIS Experience Since 2002, Blue Raster has delivered GIS solutions for state and local government, emergency management agencies, nonprofits, and federal partners, giving us deep institutional knowledge of how agencies operate under pressure. Surge On-Site Training and Surge Support We deliver on-site training at Emergency Operations Centers, configure Esri Surge Licensing to scale access during a disaster, and provide ongoing support so your team is ready before the next event hits. Project Spotlight Nevada Dept. of Emergency Management In 2020, the Nevada Division of Emergency Management (DEM) began exploring ways to use Esri's ArcGIS disaster response and damage assessment solutions to strengthen emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. With Blue Raster's experience deploying these solutions, Nevada DEM partnered with our team to build a configurable Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) Tool designed specifically for the state's needs. The PDA Tool enables Nevada DEM to conduct rapid initial damage assessments after natural disasters, capture the extent and severity of property damage, streamline the evaluation and acquisition of resources, and provide critical information to stakeholders and the public. By integrating ArcGIS Online, Survey123, Dashboards, Hub, and Experience Builder, the solution gives Nevada a comprehensive and scalable platform for disaster management. To support adoption, Blue Raster collaborated with Esri to secure Surge Licensing through the Esri Disaster Response Program, ensuring Nevada DEM can rapidly scale up ArcGIS access during emergencies. Once the tool was configured and tested, our team delivered hands-on training for state, county, and tribal stakeholders in Carson City and Las Vegas, equipping participants to bring new skills back to their communities. How We Helped Deployed a Preliminary Damage Assessment Tool using ArcGIS Online, Survey123, Dashboards, Hub, and Experience Builder Configured and tested disaster-management workflows tailored to Nevada's emergency management environment Collaborated with Esri to secure Surge Licensing for rapid scaling during disaster response Delivered on-site training sessions for state, local, and tribal stakeholders at Emergency Operations Centers Provided documentation and best practices to support ongoing use and knowledge transfer across communities Read The Full Story Ready to Build Your Emergency GIS Solution Don't Wait for the Next Disaster Whether you are building preparedness tools now or need to deploy... Real-Time Visualization & Analytics Your Operations Visualized as They Happen Contact Us + Request a Demo Traditional GIS works with data that was collected in the past. Real-time GIS works with data that is happening right now. Blue Raster configures and deploys Esri's real-time analytics tools to give organizations a live, map-driven view of their assets, events, and operations, with automated alerts when conditions change and thresholds are crossed. As an authorized Esri reseller and implementation partner, Blue Raster can procure ArcGIS Velocity and ArcGIS GeoEvent Server licenses on your behalf and handle the full implementation from data feed configuration to dashboard deployment. Whether you are new to real-time GIS or looking to scale an existing environment, we are the partner to call. Live Real-Time Streaming 24/7 Always-On Monitoring IoT Sensor Integration Esri Authorized Reseller ArcGIS Velocity ArcGIS GeoEvent Server ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Enterprise ArcGIS Dashboards Experience Builder Azure Event Hubs Azure Function Apps AWS IoT Microsoft Azure AWS MQTT HTTP / RSS WebSockets Geotab AVL CAD Systems IoT Sensors SCADA Systems GPS Feeds Weather APIs Social Media Feeds Traffic Data What We Deliver Real-Time Capabilities Blue Raster delivers end-to-end real-time GIS implementations, from data feed configuration and analytics setup to live dashboards and automated alert systems. 01 AVL Fleet Tracking Integrate Automatic Vehicle Location feeds from Geotab and other AVL providers into ArcGIS Velocity or GeoEvent Server. Display precise vehicle locations on live maps, track routes, calculate speed and bearing, and build fleet dashboards for dispatch and operations staff. AVL · Fleet Management · Live Maps 02 CAD and Dispatch Integration Connect Computer Aided Dispatch systems to the ArcGIS platform to display active service calls, unit assignments, and incident locations on a live common operating picture for dispatch centers and field supervisors. CAD · Dispatch · Public Safety · EOC 03 IoT Sensor Monitoring Ingest and visualize data from IoT sensors measuring temperature, flow, pressure, air quality, water levels, and more. Configure spatial analytics and alert rules that automatically notify staff when sensor readings exceed thresholds or anomalies are detected. IoT · Sensors · Environmental Monitoring 04 Geofencing and Spatial Triggers Define geographic zones and configure automated responses when assets enter, exit, or dwell within defined areas. Trigger emails, SMS messages, webhook calls, or feature layer updates automatically when spatial conditions are met in your live data streams. Geofencing · Spatial Triggers · Automation 05 Live Operational Dashboards Build ArcGIS Dashboards and Experience Builder applications that display real-time data from Velocity and GeoEvent Server feeds. Give leadership, dispatch, and field teams a shared operational picture with live maps, charts, and KPI indicators. ArcGIS Dashboards · Live Operations · COP 06 AI-Enhanced Situational Awareness Integrate AI and machine learning into real-time GIS workflows to automatically detect anomalies, classify events, and predict emerging risks before they escalate. Blue Raster incorporates AI to enhance the intelligence of your live operational environment. AI · Anomaly Detection · Predictive Analytics Cloud-Native Real-Time Streaming ArcGIS Velocity ArcGIS Velocity is Esri's cloud-based SaaS platform for real-time data streaming and big data analytics. It ingests, processes, and visualizes high-velocity data streams at scale without requiring on-premises infrastructure. From IoT sensors and AVL feeds to CAD systems and Azure Event Hubs, Velocity connects your operational data to the ArcGIS platform in minutes. Real-Time Feed Configuration Geofencing and Automated Alerts Big Data Analytics ArcGIS Online Integration Enterprise Flexible Streaming ArcGIS GeoEvent Server ArcGIS GeoEvent Server is a powerful extension for ArcGIS Enterprise that enables real-time data ingestion, processing, and visualization. It can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud on AWS or Azure, or in a hybrid environment, giving organizations the flexibility to choose the infrastructure model that fits their security, governance, and scalability requirements. Blue Raster installs, configures, and optimizes GeoEvent Server deployments for government agencies, utilities, public safety organizations, and enterprise clients. Whether you need an air-gapped on-premises deployment or a cloud-hosted configuration, we build the connections, workflows, and dashboards that keep your operations visible and responsive. Flexible Deployment: On-Premises, Cloud, or Hybrid Custom Connectors and Processors Multi-Stream Data Ingestion Enterprise Alerts and Notifications Choosing the Right Tool Velocity vs. GeoEvent Server ArcGIS Velocity: Best For Cloud-first organizations using ArcGIS Online who want SaaS deployment without managing server infrastructure High-volume data streams requiring built-in high availability and disaster recovery Big data analytics alongside real-time processing, including batch analysis of historical records Organizations that want fast time-to-value with 30 to 60 minute activation and minimal setup Teams that want operational and geospatial analysts to manage data feeds without IT overhead ArcGIS GeoEvent Server: Best For Organizations with ArcGIS Enterprise who need on-premises, cloud, or hybrid deployment flexibility. Highly customized integrations requiring custom connectors, processors, and Java SDK extensions Public safety and defense organizations with strict data governance and sovereignty requirements Organizations that need control over where data is stored, whether on-premises or in their own cloud environment Environments where GIS administrators need full control over the streaming infrastructure Project Spotlight Manassas Park Real-Time GIS Integration Blue Raster supported the City of Manassas Park in leveraging ArcGIS Velocity to bring real time data into city operations. By integrating live feeds from public safety systems, the city gained instant visibility into vehicles, incidents, and calls for service. This modernized approach provided situational awareness, streamlined decision making, and enhanced the ability to respond quickly to community needs. How We Helped Integrated Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) data into ArcGIS Velocity Configured Azure Event Hubs and Function Apps to stream and transform live data for use in ArcGIS Online Delivered dashboards and operational maps that display vehicle locations, service calls, and active events in real time Enabled cross department access to data through intuitive, map driven tools Reduced reliance on siloed systems and simplified long term management with a scalable cloud based solution Read the full story Ready to Go Real-Time See What's Happening Now Whether you need ArcGIS Velocity licenses, a GeoEvent Server deployment, or a full real-time situational awareness platform, Blue Raster is your authorized Esri partner... GIS For Commercial Real Estate Smarter site selection starts with location intelligence Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster helps commercial real estate professionals make smarter and faster decisions with location intelligence. From site selection and market analysis to customer segmentation and custom mapping tools, our solutions provide clarity on where and why to invest, expand, or optimize operations. We transform property data into actionable insights with advanced geospatial technology. From site selection to portfolio optimization, Blue Raster delivers enterprise GIS solutions that give commercial real estate professionals a competitive edge. Our CRE Solutions Comprehensive GIS Capabilities From site selection to portfolio management, we deliver end-to-end geospatial solutions for commercial real estate. 01 Site Selection & Suitability Modeling Multi-criteria spatial analysis for optimal location identification with demographic overlays and competitive intelligence. 02 Business Analyst Services & Infographics Interactive dashboards visualizing property performance, occupancy rates, and geographic distribution. 03 Market Demographic Analysis & Analytics Spatial market research, trade area analysis, and competitive property mapping integrated with GIS. 04 Customer Segmentation & Trade Area Design Seamless connectivity with property databases, MLS, CoStar, and third-party data sources. 05 Custom Web & Mobile Application Development Location-based investment analysis, risk assessment, and ROI modeling with spatial context. 06 GIS Software Licensing & Managed Services Leverage ArcGIS tools and services through our setup and configuration packages that get you operational quickly. Get in touch to start the conversation Key Benefits Why GIS For Commercial Real Estate? From site selection to portfolio management, we deliver end-to-end geospatial solutions for commercial real estate. ArcGIS Pro for Smarter Site Selection Perform suitability analysis, evaluate zoning requirements, and visualize development scenarios with advanced 2D and 3D mapping tools for accelerated, data-driven decisions. ArcGIS Business Analyst for Market Planning Design trade areas and drive-time models, analyze demographics and consumer behavior, and generate professional infographics and market reports for precision targeting. Risk Mitigation Through Spatial Intelligence Identify environmental hazards, assess regulatory constraints, and evaluate market risks with comprehensive GIS analysis before making investment decisions. Visual Intelligence for Clear Insights Transform complex property and market data into interactive maps, dashboards, and 3D visualizations that communicate opportunities instantly to stakeholders. Nationwide Parcel Data At Your FingerTips Our Partnership with REGRID As an official REGRID Partner, Blue Raster empowers your projects with comprehensive nationwide parcel data to enhance mapping, analysis, and decision-making. From land ownership and zoning to infrastructure planning and community development, we help you integrate REGRID's detailed parcel boundaries and attributes directly into your GIS workflows for smarter, location-based insights More About our REGRID Partnership Project Spotlight Texwin Performance and Planning Dashboard Blue Raster partnered with Texwin, a leading home improvement materials provider in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, to streamline performance tracking and support data-driven expansion planning. Texwin needed a centralized solution to consolidate performance metrics, integrate demographic and economic data, and identify high-potential areas for new yard and dealership locations. Using Esri's ArcGIS Experience Builder, Blue Raster developed an interactive dashboard that combines site, yard, dealer, and planning data into a single platform. The solution features filterable maps, editable tables, demographic and economic indicators, suitability indexes, drive-time buffers, swipe analysis, and ArcGIS Business Analyst integration. These tools allow Texwin to evaluate over 470 counties efficiently, assess market potential, and model expansion scenarios across its four-state region. How We Helped Built an interactive dashboard using ArcGIS Experience Builder for site performance and market planning Integrated yard, dealer, and planning location data into a centralized, user-friendly platform Incorporated demographic and economic data with ArcGIS Business Analyst infographics Developed suitability indexes and planning tools including drive-time buffers and swipe analysis Enabled rapid evaluation of expansion opportunities and real-time performance tracking across multiple states Ready to Transform Your CRE Strategy? Partner with Blue Raster to build location intelligence solutions that drive competitive advantage in commercial real estate. Download our Commercial real estate Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Cloud Services Scalable. Sustainable. Secure. Smart. Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster brings over two decades of expertise to the cloud. As an Esri Gold Partner with the Esri Cloud Specialty and a certified partner of Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform, we deliver end to end cloud services designed for geospatial success. Whether you are modernizing your infrastructure, migrating your GIS to the cloud, or seeking performance improvements, our cloud team provides the expertise to design, deploy, and optimize resilient, scalable environments built for GIS and beyond. Cloud Solutions Implementation Partner GIS Cloud Services Cloud Readiness Assessment Cloud Architecture Cloud Systems Deployment System Upgrades and Modernization Cloud Tools & Functions Configuration Cloud Migration and Strategy Managed Services Performance Optimization Cloud Security Review & Implementation SSO & Identity Management Blue Raster helps organizations advance their geospatial systems through thoughtful modernization, strategic migration, and performance optimization. We support seamless upgrades across cloud and software environments, ensuring systems remain secure, stable, and compatible with evolving technologies. Post-deployment, we fine tune systems for maximum efficiency improving load times, streamlining processes, and ensuring your applications and services are performing at their best. Learn About Our GIS Managed Services Project Spotlight OneEnergy Renewables GIS Cloud Managed Services Blue Raster partnered with OneEnergy Renewables to modernize and manage their ArcGIS Enterprise environment deployed in the Microsoft Azure cloud. We supported the initial deployment of 11. 1 and later upgraded the environment to 11. 5, delivering a scalable, secure, and high-performing GIS platform that strengthened OneEnergy's GIS and business operations. Working closely with OneEnergy's IT team, we aligned the deployment with existing security practices and Esri best practices. Blue Raster continues to provide cloud-managed services, virtual machine administration, and support for their PostgreSQL Enterprise geodatabase and ArcGIS Pro workstations to maintain reliable and efficient GIS operations. How We Helped Deployed ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 1 in Azure cloud and upgraded to 11. 5 for scalability and performance Provide ongoing cloud-managed services for system reliability, monitoring, and administration Collaborate with IT to align security practices with Esri best practices Manage virtual machines and optimize system resources for efficiency Support PostgreSQL Enterprise geodatabase administration and GIS data workflows Maintain ArcGIS Pro workstations and provide guidance for user best practices Deliver ongoing monitoring, troubleshooting, and support to sustain GIS operations Read the full story Blue Raster's certified cloud architects are ready to help Why Blue Raster? Esri Gold Partner with Cloud Specialty recognized for advanced GIS cloud deployments Certified Cloud Expertise trusted partners of AWS, Microsoft, and Google Cloud Deep GIS Experience over 20 years supporting government, nonprofit, and enterprise clients Secure and Scalable Deployments built to meet compliance, performance, and business continuity goals Download our Cloud Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Field GIS & Asset Management Workflows Your Workforce. Connected to Live Data Contact Us + Request a Demo Field GIS puts the power of your enterprise spatial data in the hands of the people who need it most: the workers, inspectors, and technicians in the field. Blue Raster designs and deploys mobile GIS workflows using the full suite of Esri field apps, replacing paper forms and disconnected tools with real-time, location-aware data collection. Whether your teams are inspecting road signs, managing utility assets, conducting environmental surveys, or responding to emergencies, Blue Raster builds the workflows, maps, and integrations that keep field data accurate and instantly available across your organization. iOS/Android Mobile Ready Offline Works Without Signal Real-Time Enterprise Sync Zero Paper Fully Digitized ArcGIS Field Maps Survey123 ArcGIS Workforce ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Enterprise Trimble Unity Maintain Trimble Cityworks IBM Maximo SAP EAM Hexagon AMS Cartegraph OpenGov Accela Granicus CivicPlus Tyler Technologies Superion Asset Management Work Order Management EAM Enterprise Asset Management The Mobile GIS App Built For Field Teams ArcGIS Field Maps Custom Map Configuration Offline Area Setup Smart Form Design Real-Time Location Tracking Enterprise Integration ArcGIS Field Maps is Esri's flagship mobile GIS application, combining map viewing, data collection, attribute editing, and real-time location tracking in a single, intuitive app for iOS and Android. Blue Raster configures, deploys, and optimizes Field Maps for organizations of all sizes, ensuring your field teams have exactly the data, forms, and tools they need, whether they are connected to the internet or working in the most remote environments. Because Field Maps is built directly on the ArcGIS platform, every edit, inspection, and data capture flows instantly into your enterprise GIS, keeping office staff and managers working from the same authoritative source of truth. ArcGIS Field Maps ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Enterprise Offline Maps Mobile Data Collection Real-Time Editing GPS Data Capture Smart Forms Attribute Rules Know Every Asset. Every Condition. Every Location. Enterprise Asset Management Asset Inventory and Condition Assessment Work Order Management Lifecycle and Maintenance Tracking EAM Platform Integration Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) powered by GIS gives organizations a single, authoritative view of every infrastructure asset across their entire service territory. Blue Raster builds GIS-centric EAM solutions that connect spatial data with work orders, maintenance schedules, condition assessments, and lifecycle planning. Whether you manage roads, utilities, stormwater, signage, or facilities, Blue Raster integrates ArcGIS Field Maps with leading EAM platforms including Trimble Unity Maintain (formerly CityWorks), OpenGov (formerly Cartegraph), CentralSquare EAM (formerly Lucity) and SAP EAM to create a connected, data-driven asset management ecosystem. What We Deliver Field GIS Capabilities From custom map configuration and offline data packages to real-time dashboards and third-party integrations, Blue Raster covers every layer of a field GIS implementation 01 ArcGIS Field Maps Configuration We design and configure Field Maps with custom map packages, smart forms, attribute rules, and offline areas tailored to your workflows. Field teams get precisely the data and tools they need, nothing more. ArcGIS Field Maps · Offline Maps 02 Field Data Collection with Survey123 Build smart, location-aware Survey123 forms for inspections, condition assessments, incident reporting, and citizen engagement. Forms work connected or offline and push directly into your enterprise GIS. Survey123 · XLSForm · Smart Forms 03 Workforce and Task Management Deploy ArcGIS Workforce to assign, track, and manage field assignments in real time. Dispatchers see crew locations on a live map while workers receive assignments and directions on their devices. ArcGIS Workforce · Crew Dispatch 04 GIS Asset Management Build and maintain authoritative asset inventories in ArcGIS for infrastructure, utilities, signage, equipment, and natural resources. Track condition, maintenance history, and lifecycle status from office to field. Asset Lifecycle · Work Orders · Inspections 05 Real-Time Dashboards Configure ArcGIS Dashboards for operational oversight. Track work order status, crew locations, inspection progress, and field data submissions in real time. Filter by date, crew, asset type, or geography. ArcGIS Dashboards · Live Operations 06 Custom Mobile App Development When configurable apps are not enough, Blue Raster builds custom native iOS and Android field applications using Swift, Kotlin, and . NET MAUI, integrated with the ArcGIS Runtime SDK and your enterprise systems. Swift · Kotlin · . NET MAUI · ArcGIS SDK Project Spotlight Virginia Integrated Directional Signing Program Blue Raster partnered with the Virginia Department of Transportation's Directional Signing Program (DSP) to modernize management of the Integrated Directional Signing Program (IDSP), which includes over 16,000 signs statewide. These signs help travelers locate gas, food, lodging, hospitals, historic sites, and more. Blue Raster implemented field-first GIS workflows using ArcGIS Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Workforce, and Dashboards, enabling real-time tracking, inspections, and maintenance of all signs while improving data accuracy and operational efficiency. How We Helped Implemented field GIS workflows for inventorying all 16,000+ signs in just five weeks Enabled routine inspections for condition, retroreflectivity, construction, and maintenance work orders Developed dashboards providing real-time status updates to VDOT Integrated Survey123 and web maps for public and customer engagement, allowing issue reporting and feedback Supported future initiatives including StoryMaps for Historic Marker Program, Business Analyst analysis for interchange planning, and 360-degree imagery capture Read the full story Ready to Modernize Your Field Operations Replace Paper. Go Live in the Field. Whether you are deploying ArcGIS Field Maps for the first time or integrating with an EAM solution, Blue Raster has the field GIS expertise to get your teams connected. Download our Field Workflows Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Our Commitment to Sustainability and GIS for Good 20+ Years of Mission-Driven GIS Global International Project Reach SDG UN Goal Aligned GIS+ For Good Community Sustainability is more than an initiative, it is a responsibility. We believe geographic information systems have the power to drive meaningful change by helping communities, organizations, and governments make informed decisions that protect the planet and improve lives. Our work empowers partners around the world to monitor environmental change, advance conservation, strengthen resilience, and achieve sustainable development goals. From supporting biodiversity and climate adaptation to advancing responsible urban growth, we apply geospatial technology to address today's most pressing global challenges. How We Operate Sustainability Starts With Us Responsible Cloud Infrastructure We choose cloud providers and architectures that minimize energy consumption and prioritize renewable energy sources for our client and internal workloads. Flexible Work Practices Remote-first and flexible work arrangements reduce our team's carbon footprint while supporting the wellbeing and work-life balance of every Blue Raster employee. Minimizing Waste From paperless operations to thoughtful procurement, we apply the same principles of stewardship to our business that we help our conservation clients apply to the natural world. Our commitment to GIS for Good is not only expressed through the projects we take on. It shapes how Blue Raster operates as a company every day. This commitment has been recognized through the Esri Sustainable Development Award, which honors organizations using GIS to create positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes. We are proud of this recognition as it reflects both our internal application expertise and our dedication to sustainability and GIS for Good Mapping A Better World Real Projects. Real Impact A sample of the mission-driven work Blue Raster has delivered over two decades. Each project represents a measurable step toward the outcome our partners set out to achieve. Climate · Greenhouse Gas Land Emissions and Removals Navigator Built with WRI and ICLEI, the LEARN Tool enables local governments to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions from land use change, directly informing climate policy across the United States. Partner: World Resources Institute · ICLEI Conservation · Supply Chain Global Forest Watch Pro A decision support platform empowering companies and financial institutions to monitor supply chains for responsible environmental practices and demonstrate adherence to international sustainability standards. Partner: World Resources Institute Food Security · Agriculture SMRFS Food Security Monitoring Advanced spatial data collection to combat global hunger across multiple countries, supporting USAID's Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security through the Feed the Future initiative. Partner: ICF International · USAID Health · HIV Surveillance Epidemic Mapping for UNICEF and CDC Produced high-quality printable PDF maps tracking HIV epidemic data across sub-Saharan Africa for use in reports, field briefings, and offline access where digital infrastructure is limited. Partner: UNICEF · CDC Sustainability · Compliance San Mateo Recycling Compliance Platform Built a centralized GIS application tracking recycling compliance across 250 businesses and 2,500 residential accounts, enabling county-wide inspection and annual CalRecycle reporting under California's mandates. Partner: County of San Mateo, California Equity · Community NC Equitable Foodshed Map Connects underserved farmers and ranchers to vital resources while supporting racial equity and economic sustainability across North Carolina's food system as part of the REEFS program. Partner: Croatan Institute · REEFS Program Check out our GIS for Good Initiatives Showing Up Beyond Projects 2025 Esri GIS For Good Meetup In October 2025, Blue Raster sponsored the Esri GIS for Good DC Meetup at Open Gov Hub in Washington, DC, bringing together nonprofit organizations, international development institutions, and GIS professionals to explore how geospatial technology is driving meaningful change across the world. The event featured inspiring presentations from experts at the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Stimson Center. Each speaker shared how their GIS approach is being applied to tackle global challenges, from environmental sustainability and food security to economic development and humanitarian response. Esri staff showcased the latest advancements in ArcGIS technology, highlighting innovations in imagery analysis, spatial statistics, GeoAI, and deep learning. Attendees also gained insights into how generative AI, 3D modeling, and digital twins are making complex scientific data more accessible and actionable. The day concluded with a lively networking reception hosted by Blue Raster, giving participants the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and discuss new ways to apply GIS for good. GIS For Good And Beyond Let's Build A Sustainable Future Together Blue Raster is proud to support the global GIS for Good community and remains committed to empowering organizations with cutting-edge geospatial solutions that create measurable impact and advance positive change worldwide. Whether you are protecting forests, tracking climate impacts, advancing food security, or building community resilience, Blue Raster brings the technical depth and mission-driven commitment to help you succeed. Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Conservation GIS Advancing conservation outcomes through innovative GIS tools and analysis Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster helps organizations tackle the world's most pressing environmental challenges, including deforestation, climate change, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and sustainability. Our conservation practice combines cutting edge geospatial technology with expert analysis. We transform complex environmental data into actionable insights, empowering smarter decisions that protect ecosystems and deliver measurable real world impact. We partner with nonprofits, ranch advisory teams, research institutions, and conservation outfits to deliver end-to-end geospatial solutions. From field data collection to interactive web applications, our support spans every stage of your conservation work. ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Enterprise ArcGIS Dashboards ArcGIS Hub StoryMaps Experience Builder Survey123 ArcGIS Field Maps Drone2Map Remote Sensing Planet Labs Imagery AWS Azure Python Geoprocessing Spatial Analyst ArcGIS Image Extension ArcGIS Living Atlas ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Habitat Connectivity Species Distribution Modeling Wetland Mapping GPS Field Collection Offline Data Collection Satellite Imagery LiDAR NDVI Analysis Our Conservation GIS Capabilities Geospatial Tools for Planetary Protection From field data collection to enterprise-scale web applications, our end-to-end GIS practice serves every stage of conservation science and strategy. 01 Suitability Analysis Identify priority conservation areas using multi-criteria spatial analysis, weighted overlay modeling, and habitat connectivity assessments across complex landscape mosaics. ArcGIS Pro · Spatial Analyst 02 Biodiversity Mapping Catalog and visualize species distributions, ecosystem types, and biodiversity hotspots. Integrate IUCN Red List data and citizen science records into authoritative spatial datasets. Species Distribution · GBIF 03 Environmental Dashboards Real-time monitoring dashboards that surface deforestation alerts, water quality trends, and protected area status, turning raw sensor data into decision-ready intelligence. ArcGIS Dashboards · Power BI 04 Drone and Remote Sensing High-resolution drone mapping for habitat assessment, invasive species detection, and topographic modeling. Processed with Drone2Map and ArcGIS Image Extension for full spatial integration. Drone2Map · Planet Imagery 05 Conservation StoryMaps Narrative-driven ArcGIS StoryMaps that communicate conservation science to funders, policymakers, and the public, blending interactive maps, multimedia, and multilingual storytelling. ArcGIS StoryMaps · Esri Gold Partner 06 Field Data Collection Deploy ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey123 to mobilize conservation teams. Sync field observations with enterprise GIS in real time, connected or offline in the most remote habitats. Survey123 · ArcGIS Field Maps Blue Raster transforms complex environmental data into actionable geospatial intelligence protecting biodiversity, freshwater ecosystems, and the landscapes that sustain life. Beyond technology, we help build long-term capacity through GIS acceleration services, staff training, system optimization, and strategic planning. We are committed to helping conservation organizations harness the power of GIS to protect our planet's most valuable resources. Our Proven Solutions From Field to Impact Our proven end-to-end process takes conservation organizations from data chaos to strategic clarity 01 Data Assessment We audit existing spatial data, identify gaps, and architect a migration strategy to ArcGIS Enterprise or Online environments. 02 Field Collection Deploy mobile GIS tools to conservation teams in the field capturing ground truth data that feeds authoritative enterprise datasets. 03 Spatial Analysis Apply suitability modeling, hotspot analysis, and landscape connectivity science to extract meaning from raw environmental data. 04 Visualization Build interactive dashboards, web applications, and StoryMaps that make conservation intelligence accessible to every stakeholder. 05 Capacity Building Train your team, optimize your systems, and provide ongoing GIS support so your organization sustains impact independently. Why Blue Raster Your Trusted Conservation Partner 20+ Two Decades of Conservation Expertise Since 2002, Blue Raster has dedicated over 20 years to supporting conservation organizations worldwide, from national nonprofits to global institutions, with trusted, mission-driven GIS solutions. GIS Deep Conservation GIS Specialization Our conservation practice goes beyond general GIS. We bring specialized expertise in biodiversity mapping, habitat suitability, freshwater ecosystems, and environmental data pipelines built specifically for conservation science. Proven Conservation Outcomes We measure success by real-world impact. Blue Raster has delivered measurable conservation outcomes for partners including The Nature Conservancy, Jane Goodall Institute, Conservation International, and dozens more. ∞ End-to-End Partner, Not a Vendor We embed alongside your team, from field data collection through interactive web applications, building long-term GIS capacity so your organization can sustain its mission well beyond any single project. Project Spotlight Upper San Pedro Web-Based Hydrologic Information Portal Blue Raster partnered with the Upper San Pedro Partnership, a collaborative group of federal and state agencies, nonprofits, and local stakeholders, to develop the Web-Based Hydrologic Information Portal (WHIP). The portal provides communities and decision-makers with an interactive platform to monitor environmental changes in the Upper San Pedro River Basin, combining decades of research, real-time data, and historical hydrologic datasets. We developed an intuitive web interface that makes complex environmental data accessible and actionable. The portal features interactive maps, real-time and historical groundwater and precipitation data, vegetation and land use trends, environmental and administrative overlays, and export-ready reporting capabilities. These tools allow users including policymakers, researchers, and the public to explore the basin's hydrology, monitor trends, and support planning, conservation, and compliance efforts. How We Helped Designed and implemented a custom application for interactive hydrologic monitoring Integrated decades of groundwater, precipitation, vegetation, and land use datasets into a single platform Enabled real-time and historical data tracking for environmental and hydrologic conditions Created a public-facing, mobile-friendly interface requiring no login for outreach and engagement Built export-ready capabilities for reporting, grant writing, and data analysis Supported planning and compliance by overlaying environmental and administrative boundaries for informed decision-making Read the full story Ready to Map What Matters Let's Protect the Planet Together Whether you're launching a new initiative or strengthening an existing program, Blue Raster brings 20+ years of conservation GIS expertise to your mission. Download our Conservation Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Imagery Analysis & Remote Sensing Transform imagery into actionable intelligence Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster helps organizations unlock the full potential of imagery and remote sensing for faster, smarter decision-making. Whether using satellite, drone, or aerial imagery, we deliver solutions that make complex data accessible, interactive, and actionable. Our team specializes in assembling and managing multiresolution imagery and raster data from diverse sensors, sources, and timeframes. By leveraging cloud-native architectures and modern GIS deployment practices, we help organizations move beyond static imagery toward living datasets that support temporal analysis, change detection, and predictive modeling. Esri Imagery Specialty Multi-Res Raster Data Management GeoAI Deep Learning Workflows Cloud Native Pipelines ArcGIS Image Server ArcGIS Image for Online ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Enterprise ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Drone2Map Image Analyst Extension ArcGIS Living Atlas Planet Labs Landsat 8/9 Sentinel-2 Sentinel-1 SAR Maxar Airbus Pleiades NAIP AWS Azure Google Cloud Python ArcGIS API for Python SAR Processing Mosaic Datasets Raster Functions Our Imagery Capabilties Recognized Expertise in Imagery From satellite imagery ingestion and raster analysis to GeoAI and cloud-native delivery, Blue Raster provides end-to-end imagery services across the full ArcGIS platform. 01 Satellite and Aerial Imagery Analysis Process and analyze imagery from Landsat, Sentinel, Planet, NAIP, and aerial platforms. We deliver multispectral, hyperspectral, and SAR analysis workflows tailored to your monitoring and decision-making needs. Landsat · Sentinel · Planet · NAIP 02 Change Detection and Temporal Analysis Compare imagery across time to quantify deforestation, urban growth, habitat loss, coastline change, and infrastructure development. We build automated change detection pipelines that surface insights at scale. Change Detection · Temporal Analysis 03 Land Cover Classification Classify land cover and land use from multispectral imagery using supervised and unsupervised machine learning classifiers. We produce thematic maps for urban planning, conservation, and environmental compliance workflows. Land Cover · LULC · Classification 04 ArcGIS Image Server Implementation Deploy and configure ArcGIS Image Server for high-performance raster hosting, dynamic imagery services, and distributed analysis. We integrate with ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online for seamless delivery at any scale. ArcGIS Image Server · Enterprise 05 Drone Imagery Processing Process drone imagery using ArcGIS Drone2Map to generate high-resolution orthomosaics, digital surface models, and 3D point clouds. We integrate drone-derived products directly into your enterprise GIS workflows. Drone2Map · Orthomosaic · DSM 06 Environmental Monitoring Monitor vegetation health, water quality, wildfire extent, flood inundation, and air quality using spectral indices and time-series raster analysis. We build operational monitoring dashboards that surface alerts in real time. NDVI · Environmental Change · Monitoring ArcGIS Image Server + ArcGIS Image For Online End-To-End Imagery Solutions ArcGIS Image Server and ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online are Esri's platforms for hosting, processing, and delivering imagery and raster data at scale. Together they enable dynamic imagery analysis, on-the-fly raster processing, change detection, multispectral workflows, and deep learning pipelines across enterprise and cloud environments, putting actionable imagery intelligence in the hands of decision-makers without moving or duplicating data. Blue Raster designs, deploys, and supports ArcGIS Image Server and ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online for organizations of all sizes. As an Esri Imagery Specialty Partner, we bring the expertise to configure mosaic datasets, build raster function workflows, and implement the imagery pipelines that power your analysis and delivery needs, from initial architecture through ongoing managed services. Daily Earth Imagery At Your Fingertips Our Partnership With Planet Labs As an official Planet Labs Partner, Blue Raster connects you with daily satellite imagery that transforms decision-making across agriculture, infrastructure, urban planning, and environmental sectors. Whether you're tracking land changes, providing disaster response or monitoring crops, we help you harness Planet's powerful Earth data for actionable insights. More About Our Planet Partnership Why Blue Raster The Imagery Partner Organizations Trust Esri Certified Imagery Specialty Partner Blue Raster has earned the Esri Imagery Specialty, reflecting deep hands-on experience with ArcGIS Image Server, premium imagery content, and advanced raster processing at enterprise scale. AI GeoAI and Deep Learning Expertise We help organizations maximize the value of imagery-driven machine learning within ArcGIS, from training custom models to deploying automated feature extraction and classification pipelines in production. 20+ Years Delivering Imagery Solutions For over a decade, Blue Raster has delivered large-volume imagery management for clients across conservation, government, federal, and commercial sectors worldwide. Cloud Cloud-Native Architecture Specialists As an Esri Cloud Specialty Partner, we design and deploy ArcGIS imagery environments on AWS and Azure, enabling scalable, real-time imagery analysis without the limits of on-premises infrastructure. Project Spotlight MIT Media Lab + GGPEN Blue Raster partnered with the MIT Media Lab's Space Enabled Program and Angola's National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN) to build the Angola Drought Management Decision Support Tool. This GIS-ready platform transforms NASA's SMAP soil moisture data and socio-economic indicators into actionable insights for monitoring drought conditions and community vulnerability. Leveraging Python automation, ArcGIS Image Server, and ArcGIS Experience Builder, the tool delivers an interactive mapping interface that empowers decision makers with timely, data-driven information to guide planning and response. How We Helped Translated a MATLAB workflow into a GIS-ready Python data pipeline for drought monitoring Automated weekly processing of NASA SMAP soil moisture data at 9 km resolution Applied peer-reviewed historical drought thresholds to classify drought severity across Angola Aggregated results using zonal statistics at the province and municipality levels Published drought rasters and root zone soil moisture datasets as image services in ArcGIS Enterprise Developed an ArcGIS Experience Builder application with interactive maps, time sliders, and socio-economic indices Integrated demographic, health, and agricultural datasets to link environmental conditions with community vulnerability Configured AWS SNS alerts to ensure administrators are notified of successful workflow completion Read the full story Ready to Turn Imagery Into Intelligence From Pixels to Decisions Whether you are deploying ArcGIS Image Server, building a GeoAI pipeline, or monitoring environmental change at scale, Blue Raster has the expertise to make your imagery work harder. Download our Imagery Analysis & Remote Sensing Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email... Drone Mapping for GIS Precision aerial imagery and 3D mapping for data-driven decision making Contact Us + Request a Demo Blue Raster has supported clients with powerful drone mapping services by combining FAA licensed drone operators with advanced tools such as Esri's Drone2Map for ArcGIS. From gardens and cemeteries to environmental monitoring and infrastructure inspection, we turn drone imagery into actionable geospatial data that supports smarter decision-making. Whether you need 2D orthomosaics, 3D point clouds, or change detection over time, our drone workflows are built to scale across industries and projects of all sizes Drone Mapping Expertise Drone Mapping + Location Intelligence We use Esri's ArcGIS Drone2Map to turn drone imagery into accurate maps, 3D models, and actionable insights. Our drone mapping services cover the entire workflow - from aerial data capture to processing and geospatial analysis - so organizations receive timely, reliable information they can trust. With our team's expertise and the power of Drone2Map, your drone imagery becomes a strategic asset for monitoring change, improving planning, and making data-driven decisions. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Henry-F-3. mp4 What We Do Our Trusted Drone Mapping Solutions End to End Drone WorkflowsWe quickly create orthomosaics and digital surface models to confirm coverage and data quality in the field Inspection Support ServicesEfficiently process drone imagery to inspect critical assets, monitor project sites, or assess storm and disaster impacts. Integration with ArcGISWe provide drone mapping services with seamless integration into your desktop or web-based ArcGIS workflows to support analysis, visualization, and decision making. 2D & 3D MappingGeneration of high-resolution 2D maps, digital surface models (DSMs), and detailed 3D point clouds, textured meshes, and PDFs for terrain modeling Project Spotlight Holden Arboretum Drone Mapping Project Blue Raster partnered with Holden Arboretum in Northeast Ohio to capture high-resolution drone imagery for a 3,600-acre arboretum and its associated Cleveland Botanical Garden site. Using Esri's ArcGIS Drone2Map, over 1,700 images were captured and processed to create an accurate basemap for GIS workflows. This imagery supports staff operations, ArcGIS Field Maps, and public applications, enabling real-time tracking of over 20,000 plant records and enhancing management of curated collections and natural lands. How We Helped Conducted five drone missions capturing over 1,700 high-resolution images of curated gardens and natural lands Processed imagery, with associated ground control points, using ArcGIS Drone2Map to create a GIS-ready basemap Integrated basemap into Holden's ArcGIS Enterprise environment for accurate mapping workflows Enabled ArcGIS Field Maps and public applications to utilize real-time plant location and condition data Provided expertise in drone operations, safety protocols, and workflow planning Supported botanical data management by syncing BG-BASE plant records with GIS for visualization and analysis Deliver ongoing monitoring, troubleshooting, and support to sustain GIS operations Read the full story Partner with Blue Raster for end-to-end drone GIS solutions Ready To Get Started? We help organizations capture, process, and analyze high-resolution geospatial data to monitor change, enhance decision-making, and accelerate response. With the combined power of Drone2Map and our team's expertise, drone imagery becomes a catalyst for insight, efficiency, and measurable impact. Download our Drone Mapping Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Election GIS Services Accurate Data. Transparent Democracy. Contact Us + Request a Demo Elections are inherently geographic. Every voter has an address, every district has a boundary, and every polling place serves a defined area. GIS is not just a tool for elections, it is the foundation that ensures voters are assigned correctly, results are reported accurately, and the public has access to timely, reliable information. Blue Raster implements innovative geospatial technologies to support and improve election workflows for state and local governments. Through data visualization, automation, spatial analysis, and reporting, we help elections officials manage every phase of the election cycle with greater accuracy and less administrative burden. ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Hub ArcGIS Dashboards Survey123 Experience Builder ArcGIS Enterprise StreetMap Premium ArcGIS StoryMaps AWS Python Automation Voter File Geocoding District Boundary Analysis Discrepancy Detection CSV / Excel Exports Automated Monthly Updates Voter Registration Systems State and County Access Controls Role-Based Permissions Secure Cloud Hosting Public Transparency Hub What We Deliver Election GIS Capabilities From redistricting quality assurance and voter geocoding to real-time election night reporting and public transparency tools, Blue Raster covers the full election GIS lifecycle. 01 Redistricting and Quality Assurance Build secure, cloud-based redistricting QA tools that allow state and county officials to verify voter district assignments, identify discrepancies, and sign off on accurate records. We have processed over 8 million voter records in a single 48-hour redistricting cycle. Redistricting · ArcGIS Hub · Voter QA 02 Voter Geocoding and Address Matching Geocode voter registration files to the building and street level using Esri's StreetMap Premium and AWS cloud computing. Automate monthly voter file updates and intersect voter locations with district boundaries to confirm accurate assignments at scale. StreetMap Premium · AWS · Python Automation 03 Real-Time Election Reporting Deploy ArcGIS Dashboards and Experience Builder applications that display real-time voter turnout, wait times, and results as they come in. Give election administrators and the public a live, geographic view of how the election is unfolding. ArcGIS Dashboards · Turnout Reporting 04 Polling Place Mapping and Management Map polling places, early voting locations, and drop box sites. Analyze geographic coverage gaps, optimize location placement, and publish public-facing maps that help voters find their nearest voting site with accurate hours and accessibility information. Polling Places · Accessibility · Public Maps 05 Poll Worker and Operations Management Deploy Esri's Election Management Solution with Survey123 forms that allow poll workers to report wait times, turnout counts, and operational issues in real time. Give election administrators instant visibility into field operations across all voting locations. Election Management Solution · Survey123 06 Public Transparency and Voter Engagement Build ArcGIS Hub sites and public dashboards that communicate election information, district boundaries, and results to residents in a clear, accessible format. Multilingual, mobile-first, and designed for public trust. ArcGIS Hub · Public Dashboards · Voter Outreach Supporting Elections With GIS Real Work for Real Elections We work closely with election departments to modernize how they manage, verify, and communicate voter and district data. Our geospatial solutions are designed to streamline internal workflows, provide actionable insights, and increase transparency for both election teams and the public. The Election GIS Partner Officials Trust Why Blue Raster We work closely with election departments to modernize how they manage, verify, and communicate voter and district data. Our geospatial solutions are designed to streamline internal workflows, provide actionable insights, and increase transparency for both election teams and the public. 8M+ Proven at Scale Blue Raster has geocoded and processed over 8 million voter records in a single redistricting cycle for the State of Georgia, with automated monthly updates delivered within 48 hours, establishing a model for modern, repeatable election GIS workflows. Gov Deep State and Local Government Roots Since 2002, Blue Raster has partnered with state agencies, counties, and local government election offices across the country. We understand how government operates, how election offices are staffed, and what it takes to deliver GIS tools that work within the constraints of public sector budgets, timelines, and accountability requirements. 20+ Years Supporting Government Since 2002, Blue Raster has delivered GIS solutions for state agencies, counties, and local governments. Our institutional knowledge of how government operations work means we deliver solutions that fit the way your team actually operates. Safe Secure, Role-Based Access Election data is sensitive. Blue Raster designs election GIS solutions with role-based permissions that give state officials statewide access and county officials jurisdiction-specific access, keeping data secure while enabling effective collaboration. Project Spotlight Georgia Secretary of State Elections Division As Georgia underwent statewide redistricting, the Elections Division needed a way to ensure that more than 8 million registered voters were accurately assigned to their new districts. Blue Raster built the Redistricting Quality Assurance Tool: a secure, cloud-based GIS solution that empowered both state and county officials to verify, analyze, and correct mismatches in real time. How We Helped Voter records geocoded using Esri's StreetMap Premium and powerful Amazon Web Services (AWS) computing infrastructure Discrepancy detection using ArcGIS Pro and Python automation Results distributed through ArcGIS Hub, enabling efficient collaboration between state and county offices This solution increased the accuracy and efficiency of redistricting, and was featured in local Atlanta news as a model for modern election support. Read the full story Ready to Modernize Your Election GIS Accurate Elections Start with Accurate Data Whether you are preparing for redistricting, deploying an election management solution, or building public transparency tools, Blue Raster has the expertise to help you deliver a more accurate and efficient election. Download our elections GIS Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Modernize Public Gardens Transform garden management with advanced geospatial solutions Contact Us + Request a Demo Botanical Expertise Our History with Gardens & Arboreta Since 2010, Blue Raster has helped public gardens, botanical gardens, arboreta, and cemeteries modernize their plant records and visitor experiences through custom GIS and mapping solutions. Our tools streamline internal workflows, support real-time data collection, and engage the public through intuitive web and mobile applications. With tailored dashboards, smart alerts, and real-time insights, our solutions help teams stay ahead of service disruptions, optimize resource use, and ensure a seamless experience for both staff and visitors. Whether you're managing interactive garden maps, event calendars, or public data layers, we make sure your GIS runs as beautifully as your garden grows. Our Public Gardens Services ArcGIS Setup & Training Enterprise GIS implementation with comprehensive staff training and ongoing support. GIS Data Services Convert legacy records and CAD files into structured spatial datasets. Plant Collection Mapping GPS mapping with taxonomic data, provenance tracking, and health monitoring. Work Order Management Location-based maintenance tracking with mobile field data collection. Custom App Development Visitor wayfinding, interactive maps, and educational tour applications. Drone Imagery Services Aerial basemaps, change detection, and infrastructure inspection support. Spatial Analysis Site planning, sun/shade modeling, and visitor flow analytics. BG-BASE Integration Real-time sync between collection databases and ArcGIS mapping. BG Base Integration Services Sync, Maintain, and Share in Real Time Blue Raster bridges the gap between your plant records and geospatial tools. Our real-time BG-BASE sync ensures your data is always current, while our field GIS tools support everything from horticulture to monument maintenance. We also integrate drone-captured imagery to give your team the most up-to-date basemaps for planning and preservation. We stay active with the American Public Gardens Association to ensure our solutions align with industry needs and evolve alongside them. Proven Experience. Tailored Solutions. Why Blue Raster Garden-Specific Expertise Deep understanding of botanical operations, collection management, and public garden workflows with proven ArcGIS implementations. BG-BASE Integration Specialists Seamless real-time sync between your collection database and spatial mapping for unified garden intelligence. End-to-End Support From initial setup and data migration through custom app development and ongoing training for your team. Visitor Experience Innovation Custom mobile apps, interactive wayfinding, and digital engagement tools that enhance every guest visit. Get in touch to start the conversation Project Spotlight & Case Studies Green-Wood Cemetery App (iOS & Android)We developed a custom mobile app for this 500-acre National Historic Landmark that brings landmark monuments, native species, and historical narratives to life. Visitors can explore the grounds, locate themselves on the map, and learn as they go. U. S. National Arboretum - Mobile ExplorerOur collaboration with the Arboretum enhanced their Botanical Explorer tool by developing a mobile app with location services, exhibit information, predefined tours, and searchable plant records available on both Apple and Google Play stores. New York Botanical Garden - Plant TrackerThis responsive web app gives visitors and staff access to over 140,000 living and non-living records. Search, filter, and explore plants across 25 garden areas with curated tours, photos, and key amenities. See More Public Garden Case Studies Cultivate Your Garden's Digital Future Partner with GIS experts who understand the unique needs of public gardens, arboretums, and botanical institutions. Download our Public Gardens Capability Statement (PDF) Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Catch Us In Action Stay in the loop with where Blue Raster is headed next, literally. We're hitting the road and the web to share the latest in GIS innovation, from remote sensing breakthroughs to smart app design. Catch us at industry events, join our webinars, or stop by our booth to say hi. Follow us to see where we're popping up next and how we're helping organizations turn data into impact Upcoming Events Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Stay in the Loop with Blue Raster Blue Raster Newsletter Archive Uncover the Abilities of Interactive Mapping Technology Date Published: 08-2023 See How GIS Moves You Forward Date Published: 07-2023 Gain A Competitive Edge With GIS Date Published: 06-2023 Put Some Spring In Your Data Date Published: 05-2023 Score Big With Blue Raster's GIS Expertise Date Published: 03-2023 The Blue Raster Newsletter is here! Date Published: 02-2023 We're Commemorating a Year of GIS Excellence Date Published: 01-2023 We’re Giving You the Gift of GIS! Date Published: 12-2022 November News is Here! Date Published: 11-2022 Uncover the Power of GIS Date Published: 10-2022 Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Official ArcGIS Software Reseller Esri Cornerstone Partner & Expert Implementation Services Our Partnership Gold & Cornerstone Partner with Deep Platform Expertise Blue Raster is proud to be an Esri Gold Partner and Cornerstone Partner, reflecting our longstanding commitment to delivering exceptional geospatial solutions. As a Gold and Cornerstone Partner, we have early access to Esri technology and a deep understanding of the ArcGIS platform, allowing us to deliver forward-thinking strategies that meet the unique needs of each client. 20+ Years of Partnership 6 Specialty Badges 500+ Organizations Served For more than two decades, we have worked closely with Esri to provide map-driven solutions that help organizations unlock the full value of their geographic information. From deploying and managing ArcGIS Enterprise environments to creating interactive dashboards, web applications, and mobile mapping solutions, we ensure every project drives meaningful results. Contact Us Today Technology Stack The ArcGIS Platform & Beyond ArcGIS Platform Solutions ArcGIS Enterprise ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Hub ArcGIS Experience Builder ArcGIS Instant Apps ArcGIS Dashboards ArcGIS Insights ArcGIS Survey123 ArcGIS Field Maps ArcGIS QuickCapture ArcGIS StoryMaps ArcGIS Workforce ArcGIS Navigator ArcGIS CityEngine ArcGIS Business Analyst ArcGIS Indoors ArcGIS API for Python ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript ArcGIS Data Pipelines ArcGIS Velocity Living Atlas ArcGIS Solutions ArcGIS for Power BI Our Capabilities End-To-End GIS Solutions Capabilities Section 01 ArcGIS Enterprise Deployment Full-stack implementation of ArcGIS Enterprise environments, from infrastructure planning to production deployment, ensuring high availability and optimal performance 02 Custom & Configurable Web Applications Tailored geospatial applications built with Experience Builder and custom JavaScript development for unique organizational workflows 03 Interactive Visualizations & Dashboards Real-time operational dashboards that provide actionable insights, KPI tracking, and data-driven decision support 04 Mobile Mapping Solutions Field data collection workflows using Field Maps and Survey123, connecting field teams with office operations seamlessly 05 Data Integration & ETL Complex data pipeline development connecting diverse data sources to ArcGIS, ensuring data quality and accessibility 06 Managed Services & Support Ongoing system administration, monitoring, optimization, and technical support to keep your GIS infrastructure running smoothly Our Capabilities and Case Studies Licensed ArcGIS Reseller We Sell ArcGIS Licenses & Provide Implementation Support As an authorized Esri reseller, we provide complete licensing solutions backed by expert implementation support to ensure your team gets maximum value from day one. ArcGIS Enterprise Enterprise Licenses User Type Licenses Server Extensions Configuration Support Contact Us ArcGIS Online + Pro Named User Licenses Extension Licenses Credit Packages Configuration Support Contact Us Ready to Harness the Full Power of Esri Technology? Whether you need ArcGIS licenses, implementation support, or ongoing managed services, we're here to help your organization achieve lasting impact. Contact Us Today Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Privacy Policy Effective Date: January 1, 2025 Last Updated: April 1, 2025 This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website. 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Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Services Resources Get in Touch info@blueraster. com Subscribe to Our Newsletter Blue Raster Capabilities & Case Studies Discover how Blue Raster leverages geospatial technology to drive impact Accessibility & ADA Business Intelligence Configurable Apps Drone Mapping Federal Government Parcel Fabric Remote Sensing AEC Cloud Services for GIS Conservation GIS Election Services Field GIS Public Gardens State & Local AI & GeoAI Commercial Real Estate Data Engineering Emergency Services Indoor Mapping Real-Time Analytics Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Subscribe to Our Newsletter About Services Resources Capabilities Partnerships Mobile Applications Empowering operations in the field with mobile GIS Take Your Data & Mapping Tools Anywhere Enhance your geospatial capabilities with our cutting-edge mobile web mapping solutions. We leverage the power of ArcGIS alongside the flexibility of . NET MAUI, ensuring your applications remain adaptable and future-ready. As AppStudio phases out, we seamlessly migrate to modern, high-performance native applications. Our expert team specializes in transitioning legacy systems to robust iOS and Android platforms, utilizing state-of-the-art languages like Swift and Kotlin for optimal performance and user experience. Stay Ahead with Advanced GIS Mobile Applications Ensure your mapping solutions remain at the forefront of technological advancements, delivering unparalleled speed, functionality, and usability. At Blue Raster, we develop intuitive, interactive applications that empower users to view, collect, analyze, and report geographic data easily. Using Esri's Mobile GIS platforms, we create mobile solutions that connect field staff and stakeholders, providing real-time access to accurate maps and critical data. Mobile Solutions for Greater Reach Develop custom, field-ready GIS applications with ArcGIS for iOS, Android, and other leading platforms. Access robust mapping, geoprocessing, and custom GIS capabilities on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. Enable field teams to share and collect real-time data, improving accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making. Transform how you manage and interact with geospatial data. Anytime, Anywhere. Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Web Applications Interactive web solutions that turn data into decisions Bring Your Maps and Data to Life We specialize in creating powerful, data-driven web applications that deliver rich, interactive experiences. Whether you need dynamic mapping, real-time analytics, or immersive data visualization, we design solutions that make complex spatial data more accessible and actionable. As experts in custom web application development, we work with leading application frameworks like Esri ArcGIS for Server and HTML, JavaScript and REACT Library. With strong partnerships with Esri, Amazon Web Services, Adobe, and Microsoft, we stay ahead of evolving technologies ensuring our applications are fast, powerful, and intuitive. How Blue Raster Can Help You Develop custom web applications using HTML5, JavaScript, . NET, Adobe ColdFusion, and RESTful APIs (JSON, XML). Create data visualization tools, from simple charts to fully interactive mapping environments. Optimize performance and scalability with cloud-based solutions powered by AWS and Esri technologies. From real-time geospatial dashboards to custom web-based GIS applications, we help organizations turn data into actionable intelligence, accessible anytime, anywhere. Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services UX | UI Design Creating impactful designs and immersive user experiences UX|UI Design for Geospatial Applications In the world of GIS and geospatial applications, UX/UI design plays a critical role in transforming complex spatial data into intuitive, interactive experiences. A well-designed interface ensures that users, whether analysts, field workers, or decision-makers can efficiently interpret and interact with geospatial data without unnecessary complexity. Our UX/UI team focuses on designing solutions that simplify spatial analysis, enhance usability, and improve workflows. We apply user-centered design principles to create intuitive map interfaces, interactive dashboards, and seamless navigation experiences tailored to industry-specific needs. UX|UI Project Examples Blue Raster's ADA & Accessibility Compliance Package Accessibility Compliance Package - What's Included Discovery and Inventory Map and application inventory Identification of priority applications (up to 5)* Stakeholder interviews Usage analysis Accessibility Evaluation Automated accessibility scan Manual audit Component level review Color contrast testing User Experience and Interaction Review Keyboard testing Screen reader test Focus order and interaction validation Compliance Review WCAG 2. 1 Level AA gap mapping Section 508 alignment ADA Title II applicability review Prioritization and Road Map Risk ranking and priority tiers Effort estimation Remediation Guidance Issue-by-issue fix recommendations Developer-ready guidance notes Retest criteria and success benchmarks Ongoing compliance support available * Additional maps and applications can be included based on your organization's needs. Why UX|UI Matters in GIS Applications Data Accessibility: Large-scale spatial datasets can be overwhelming. Thoughtful UX design presents insights clearly, making data more actionable. Improved Decision-Making: A well-structured UI ensures users can quickly analyze spatial relationships and trends, empowering them to make informed decisions. Efficiency & Productivity: Optimized workflows and logical interface structures help users complete tasks faster in the field or on a desktop, providing practical benefits to their work. Scalability & Adaptability: UX/UI considerations help GIS applications scale across devices and user environments, from mobile apps to web-based platforms. Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Trusted Imagery Data from the Planet Orbit Real-Time Imagery from Planet Labs Our Planet Labs Partnership Trusted Imagery Data From Planet Orbit As an official Planet Labs Partner, Blue Raster connects you with daily satellite imagery that transforms decision-making across agriculture, infrastructure, urban planning, and environmental sectors. Whether you're tracking land changes or monitoring crops, we help you harness Planet's powerful Earth data for actionable insights. Planet Scope & SkySat ImageryAccess high-res satellite imagery from Planet's constellation of over 200 satellites, capturing Earth's entire landmass with 3-5 meter resolution Daily Refresh & Global CoverageMonitor changes as they happen with daily global imagery refresh rates, ensuring you never miss critical updates to your project site and areas of interest Site-Specific MonitoringConfigure automated monitoring across key locations with real time change detection alerts, helping surface critical developments as they unfold Build Basemaps & Analysis Build custom basemaps and leverage historical time-series analysis to better understand trends, patterns, and changes over time across datasets Satellite Capabilities Planet's Advanced Imaging Systems PlanetScope 3-5 meter resolution imagery Daily global coverage 4-band multispectral (RGB + NIR) Ideal for large-area monitoring Agriculture, forestry, infrastructure SkySat 50 cm high-resolution imagery Daily revisit capability 8-band multispectral HD video capture Urban planning, precision agriculture Learn More About Planet Products Applications Real-World Use Cases for Planet Imagery Water Resource ManagementTrack reservoir levels, monitor irrigation systems, detect water stress, and manage water resources more effectively and efficiently Urban DevelopmentMonitor construction progress, track urban sprawl, assess zoning compliance, and support comprehensive planning initiatives Environmental & Forest MonitoringDetect deforestation, monitor ecosystem health, track biodiversity changes, and support conservation efforts globally Agricultural Health MonitoringTrack crop performance, detect stress early, optimize irrigation, and maximize yields with multispectral imagery and NDVI analysis Infrastructure & Asset ManagementMonitor pipelines, power lines, roads, and critical infrastructure for changes, encroachment and maintenance needs Emergency & Disaster ResponseRapidly assess damage from natural disasters, coordinate emergency response and recovery with near real-time imagery Our Imagery Capabilities Our Value Why Blue Raster + Planet Labs We're not just a reseller, we're your integration and analysis partner. From licensing and onboarding to custom GIS solutions, we make sure your Planet data delivers maximum value. 01 Seamless GIS Integration We integrate Planet imagery directly into your ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, or custom GIS workflows for immediate productivity. 02 Expert Implementation Support Our team handles onboarding, training, and ongoing support to ensure your staff can leverage Planet data from day one. 03 Custom Analysis & Applications We build custom dashboards, automated workflows, and change detection systems tailored to your specific monitoring needs. 04 Licensing Expertise We help you select the right Planet subscription and licensing model for your use case and budget requirements. Looking to Unlock Daily Earth Imagery? Let's talk about your imagery needs. Submit a quote request and discover how Planet's daily Earth observation can elevate your work. Request a Quote Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Official REGRID Reseller Unlock Powerful Parcel Data with REGRID + Blue Raster REGRID Partnership Complete Property Intelligence for Every Project As an official REGRID reseller, Blue Raster helps organizations tap into comprehensive U. S. property boundary and ownership datasets seamlessly integrated into your GIS workflows. Whether you're mapping property boundaries, visualizing land use, or powering location intelligence, we help you make the most of REGRID's nationwide dataset. 150M+Parcels Nationwide 3000+Counties Covered DailyData Updates 100%API or Bulk Access Flexible Access Choose Your Delivery Method Bulk Data Downloads Download entire counties or state Shapefile, GeoJSON, CSV formats One-time or recurring deliveries Perfect for offline analysis Integrate with existing GIS platforms REGRID Parcel API Real-time parcel data access RESTful API integration Query by location, APN, or address Always up-to-date information Scalable for high-volume applications Applications Real-World Use Cases Urban Planning & Development Real Estate & Market Analysis Emergency Management & Response Utilities & Infrastructure Environmental Studies & Conservation Location Intelligence & Analytics Our Value Why Blue Raster + REGRID? 01 Seamless GIS Integration We integrate REGRID parcel data directly into your ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, or custom GIS workflows for immediate productivity and analysis. 02 Expert Implementation Support Our team handles data onboarding, API integration, training, and ongoing support to ensure your staff can leverage REGRID data from day one. 03 Custom Applications & Workflows We build custom parcel search tools, property dashboards, and automated workflows tailored to your specific analysis and reporting needs. 04 Licensing Expertise We help you select the right REGRID subscription model bulk downloads, API access, or hybrid for your use case and budget requirements. Our Parcel Management Specialty Ready to Access Nationwide Parcel Data? Contact us today for a custom quote or demo and discover how REGRID data can power your GIS strategy Request a Quote or Demo Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Brand Element Guidelines If you've received permission to use our logo, follow these guidelines. Blue Raster Logo The Blue Raster logo can only be used if you have an existing partnership or sponsorship and you've reached out to secure formal approval from the Blue Raster team. Use the Appropriate Color We'll usually ask you to use the blue-color version of our logo on a white background. The white version is also acceptable when there are constraints. Do Not Modify the Logo Don't modify or distort the logo, change any colors, or add additional elements. Blue Raster Colors Our color palette is designed to reflect Blue Raster's modern, clean, and accessible identity. These colors should be used consistently across all communications where the Blue Raster brand is represented. When using the logo or creating branded materials, please refer to the values below and ensure proper contrast and readability. Please do not alter these colors or use tints and shades that are not part of the approved palette without prior approval from the Blue Raster team. Blue Raster Brand Colors True Blue HEX #1063D0 RGB 16, 99, 208 CMYK 92, 52, 0, 18 White HEX #FAFAFA RGB 250, 250, 250 CMYK 0, 0, 0, 2 Black HEX #171717 RGB 23, 23, 23 CMYK 0, 0, 0, 91 Gray HEX #F2F2F2 RGB 242, 242, 242 CMYK 0, 0, 0, 5 Download Our Branding Guidelines PDF Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Subscribe to Our Newsletter About Services Resources Capabilities Partnerships Explore Our Webinar and Tutorials Library Catch up on past Blue Raster webinars and tutorials anytime, anywhere. From data-driven decision-making to the latest in GIS innovation, our sessions showcase real-world solutions, expert insights, and client success stories. Visit and Subscribe To Our YouTube Page Want To See More? Check out our YouTube page and subscribe for videos on our latest GIS projects, tutorials and webinar content Visit Our YouTube Page Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Subscribe to Our Newsletter About Services Resources Capabilities Partnerships ArcGIS Enterprise Deployment & Managed Services 150+ ArcGIS Enterprise Deployments 60+ Cloud Services Clients 30+ Managed Services Clients ArcGIS Enterprise Services for On-Prem, Cloud & Hybrid Environments Our team of experts can help you deploy your ArcGIS Enterprise seamlessly in Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), on-prem or in a hybrid environment, wherever you need it. We handle the full setup process including infrastructure planning, installation, and optimizations ensuring seamless integration with your existing systems. We proactively monitor system health, perform updates, manage security, and provide technical support to maximize uptime and performance. We Also Provide GIS Managed Services With industry-leading tools like Zabbix and ArcGIS Monitor, we deliver comprehensive, real-time monitoring across your entire infrastructure, from hardware utilization to GIS-specific applications. Our expert team ensures peak performance, reliability, and security, so you can focus on what matters most. Contact Us Today Looking to Purchase ArcGIS Enterprise? Blue Raster is an ArcGIS Software Reseller ArcGIS Enterprise gives your organization full control over GIS infrastructure, data, and security. Blue Raster provides expert support to help you plan, license, configure, and maintain your ArcGIS Enterprise environment, whether you're upgrading, migrating, or starting fresh. Get a quote for ArcGIS Enterprise Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Careers Grow With Us At Blue Raster We are committed to creating a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative work environment where employees are empowered to grow both personally and professionally. We offer a range of roles across various departments, from UX|UI Designers to GIS professionals, Application Developers, DevOps Engineers, Project Managers, and support staff. Join us and be part of a forward-thinking company that values your expertise and provides the tools to help you thrive in your career. View Our Current Job Openings Employee Benefits Located in the vibrant, metro-accessible Court House neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, Blue Raster provides a great work environment, competitive compensation packages and many generous benefits including: CareFirst Medical, Dental, Vision with HSA option 401k Benefits Parental Leave Paid Time Off that starts on your first day Support for personal and career growth Metro Benefits Bike-friendly office Hybrid & Remote Schedules Blue Raster Bike Challenge Our team participates in the Blue Raster Bike Challenge, using the Strava app to track rides, share routes, and encourage each other to get outside and move. Whether you're a casual cruiser or a seasoned cyclist, join us in making wellness part of the workday. Join Our Strava club and get moving with us Our Team Culture Innovative Thinkers Our team thrives on curiosity, creativity, and forward-thinking to deliver innovative geospatial solutions that challenge the status quo. Agile and Collaborative We foster a flexible, team-oriented environment where open communication and cross-functional collaboration are key to success. Empowered for Impact Every team member is empowered to take initiative, apply their strengths, and make meaningful contributions to our projects. Blue Raster Career FAQs What is the recruitment process like? Expand Our process typically includes an application review, an initial phone interview, a technical assessment (if applicable), and one or more interviews with the hiring team. We focus on both technical skills and cultural fit. What skills and qualifications does Blue Raster look for in candidates? Expand We look for strong technical skills relevant to the role, problem-solving abilities, and a passion for geospatial technology. Soft skills like communication, adaptability, and teamwork are also highly valued. Are there opportunities for professional growth and development? Expand Absolutely. We support continuous learning through training programs, certifications, conferences, and mentorship to help you advance your career. What does a typical day look like at Blue Raster? Expand Depending on your role, you'll collaborate closely with project managers, developers, and GIS analysts on a variety of dynamic geospatial projects. A typical day includes team stand-ups to align on project goals, focused work sessions for GIS data analysis, mapping, and application development, and regular check-ins with clients to ensure we're delivering cutting-edge solutions. We are a fully remote team, with some employees near our office occasionally working on-site. While most collaboration happens virtually, we stay connected through Slack, video calls, and Figma for design reviews. Team members also have opportunities to attend industry conferences and engage in knowledge-sharing sessions to stay ahead of the latest geospatial technologies. For some roles, projects may involve fieldwork, drone-based data collection, or even domestic travel to support large-scale GIS initiatives. We leverage Microsoft Office for documentation and reporting, and our workflow is structured around agile project management tools like Jira to ensure efficiency and innovation. View our current job openings Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services GIS Consulting The Blue Raster team is passionate about helping businesses unlock their full potential through tailored solutions. We specialize in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), offering expertise in GIS Analysis, Workflow Automation and Training & Onboarding to ensure your organization achieves its goals efficiently and effectively. GIS Analysis & Analytics Blue Raster's GIS Analysis Services empower organizations across industries to unlock the full potential of their spatial data. By leveraging cutting-edge geospatial technologies, we deliver powerful insights through spatial modeling, predictive analytics, and dynamic data visualization. From mapping complex datasets to conducting in-depth geographic analyses, our expert team tailors solutions to meet your unique challenges, driving efficiency, growth, and innovation in every project. Partner with Blue Raster to transform your data into actionable intelligence. Workflow Automation We deliver streamlined solutions that automate complex geospatial processes, reducing manual effort and increasing operational efficiency. By identifying bottlenecks and repetitive tasks, we design and implement customized automation tools that integrate seamlessly with existing systems. Our approach focuses on optimizing workflows to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and faster processing times. We leverage advanced geospatial technologies and scripting to create dynamic, scalable solutions that adapt to evolving project needs. Ultimately, our solutions empower teams to focus on strategic decision-making while technology handles routine processes. GIS Training & Onboarding Our GIS Training and Onboarding services are designed to empower teams with the knowledge and skills needed to fully leverage geospatial technology in their workflows. We offer comprehensive, hands-on training tailored to your organization's goals, covering a wide range of GIS tools, platforms, and best practices. From foundational GIS concepts to advanced spatial analysis, data management, and visualization techniques, our training ensures your staff can confidently integrate geospatial solutions into their daily operations, drive data-driven decision-making, and enhance overall efficiency. Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Software License Sales & Data Solutions Blue Raster is an authorized Esri Partner Reseller, offering ArcGIS software licensing and professional GIS consulting services to help you maximize your investment in geospatial technology. ArcGIS Online + ArcGIS Pro Bundle Buy ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online licenses by tier: Creator, Professional, and Professional Plus. Each tier includes progressively more capabilities, with Professional and Professional Plus unlocking access to ArcGIS Pro extensions. For ArcGIS Online, choose additional user types to fit your team: Viewer to make data-driven decisions, Contributor to ensure data quality, and Mobile Worker to integrate field-collected data. Looking to transition from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro? Our team can help you. Contact us today Buy ArcGIS Online + Pro ArcGIS Pro Extensions Buy ArcGIS Pro extensions like ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, ArcGIS 3D Analyst, ArcGIS Network Analyst, ArcGIS Image Analyst, ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst, ArcGIS Business Analyst, ArcGIS Data Reviewer, ArcGIS Workflow Manager, ArcGIS Data Interoperability, and ArcGIS Publisher to unlock advanced analysis, automation, and visualization capabilities. Buy ArcGIS Pro Extensions ArcGIS Enterprise and Other ArcGIS Products Contact us to buy ArcGIS Enterprise licenses by tier: Standard, Advanced, and Kubernetes. Each tier includes core user types for your ArcGIS team: Creator, Professional, and Professional Plus. Additional user types for collaboration and field work include: Viewer, Contributor, and Mobile Worker. Available extensions include ArcGIS Image Server, ArcGIS Video Server, ArcGIS Mission, ArcGIS Data Interoperability, ArcGIS GeoEvent Server, ArcGIS Notebooks Server, ArcGIS Monitor, ArcGIS Knowledge, ArcGIS StreetMap Premium, ArcGIS Business Analyst, ArcGIS AllSource, and ArcGIS Indoors. Get a quote for ArcGIS Enterprise Looking to enhance your maps with parcel data and imagery services? We have partnered with REGRID and Planet Labs to make integrating imagery and parcel data into your applications faster and more efficient. Get a quote today Please Note: Blue Raster provides services around the world, however, we are only authorized to resell ArcGIS software licenses within the United States. We are happy to help you find an Esri reseller in your region if you need Esri licenses outside of the United States. Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services About Us Who We Are We are driven by the potential of using data and technology to make a positive impact. Our vision is to empower organizations with cutting-edge geospatial solutions. We've earned a reputation for our innovative tools that drive informed decision-making. Our team, a unique blend of technical expertise, creativity, and shared commitment, is at the core of our success. Whether advancing sustainability, improving public health, or supporting global development, our work is a testament to our dedication to creating a positive impact. 20+ Years of Experience 500+ Clients Served 1,500+ Projects Delivered How We Work Our vision is to empower organizations with cutting-edge geospatial solutions that drive informed decision-making. Our success stems from a unique blend of technical expertise, creativity, and a shared commitment to creating positive impact, whether advancing sustainability, improving public health, or supporting global development. Why Blue Raster Choosing Blue Raster means partnering with a team that transforms complex data into actionable insights. With decades of experience, deep expertise in GIS and geospatial technologies, and a commitment to innovation, we deliver transformative solutions that drive meaningful outcomes. We don't just offer services, we build lasting partnerships grounded in trust, expertise, and a shared vision for success. Our Partnerships & Specialties Our Commitment To You Your success is our top priority. We're committed to delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed your expectations. We invest in understanding your challenges and opportunities, crafting strategies that align with your vision. Our dedication doesn't stop at delivery, we provide ongoing support to ensure your continued success. Together, we'll create tools and insights that empower you to drive change, make data-driven decisions, and achieve your mission. Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Company Subscribe to Our Newsletter Services Contact Us Today Visit Us2200 Wilson Blvd. , Suite 400 Arlington, VA 22201 (703) 875-0911 By Car: There is metered parking on the surrounding streets or access the parking garage under our building from N. Wayne Street. Bus, Metro, Bikeshare & ZipCar Options: Unlock the Potential of Your Data Blue Raster helps you transform your data into actionable insights, solving real world problems and delivering solutions you can trust Our Solutions A Partnership That Delivers We team up with top geospatial providers like Esri, Planet, and Regrid to bring powerful GIS, parcel data, and satellite imagery solutions to your organization. Whether you're improving operations or making smarter location-based decisions, we help you integrate the right tools and get the most from your investment. Our collaborative approach combines technical know-how with strategic support. Together with our partners, we deliver tailored, data-driven solutions that are easy to implement and built for long-term success. Buy ArcGIS software Buy Planet Labs Imagery Buy REGRID Data Industries Served AEC Commercial Real Estate Conservation Education Federal Government Non-Profits & NGOs Public Gardens Public Health State & Local Government Transportation & Logistics Client Testimonials Recent Stories Let's Have A Conversation 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201 P : (703) 875-0911 Email : info@blueraster. com Subscribe to Our Newsletter About Services Resources Capabilities Partnerships ## Posts - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, GIS, Uncategorized - Tags: ArcGIS Living Atlas, ArcGIS Online, Business Intelligence, Climate Risk, Coastal Storm Modeling, Data Validation, Emergency Management, Geospatial Analysis, GIS, Hazard Mapping, Insurance & Risk Management, Multi-Hazard Risk, Natural Hazards, Real Estate, Risk Assessment, Risk Modeling, Spatial Analytics - Industries: Commercial Real Estate - Services: GIS Consulting & Training As organizations increasingly rely on spatial data to assess risk, the ability to accurately model hazard exposure has become essential. Maintaining reliable and scalable analytical workflows is critical for firms operating in complex, multi-hazard environments. AIWEX Inc. , a risk modeling firm, found that as their hazard models expanded and integrated new data sources, it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep spatial datasets, analytical logic, and underlying workflows accurate and reproducible. Blue Raster partnered with AIWEX to expand the functionality of their geospatial platform across a wide range of scenarios, including coastal storms, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and other weather-related events. Creating a Reliable Environment for Current and Future Risk Analysis Blue Raster worked closely with AIWEX to enhance its geospatial platform, supporting several key activities to strengthen their models. Data Organization and Validation Our team began by reorganizing AIWEX's GIS environment to create a scalable analytical foundation that was easier to maintain. Key datasets were uploaded, validated, and standardized to ensure consistency across workflows and support reliable hazard modeling as the platform continued to evolve. In parallel, Blue Raster reviewed connections to trusted, authoritative data sources, including ArcGIS Living Atlas layers for earthquake, hurricane, and wildfire risk. Hazard Data Development To support coastal storm modeling, Blue Raster digitized and mapped storm zone polygons based on client-provided reference materials. These maps now serve as the foundation for accurate exposure analysis across coastal geographies. Reconstructing Spatial Analysis Workflows We also rebuilt and tested new, complex spatial query logic. These analyses form the backbone of AIWEX's risk assessment capabilities, giving the platform the ability to: Analyze proximity to hurricane paths and weather stations Identify intersections with wildfire burn areas and earthquake epicenters Evaluate multi-hazard exposure across geographic regions A Stronger Foundation for Risk Modeling Through this partnership, AIWEX moved from fragmented, unreliable workflows to an authoritative geospatial system built to grow with them. AIWEX now has: A reestablished, trusted GIS foundation for multi-hazard risk modeling that can incorporate new hazard datasets and evolving client requirements Improved organization and reliability of critical spatial datasets within ArcGIS Online Validated, repeatable analytical workflows that support consistent risk assessments Why It Matters By improving the reliability, consistency, and scalability of their geospatial platform, AIWEX can now deliver more accurate, defensible risk models and adapt more effectively as new hazards, data sources, and client requirements emerge. Our Market Intelligence Capabilities Ready to Strengthen Your Own Geospatial Workflows? If your organization is managing growing volumes of spatial data across multiple hazard types, a fragmented GIS environment can quietly undermine the confidence you have in your own risk models. Blue Raster helps organizations like AIWEX build geospatial platforms that are accurate, scalable, and ready for what's next. Contact Blue Raster to learn how we can help strengthen your risk modeling workflows. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, GIS, Uncategorized - Tags: Analytical Framwork, Business Analyst, Commercial Real Estate, GIS for Commercial Real Estate, GIS strategy, market intelligence, Real Estate - Industries: Commercial Real Estate - Services: GIS Consulting & Training In an increasingly competitive retail environment, successful expansion requires a deep understanding of where customers are, how they behave, and what drives demand. For service-based retailers, especially those balancing physical locations with pickup-and-delivery models, location intelligence plays a critical role in shaping strategy. CD One Price Cleaners partnered with Blue Raster to bring geospatial insights into their growth strategy to transform data into actionable intelligence that supports smarter expansion and customer targeting. Aligning Growth Strategy with Customer Behavior CD One Price Cleaners needed a more data-driven approach to evaluate new market opportunities, optimize existing locations, and better understand the customers driving demand for services like pickup and delivery. Key questions included: Which markets offer the strongest potential for expansion? How do current store locations perform relative to surrounding trade areas? What customer segments are most likely to use convenience-based services like pickup and delivery? To answer these questions consistently across multiple markets, CD One needed a repeatable framework that combined market analysis, customer segmentation, and operational planning into a single decision-support process. Integrating GIS into Market Strategy Blue Raster helped CD One Price Cleaners integrate location intelligence into its market planning process, enabling teams to evaluate opportunities and customer demand through a consistent, repeatable analytical framework. Market Feasibility and Trade Area Analysis Our team conducted ad hoc market feasibility analyses using tools such as ArcGIS Pro and Esri Business Analyst, evaluating trade areas around both existing and prospective store locations. Our analyses provided insights into: Market potential and competitive positioning Trade area performance comparisons Opportunities for new store placement and service expansion Customer Segmentation and Demand Modeling To better understand customer behavior, Blue Raster applied Esri Tapestry Segmentation to identify and analyze key consumer groups. This allowed CD One to: Identify high-value customer segments driving demand Tailor strategies for pickup-and-delivery services Refine marketing and outreach efforts by geography Workflow Enablement and Repeatability Beyond delivering analysis, Blue Raster focused on ensuring that insights could be integrated into everyday operations. Our team organized GIS desktop projects and analytical workflows so that CD One could: Reuse methodologies across markets Maintain consistent reporting processes Enable internal teams to build on prior analyses Data-Driven Decisions at Scale Through this partnership, CD One Price Cleaners gained a stronger, more consistent approach to evaluating markets and understanding customers. Key outcomes included: Number of markets evaluated. Number of existing and prospective locations analyzed. Whether they built a reusable ArcGIS Pro project or standardized workflow templates. Whether pickup-and-delivery territories were optimized. Whether internal staff can now run analyses without consultant support. By integrating GIS into its operations, CD One transitioned from reactive decision-making to a proactive, data-driven strategy grounded in location intelligence. Why It Matters For retailers that combine storefront operations with convenience services like pickup and delivery, understanding where customers live, work, and travel is essential to maximizing market coverage and operational efficiency. By combining market analysis, segmentation, and GIS workflows, organizations like CD One Price Cleaners can make more informed decisions that align with real-world demand. Blue Raster's work demonstrates how location intelligence can power smarter retail strategies, enabling businesses to grow with confidence and clarity. Our Market Intelligence Capabilities Ready to Identify Retail Expansion Opportunities? As retailers look to grow with confidence, location intelligence is no longer a nice to have. It is the competitive edge that makes the difference. Rather than relying solely on intuition or isolated studies, teams now have a consistent framework for making location-based business decisions. Through this partnership, CD One Price Cleaners established a repeatable, GIS-enabled approach for evaluating market opportunities, understanding customer demand, and supporting long-term expansion planning. Blue Raster can help you take the next step. Contact us today. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: GIS - Tags: AI, AI Agents, AI Assistants, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, GeoAI, LLM, Natural Language - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights Many GIS teams are sitting on more imagery and field data than they can review. New aerial flights arrive before the last set has been fully analyzed. Parcel updates wait in queues. Field observations get stored but rarely revisited. The intent was always to turn that data into decisions, but the manual work of getting there - digitizing features, classifying land cover, reviewing parcels one by one - never quite scales to the size of the archive. GeoAI is what closes that gap, and in the last 18 months it has moved from research demo to something a working GIS team can use on the platform it already runs. What GeoAI Actually Is GeoAI is the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning with GIS. In plain terms, it pairs the spatial analysis you already do in ArcGIS with the pattern-recognition strengths of modern AI. The result is a system that can look at imagery or location data and surface things a person would otherwise have to find by hand, across far more area than a person could ever cover. Three layers make up the stack: Pretrained Models Task-specific models that already know how to extract building footprints, detect roads, classify land cover, or find trees. Esri's Living Atlas hosts more than 100 of them, ready to apply to your own imagery with no training data required. Foundation Models Larger models trained to understand the planet broadly rather than one task. This is the fastest-moving area, and the one where the hype most outruns the reality. Worth piloting on the edges, not yet worth betting an entire workflow on. AI Assistants The conversational layer Esri is rolling out across its products, letting users describe what they want and lowering the skill floor for routine tasks. If you run ArcGIS, you are closer to GeoAI than you probably think. It is built into the platform, not bolted on. Read About Our GeoAI Capabilities What GeoAI is not It does not replace your GIS team. Models handle the first pass; your people still decide which problem is worth solving, validate the output, and own the result. Accuracy also is not guaranteed out of the box: a pretrained model built on one region or sensor will not perform identically on yours, so every output needs a human check. And there is no single purchase that "does AI" for you. The value only shows up once the output is wired into a real workflow, dashboard, or decision. You also don't need a data science team to start. Pretrained, platform-integrated tools have put real capability within reach of teams that could never have afforded a custom build two years ago. What This Looks Like by Sector Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Faster feature extraction and change detection across large areas, freeing analysts and responders to focus on judgment calls instead of manual review. State & Local Government An AI first pass on parcel review, land cover, and permit work in hours instead of weeks, with staff validating rather than starting from zero. Non-Profit & Mission-Driven Mapping change across millions of acres on a mission budget, so more of the budget goes to the mission itself. Commercial Site selection and risk assessment move from instinct and spreadsheets to forecasts that signal where things are headed. A Three-Question Readiness Check You do not need an AI strategy to get started. You need one good use case. These three questions tell you whether you have one. Do you have geospatial data you are not fully using? Expand Imagery sitting in an archive, location records you collect but rarely analyze, a manual mapping or review process that never gets ahead. If yes, you have raw material. Is there a manual, repetitive spatial task eating your team's time? Expand Feature digitizing, parcel or permit review, land-cover classification, change detection. The more repetitive and high-volume the task, the better a GeoAI first pass will fit. Would faster or larger-scale spatial insight change a real decision? Expand If the answer to "so what? " is concrete: faster permitting, better site choices, earlier detection of change, the value is real and measurable. Score two or more yes answers, and GeoAI is worth a serious look right now, not someday. Where To Start The most common mistake is starting with the technology rather than a problem worth solving. Pick a task that is single, high-volume, and well-defined, the kind of work your team would call tedious. Check whether a pretrained model already exists for it. Run it against a sample of your own data and have your experts validate the results honestly. Only then decide how to operationalize it: where the output lives, who acts on it, and how it connects to the decision it's meant to inform. Get A Clear Next StepBlue Raster runs a no-cost GeoAI readiness assessment: a short scoping call to identify one high-value GeoAI use case for your data, on the GIS platform you already run. You leave with a clear sense of what is feasible, what it would take, and whether it is worth doing - no obligation. Book a Free GeoAI Readiness Assessment Call Contact Us Today to Get Started Blue Raster is an Esri partner that builds mapping applications, cloud deployments, and data visualizations for federal, state and local, non-profit, and commercial teams. GeoAI capability descriptions reflect Esri's documented ArcGIS capabilities as of 2026; specific features and availability vary by release and license. OpenAI GPT Anthropic Claude Google Gemini Microsoft Copilot Perplexity LangChain LangGraph n8n Flowise Model Context Protocol ArcGIS AI Assistant ArcGIS GeoAI MCP MCP Server ArcGIS MCP Server Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, GIS - Tags: Commercial Real Estate, GIS for Commercial Real Estate, GIS strategy, market intelligence, Real Estate, Workflow Enablement - Industries: Commercial Real Estate - Services: GIS Consulting & Training In today's competitive retail landscape, making the right investment decision requires more than intuition-it demands data-driven, location-specific intelligence. For firms managing national portfolios, understanding where to invest is just as critical as what to invest in. That's where geospatial analytics becomes a powerful differentiator. Darsana Capital Partners, a New York-based hedge fund, partnered with Blue Raster to bring this level of insight into their retail investment strategy. Scaling Market Analysis Across a National Portfolio Darsana Capital Partners needed a way to evaluate retail expansion and investment opportunities consistently across multiple markets. Each potential site required answers to fundamental questions: What is the demographic profile of the surrounding trade area? How far will customers travel-and what competitors are within reach? Which locations offer the strongest opportunity for growth or expansion? Answering these questions can be time-intensive and inconsistent, especially when data comes from multiple sources and analyses are performed manually. Darsana needed a repeatable, defensible methodology to identify underserved markets, assess market saturation, compare trade areas, and prioritize potential retail locations with confidence. Blue Raster's Geospatial Analysis Framework Blue Raster developed a scalable geospatial analysis framework that combined drive-time trade area analysis, demographic enrichment, competitive location intelligence, and market opportunity modeling. The workflow enabled Darsana to evaluate existing store performance, identify new market opportunities, and apply a consistent methodology across multiple retail brands and geographies. Our solution focused on three core components:     01 Trade Area & Demographic Analysis We developed drive-time models around prospective retail locations, incorporating population density, income levels, and household characteristics to assess customer reach and market potential. 02 Competitive Landscape Modeling We integrated competitor data to map nearby retail locations and calculate proximity within defined trade areas, delivering a clear view of market saturation and competitive overlap. 03 Data Integration & Visualization We combined client-provided and third-party datasets into a unified analytical framework, delivering interactive maps and visualizations that make findings easy to explore and share across stakeholders. From Analysis to Action: Supporting Strategic Decisions The analysis identified 157 greenfield expansion opportunities and 57 infill opportunities nationwide, giving Darsana a defensible, repeatable framework for evaluating retail investments. These opportunities represented markets that met defined demographic, household, and competitive thresholds, helping Darsana prioritize locations that warranted further investment evaluation and strategic consideration. The resulting datasets, maps, and analytical outputs streamlined market evaluation and provided a foundation that can be reused and expanded as investment priorities evolve. One key application of this work involved supporting analyses of retail locations nationwide. By applying a standardized methodology across locations, Darsana was able to: Compare performance potential across markets Identify underserved trade areas Evaluate expansion opportunities with confidence Faster, Smarter Investment Decisions Our partnership enabled Darsana to move from fragmented, ad hoc analysis to a structured, scalable decision-support system. Key outcomes included:     Consistency Standardized methodologies ensure comparable insights across all locations. Efficiency Repeatable workflows reduce analysis time for new sites. Clarity Map-based outputs make complex data easy to interpret and share. Flexibility A task-order structure allows analyses to evolve alongside investment strategies. Most importantly, Darsana gained the ability to make confident, data-driven investment decisions backed by transparent and defensible analytics. Our Market Intelligence Capabilities Ready to Identify Retail Expansion Opportunities? Retail success is increasingly driven by precision and understanding not just markets, but micro-markets. By leveraging geospatial analytics, investors can uncover patterns and opportunities that traditional methods miss. At Blue Raster, we specialize in transforming complex spatial data into meaningful insights that support real-world decisions. Our work with Darsana Capital Partners demonstrates how location intelligence can power smarter retail investment, today and into the future. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Instant Apps, Cloud, Culture, Economic Development, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Tourism, Uncategorized - Tags: ABI, ABI GIS Dashboard, Affordable Housing, ArcGIS Experience Builder, Atlanta, Atlanta Beltline, GIS For Housing Equity - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development The Atlanta Beltline is an urban revitalization project in the United States consisting of a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails, parks, transit corridors, and economic development projects is being built through and around the City of Atlanta. Atlanta Beltline, Inc. (ABI) is the nonprofit organization charged with bringing the initiatives to life. Part of ABI's vision is to provide access to equitable and inclusive affordable housing opportunities around the Beltline corridor. ABI works with housing partners and stakeholders across the City of Atlanta to achieve a goal of creating and preserving 5,600 affordable housing units by the end of 2030. To help Atlantans explore affordable housing options and track progress toward this goal, Blue Raster partnered with Atlanta Beltline's Affordable Housing and Data and Impact teams to develop the Atlanta Beltline Affordable Housing Dashboard and mobile application. Blue Raster and Atlanta Beltline: A Comprehensive GIS Partnership Since 2025, Blue Raster has served as Atlanta Beltline's GIS professional services partner, supporting the organization across a wide range of geospatial needs. Our work with ABI spans the full lifecycle of a modern enterprise GIS program, including: ABI Capabilities Enterprise Administration Full lifecycle management of ArcGIS Enterprise environments, ensuring stability, performance, and continuous availability. App Design & Development Web and mobile applications built to support field operations, stakeholder engagement, and public-facing workflows. Map Creation Purpose-built maps supporting internal planning decisions and polished public-facing communications across ABI's program. Data Governance Establishing consistent data standards, structures, and workflows that strengthen the integrity of ABI's GIS program. Application Configuration Connecting ABI's internal staff tools to their public-facing outputs for a seamless, end-to-end operational experience. The Affordable Housing Dashboard is one of the most visible products of this partnership. It is built on a broader foundation of GIS support designed to give ABI the tools and capacity to manage their data, tell their story, and track their progress for years to come. Key Features of the Atlanta Beltline Affordable Housing Dashboard This interactive ArcGIS Experience Builder application allows a wide range of audiences to locate and explore real-time affordable housing data along the Beltline through interactive maps and metrics. Housing Explorer: The Housing Explorer page allows users to find available, completed, and under-construction affordable housing properties and directly access listings. Zone Lookup: Developers, investors, and the general public can search for existing or future developments through an address search in the Zone Lookup page. This feature helps users understand development location relative to key Atlanta Beltline planning and incentive areas. Housing Metrics: Progress toward Atlanta Beltline's 5,600 affordable unit goal can be viewed and tracked through the Housing Metrics page, which shows key affordable housing indicators across important geographies including the Tax Allocation District, the Beltline Planning Area, Zoning Overlay, and more. Feedback and FAQ: Further information and opportunities to provide feedback are available through the Feedback/FAQ page, helping ABI continuously improve the tool based on community input. From Spreadsheets to a Centralized GIS Database This application was built from workflows designed to streamline data management, unify disparate housing datasets, and migrate manual tracking processes into ArcGIS applications. Behind the dynamic public dashboard are ArcGIS web-based editing and automated reporting tools that standardize updates and pull from one singular data source: an enterprise geodatabase. This approach establishes a single source of truth for ABI's affordable housing data, improving accuracy while giving Atlanta Beltline staff an efficient way to maintain and share the latest housing information and progress directly within their GIS environment. The result is a clear, transparent view of affordable housing progress, putting reliable, actionable information directly into the hands of the community it serves. Blue Raster Capabilities Partner with Blue Raster on GIS for Housing and Community Equity At Blue Raster, we believe that well-designed, data-driven GIS solutions can advance equity, strengthen communities, and drive meaningful outcomes for the people they serve. Our partnership with Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is one example of how GIS technology can power both internal operations and public accountability. Whether you are a nonprofit, government agency, or mission-driven organization, our team can help you design and implement GIS solutions tailored to your needs. Reach out today to get started. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Velocity, GIS - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS GeoEvent Server, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Velocity, GeoEvent, Real-Time, Velocity - Industries: Commercial, Federal Government, State & Local Government - Services: GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights Esri has officially extended ArcGIS Velocity beyond the cloud with a self-hosted option for ArcGIS Enterprise 12. 1. If your organization needs real-time IoT analytics inside your own infrastructure, the landscape just changed significantly. What is ArcGIS Velocity for ArcGIS Enterprise? ArcGIS Velocity has long been available as a SaaS extension for ArcGIS Online, giving organizations the ability to ingest streaming data, run real-time analytics, and push automated alerts. With the ArcGIS Enterprise 12. 1 release, Esri now offers that same core functionality in a self-hosted environment on Windows and Linux, meeting organizations where their infrastructure already lives. The platform handles the full lifecycle of real-time data, supporting 21 native data provider feeds with more being added regularly: ArcGIS Velocity Capabilities Real-Time Ingestion Connect to IoT platforms, messaging brokers, and sensor APIs with 21+ native feed types. Spatial Analytics Drag-and-drop model builder to geofence, track movement, and detect incidents as they happen. Automated Alerts Push notifications and actions to Teams, Slack, field staff, or connected IoT devices. Resource Monitoring Built-in compute and memory dashboards to track system health under high-volume loads. Data Distribution Publish results to feature layers, dashboards, Kafka, Amazon S3, Azure Blob, and more. What's new in this release? ArcGIS Enterprise 12. 1 brings functional parity with ArcGIS Velocity for ArcGIS Online and closes the gap with ArcGIS GeoEvent Server for organizations operating in restricted or disconnected environments. Several capabilities are exclusive to the Enterprise deployment: TCP (Client) Feed Watch A Local Folder Feed HTTP Simulator Feed Write To Local File Output UDP (Client) Output These additions make the Enterprise deployment particularly relevant for commercial, utilities, and government organizations that operate in secure, air-gapped, or fully on-premises environments, scenarios where a cloud-first architecture was never a viable option. Also launching now (and arriving in ArcGIS Online in June 2026) are new partner integrations: Dataminr and Dataminr First Alert for real-time public safety event detection, Raven Connected for fleet and work zone intelligence, and IoTKinect for aggregated device and sensor data. These feeds bring lower-latency awareness to operational and safety workflows directly within the Velocity interface. GeoEvent Server Deprecation Notice ArcGIS Enterprise 12. 3, expected in 2027, will be the final version of ArcGIS GeoEvent Server. Organizations still relying on GeoEvent Server should begin planning their transition to ArcGIS Velocity now. The retirement timeline follows the standard ArcGIS Enterprise product life cycle. How Blue Raster can help Blue Raster has deep experience implementing and configuring ArcGIS Enterprise environments across federal, state, and commercial sectors. As Esri's platform continues to evolve, our team works closely with clients to translate product updates into practical, production-ready deployments that align with their operational requirements and security posture. Live Real-Time Streaming 24/7 Always-On Monitoring IoT Sensor Integration Esri Authorized Reseller ArcGIS Velocity ArcGIS GeoEvent Server ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Enterprise ArcGIS Dashboards Experience Builder Azure Event Hubs Azure Function Apps AWS IoT Microsoft Azure AWS MQTT HTTP / RSS WebSockets Geotab AVL CAD Systems IoT Sensors SCADA Systems GPS Feeds Weather APIs Social Media Feeds Traffic Data For organizations currently running ArcGIS GeoEvent Server, now is the right time to assess your path forward. Our team can evaluate your current real-time workflows, map them to equivalent Velocity capabilities, and design a migration strategy that minimizes disruption. For organizations looking to build a new real-time IoT capability from the ground up, we can architect and deploy ArcGIS Velocity for ArcGIS Enterprise to fit within your existing infrastructure, whether on Windows or Linux. Beyond deployment, Blue Raster helps clients build the dashboards, stream layers, and automated analytics that make real-time data operationally useful, not just technically available. Read Our ArcGIS Velocity Case Studies Ready to bring real-time intelligence to your infrastructure? Whether you are planning a GeoEvent Server migration or standing up ArcGIS Velocity for the first time, Blue Raster can guide you from assessment through deployment. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, GIS - Tags: Commercial Real Estate, GIS for Commercial Real Estate, GIS strategy, market intelligence, Real Estate, Workflow Enablement - Industries: Commercial Real Estate - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights Retail growth and market intelligence doesn't happen by gut instinct anymore. In a landscape where every site selection decision, customer targeting campaign, and trade area analysis carries real financial weight, the difference between winning and losing often comes down to one thing: the quality of your geographic intelligence - and how fast you can act on it. At Blue Raster, we've worked alongside retail organizations that are great at what they do but are being held back by the tools and workflows they've outgrown. The pattern is remarkably consistent: manual market analysis, fragmented reporting, and GIS processes that live in silos rather than at the center of strategy. Buyer Change Blueprint - Market Analysis & GIS Workflow Enablement Advantages of Blue Raster's Approach Retail-Focused GIS Expertise ArcGIS Pro & Business Analyst Repeatable, Scalable Workflows Customer Segmentation Specialists Flexible, Evolving Support Actionable Operational Insights Business Driver 1 - Strategy Current State New Reality Manual market analysis and fragmented reporting Limited visibility into customer segments and trade areas Slow decision-making for expansion opportunities Faster, data-driven expansion planning Clear visibility into customer and market performance GIS integrated into business strategy Business Driver 2 - Financial Current State New Reality Time-intensive manual reporting processes Poor customer targeting and limited growth visibility Difficult to scale analysis across markets Improved efficiency and faster analysis Better customer targeting and growth planning Reduced time spent on manual reporting Business Driver 3 - Operational Current State New Reality Inconsistent GIS workflows with no repeatable processes Minimal automation across analysis tasks GIS siloed from core business operations Streamlined GIS workflows and reporting Repeatable and scalable analysis processes Improved operational decision-making ↑ 50% Reporting Consistency Faster Expansion Decisions Scalable Workflows Actionable Operational Insights The Current State Many Retailers Know Too Well If any of these sound familiar, you're not alone: Strategy Manual analysis, limited trade area visibility, and slow expansion decisions that cost time and opportunity. Financial Time-intensive reporting, poor customer targeting, and limited scalability that constrain growth and profitability. Operational Inconsistent GIS workflows, minimal automation, and no repeatable processes that result in analysis bottlenecks across the organization. These aren't technology failures - they're workflow failures. And they compound over time. A Better Path: Analyze, Model, Enable Blue Raster's approach to GIS-driven market intelligence is built around three interconnected phases that move organizations from reactive to proactive. Step 01 Analyze Trade area analysis, expansion feasibility, and customer demand evaluation - a data-driven foundation for every strategic decision. Step 02 Model Customer segmentation using ArcGIS Pro and Business Analyst, turning raw spatial data into actionable targeting insights. Step 03 Enable Organized GIS workflows, repeatable analysis processes, and ongoing support that scales with your business. What Changes When GIS Is Central to Your Strategy Organizations that make this shift don't just improve their GIS outputs - they change how decisions get made across the business. ↑ Expansion Planning Becomes Faster Data-driven site selection replaces gut instinct and slow committee review. ○ Customer Performance Becomes Visible Segmentation models surface opportunities that fragmented reporting was hiding. ■ GIS Integrated Into Business Strategy Not a back-office function - a core input to growth planning across the organization. ↺ Reporting Becomes Consistent and Scalable Repeatable workflows mean every market gets the same analytical rigor, every time. Our Market Intelligence Capabilities Ready to transform your GIS workflows? We build workflows your team can own, insights your leadership can act on, and systems that grow with your business rather than creating new dependencies. Whether you're planning your next five locations or rethinking how your entire market intelligence function works, we meet you where you are and build toward where you need to be. Connect with the Blue Raster team to discuss what GIS-driven market intelligence can do for your organization. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, GIS, Uncategorized - Tags: ArcGIS Users, SCAUG, South Central - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: Conferences & Webinars Blue Raster was proud to attend the 36th Annual South Central Arc User Group (SCAUG) Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas from May 4 through 7, 2026. Held at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, the SCAUG conference brought together GIS professionals from across the region for four days of sessions, discussions, and hands-on learning. As both an exhibitor and a presenter, Blue Raster came ready to engage, sharing lessons from client work in the region and joining conversations about how organizations are building stronger, more sustainable GIS programs. From the exhibit floor to the presentation stage, it was an opportunity to hear what challenges were top of mind, exchange ideas with peers, and bring real-world perspective from our work with clients like San Patricio County, Texas. Exhibiting at SCAUG In the exhibit hall, we spoke with GIS professionals focused on modernizing systems, improving workflows, and expanding how GIS supports their organizations. Those conversations reinforced a common theme: teams are looking for practical solutions that deliver value now and can grow with them over time. Presenting with San Patricio County, TX One of the highlights of the conference was presenting alongside Colton Landgrebe from San Patricio County on "Building a Sustainable GIS Program in San Patricio County. " The session focused on what it takes to grow GIS in a practical, sustainable way-from building momentum early to adapting as organizational needs evolve. Presenting with a client made the discussion especially valuable because it grounded the conversation in real experience and shared outcomes. We focused on the day-to-day work behind sustainable GIS growth, including: Building early momentum Responding to changing organizational needs Planning for long-term program success These are the kinds of conversations that make events like SCAUG valuable because they move beyond product features and into real implementation. Sharing this story with the broader GIS community gave us the opportunity to show what strong collaboration can achieve when strategy and execution stay aligned. Looking Ahead We left SCAUG 2026 encouraged by the conversations we had and the ideas we shared. From the exhibit hall to our presentation with San Patricio County, the event highlighted the value of practical collaboration and the continued momentum around sustainable GIS programs. What stood out most was how many organizations are at a similar inflection point - ready to move beyond reactive GIS support and toward programs that are intentionally built, well-resourced, and connected to real business outcomes. That alignment between what we heard in Corpus Christi and what we see in our day-to-day client work gives us a lot of confidence in where this community is headed. Blue Raster Capabilities Ready to transform your GIS workflows? Whether you're modernizing existing systems, expanding GIS across departments, or planning for long-term growth, Blue Raster partners with organizations to turn GIS strategy into practical, scalable solutions. From application development and system modernization to program planning and implementation support, we help teams build GIS programs that deliver lasting value. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Conservation, GIS - Tags: Airtable, API, ArcGIS and AirTable Integration, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro - Industries: Conservation - Services: GIS Consulting & Training When authoritative datasets are maintained across multiple systems, a common synchronization challenge emerges: how do you ensure everyone is working from the most up-to-date, trusted version of the data without duplicating effort or introducing inconsistencies? This was the exact challenge facing Re:Wild when we began working together. Re:Wild relies on Airtable to manage grants, track project status, and organize critical program information. At the same time, they use ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro to visualize and analyze their work spatially. While each platform serves an important purpose, they operate in fundamentally different ways. Airtable is not inherently spatial, and ArcGIS environments are not designed to act as the primary system of record for tabular project data. The result? Two systems, both considered authoritative, but with no built-in mechanism to stay aligned, leading to potential data drift and inefficiencies. Creating a Reliable Source of Truth To solve this, Blue Raster designed a streamlined, automated synchronization workflow that ensures consistency between systems while preserving each platform's strengths. Using a Hosted Notebook and the Airtable API, we developed a script that: Compares records between Airtable and ArcGIS Online Identifies differences between datasets Pushes updates from Airtable into ArcGIS Online This process runs on a scheduled basis via a task scheduler, ensuring data stays continuously aligned without manual intervention. Additionally, we exposed the workflow as an on-demand web tool, allowing users to trigger syncs directly within a web map or through a widget in ArcGIS Experience Builder. The result is a dependable, one-way sync that keeps ArcGIS Online in lockstep with Airtable, establishing Airtable as the primary system of record for core project data. Closing the Loop: Bringing Spatial Insights Back However, the workflow didn't stop there. Re:Wild also performs spatial analysis in ArcGIS Pro, specifically calculating geographic areas that are critical to their conservation work. Previously, these results had to be manually entered back into Airtable, creating additional effort and risk of error. To address this, we extended the synchronization process to support a targeted, reverse flow of data. Using the Airtable API, we enhanced the notebook to: Detect updates to specific fields (in this case, area calculations) within ArcGIS Push only those updates back into Airtable Prevent unintended edits to other fields This selective, field-level sync ensures that Airtable remains the authoritative source, while still benefiting from the unique analytical capabilities of ArcGIS. The Outcome By implementing a controlled, bidirectional synchronization strategy, Re:Wild now has: A single, trusted source of truth for project data Automated workflows that eliminate manual data entry Seamless integration between spatial and non-spatial systems Confidence that their data is accurate, consistent, and actionable This approach highlights a broader lesson: when systems are designed to complement, not compete with, each other, organizations can unlock far greater value from their data. Ready to Unify Your Data Systems? Whether your team relies on Airtable, ArcGIS, or a combination of platforms, we can help you design a reliable, automated workflow that keeps your data consistent and your team focused on what matters. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, Conservation, Greenhouse Gas - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Image Server, Carbon Emission, Climate Change, conservation, GHG, ICLEI, LEARN, Woodwell, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Understanding how harvest emissions from forest disturbance impact greenhouse gas totals is critical for communities working towards climate goals. The latest update to the LEARN (Land Emissions and Removals Navigator) Tool brings new analytical capabilities and interface updates that make insights clearer and more actionable. Built in partnership with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), the LEARN Tool allows for community inventorying of the effects of land use change on greenhouse gas emissions. This update expands available Areas of Analysis by adding USDA Administrative Forest Boundaries, giving users more options for defining and assessing their regions of interest. In addition, disturbance data have been enhanced to dive deeper into the nuance of harvest intensity. Not all harvesting affects landscapes in the same way, and these differences matter when analyzing emissions. Forest Disturbance data have been updated with more granular categories of Harvest Disturbance Intensity that capture this variation. Harvest Disturbance Intensity is defined by the percentage of canopy cover lost within areas mapped as harvest disturbance over the chosen inventory period. It is now represented in four different severities: Low: 0 to - Categories: BIM, Building Information Management - Tags: AEC, BIM, Building Information Managament, Construction, Engineering, GIS - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights Effective construction scheduling on a large project requires coordinating activities between teams of contractors and suppliers. Synchronization is critical to ensure the right assets are in the right place at the right time. Missing a single component can cause cascading delays to project delivery. When One Asset Sets the Clock for the Whole Project On large construction sites, scheduling means juggling a complex set of inputs across teams, locations, and timelines. Some assets must traverse the site from location to location, and because there are often only a limited number of them, every day they spend waiting is a day wasted. Constructing a wind farm is a clear example: massive main erection cranes walk from turbine site to turbine site, costing tens of thousands of dollars a day to operate. Each turbine site must be fully prepared all components delivered and crews ready by the time the crane arrives. And none of the follow-on work, like connecting the turbine to the substation, can begin until the crane has moved on to the next site. Using Network Analysis to Build a Smarter Schedule Blue Raster is helping a leading construction firm bring a new level of precision to project scheduling by building and managing timelines around the real-time positioning of their most critical and costly assets. Using Network Analyst tools, schedulers can determine the most efficient order for individual turbine construction, minimizing the number of days the main erection cranes need to operate. These optimized dates then anchor all preparation and post-installation activities, ensuring every asset is where it needs to be to keep the project on track. GPS and Field GIS tools monitor each asset's position in real time and assign specific tasks to teams based on location, keeping the full picture visible and actionable. Recovering Quickly When Plans Change Equipment breakdowns, weather delays, and other disruptions are inevitable on large projects. With GIS, planners can quickly generate the best possible revised schedule based on current equipment availability and conditions, rather than rebuilding manually under pressure. More Precise Schedules, Lower Project Costs By grounding the schedule in the movement and availability of critical assets, construction teams can plan more accurately and recover faster when things change. Less time is lost to assets being out of position, preparation work arriving late, or follow-on activities held up unnecessarily. The result is a more efficient delivery and lower overall project costs. Contact us to learn more about using GIS to manage your construction schedule. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder - Tags: ArcGIS Experience Builder, Billboard Site Selection, Esri Gold Partner, Experience Builder, GIS for Commercial Real Estate, GIS Parcel Scoring, GIS Site Selection, Location Intelligence, Outdoor Advertising GIS, Parcel Suitability Analysis, Zoning Compliance GIS - Industries: Commercial, Commercial Real Estate - Services: Web Application Development Billboard site selection for outdoor advertising has traditionally been a manual, regulation-heavy process, until now. Blue Raster designed and piloted a GIS‑driven parcel suitability platform that enables Heritage Outdoor Media to systematically identify optimal billboard locations. Heritage Outdoor Media is a family-owned outdoor advertising company whose mission is to create impactful advertising solutions that connect brands with their communities. By translating zoning and spacing regulations into spatial rules, the platform supports data‑driven decisions that help Heritage select locations designed to maximize advertiser visibility and market effectiveness. Parcel Scoring Leveraging the power of GIS, Blue Raster brings a fresh approach to an old-fashioned business. Our team conducted a discovery and planning phase to define technical requirements and translate zoning and spacing regulations into actionable parcel scores. This included: Stakeholder engagement and requirements gathering Assessment of existing GIS datasets, data quality, and update mechanisms Definition of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and data governance Technical feasibility analysis and system architecture planning for future web and GIS integrations Using the parcel score scale, we developed a platform that converts complex zoning compliance and spacing requirements into a reproducible GIS rules engine. This allows Heritage to quickly distinguish viable parcels from non‑compliant locations, reducing time spent on manual research and lowering the risk of pursuing sites that do not meet local regulations. Blue Raster architected the solution to support future scenario testing, enabling Heritage to evaluate how changes in zoning rules, spacing buffers, or optional traffic data could affect site suitability. This enhances strategic planning as business and regulatory conditions evolve. Blue Raster is currently piloting the platform in the Milwaukee, WI market. The Milwaukee pilot was explicitly designed to scale to additional markets without re‑architecting the solution. This positions Heritage Outdoor Media to replicate the same analysis framework as it expands into new geographies while maintaining consistent evaluation criteria and workflows. We also developed a configurable ArcGIS Experience Builder application that allows non‑technical users to interact with parcel data, manage potential sites, and adjust evaluation criteria without deep GIS expertise. Users can filter, sort, and rank candidate parcels, improving usability and cross‑team collaboration within Heritage's site selection and planning workflows. Benefits of Blue Raster's Solution Improved Billboard Site Selection and Visibility Reduced Risk and Regulatory Uncertainty Faster, More Consistent Evaluation of Candidate Parcels Scalable Growth Across New Markets Support for Future Scenario and "What‑If" Analysis Improved Internal Collaboration and Usability Ready to Visualize Your Data and Win More Business? An Esri Gold Partner, Blue Raster helps commercial firms modernize their GIS systems and build future-ready workflows to optimize business. Our team can help you move forward with confidence and increase your client satisfaction. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: GIS, BIM, Building Information Management - Tags: AEC, Architecture, BIM, CAD, Clean Energy, Construction, Data Management, Engineering, Field GIS, Renewable Energy, Wind Farms, Wind Turbines - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights Data interoperability is at the heart of managing a large construction project. Coordinating activities between teams of contractors and suppliers runs on spatial data. When that data can't flow freely between systems, projects pay the price. From planning through demobilization, large construction projects generate a massive volume of spatial data. During planning, designers, estimators, and vendors iteratively develop site layouts and project schedules. Once construction starts, field teams use high-precision GPS and superintendents track the location of key assets in real time. Regular drone flights capture detailed imagery and terrain data to give a bird's eye view of the site. After demobilization, as-builts are recorded and routine maintenance begins. When Every Team Speaks a Different Data Language With so many different teams, vendors, and systems involved, data management can quickly become fragmented with silos and quality concerns. Designers may find a CAD tool perfect for precisely placing infrastructure and calculating exact volumes of cut and fill. Meanwhile, a less technically savvy vendor may only work in KMLs. As a result, project staff lose significant time translating data across different formats and applications, time that could be spent on higher value work. Enterprise GIS is the right place to standardize and centralize all of this spatial data. It can visualize different formats, support design and construction workflows from a single platform, and ensure data is backed up and retained throughout the project lifecycle. Custom Interoperability Tools That Do the Heavy Lifting As experts in GIS, Blue Raster goes a step further and develops custom tools to streamline data ingestion into Enterprise GIS, enabling all project data to flow into a single system for analysis and dissemination. Our team recently developed custom data interoperability tools to help a large construction firm coordinate design tasks between multiple vendors and divisions. Many of their vendors create detailed designs using KMLs, sometimes generating thousands of individual features with data encoded in the feature hierarchy, the symbology, and custom HTML tables. With each design iteration, estimators spent hours ingesting the files to preserve the information and integrate the latest updates into the project design. Staff then had to export the latest complete design back to KMZ so each vendor could work on the next design iteration. The firm needed a solution to optimize efficiency while ensuring everyone was working with the most recent information. One System, Minutes Instead of Hours Using the tools Blue Raster developed, their team can now import and export data in and out of their Enterprise GIS in minutes while preserving all information and the original symbology. Our solution streamlined essential data management tasks in GIS, saving their team significant time and money. As a result, staff can easily access the data they need to plan and monitor construction activities while continuously optimizing their designs. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you use GIS to better manage your project data Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Field Maps, Public Gardens - Tags: ArcGIS, Experience Builder, Field Maps, Public Gardens - Industries: Public Gardens - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster is proud to announce the public launch of Hahn Horticulture Garden's Flora Finder Database, an ArcGIS Experience Builder application allowing users to explore woody plants across six acres of teaching and display gardens on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Made possible by a donation from Dr. Pat Ceperley, The Flora Finder Database is a publicly available web app that maps the garden's tree collection and puts detailed plant records at your fingertips. The application is also configured for both desktop and mobile use, enabling users to explore the Garden's collection from home or on campus. Data collection continues to be conducted by staff in the field, utilizing ArcGIS Field Maps to add to the current dataset of over 500 trees and shrubs. These future updates will include adding images to existing records, along with mapping smaller shrubs and perennials. "The experience the Blue Raster team brought to our project was invaluable. They provided the expertise and support we needed to turn our ideas into reality. The team was a pleasure to work with responsive, collaborative, and quick to implement requested changes. " Scott Douglas, Director of the Hahn Horticulture Garden and AP Faculty, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech Key Features Filter plant records based on characteristics including nativity and type, paring down both the map and the data table at the bottom of the page Search for any plant by common or scientific name View information about surrounding buildings, art installations, and walkways Pop-up links out to external resources for more information on each species Blue Raster has partnered with Public Gardens and Cemeteries for over fifteen years to bring GIS and mapping to everyday workflows. We design intuitive tools for staff to manage plant records, and interactive applications for the public and researchers to search and enhance their experiences. Learn more about our Public Gardens Practice here! Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Hub, Design, UX/UI - Tags: Accessibility, ADA, ADA Compliance, IAAP, Level AA, Section 508, WCAG 2.1 - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, Software & Data Solutions, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development The ADA Title II rule is here. State and local governments must bring their web mapping applications into WCAG 2. 1 Level AA compliance and maps are one of the hardest digital assets to remediate. With the April, 2027 deadline approaching, ADA Title II updates requiring WCAG 2. 1 compliance for jurisdictions serving populations of 50,000 or more are no longer optional. They represent a clear, enforceable expectation that digital services, including maps, dashboards, and web applications, must be accessible to all users. Most GIS-driven applications were not designed with accessibility in mind. And this is where the risk becomes real. For many public agencies, accessibility has long been on the "we'll get to it" list. That window is closing. Blue Raster Can Help - Contact Us Today The Reality Many Organizations Are Facing As a result, many organizations are operating with: Public-facing applications that are not accessibility compliant Unknown accessibility gaps across dozens, or even hundreds of maps Increased exposure to complaints, audits, or legal action Internal teams unsure where to begin or how to prioritize fixes The challenge is not just compliance, it's visibility. You cannot fix what you cannot see, and most organizations do not yet have a clear understanding of where accessibility risks exist across their GIS ecosystem. Comparison of basemap styles showing the difference between low-contrast and accessibility-focused design, balancing usability and visual hierarchy. Image adapted from work by Andy Skinner, Esri ArcGIS Blog. For ADA Compliance, Clarity is The First Step The ADA Title II mandate is approaching quickly, and the organizations that act now will be far better positioned than those who wait. If you are unsure where your GIS applications stand today, that uncertainty is the risk. Blue Raster's Accessibility Assessment & Compliance Package is designed to remove that uncertainty and give your organization a clear path forward. Blue Raster's ADA & Accessibility Compliance Package We begin by working with your team to: Inventory your existing GIS assets, including maps, dashboards, and applications. Understand how those applications are used by both the public and internal stakeholders. Identify high-risk or high-visibility applications that should be prioritized. Evaluate accessibility gaps using a combination of automated tools and expert review. Provide clear, actionable recommendations aligned with WCAG 2. 1 standards. Accessibility Compliance Package - What's Included Discovery and Inventory Map and application inventory Identification of priority applications (up to 5)* * Additional maps and applications can be included based on your organization's needs Stakeholder interviews Usage analysis Accessibility Evaluation Automated accessibility scan Manual audit Component level review Color contrast testing User Experience and Interaction Review Keyboard testing Screen reader test Focus order and interaction validation Compliance Review WCAG 2. 1 Level AA gap mapping Section 508 alignment ADA Title II applicability review Prioritization and Road Map Risk ranking and priority tiers Effort estimation Learn More Scan to explore our accessibility capabilities Contact Blue Raster Your Return on Investment The outcome is not a generic checklist. It's a focused, prioritized roadmap that helps your organization understand: What is compliant What is not What matters most to fix first What level of effort is required to move forward Why Organizations Trust Blue Raster for Accessible GIS & ADA Compliance Accessibility in GIS is not just about checking boxes, it requires a deep understanding of how geospatial systems, user experience design, and accessibility standards intersect. That's where Blue Raster stands apart. For over 20 years, Blue Raster has helped public agencies, utilities, and organizations design and deliver GIS solutions that are not only functional but usable and inclusive. Our team brings together GIS technologists, developers, and UX/UI specialists who understand both the Esri ecosystem and the real-world demands of accessibility compliance. We integrate accessibility directly into: ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise implementations Experience Builder and dashboard design Custom JavaScript applications Data collection workflows and reporting tools Our work aligns with: ADA Title II requirements WCAG 2. 1 standards Section 508 guidelines IAAP-informed best practices We don't treat accessibility as a final step or a separate effort. We build it into the system from the beginning, helping organizations reduce risk, improve usability, and deliver better outcomes for all users. Our Accessibility Compliance Services & Capabilities Take the First Step Today Accessibility requirements are here and the organizations that act early will be better prepared to meet them. If you're unsure where to begin, start with clarity. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Indoors, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Cloud, GIS, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS, Esri, GIS, Missouri, State and Local, State of Missouri - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Mobile Application Development, Software & Data Solutions, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Arlington, VA - March 24, 2026 - Blue Raster is pleased to announce that it has been selected to be on the State of Missouri's Geographic Information System (GIS) Services Qualified Vendor List (QVL). This designation allows Missouri state agencies to efficiently procure geospatial expertise and solutions from pre-qualified vendors across a range of service areas, including: Assessment and Recommendations Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Esri Tools and Platform Training Geospatial Mobile and Field Solutions Business Systems Integration System Upgrades and Migrations Independent Validation and Verification (IV&V) Indoor GIS Selection to the QVL followed a rigorous evaluation process, assessing technical expertise, project experience, and past performance to ensure agencies have access to highly capable and reliable GIS partners. The QVL was created to simplify procurement, encourage competition, and give the State flexibility to expand GIS initiatives as needs grow. With GIS adoption and expansion being a focal point for Missouri agencies, this selection positions Blue Raster to support critical geospatial programs that improve decision-making, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen public service delivery. "Being selected for Missouri's GIS QVL reflects our deep expertise in GIS and our commitment to delivering high-quality, scalable geospatial solutions for government clients," said Lee Hartman, Program Manager. "We look forward to partnering with Missouri agencies to help them maximize the value of their GIS investments. " As a qualified vendor, Blue Raster looks forward to supporting Missouri agencies with innovative geospatial solutions and helping scale GIS initiatives across the state. About Blue Raster Blue Raster develops award-winning, interactive web mapping applications and geospatial solutions that help organizations transform complex data into actionable insights. Established in 2002 in Arlington, Virginia, Blue Raster works with government, nonprofit, and commercial clients worldwide to deliver solutions that support smarter decisions, operational efficiency, and measurable impact. Blue Raster partners with leading geospatial and technology companies, including Esri, and employs a team of experts in GIS, cloud technologies, and application development. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Conference, Design, Survey123, UX/UI - Tags: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Survey123 - Industries: Education, Health - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster is once again partnering with long-term collaborator Coast Community College District (CCCD) to support the Community Health Worker Regional Workforce Summit through the development of an ArcGIS Hub site that serves as the central digital experience for the event. ArcGIS Hub provides a structured, scalable platform to organize content, engage participants, and connect data to real-world outcomes. Rather than relying on disconnected tools or static event pages, the Hub site brings together logistics, resources, and engagement into a single, accessible environment that supports both attendees and organizers. Blue Raster worked closely with multiple stakeholders to lead UI/UX design, build the hub and embed Survey123 forms and maps. The Community Health Worker Regional Workforce Summit, titled "Scaling up Together" is intended to build capacity and showcase education opportunities for community health workers, students, healthcare providers and other affiliate groups. Using ArcGIS Hub as the foundation, the site integrates multiple components of the ArcGIS platform to enhance the conference experience. Attendees can view the agenda, explore interactive web maps for parking and on-site navigation, and engage directly through embedded Survey123 forms to provide feedback and share insights. Hub allows these elements to work together seamlessly, creating a cohesive experience that connects spatial data, user input, and event content. The result is not just a website, but an interactive engagement platform that captures participation and supports data-informed decision-making. Importantly, this Hub site is designed to persist beyond the conference itself, becoming part of the broader OC Works digital ecosystem. By aligning with existing branding and theming, the site will continue to serve as a resource for sharing outcomes, highlighting partnerships, and supporting ongoing workforce development efforts. If your organization is looking to move beyond one-time event sites and build lasting, data-driven engagement platforms with ArcGIS Hub, Blue Raster can help you design and implement a solution that delivers value well beyond launch. Reach out to our team to start the conversation. Bring your next initiative into focus with a connected ArcGIS Hub experience. Connect with Blue Raster to get started. Contact Us - Categories: Microsoft Azure, AI, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, Cloud - Tags: Active Directory, ArcGIS, Azure, Azure AD, Entra ID, Microsoft, Microsoft Partner - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Commercial Real Estate, Conservation, Education, Energy & Utilities, Federal Government, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens, Public Safety, State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics, Uncategorized, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights Blue Raster is proud to announce it has earned the Microsoft Solutions Partner Designation for Digital & App Innovation, recognizing our depth in building and scaling modern geospatial solutions within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem. Our team specializes in deploying and optimizing ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online environments that are tightly integrated with Esri technologies and Microsoft cloud services. How Blue Raster Leverages Microsoft Azure Solutions Blue Raster brings together advanced GIS expertise and proven Azure architecture practices to deliver secure, scalable ArcGIS deployments. This includes seamless single sign-on (SSO) integration using Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory/Azure AD), enabling organizations to streamline access control, strengthen security, and simplify user management across enterprise systems. Our experience extends to architecting cloud-native solutions on Azure, supporting everything from ArcGIS Enterprise base deployments to high-availability configurations and hybrid environments. We design and implement robust data integration workflows that connect ArcGIS with Microsoft technologies such as Azure Data Factory, Azure SQL, and cloud storage, supporting reliable ETL pipelines and real-time data synchronization. Our team also develops custom geospatial applications, dashboards, and Hub sites that align with organizational goals while maintaining performance, scalability, and governance best practices. From maintaining stable and performant enterprise GIS environments to enabling advanced analytics and system interoperability, Blue Raster partners closely with clients to deliver end-to-end solutions across the Microsoft and Esri ecosystem. Our certified experts have supported commercial, nonprofit, and government organizations, including secure deployments within Azure for US Government, ensuring compliance, resilience, and long-term success. Unlock the full potential of Microsoft Azure with secure, scalable cloud solutions and streamlined workflows. Partner with Blue Raster to elevate your data, applications, and analytics including ArcGIS integrations across your organization. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: Cloud, AI, Custom Application, Development, Esri, GIS, Uncategorized - Tags: 2026, AI, ArcGIS, ArcGIS MCP, ArcGIS MCP Server, Blue Raster, conference, Developer, DevSummit, Esri, Esri Developer Summit, GIS, Gold Partner, MCP, Partner Conference, Tech - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights This year's Esri Partner Conference (EPC) and Developer & Technology Summit (DevTech Summit) in Palm Springs, California was an especially meaningful week for the Blue Raster team. From stepping onto the plenary and delivering keynote presentations to exploring the latest advancements in AI and GIS, the week offered a clear look at where the industry is heading and how we're evolving with it. Behind The Scenes Look & Prep While the Esri Partner Conference typically kicks off on Sunday, this year began earlier for us. Our team arrived on Friday to rehearse for the plenary, getting the chance to step behind the curtain and experience firsthand the level of preparation that goes into one of Esri's biggest events. From lighting checks to run-throughs with the production team, it quickly became clear how much coordination and care goes into making the plenary run smoothly. Blue Raster Plenary Session: Empowering Engagement and the AI Frontier During the EPC Plenary, one of our projects on Viticultural Production with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) was featured on stage by Esri co-founder and President, Jack Dangermond as part of the broader story Esri is telling about the role of GIS in modern organizations. At the Esri Partner Conference, Blue Raster's Empowering Engagement and the AI Frontier presentation drew on field observations to highlight how AI is rapidly reshaping expectations for geospatial solutions. While Esri provides a powerful platform, partners play a critical role in bringing domain expertise and translating that technology into real-world applications. The session reflected a growing focus on blending AI-driven innovation with human-centered design to deliver solutions that feel practical, intuitive, and grounded in real user needs. Taking the stage was definitely a highlight. Sharing Blue Raster's work and perspective with a large audience of fellow partners reinforced our shared belief with Esri that geographic thinking is becoming essential across industries, and that collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the community are critical to moving the field forward. From the Partner Conference to the DevTech Summit In the middle of a packed schedule, we set aside time to reset. As EPC wrapped and the DevTech team arrived, we came together for a group outing, starting off with a hearty breakfast at Sherman's Deli & Bakery, then taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway from the desert floor up into Mount San Jacinto State Park. Trading conference rooms for trail views was a reminder that some of the best team moments happen away from screens, and it gave us a chance to recharge before the next phase of the week. Blue Raster's Keynote Speech: The Rise of the GIS Technologist A major highlight was Blue Raster's DevTech keynote by Thai Pinkney and Phil Satlof, showcasing how GIS roles are evolving. The talk traced the company's shift from segmented roles to a team of GIS technologists, where AI integration blurs traditional boundaries. GIS professionals now design, build, and deliver integrated solutions, reflecting Esri's vision and the move toward continuous innovation. Following their keynote presentation, the Blue Raster team received an award for Innovative Use of ArcGIS Technology, recognizing our work in applying ArcGIS to drive ongoing innovation and meaningful impact. Watch our keynote speech at the Esri DevSummit below: Key Takeaways from the Partner Conference and DevTech Summit GIS is increasingly integrated across organizations, emphasizing enterprise-wide adoption and collaboration. Well-architected systems are critical for stability, scalability, and efficient workflows. AI is becoming a core GIS capability, with tools like the ArcGIS Pro AI Assistant and emerging support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) enabling more advanced, agent-driven workflows within ArcGIS Updates in ArcGIS Online, Experience Builder, and the ArcGIS API for Python expand functionality for dashboards, feature-level controls, and permission management. Discover how Blue Raster can help your organization harness GIS and AI to transform data into actionable insights. Connect with our team today to explore solutions tailored to your needs. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Cloud, Development, Emergency Management, GIS, JavaScript API, Public Safety - Tags: ArcGIS JavaScript API, ArcGIS Online, Cloud, GIS - Industries: Federal Government, Public Safety, State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development When crews are deployed across a fast-moving incident, clarity matters. Where are our assets? Who is assigned to which district? What equipment is available right now? How is the situation evolving - minute by minute? And just as importantly: How did the situation unfold, and what can we learn from it? Blue Raster partnered with Advanced Situational Awareness LLC to help answer those questions through a modern, web-based operational platform designed to deliver a real-time common operating picture. This wasn't about building "another map. " It was about building confidence in the field, clarity in the command center, and insight for future decision-making. Turning Tracking Data into Operational Insight Advanced SA's RangerTrax ecosystem already generated valuable field data - equipment identifiers, call signs, districts, and location information. The opportunity was to transform that data into something decision-makers could use instantly. Together, we designed and implemented the Advanced SA Dispatch application that: Displays assets on an interactive web map Organizes equipment by district and category Links personnel and operational units Supports filtering, searching, and status tracking Provides a centralized view of what's happening - right now Enables minute-by-minute review of incident activity Allows users to view recent data by default or bring in historical data from specific days or RangerTrax exports Instead of scattered spreadsheets or siloed systems, incident leadership now has a unified interface where assets, geography, and context come together - both in real time and in retrospective analysis. The result is a platform that supports immediate operational awareness while also empowering teams to review what played out and use that information to inform future decisions. Building a Modern Common Operating Picture At its core, the platform provides a secure, web-based application that integrates mapping, asset management, and user access into a single environment. Using capabilities within ArcGIS Online and the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, the application delivers: Authoritative basemaps Boundary overlays for regions, districts, and counties Dynamic asset visualization Responsive map performance across devices For command staff, this means zooming into a district and immediately seeing available resources. For administrators, it means maintaining structured data behind the scenes without compromising security. On the surface, the experience is intentionally simple and intuitive. Operational tools should reduce complexity, not add to it. Beneath that simplicity, however, the platform supports advanced temporal capabilities - enabling users to analyze asset movement over time, review historical activity, and understand how operational patterns evolve. This layered approach allows the application to serve both real-time awareness and deeper analytical review without overwhelming day-to-day users. Organizing Assets the Right Way A major focus of the project was ensuring that assets weren't just "points on a map. " Each piece of equipment is structured and categorized, associated with districts and operational units, and available for filtering and management within the platform. This allows users to: Quickly identify assets by type Search by unique identifier or call sign View assignments by geographic area Understand organizational relationships The system supports both real-time visibility and administrative oversight, making it useful during active operations and between deployments. Secure Access, Built for Operational Environments Situational awareness systems must balance accessibility with governance. The platform supports role-based access, meaning: Standard users can view and interact with operational data Administrative users can manage assets and configurations System access remains controlled and secure Authentication flows are aligned with Esri OAuth 2. 0, allowing users to securely sign in with their existing ArcGIS Online (AGOL) or ArcGIS Enterprise credentials. This approach ensures that mapping services and operational data remain protected while also enabling flexibility. Because the application supports Esri OAuth 2. 0, organizations can bring in their own ArcGIS feature services to further customize the map. That means users can: Add agency-specific operational layers Overlay internal data such as incident perimeters or staging areas Incorporate environmental context Support incident reviews with authoritative GIS data This capability turns the platform from a fixed application into an extensible operational environment - one that adapts to the agency's workflows rather than forcing agencies to adapt to the software. Supporting Real-Time and Historical Context Operational awareness isn't only about what's happening this minute. It's also about understanding movement over time. The platform can support breadcrumb-style tracking and temporal visualization approaches inspired by tools like ArcGIS StoryMaps, allowing organizations to: Review asset movement patterns Reconstruct incident timelines Conduct after-action analysis Share controlled narratives with leadership This bridges the gap between real-time monitoring and long-term evaluation, turning data into insight. Designed to Scale and Evolve From the beginning, the application was built with growth in mind. It is containerized and deployable across environments, meaning it can support staging, demonstration, and production instances without re-architecting the system. As Advanced SA Dispatch continues to expand capabilities, the foundation is in place to: Integrate additional data sources Expand asset management Introducing enhanced analytics Handle nuanced user roles and permissions Support broader operational use cases The result is not a static solution, but a platform ready to evolve alongside the needs of the field. The Impact By partnering with Advanced Situational Awareness, Blue Raster helped deliver a system that: Centralizes operational visibility Strengthens coordination Enhances asset accountability Provides leadership with actionable insight It transforms field-generated data into a live, interactive operational picture - accessible anywhere through a secure web interface. For organizations responsible for people, equipment, and mission-critical response, that clarity can make all the difference. At Blue Raster, we believe situational awareness should be intuitive, secure, and built for real-world conditions. This project reflects exactly that. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Scott-Ferry-ASA. mp4 If you're building or modernizing an operational platform and want it grounded in strong geospatial design, we're ready to help. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Community, Esri, Field Mobility, State & Local, UX/UI - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Experience Builder, Responsive Design - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Located in California's Santa Clara County, the City of Gilroy is a vibrant community of about 60,000 residents. Often recognized for its picturesque wine vineyards, lively neighborhoods, yearly festivals, agriculture, and particularly its garlic production, Gilroy has earned the nickname "The Garlic Capital of the World". Beyond these highlights, Gilroy has an extensive network of bike lanes and pedestrian paths, making it easy for residents and visitors to explore all that the city has to offer in an active and sustainable way. To help residents and visitors better explore these amenities, Blue Raster partnered with the City of Gilroy to develop GilroyPathways, an interactive web mapping application that showcases the city's trail systems, bicycle infrastructure, and points of interest. Built using Esri technology, the app provides an intuitive, accessible way to discover Gilroy's pathways while supporting safer and more sustainable mobility. A Smarter Way to Explore Gilroy's Trails GilroyPathways highlights the city's pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure through an engaging and user-friendly map interface. Designed to support both everyday commuters and recreational users, the application makes it easy to locate routes, amenities, and important safety information in one centralized platform. GilroyPathways users can interactively view trails, paths, and points of interest Key Features of the GilroyPathways App Detailed view showing sidewalks, bike paths, and associated signage Bike Lanes and Pedestrian Paths Users can explore detailed trail data, including: Surface material and path conditions Path width and accessibility information Speed limits and safety considerations Public art installations around the city are just a few of the points of interest covered by GilroyPathways Points of Interest and Trail Amenities The application also displays valuable amenities located along Gilroy's pathway network, such as: Benches and rest areas Bike racks and repair stations Public art installations Dog waste stations and trash cans Drinking fountains and water access points Wayfinding signage to help users stay oriented These features have filters to allow users to customize the map based on their needs - whether it's finding a nearby water fountain on a hot day or exploring the city's culture through its many art installations. Built With Trusted Partners To assure data was up-to-date and precise, Blue Raster partnered with Windrose Surveying & Land Services, LLC to conduct on the ground data collection. Members of the Windrose team lived in Gilroy for two months, allowing for extensive exploration and accurate data collection using survey-grade GPS equipment. GPS points, photos, and descriptive field notes were delivered regularly to the Blue Raster team. The team from Windrose Surveying & Land Services are pictured during their stay in Gilroy, collecting data on the city's paths, signs, and points of interest. From the Field to the Screen Once collected, our team used ArcGIS Pro to process and refine the field data into a comprehensive dataset. Our in-house UI/UX design team worked collaboratively with city stakeholders to design an application with user-friendly features highlighting the detailed dataset within ArcGIS Experience Builder. This platform allowed us to efficiently create a centralized and accessible resource to help users visualize path networks, view photos through pop-ups, and plan their routes. Whether you are exploring Gilroy on two feet or two wheels, Gilroy Pathways makes it easier than ever to plan your route and enjoy everything this unique city has to offer. Looking to transform your community's data into an engaging, user-friendly mapping experience? We'd love to partner with you. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Baltimore, Story Map, UX/UI - Tags: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Story Map - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster partnered with the Baltimore National Heritage Area (BNHA), a congressionally designated partnership that supports cultural, historical, and natural heritage projects across Baltimore, to transform years of grantmaking, partnerships, and preservation work into a digital experience that speaks to both funders and visitors. The result is a narrative-driven ArcGIS StoryMap, Baltimore's Living Heritage: How Culture, Community, and Investment Shape the City, that uses geography and narrative to demonstrate how strategic cultural funding supports economic vitality, strengthens neighborhoods, and brings Baltimore's history to life. From Reporting to Place-Based Storytelling BNHA supports a wide range of cultural heritage projects across Baltimore, from historic preservation and placemaking to exhibitions, festivals, and community storytelling. While the impact of this work is substantial, it has traditionally been communicated through reports, spreadsheets, and grant summaries that can make outcomes difficult to visualize. Blue Raster worked with BNHA to reimagine how this information could be shared. Instead of emphasizing totals and timelines, the StoryMap centers on place-based narratives using geography, visuals, and storytelling to connect funding decisions to tangible, real-world outcomes. The StoryMap was intentionally structured to guide users through: An experiential introduction to Baltimore's cultural landscape A map-based tour highlighting heritage sites across the city A clear overview of funding programs and partnerships A Small Grants, Big Impact section featuring five in-depth success stories Each section was designed to support multiple audiences: funders, visitors, and partners, seeking meaningful ways to engage with Baltimore's history. If you're looking for incredible content creation, Blue Raster is the person to hire. Their eye for visuals is unmatched, but it's their professionalism, quick response, and 'can-do' attitude that makes them a standout partner. They are remarkably easy to work with and consistently provide creative solutions that drive results. We reached out to them in a crisis, when our other contracting company fell apart - and not only did they step in to help us right away - within only two meetings - they understood our goal, desired audience impact, and storytelling "voice. " Phenomenal team, with a heart. A Tool for Funders, Visitors, and Partners The final StoryMap serves several complementary roles: A public-facing engagement tool that invites exploration and supports cultural tourism A funder-facing impact narrative grounded in tangible outcomes A living portfolio that can grow alongside BNHA's work By grounding funding programs in physical places and human stories, the StoryMap helps audiences better understand how cultural investment drives economic vitality, strengthens communities, and supports long-term stewardship across Baltimore. Designing for Impact, Not Overload One of the core design challenges was balancing transparency with clarity. Cultural investment generates metrics - dollars awarded, sites improved, partners engaged - but metrics alone rarely convey meaning. Rather than relying on dense charts or static reporting summaries, the StoryMap emphasizes transformation over totals. It shows how targeted funding enabled safer spaces, expanded interpretation, increased visitation, and strengthened community pride. To make impact tangible, five featured mini-StoryMaps spotlight organizations across Baltimore - including historic museums, neighborhoods, and cultural institutions. Each follows a consistent narrative framework: What existed before the investment What the funding made possible How the visitor experience improved How communities and local economies benefited This modular structure allows BNHA to expand the experience over time. New stories can be added seamlessly, ensuring the StoryMap remains a living, evolving portfolio of impact. The Value of Spatial Storytelling This project demonstrates the power of combining GIS, thoughtful design, and narrative strategy. When funding data is anchored to real places and paired with human stories, it becomes accessible, engaging, and actionable. Spatial storytelling bridges the gap between reporting and experience. It helps audiences see not just where investment occurs, but why it matters. By translating years of grantmaking into a cohesive geographic narrative, Blue Raster helped BNHA transform documentation into engagement, supporting preservation efforts while inviting new audiences to explore Baltimore's living heritage. We're proud to partner with the Baltimore National Heritage Area on this effort and to support organizations that are preserving history while shaping vibrant, inclusive futures. Interested in turning your data into a compelling spatial narrative? Let's talk about how GIS and storytelling can elevate your impact. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, Cloud, Esri, GIS, Parcels, Uncategorized - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Parcel Fabric, ArcGIS Pro, Land Records Management, Parcel, Parcel Data, Parcel Fabric, Parcel Management, Parcel Workflows - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Commercial Real Estate, Energy & Utilities, Federal Government, Public Safety, State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights Blue Raster has earned the Esri Parcel Management Specialty, recognizing our expertise delivering modern parcel management solutions across the ArcGIS platform. This designation highlights our success helping state and local governments modernize land records, strengthen data governance, and build sustainable enterprise GIS workflows. The specialty is awarded to partners who demonstrate deep technical knowledge, successful project delivery, and a strong understanding of Esri's modern parcel management framework. For Blue Raster, it reflects years of experience implementing ArcGIS Parcel Fabric as well as designing modern parcel workflows tailored to each organization's operational needs. Modernizing Land Records and Parcel Management Workflows Blue Raster specializes in helping organizations modernize land records and parcel management as they transition from legacy GIS environments. We work with clients to evolve outdated data models and ArcMap-based processes into scalable, enterprise-ready solutions built on ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Parcel Fabric, and ArcGIS Enterprise. Our work includes ArcGIS Parcel Fabric implementations, modernization of parcel editing workflows both inside and outside the fabric, and ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro migrations that align technology with real operational needs. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, we help organizations choose the right path, whether that means adopting ArcGIS Parcel Fabric or improving existing parcel workflows with modern tools and practices. The result is parcel data that remains authoritative, transparent, and sustainable as organizational priorities and GIS platforms continue to evolve. Our Parcel Management Capabilities Ensuring Long-Term Success with Modern Parcel Management Solutions As organizations modernize parcel management, adopt ArcGIS Parcel Fabric, and transition from legacy ArcMap workflows to ArcGIS Pro, success depends as much on people as technology. Blue Raster works closely with clients to redesign editing workflows, share practical knowledge, and help staff feel confident using modern tools and processes. We prioritize collaboration throughout each project, with hands-on training, knowledge transfer, and clear documentation that empowers teams to sustain and evolve their systems over time. Whether implementing ArcGIS Parcel Fabric or modernizing parcel workflows outside the fabric, our goal is to be a trusted partner who supports both implementation and long-term growth, ensuring modernization efforts deliver lasting value across the organization. Let Us Help You Build Scalable GIS and Parcel Management Solutions If you are planning to deploy or modernize ArcGIS Enterprise, implement ArcGIS Parcel Fabric, modernize land records workflows, transition from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro, or improve enterprise GIS performance, Blue Raster is ready to help you build what comes next. Contact us to learn how our GIS consulting and implementation services can support your parcel management and enterprise GIS initiatives. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, Cloud, Esri - Tags: API, ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Enterprise 12x, Cloud, Cloud Managed Services, Managed Services - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Commercial Real Estate, Conservation, Education, Energy & Utilities, Federal Government, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens, Public Safety, State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics, Uncategorized, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights ArcGIS Enterprise 12. 0 has arrived, marking the next chapter in the evolution of Esri's ArcGIS Enterprise platform. This release introduces a range of new capabilities and refinements across performance, security, and application development, setting the stage for how organizations will build, deploy, and scale GIS moving forward. For many teams, this represents the first real glimpse into where the platform is headed and how today's systems can begin aligning with what's next. The release of ArcGIS Enterprise 12. x represents an important milestone for Enterprise GIS, introducing platform enhancements that most organizations will eventually adopt. While 12. 0 itself is a short-term release, it provides an early opportunity to understand upcoming shifts and prepare for a smoother transition to the next long-term support release especially for organizations with custom web applications built on the ArcGIS API for JavaScript 3. x, as well as applications created with ArcGIS Web AppBuilder and ArcGIS Configurable Apps. It is mission critical to plan for this change to avoid unexpected disruptions. Understanding Breaking Changes A breaking change occurs when a platform update causes existing applications or code to stop functioning as expected. While the ArcGIS API for JavaScript 3. x was officially retired in July 2024, it continued to be available through ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5. With the release of ArcGIS Enterprise 12. 0, that support ends. The 3. x API and products built on it, including custom applications, ArcGIS Web AppBuilder, and ArcGIS Configurable Apps, are no longer included or supported in the platform. As a result, organizations running applications built on JavaScript 3. x will encounter breaking changes when moving to Enterprise 12. 0 or future releases. These applications will need to be migrated to modern frameworks in order to remain supported and compatible with the evolving ArcGIS platform. Organizations that wait to address these changes risk compressed timelines, limited testing windows, and higher upgrade complexity. Planning early allows teams to approach this transition thoughtfully, preserving functionality, minimizing disruption, and aligning applications with the direction of the platform. Why Planning Ahead Matters Waiting until an upgrade is unavoidable can introduce challenges such as: Increased technical debt Limited time for testing and validation Higher risk during production upgrades Difficulty maintaining or extending legacy codebases Planning ahead gives organizations the time and flexibility to: Inventory existing applications and their dependencies Identify which applications should be modernized, refactored, or retired Incorporate new capabilities available in the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript (4. x) as part of the transition. Taking a proactive approach reduces risk and helps ensure a smoother transition to ArcGIS Enterprise 12. 0 and future releases. Recommended Migration Path As organizations prepare for ArcGIS Enterprise 12. x, aligning applications with Esri's modern development frameworks is key to maintaining support, performance, and long-term flexibility. At a high level, recommended migration paths include: Custom JavaScript 3. x applications should be migrated to the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript (4. x) to ensure continued support and compatibility with current and future Enterprise releases. ArcGIS Web AppBuilder applications should be transitioned to ArcGIS Experience Builder, which provides a more flexible, modern framework for building configurable web experiences. Configurable applications should be evaluated and migrated to ArcGIS Instant Apps or other modern alternatives that better align with the evolving ArcGIS platform. Blue Raster Can Help You Upgrade As organizations plan for ArcGIS Enterprise 12. x, the focus often extends beyond the platform upgrade itself. Key steps include assessing the current environment, developing a modernization roadmap, testing early and often, and identifying opportunities to take advantage of newer capabilities across the ArcGIS ecosystem. Blue Raster works with organizations throughout this process, helping to: Plan and execute ArcGIS Enterprise 12. x upgrades Modernize applications built on the ArcGIS API for JavaScript 3. x Preserve critical application functionality during transitions Explore and implement capabilities available in modern ArcGIS APIs and frameworks We partner with teams to ensure both platforms and applications evolve together, supporting a smoother transition today while positioning systems for what comes next. Contact us to start planning your ArcGIS Enterprise 12 Upgrade - Categories: Uncategorized - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, AWS, Azure, Cloud, Cloud Migration, Deployment, Google Cloud, Managed Services, Migration - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Commercial Real Estate, Conservation, Education, Energy & Utilities, Federal Government, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens, Public Safety, State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics, Uncategorized, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights Getting Started For many organizations, the idea of moving ArcGIS Enterprise to the cloud does not begin with technology. It usually starts with a practical moment. A hardware refresh is coming up. Storage is running out. Performance is starting to lag. Or IT is being asked to support more systems with fewer resources. That is often when the conversation shifts from maintaining what already exists to rethinking how infrastructure fits into the broader direction of the organization. Cloud migration has become part of a much larger shift in how enterprise systems are planned, funded, and operated. Instead of treating infrastructure as a long term asset that gets replaced every few years, more teams are moving toward models where systems are flexible, scalable, and continuously evolving. ArcGIS Enterprise fits directly into this shift, not as a product decision, but as part of an overall strategy around how GIS should be delivered and sustained. Understanding the Financial Shift: CapEx vs OpEx Traditionally, on-premises GIS environments are built around capital expenditure. Servers, storage, networking equipment, backup systems, and data center resources are purchased upfront, often sized for peak demand and expected to last several years. The investment is significant, but predictable, and ownership gives teams a sense of control over performance and capacity. Cloud introduces a different financial model. Instead of buying infrastructure, organizations pay for usage. Compute, storage, and services become operational expenses that scale with demand. This can reduce large upfront costs and eliminate hardware refresh cycles, but it also means that cost management becomes an ongoing operational activity rather than a periodic budgeting exercise. For GIS teams, this shift often changes how success is measured. Instead of asking whether systems are fully utilized, the focus moves to whether resources are right-sized, whether environments are being monitored effectively, and whether usage aligns with actual business needs. Choosing a Cloud Provider Is a Strategic Decision Selecting a cloud provider is rarely just a GIS decision. It is usually influenced by what the broader organization is already using, how identity and access management is handled, what security frameworks are in place, and how procurement and compliance processes work. Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud all support ArcGIS Enterprise well, but each brings different strengths in terms of enterprise integration, governance models, and operational tooling. For many organizations, the best choice is the one that fits most naturally into existing IT standards and long term digital strategy, rather than the one that looks most attractive from a purely technical GIS perspective. This is where cloud migration becomes less about features and more about alignment. The smoother the integration with existing systems, the easier it becomes to operationalize GIS in a way that feels native to the organization. Benefits of Moving to the Cloud One of the most visible benefits of the cloud is elasticity. Environments can scale up during periods of heavy usage and scale down when demand drops. Temporary projects no longer require permanent infrastructure. New environments can be created in hours instead of months. Resilience also changes. Disaster recovery, which is often complex and expensive on-premises, becomes part of the core architecture. Backups, replication, and failover can be built into the system design rather than treated as separate initiatives. Operationally, cloud reduces the burden of hardware maintenance and shifts focus toward system configuration, monitoring, and optimization. Teams spend less time managing physical infrastructure and more time improving how systems perform and how users interact with them. Why Some Organizations Stay On-Premises Despite the momentum around cloud, on-premises environments are still the right choice for some organizations. Regulatory constraints, strict data residency requirements, or deeply embedded internal systems can make cloud more complicated than beneficial. In some cases, performance considerations or highly specialized workflows make local infrastructure more practical. In others, the organizational culture around IT governance and risk management makes full cloud adoption difficult. The key point is that staying on-premises is not necessarily a failure to modernize. It is simply a different set of tradeoffs around control, flexibility, cost, and risk. Architecture Becomes the Real Decision Moving ArcGIS Enterprise to the cloud is not just about where servers live. It changes how environments are designed. Authentication, storage, networking, security, monitoring, and deployment all become part of an integrated architecture rather than isolated components. Cloud encourages patterns like automation, infrastructure as code, environment segmentation, and continuous optimization. Systems are no longer static. They are designed to evolve, adapt, and respond to changing needs. This also changes how teams work. The focus shifts from maintaining assets to managing services. Governance, documentation, and collaboration between GIS and IT become central to long term success. In many cases, organizations adopt hybrid models, keeping some workloads on-premises while moving others to the cloud. This creates a gradual transition that balances innovation with stability and allows teams to learn and adapt over time. FAQs Is the cloud really cheaper for ArcGIS Enterprise? Expand It depends on how environments are sized and managed. Cloud can reduce large upfront costs and eliminate hardware refresh cycles, but poor cost monitoring can lead to higher ongoing expenses. The real value comes from flexibility, scalability, and shifting infrastructure management from capital investments to operational control. Will performance suffer in the cloud? Expand For most use cases, performance is comparable or better, especially when environments are properly architected. Network design, storage configuration, and proximity to users play a bigger role than whether systems are on-premises or in the cloud. How does security change in the cloud? Expand Security becomes a shared responsibility. Cloud providers handle physical infrastructure and many baseline protections, while organizations remain responsible for identity management, access control, configuration, and data governance. The focus shifts from perimeter security to continuous monitoring and policy-driven controls. Do we need new skills to manage a cloud GIS environment? Expand Yes, but not necessarily more skills. The emphasis moves from hardware administration to cloud services, automation, cost management, and governance. Many teams find that roles evolve rather than expand How do we avoid vendor lock in?... - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, Cloud, Cloud Managed Services, Enterprise, Hardening, Managed Services, Security - Industries: Commercial - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services As enterprise GIS platforms become increasingly central to organizational operations, security is no longer optional, it's foundational. From sensitive spatial data to mission-critical services, modern ArcGIS Enterprise environments must be designed with resilience, reliability,and compliance at their core. Working with the team at Blue Raster, Stearns Weaver Miller completed an ArcGIS Enterprise implementation with a strong emphasis on security hardening and compliance. Rather than treating security as a final checklist item, it was embedded throughout the systemassessment, configuration, and deployment process. In this blog, we'll demystify the Esri ArcGIS Enterprise Hardening Guide, explain why it matters, and share practical lessons learned from applying it in a real-world enterprise GIS environment. Esri, Pillars of a Well-Architected System, ArcGIS Architecture Center Who They Are Stearns Weaver Miller is a multidisciplinary organization with a robust GIS practice, delivering enterprise-grade geospatial solutions with an emphasis on security, reliability, and compliance. As a leading Florida-based law firm, the organization supports clients across highly regulated sectors including government, real estate, environmental, and financial services, where secure access to authoritative spatial data is critical. Their GIS platforms play a key role in enabling informed decision-making, regulatory compliance, and long-term operational resilience. Our Project Blue Raster supported an ArcGIS Enterprise implementation that included a system assessment, secure configuration, and alignment with Esri's recommended hardening practices. The goal was to ensure the platform met both internal security standards and external compliance expectations. Why It Matters Given the sensitivity of the data and the critical nature of system availability, security and compliance were top priorities from day one. What Is the Esri ArcGIS Enterprise Hardening Guide? The Esri ArcGIS Enterprise Hardening Guide is a comprehensive set of security best practices designed to help organizations protect their ArcGIS Enterprise deployments from common vulnerabilities and emerging threats. Definition & Scope The guide provides recommendations across authentication, authorization, network security, encryption, system configuration, and operational practices. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of misconfiguration and minimize exposure in enterprise GIS environments You can access the guide here. Purpose Esri developed the guide to help organizations take a proactive approach to GIS security, strengthening systems before vulnerabilities are exploited, rather than responding after incidents occur. Audience The guide is especially relevant for: GIS administrators IT security teams Enterprise and system architects Organizations operating in regulated or compliance-driven environments Why Compliance Matters Understanding the Risk Landscape An improperly hardened ArcGIS Enterprise environment can expose organizations to unauthorized access, data leakage, service outages, and reputational risk. These risks grow as GIS platforms become more tightly integrated with enterprise identity providers, cloud infrastructure, and external applications. Alignment with Broader Best Practices Following the Hardening Guide helps align GIS deployments with broader organizational and regulatory frameworks, including internal IT security policies, NIST guidance, and zero-trust principles. Real-World Value In practice, hardening measures, such as stronger authentication controls, reduced attack surfaces, and encrypted communications can significantly lower the likelihood and impact of security incidents before systems ever reach production. Key Hardening Challenges and How We Addressed Them During this implementation, we encountered a few common configuration gaps where environments often fall short of Esri's recommendations. Below are three examples and how they were resolved. Web Application Firewall (WAF) Configuration What We Observed The environment lacked a defined web application firewall rule set to filter unauthorized or malformed requests. Why It Matters Without a WAF, publicly exposed endpoints are more vulnerable to common web-based attacks and unauthorized access. How It Was Addressed We assisted with implementing and tuning a WAF rule set that aligned with ArcGIS Enterprise traffic patterns, while blocking unapproved requests. See "Implement Web Application Firewall" on page 43 of the Esri Hardening Guide. Outcome / Benefit Improved protection against malicious traffic without impacting legitimate GIS services. Portal for ArcGIS Sharing Proxy What We Observed The Portal for ArcGIS sharing proxy was enabled even though it was not required. Why It Matters An enabled sharing proxy can introduce additional risk, including exposure to Denial of Service (DoS) or Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks. How It Was Addressed We assisted with disabling the sharing proxy in accordance with Esri hardening recommendations. See "Configure Cross-Origin Resource Sharing Allow List" on page 47 of the Esri Hardening Guide. Outcome / Benefit A smaller attack surface and reduced risk without affecting core functionality. Network Access Restrictions What We Observed Security group rules allowed broader access than necessary, including non-internal IP ranges and unneeded open ports. Why It Matters Overly permissive network access increases the attack surface and risk of unauthorized access. How It Was Addressed We helped restrict access to approved internal IP addresses and locked down all ports to only those required for ArcGIS Enterprise operations. See "Implement Intermachine Network Restrictions" on page 45 of the Esri Hardening Guide. Outcome / Benefit Reduced exposure and stronger alignment with least-privilege networking principles. Lessons Learned & Best Practices Several key best practices stood out during this implementation: Document everything. Clear documentation ensures hardening decisions are repeatable and defensible. Treat hardening as an ongoing process. Security requires continuous review as systems and integrations evolve. Automate where possible. Configuration checks and monitoring help reduce human error. Collaborate early with IT security teams. Early alignment prevents rework and accelerates delivery. For GIS administrators, the takeaway is simple: start with the Hardening Guide early, and use it as a living reference throughout the lifecycle of your ArcGIS implementation. The Esri ArcGIS Enterprise Hardening Guide provides a clear framework for securing enterprise GIS environments, but its true value comes from thoughtful, real-world application. By prioritizing security and compliance throughout the ArcGIS Enterprise implementation, Stearns Weaver Miller delivered a system that meets both operational requirements and modern security expectations. Take the Next Step Ready to strengthen your ArcGIS Enterprise environment? Contact Blue Raster to assess your current deployment and align it with Esri's security best practices. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, Uncategorized - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Monitor, Cloud Managed Services, Managed Services, State & Local Government - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Managed Services When a public-facing GIS application slows down, users notice immediately. Administrators, however, often don't see the warning signs until performance issues have already begun affecting staff and the public. For many state and local governments, the challenge isn't expertise or effort, it's visibility. Without real-time insight into ArcGIS Enterprise performance, even well-managed systems can be difficult to monitor proactively. This was the case for Orange County, Virginia, which relies on a robust ArcGIS Enterprise environment to support both internal operations and high-traffic public applications. The Challenge: Identifying Performance Bottlenecks in Real Time Orange County, Virginia maintains a large ArcGIS Enterprise deployment with numerous services running concurrently. While most services experience moderate usage, one parcel service receives the majority of incoming requests and supports a heavily used public-facing application. Over time, this service began exhibiting long load times, request timeouts, and inconsistent performance, issues that directly impacted staff workflows and the public user experience. When problems surfaced, troubleshooting required Orange County's GIS Administrator to manually review ArcGIS Server logs and interpret error messages after the fact, often under pressure. What the county needed was a way to understand system behavior as issues were unfolding, not hours later. That's where Blue Raster came in. The Solution: Purpose-Built Monitoring with ArcGIS Monitor Blue Raster partnered with Orange County to implement ArcGIS Monitor with a focus on turning raw system metrics into actionable insight. Rather than overwhelming the GIS administrator with data, the goal was to surface the information that mattered most, clearly and immediately. Together, we designed a series of custom dashboards and analysis views aligned with how the county actually operates. These views were built to quickly answer essential questions: Are services responding normally? Is the infrastructure under strain? Is our most important service being overwhelmed? To support this, the solution included multiple tailored views, each with a clear purpose: Infrastructure analysis views showing host CPU usage, memory utilization, storage usage, and overall network activity. Performance views tracking running service instances, response times, and failed requests. In addition, custom indicators and alerts were configured to flag site outages, connectivity issues, service degradation, and infrastructure stress, bringing attention to potential problems before they escalated into outages. The Result: Proactive Monitoring and Faster Response By tailoring ArcGIS Monitor to Orange County's specific priorities, Blue Raster helped transform monitoring from a reactive task into a strategic capability. The county now has greater confidence in its ArcGIS Enterprise environment, faster troubleshooting workflows, and improved support for the mission critical services relied on by both internal staff and the public. Added Benefit: Monitoring Against County SLAs Like many local governments, Orange County, Virginia needed a clear, defensible way to measure system uptime against established service-level agreements (SLAs). The county maintains an internal requirement that its ArcGIS Enterprise environment achieve greater than 95% uptime, with performance reviewed on both a monthly and annual basis. As part of the ArcGIS Monitor implementation, Blue Raster configured a custom indicator to track total downtime in minutes and automatically calculate uptime percentages over time. This approach eliminates manual log reviews and provides the GIS Administrator with a clear, at-a-glance view of system availability and historical trends. The result is improved transparency, stronger accountability, and increased confidence that ArcGIS Enterprise performance consistently aligns with county standards and expectations. Ready to Optimize Your ArcGIS Enterprise Environment? Blue Raster helps state and local governments like Orange County, Virginia gain clarity and control over their ArcGIS Enterprise environments. Whether you're managing dozens of services or a single mission-critical application, we can help you monitor smarter, respond faster, and plan more effectively. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: Uncategorized - Tags: ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty, ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Image Server, GeoAI, Imagery, Imagery Delivery, Raster Analysis - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Commercial Real Estate, Conservation, Education, Energy & Utilities, Federal Government, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens, Public Safety, State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics, Uncategorized, Water - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Mobile Application Development, Software & Data Solutions, Technological Insights, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster has officially earned the Esri Imagery Specialty, marking an important milestone in how we continue to push the boundaries of what organizations can do with imagery inside the ArcGIS ecosystem. This recognition reflects deep, hands on experience delivering premium imagery content, configuring and managing complex raster environments, and applying advanced processing and analytics that extend the core capabilities of ArcGIS. Imagery as a Foundation for Modern GIS Analysis Imagery is no longer just a visual layer. It has become a primary data source for analysis, automation, and decision making. Blue Raster helps organizations unlock the full value of their imagery across ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online by designing and deploying scalable workflows for image hosting, processing, and delivery. Using ArcGIS Image Server and ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online, we support high volume imagery pipelines that enable dynamic analysis at scale while keeping performance and governance front and center. Our team brings deep expertise in assembling and managing multiresolution imagery and raster data from diverse sensors, sources, and timeframes. By leveraging cloud native architectures and modern GIS deployment practices, we help organizations move beyond static imagery toward living datasets that support temporal analysis, change detection, and predictive modeling. These foundations are critical for advanced raster analytics and GeoAI initiatives where data quality, performance, and repeatability matter. Advancing AI, GeoAI, and Remote Sensing with ArcGIS As imagery continues to evolve as a foundation for advanced analysis, Blue Raster is actively advancing our capabilities across AI, GeoAI, GIS, and remote sensing. We help organizations maximize the value of imagery driven machine learning and deep learning workflows within ArcGIS, supporting efforts to automate feature extraction, classify landscapes, and reveal patterns that are difficult to identify through manual analysis alone. From preparing training data to deploying and operationalizing models, our focus is on integrating these workflows into existing GIS environments so results move naturally into maps, dashboards, and downstream systems where they can inform real world decisions. Let Us Help You Deploy Imagery Solutions That Scale with Your Mission With the Esri Imagery Specialty and our ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty, Blue Raster is uniquely positioned to design, deploy, and operate end to end imagery solutions that scale with your mission. If you are planning to deploy or modernize ArcGIS Enterprise, implement ArcGIS Image Server, expand raster analysis capabilities, or explore GeoAI to turn imagery into actionable intelligence, we are ready to help you build what comes next. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, Custom Application, Development, GIS, Parcels, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, GIS Migration, Parcel - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development Moore County, NC partnered with Blue Raster to modernize its parcel mapping workflows by migrating legacy ArcMap tools to powerful ArcGIS Pro add-ins. This upgrade streamlines parcel editing, improves data accuracy, and creates a future-ready GIS foundation for local government operations. Learn how the County transitioned critical tax tools to ArcGIS Pro while enhancing performance, usability, and long-term sustainability. Project Background Moore County, NC has taken a major step toward modernizing its tax mapping and appraisal workflows by transitioning from legacy ArcMap tools to ArcGIS Pro add-ins. With ArcMap officially retired, the County partnered with Blue Raster to rebuild essential tax tools in a modern, supported, and scalable GIS environment. This ArcGIS Pro migration ensures that parcel editing, tax appraisal searches, and mapping workflows remain accurate, efficient, and aligned with today's GIS best practices, while preserving the user experience staff rely on every day. A Smooth Transition from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro To support a seamless upgrade, Blue Raster collaborated closely with Moore County's tax mappers and appraisers through discovery sessions and iterative testing. Since the original ArcMap tool source code was no longer available, the team recreated each workflow to fully understand how the tools behaved, including the shortcuts and undocumented logic that had accumulated over years of use. Blue Raster conducts collaborative discovery session with Moore County Tax Mappers Using the ArcGIS Pro SDK and a modern MVVM architecture, Blue Raster rebuilt the toolsets with Pro-native capabilities such as transactional editing, real-time validation, and enhanced spatial querying, giving the County faster and more reliable tax mapping operations. What the New Tools Deliver With their ArcGIS Pro migration, Moore County now benefits from a toolset designed for performance, scalability, and long-term sustainability: Faster, more accurate parcel search workflows Streamlined PIN generation and automated labeling Improved performance when working with large parcel datasets A future-proof toolset fully supported by the Esri platform A Future-Ready GIS Foundation The project wrapped with dedicated training sessions, documentation, and knowledge transfer to ensure Moore County staff were confident working in ArcGIS Pro from day one. By modernizing their tax mapping workflows, the County now has a modern GIS foundation designed for long-term sustainability, reduced technical debt, and easier onboarding for new staff. Ready to Modernize Your Tax Mapping or ArcGIS Pro Workflows? Blue Raster helps local governments migrate legacy ArcMap tools, modernize GIS systems, and build future-ready workflows with ArcGIS Pro. Whether you're planning a full migration or updating just a few key tools, our team can help you move forward with confidence. Reach out today to get started! - Categories: Cemetery, GIS, Health, Human Rights, Public Gardens - Tags: Central Park Conservancy, Columbia University, conservation, Managed Services, New York Botanical Garden, NewYork, NYBG, Public Gardens, Public Health - Industries: Conservation, Education, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster has supported New York City for more than a decade with GIS solutions that strengthen park management, improve public health research, and drive global development initiatives. Our work spans Central Park Conservancy, NYBG, Green-Wood Cemetery, Columbia University, and the United Nations. As I peered out the window of Amtrak's Northeast Regional on the way to New York City to attend the Esri GIS For Good meetup at the UN on November 18th, naturally my thoughts turned to GIS and I reflected on all the ways we have supported the Big Apple, especially the public open areas. For more than a decade, Blue Raster has partnered with some of New York City's most celebrated green spaces such as Green-Wood Cemetery, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Central Park Conservancy to elevate how they manage, protect, and communicate the stories of their landscapes. Across these collaborations, we've modernized geospatial data ecosystems, implemented ArcGIS Online and Portal environments, and delivered intuitive web and mobile tools that support everything from day-to-day maintenance to long-term conservation planning. Whether mapping historic trees, refining operational workflows, or enabling staff to visualize work across hundreds of acres, our focus has been on creating GIS solutions that are sustainable, elegant, and built for the people who use them.   We're also excited about a new partnership with major public parks support organization-an effort that will help unify community data, operational insights, and planning resources into a single ArcGIS-powered platform. This next chapter strengthens our commitment to New York's public spaces and the teams who care for them. Beyond the park boundaries: Our work includes other iconic New York institutions outside of the parks but that nonetheless contribute to the vital fabric of the city. Since 2015 Blue Raster has been supporting NY based global development and health organizations notably Columbia University and the United Nations. Our enduring partnership with the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health includes the recent Columbia Impact Exchange and multiple HIV surveillance projects. Our most recent collaboration with the UN includes the forthcoming UNFPA Human Rights Recommendations dashboard. Watch this space for the debut! From Brooklyn to the Bronx, Blue Raster is proud to support organizations that keep New York a green, resilient, center of global development. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: State & Local - Tags: State and Local - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training Blue Raster partnered with Manassas Park, VA and Chester County, PA to improve land classification, parcel editing, and address management using ArcGIS Pro, deep learning models, and custom add-ins. These upgrades help local governments make faster, more confident decisions about development and infrastructure. Recent Work Helping Communities Build Smarter, Faster, and More Confidently Blue Raster has spent the past few months partnering with state and local governments who want better data, stronger workflows, and clearer insight into the places they serve. Two recent efforts show how modern GIS tools help communities make informed decisions about growth, infrastructure, and public services. Understanding Land Use in Manassas Park, Virginia The City of Manassas Park wanted a clearer picture of how their community is changing. Their Department of Community Development needed more than static imagery. They needed a reliable way to understand what is happening on the ground so they could plan for future growth. Blue Raster used the Esri Land Classification deep learning model to classify high resolution imagery maintained by the Virginia Geographic Information Network. We processed three-band orthoimagery into nine land cover categories that distinguish impervious and pervious surfaces across residential, commercial, and industrial parcels. You can imagine the value. Instead of guessing how development patterns shift over time, the city now sees actual changes in surfaces and land use. That gives planners a stronger foundation for zoning decisions and future investment, especially as growth continues in the city's core. Because the model can classify imagery as coarse as 36 inches and VDEM provides data at 12 inches, Manassas Park can rely on a consistent data pipeline moving forward. Staff can also sort and group parcels by dominant land cover to pinpoint where new impervious surfaces appear, giving the city a clearer understanding of where stormwater, infrastructure, and environmental impacts may emerge. Modernizing Parcel Management in Chester County, Pennsylvania Chester County took on a major modernization initiative. After years of working in ArcMap, the County wanted to move fully into ArcGIS Pro with an upgraded Parcel Fabric, cleaner workflows, and tools designed to match how their editors actually work. Blue Raster partnered with the County to deploy a new Parcel Fabric across DEV, TEST, and PROD environments. We built custom ArcGIS Pro Add-Ins that automate and streamline editing tasks. These tools were shaped directly around the County's processes, helping editors work faster and with less friction. Highlights include: Sequential lot number and UPI generation Advanced Attribute Rules for validation and calculation Standardized schema and naming conventions A clear versioning strategy A defined lineage process to track parcel history QA and topology review steps using the Error Inspector The shift gives Chester County a more consistent editing experience and sets them up for long-term maintenance. Parcel lineage was a major priority, and the new approach gives the County a reliable record of how each parcel changes over time. Smarter Road Centerlines and Address Management Addressing and road network maintenance are never simple. Legacy processes often relied on manual edits that made consistency difficult. Chester County asked us to help streamline this work too. Blue Raster built custom add-ins for Road Centerlines and Site Address Points. These tools help editors split, merge, add, delete, realign, flip, and update centerlines with built-in logic checks to keep geometry clean. The Site Address Point tool automates another key step. Editors can now pull the correct road name directly from the selected centerline, reducing manual entry and improving accuracy across the address point layer. These upgrades replace slow legacy workflows and give the County a consistent system that supports daily operations and future growth. Helping Local Governments Move Forward State and local governments depend on clear, accurate data to make decisions that affect residents every day. These projects show what becomes possible when teams pair their local expertise with the right GIS tools. If your community is planning a modernization effort or exploring how geospatial data can support growth, our team is ready to help. Reach out to us today! - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, Cloud, GIS, Microsoft Azure - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, Azure, Cloud, Cloud Managed Services, Esri Partner, Managed Services, Microsoft, PostgreSQL, Renewable Energy, Virtualization - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Energy & Utilities - Services: GIS Managed Services Blue Raster partnered with OneEnergy Renewables to modernize and manage their ArcGIS Enterprise environment in their Microsoft Azure cloud environment. From deploying and upgrading ArcGIS Enterprise to providing ongoing managed services, virtual machine administration, and ArcGIS Pro support, Blue Raster delivers a secure, scalable, and high-performing GIS platform that empowers OneEnergy to streamline operations and advance renewable energy initiatives. OneEnergy Renewables is a leading developer of utility-scale solar and wind energy projects across the United States. GIS plays a central role in their operations, helping site and design projects, analyze environmental and land use data, optimize asset management, and support regulatory compliance. To strengthen these capabilities, Blue Raster partnered with OneEnergy Renewables to modernize and manage their ArcGIS Enterprise environment in their Microsoft Azure cloud environment, creating a secure, scalable, and high-performing GIS platform that supports their renewable energy mission. Deploying and Upgrading ArcGIS Enterprise The engagement began with the deployment of ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 1, which Blue Raster later upgraded to version 11. 5, enhancing system performance, scalability, and alignment with Esri latest updates and best practices. This upgrade provided OneEnergy with a robust foundation to manage spatial data, streamline workflows, and support critical business operations. Working closely with OneEnergy's IT team, Blue Raster ensured the deployment followed both internal security protocols and Esri's recommended standards. By collaborating from the outset, we were able to design a cloud architecture optimized for both performance and compliance, ensuring sensitive data remains secure while being easily accessible to authorized users. Ongoing Cloud Managed Services and System Monitoring Beyond deployment, Blue Raster continues to provide comprehensive managed services to maintain a reliable and efficient GIS environment. Using proactive monitoring with Zabbix, we track system performance, anticipate potential issues, and implement preventive measures to minimize downtime. We manage virtual machines, optimize system resources, and support PostgreSQL Enterprise geodatabases, ensuring that GIS data workflows remain smooth and uninterrupted. Additionally, Blue Raster has virtualized ArcGIS Pro workstations, allowing OneEnergy staff to access their GIS tools and applications seamlessly remotely. Our team also supports ongoing ArcGIS Pro maintenance, user guidance, and workflow optimization, empowering OneEnergy to leverage their GIS capabilities fully. Driving Renewable Energy Insights and Operations Through this partnership, Blue Raster not only delivers technical solutions but also a strategic, long-term approach to GIS management. OneEnergy now benefits from a scalable, secure, and high-performing GIS platform that enables them to operate efficiently, scale confidently, and focus on advancing renewable energy development while maintaining a competitive edge in the industry. Discover how Blue Raster can help your organization modernize and manage its ArcGIS Enterprise environment. Contact us today to learn how our cloud-managed services, GIS expertise, and tailored solutions can empower your team and drive operational success. - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Pro, Cloud, Economic Development, GIS, State & Local, Training, Transportation, Uncategorized - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, Cloud, GIS Support, Managed Services, Regional Council, Regional Planning, State and Local, Strategic Support, Washington - Industries: State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services Blue Raster has partnered with the Puget Sound Regional Council to provide strategic GIS support and ArcGIS Enterprise managed services. Through cloud-based GIS modernization, the recent upgrade to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.5, and ongoing managed services, Blue Raster helps regional and local government teams access data efficiently, improve workflows, and support effective planning within the region. As an Esri Gold Partner with the Esri State and Local Government Specialty, Blue Raster utilizes its expertise to provide strategic GIS support to regional and local government agencies and departments, helping them maximize the power of their GIS data and infrastructure. The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) serves as the regional planning organization for the central Puget Sound area, supporting transportation, growth management, and economic development initiatives across multiple counties. GIS is central to PSRC's work, helping staff analyze regional data, plan infrastructure projects, visualize growth trends, and make informed decisions. To help them meet their goals, Blue Raster has partnered with PSRC to provide strategic GIS support and ArcGIS Enterprise managed services that advance and sustain their Esri-based GIS program. As the agency navigates a major technology transition, Blue Raster delivers project-based initiatives, on-call support, and ongoing managed services, helping PSRC modernize its GIS infrastructure, adopt cloud-based solutions, and refine a long-term technology strategy to support staff across the organization. Assessing the GIS Environment Our team evaluated PSRC's existing GIS environment, IT infrastructure, and user requirements to design a cloud-based GIS architecture that meets the agency's needs. Subsequently, Blue Raster deployed ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 1 in PSRC's Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud environment and recently upgraded it to ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5. The upgraded platform provides faster, more reliable access to spatial data and applications, supporting efficient analysis, project planning, and informed decision-making for operations across the Puget Sound region. Ongoing Strategic Guidance and Managed Services Blue Raster continues to provide strategic guidance as PSRC evolves its GIS program. We advise on ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise deployments, help refine the agency's 3- to 5-year GIS strategy, and plan for future Esri technologies and licensing needs. Our managed services include proactive system monitoring with Zabbix, virtual machine administration, optimization of system resources, and ArcGIS Pro workstation support. We also set up virtual ArcGIS Pro workstations, giving staff seamless access to GIS tools from anywhere. On-call support and troubleshooting ensure a reliable, high-performing GIS environment, allowing staff to focus on delivering results for the region. Delivering Scalable GIS Solutions for Regional Planning PSRC benefits from a cloud-based GIS platform that is secure, scalable, and tailored for regional and local government operations. Blue Raster's strategic support and managed services empower PSRC staff to make data-driven decisions, streamline workflows, and continue advancing regional planning initiatives across the Puget Sound. Learn how Blue Raster can provide strategic GIS support and ArcGIS Enterprise managed services for your organization. Contact us today to explore solutions that empower regional and local government teams to operate efficiently and make data-driven decisions - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Climate, Conservation, Environment, Esri, Land Use, Story Map, Women in Science - Tags: Jane Goodall, JGI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development Blue Raster joins the world in honoring Dr. Jane Goodall, whose vision united people, nature, and technology. Through collaborations with the Jane Goodall Institute, we’ve supported her mission with GIS tools and StoryMaps that connect local conservation efforts to global impact. Her legacy continues to inspire data-driven action for the planet. We join the world in mourning the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, a pioneering scientist, storyteller, and humanitarian whose life's work forever changed our understanding of the natural world. Her profound curiosity and empathy for chimpanzees expanded into a global movement for conservation and community-led action, one that continues to inspire millions around the world. Jane Goodall understood early on that maps tell stories. From the forests of Gombe in the 1960s to community-managed landscapes across Africa today, her vision embraced the power of spatial data to connect local action with global insight. She championed the use of modern geospatial tools to monitor habitats, inform conservation strategies, and share powerful stories with the world. A Shared Commitment to Conservation through GIS Blue Raster is honored to have collaborated with the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) on a range of projects that reflect Dr. Goodall's commitment to innovation, storytelling, and community partnership. We were fortunate to travel to Gombe in Tanzania on multiple trips to support their team with vital field data collection efforts. Together, we have built interactive maps, decision support tools, and StoryMaps that make JGI's vital work more accessible and impactful: Decision Support System in Western Tanzania that visualizes community-collected data on threats and restoration progress, bringing real-time insights to local leaders and conservation practitioners. Celebrating 60 Years of Discovery, an ArcGIS StoryMap that traces chimpanzee research and habitat change over decades and highlights JGI's expanding impact through spatial analysis and storytelling. TACARE: an immersive StoryMap that brings JGI's community-centered conservation approach to life. Tapestry of Hope, a global interactive platform that empowers people everywhere to share their conservation stories and connect them to place. Templeton Roots and Shoots Prizes StoryMap, which showcases youth-led environmental action around the world. Through these collaborations, we have seen firsthand how Dr. Goodall's vision transcended disciplines, weaving together science, local knowledge, and technology to build a better future for people, animals, and the environment. A Lasting Legacy Jane Goodall once said, "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. " Her difference is immeasurable. Her legacy lives on through the communities she empowered, the lives she helped protect, and the generations she inspired to take action. Blue Raster is grateful to have played a role in amplifying that legacy through the lens of GIS and storytelling. As we reflect on her extraordinary life, we commit to carrying forward the spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and hope that defined her work. Thank you, Jane. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Building Information Management, Economic Development, Esri, Finance, Land Use, Real Estate - Tags: Commercial, CRE, Real Estate, Retail Business - Industries: Commercial, Commercial Real Estate - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development The future of commercial real estate and retail depends on smarter decisions. From site selection to trade area analysis, GIS helps uncover new opportunities, reduce risk, and compete in a fast-changing market. Join us for a practical webinar that shows GIS in action. Since 2002, Blue Raster has been supporting a wide range of customers with almost every GIS need under the sun. We often share our stories about working with leading NGOs and Non-Profits, vital government agencies at the National, State and Local levels and Universities and research institutions. However, did you know that we support entrepreneurs, small businesses and large multi-national corporations as well? If you were not able to attend the webinar-we have posted a the video here! One of the most common use cases for our commercial customers is the desire to leverage location intelligence. According to Esri, "Location intelligence is the insight gained from visualizing and analyzing geospatial data. " Discover the Power of Location Intelligence in Real Estate If you would like to learn more about how you can use GIS to gain location intelligence, Blue Raster will be hosting a webinar on September 25th! Register Now You can register for this free webinar here. We'll be sharing how location intelligence can help organizations in commercial real estate and retail make smarter site selection, market expansion, and portfolio management decisions-featuring real-world demonstrations and actionable strategies. What you'll learn The future of commercial real estate and retail depends on smarter decisions. From site selection to trade area analysis, GIS helps uncover new opportunities, reduce risk, and compete in a fast-changing market. Join us for a practical webinar that shows GIS in action. How location intelligence is shaping CRE & retail strategies Real-world case studies: Parcel Data Tools & Site Suitability Live demo: ArcGIS Experience Builder + Business Analyst Web App Q&A with our experts It should be a valuable session if you're exploring ways to better use data to guide growth, understand market dynamics, and uncover new opportunities. We would love for you to join us! - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Custom Application, Infrastructure, JavaScript API - Tags: AEC, Geoprocessing, infrastructure, Renewable Energy - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Energy & Utilities - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development Blue Raster partnered with Mortenson’s wind group to develop custom GIS tools that optimize wind farm design and construction. Using ArcGIS Pro and Python geoprocessing, the tools streamline data sharing, road and crane path planning, and cost analysis. These innovations help Mortenson generate competitive bids, reduce construction risk, and scale operations with confidence. Constructing a wind farm requires coordinating activity across multiple engineering divisions, vendors, and subcontractors. New roads are often required to handle equipment and delivery of the Turbine components. Collection lines must transmit electricity from each turbine to a substation, and ultimately the power grid. Cranes must "walk" from pad to pad to assemble the turbines themselves. Difficult terrain, environmentally sensitive areas, and carefully negotiated landowner agreements add complexity to each phase of construction. GIS is used to find the optimal road network for constructing a wind farm Designing such a complex project requires rapidly gathering information from the different stakeholders and combining it into a cohesive design. Teams using different tools must be able to seamlessly share data and understand how individual decisions impact the overall project. With the increasing cost of materials, small reductions in the length of access roads or collection lines can yield major savings and make marginal projects feasible. GIS is the common system for planning and analysis GIS helps teams share information and rapidly iterate over designs to quickly generate the most competitive bid. Blue Raster has been working with M. A. Mortenson Company to optimize its patented Windbuilder platform by creating the next generation of GIS tools to streamline and optimize wind farm design, enhance Mortenson's team experience, and deliver more value to its customers. Blue Raster began by building custom Python Geoprocessing tools, integrated into custom application developed with the SDK for JavaScript, that allows users to import KMZ files from vendors into feature classes with a common schema published to ArcGIS Online. The tool parses all data from the KMZ attribute table and folder structure into a true attribute field while maintaining symbology. A separate tool exports ArcGIS Online layers to KMZ files, again maintaining all symbology and attributes, so they can be shared with other teams. This enables the ArcGIS ecosystem to be the become common system for managing data and allows access to powerful analysis tools for complex workflows. Custom tools built for wind farm design Wind farms start with a turbine layout, designed to optimize power generation. With a layout in place, designers then plan the actual construction. Access roads connect the turbine locations to allow for delivery of the massive turbine components. Cranes, which cost tens of thousands of dollars per day, must walk from site to site to erect the turbines. Collection lines then bring power to the substations. Each of these components has different cost constraints, tolerances for terrain, and long term maintenance requirements. Blue Raster developed a set of custom python geoprocessing toolboxes to quickly iterate through potential designs. Using ArcGIS Pro's network analyst capabilities, the tools guide user through a step by step workflow to generate networks connecting turbine locations while accounting for longitudinal and cross slope, water features, and restricted areas. Solving the networks under different assumptions allows designers to see how small changes can impact the overall cost of the project. Other geoprocessing tools calculate key metrics used to develop pricing and identify problematic areas for human review. By examining designs and finding areas that might be out of compliance, designers are able to make changes early in the process and reduce risk during construction. As all aspects of construction are related, a change in one segment can impact the cost of other segments. The automated tools allow Mortenson's team to accommodate updates and then identify if other components should shift as a result. Geoprocessing tools identify problematic areas and propose alternative solutions Using these tools, Mortenson has been able to more quickly create designs and respond to solicitations, ensuring that they will minimize construction costs and generate the most optimized design. Small design improvements can make big differences in cost and efficiency. Reach out to Blue Raster to see how GIS can help your team deliver smarter, more competitive projects. Blue Raster has taken our ArcGIS development to new levels, helping us unlock generative design capabilities within the Mortenson WindBuilder platform. They consistently translate complex construction and civil engineering challenges into actionable tools that we use in both design and pursuit. This year their team played a key role in boosting our competitiveness on a major wind energy project that we were ultimately selected to build - Mortenson Sr. Design Phase Manager Blue Raster quickly grasped the intricacies of our wind business, demonstrating impressive curiosity and adaptability. The tools they've developed streamline our GIS workflows, eliminate bottlenecks, and empower us to scale with confidence - Integrated Construction Manager The tools Blue Raster has developed for us have streamlined many of our tedious tasks and have allowed us to more powerfully leverage the data that we have. Now, when I encounter challenges in our processes, one of my first thoughts is "Blue Raster probably has a way to make this easier for us" - Senior Estimator I love working with Blue Raster! ! Their custom tools have significantly improved our workflows, saving hours of manual effort and reducing the risk of human error. The well communicated turnarounds, easy update request processes, and quality of their team inspires me to be a better person! - Integrated Construction Coordinator - Categories: Uncategorized - Industries: Education, Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development Blue Raster, in partnership with the MIT Media Lab’s Space Enabled program and Angola’s National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN), developed the Angola Drought Management Decision Support Tool. Using satellite data, GIS technology, and spatial analytics, the tool provides real-time insights into drought conditions, helps decision makers assess risks, and supports sustainable resource management. Blue Raster is a long term partner of the MIT Media Lab’s Space Enabled program, working together on projects that show how satellite data and GIS technology can be applied to some of the most pressing issues on Earth. Previous collaborations include work with Green Keeper Africa, the NASA SDG Toolkit, and Fight Toxic Prisons. Each of these efforts has used remote sensing techniques, GIS tools, and spatial data to reveal challenges, inform decision making, and spark change. Drought Challenges in Angola Angola faces recurring droughts that pose serious challenges to agriculture, water resources, and community livelihoods. Much of the country relies on rain-fed agriculture, making farmers particularly vulnerable to irregular rainfall and prolonged dry periods. Droughts can reduce crop yields, limit access to clean water, and exacerbate food insecurity, especially in rural communities. Climate variability, land degradation, and deforestation further increase the severity of these events, creating an urgent need for data-driven tools to monitor conditions and inform timely interventions. Introducing the Angola Drought Management Decision Support Tool To address these challenges, Blue Raster partnered with the Space Enabled Program at MIT Media Lab and the Angolan National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN) to develop the Angola Drought Management Decision Support Tool. The goal of this project was to translate a workflow originally developed in MATLAB into a GIS-ready, repeatable workflow with an intuitive and interactive user interface. The tool leverages satellite data, GIS, and geospatial analysis to provide actionable insights into drought conditions and support effective planning and response. Interactive Mapping and Analytical Capabilities The tool empowers local stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to explore recent and historical drought conditions through an interactive mapping interface built with ArcGIS Experience Builder. Users can analyze drought severity changes over time using a time slider widget spanning a 10-year period. In addition to environmental data, the tool integrates socio-economic vulnerability indices covering health, demographic, and agricultural factors, allowing decision makers to link environmental conditions with community vulnerability. Automated Data Workflow Behind the scenes, Blue Raster has implemented a robust data pipeline built in Python. Each week, the program initiates downloads of daily 9-km resolution Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) data from NASA for the prior 8-days and calculates average soil moisture in each grid cell over this 8-day period. It then determines the root zone soil moisture in each grid cell based on the prior 64 days of soil moisture data. Drought levels for each grid cell in the 8-day period are calculated based on the root zone soil moisture values and peer-reviewed monthly historical drought thresholds. These results are then aggregated using zonal statistics to the province and municipality level. The gridded drought and root zone soil moisture data are converted to geospatial rasters (. TIF) format for visualization, which are then added to mosaic datasets stored in file geodatabases and published as image services through ArcGIS Image Server. These services are hosted in ArcGIS Enterprise and visualized in the ArcGIS Experience Builder application, providing accessible, reliable, and actionable data to local stakeholders. To ensure smooth operation, the Python workflow is automated to run weekly, and AWS Simple Notification Service (SNS) is configured to notify administrators once the process completes successfully. Supporting GIS for Good Initiatives Through projects like this, Blue Raster continues to support GIS for Good initiatives. By turning complex environmental and socio-economic data into actionable insights, we help local decision makers and organizations create lasting positive impact and build resilient communities. Acknowledgements Blue Raster would like to recognize the following individuals for their contributions to this work: Danielle Wood, Director of the Space Enabled Program at MIT Media Lab Dr. Zolana João, Director-General of the Angolan National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN) Sharif Islam, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Space Enabled Research Group, MIT Dara Entekhabi, Bacardi and Stockholm Water Foundations Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MIT Luciano Lupedia, Head of the Space Application Development Department, Angolan Space Program Management Office (GGPEN) Dr. Yusuke Kuwayama, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County To learn more about how Blue Raster is using GIS, remote sensing and satellite data to tackle real-world challenges, contact our team today to see how these solutions can support your organization. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Climate, Education, Environment, GIS, UX/UI, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Climate, education, Environment, UX/UI, water - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development National Geographic’s World Water Map, enriched by Blue Raster, brings 40+ years of water demand data and future projections into the classroom. Using ArcGIS Online, interactive maps, and Python automation, the Atlas helps students explore water demand and water gaps through 2050. This engaging GIS resource supports geographic learning and builds awareness of global water challenges. National Geographic's Map Maker Atlas is an interactive GIS resource designed to help teachers, students, and National Geographic Explorers understand how the world is connected and develop essential geographic competencies. National Geographic partnered with Blue Raster to enrich the Atlas with new World Water Map layers, providing educators and students with powerful tools to explore global water use and availability. The World Water Map includes over 40 years of historical data and three models projecting future usage through 2050. Our mission was to process and present this data in a way that was engaging, easy to understand, and suitable for classroom learning. What's Inside the World Water Map? The World Water Map focuses on two critical themes: Water Demand: Annual data from 1980 to the present, broken down by domestic, industrial, and agricultural consumption. Water Gaps: Regions where current demand exceeds renewable supply, with historical data and three forward-looking models predicting water stress through 2050. Each dataset is available at three scales, water province, regional watershed, and local watershed, offering both global and localized perspectives. Making Complex Data Classroom-Ready To prepare these layers for Map Maker Atlas, Blue Raster: Automated Data Processing: We built a custom Python workflow to ingest raw data, perform analysis, and calculate additional insights such as average historic demand, dominant consumption type, and projected changes over time. Designed for Exploration: After uploading the data to ArcGIS Online, we created a web map, styled the layers, and created interactive pop-ups that provide context and support interpretation for students and educators. Visualizing Water Challenges We symbolized the data in two ways: Relative Demand and Water Gaps - Compare how resource usage differs across regions for both historic and future scenarios. Dominant Consumption Type - Identify whether domestic, industrial, or agricultural use drives water demand in a given area. These visualizations encourage students to think spatially and explore patterns, challenges, and trends in water availability. Interactive pop-ups dive deeper, featuring charts and tables that answer key questions, such as: How do demand sources compare in this region? How much is the water gap expected to increase by 2050? GIS for Good: Driving Climate Resilience At Blue Raster, we believe in the power of GIS for Good, using geospatial technology to inform communities, support sustainability, and drive meaningful change. By collaborating with mission-driven organizations like National Geographic, we transform complex datasets into accessible, actionable, and impactful tools. In the face of climate change, we are committed to advancing climate resilience through innovative geospatial solutions. Ready to bring your data to life? Partner with Blue Raster to make a difference. - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Disaster Response, Emergency Management, GIS, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Emergency Management, GIS, hurricane - Industries: Public Safety, State & Local Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster partnered with San Patricio County, Texas, to develop a Hurricane Preparedness Viewer ahead of the 2025 season. Built with ArcGIS Experience Builder, the tool integrates live weather data, bilingual preparedness guides, and interactive evacuation maps. It empowers both residents and emergency managers with timely, accessible information, strengthening resilience across the Texas Gulf Coast. Project Background As hurricane season intensifies along the Gulf Coast, San Patricio County, Texas, has taken proactive steps to keep residents safe and informed. Since early 2024, Blue Raster has been working with the County as its GIS professional services provider, helping to establish a comprehensive GIS program and supporting departments across the County with applications and visualizations to enhance daily workflows. One of the most pressing requests from the County's leadership was the development of a Hurricane Preparedness Viewer ahead of the 2025 hurricane season. Built in collaboration with San Patricio County's Emergency Management team, the Viewer delivers real-time weather updates, emergency alerts, and evacuation resources to residents, ensuring that critical information is accessible when it's needed most. A Critical Need on the Texas Gulf Coast With more than 70,000 residents, San Patricio County sits in a region highly vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms. Access to accurate and timely information is essential for emergency preparedness. The new Hurricane Preparedness Viewer, built using ArcGIS Experience Builder, brings together live feeds, forecasts, and guidance resources in a single, easy-to-use dashboard. The Viewer integrates: Real-time data from the National Weather Service on active warnings, tropical storms, and hurricane tracks. Preparedness guides in English and Spanish to ensure accessibility for all residents. Interactive maps and dashboards that make critical information easy to understand. Empowering Emergency Management & Residents The Hurricane Preparedness Viewer is paired with an internal Evacuation Zone Update application, giving San Patricio County's Emergency Management team the ability to dynamically update evacuation zones as conditions change. Dynamic symbology and alerts automatically highlight evacuation orders. Contextual mapping shows exactly which areas are impacted, reducing confusion and enabling faster decision-making. Mobile accessibility ensures residents can quickly access the tool on any device, whether at home or on the go. This combination of real-time data, bilingual resources, and interactive design helps both residents and officials prepare, respond, and stay safe during hurricane events. Strengthening Community Resilience with GIS At Blue Raster, we believe GIS is a powerful tool for resilience planning and disaster response. Whether you're a local government, nonprofit, or community organization, our team can help design solutions tailored to your needs. San Patricio County One Pager Interested in Applying GIS for Emergency Preparedness? At Blue Raster, we believe GIS is a powerful tool for resilience planning and disaster response. Whether you're a local government, nonprofit, or community organization, our team can help design solutions tailored to your needs. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Online, Health, Women in Science - Tags: Atlanta, dashboards, Diabetes, Health - Industries: Education, Health - Services: Web Application Development Discover how Blue Raster and Emory University created the Atlanta Food Access Explorer, a GIS-powered dashboard that helps communities, researchers, and policymakers tackle food insecurity in Atlanta. Blue Raster is proud to share our collaboration with the Emory Rollins School of Public Health's Global Diabetes Research Center on the Atlanta Food Access Explorer, an interactive ArcGIS Online dashboard that visualizes healthy food access across the Atlanta metropolitan area. This powerful tool supports local public health initiatives by helping residents, researchers, and policymakers better understand-and act on-food accessibility challenges in the region. Mapping Healthy Food Options Working closely with Dr. Karen Siegel from Emory University, our team began by acquiring detailed food-related Points of Interest (POI) data from Data Axle. We focused on relevant food sources, mainly restaurants, grocery stores, and farmers markets. Each location was then assessed for healthfulness based on a variety of attributes, such as: Restaurant type (e. g. , fast food vs. full-service) Cuisine categories Availability of fresh or healthy foods Weighted Health Scores and the Atlanta Food Access Index Blue Raster GIS Analyst Thai Pinkney developed a healthfulness score for each location to reflect its potential contribution to healthy eating within a given census tract. This score was visualized using customized symbology in an ArcGIS Online web map, forming the foundation of the Atlanta Food Access Explorer. To provide a broader view of environmental and socioeconomic factors, Thai also compiled a suite of census tract-level data layers. Working in close partnership with Karen and co-investigators-the team developed a Food Access Index, which aggregates these multiple inputs into a composite measure of access to healthy food options. Detailed metadata on the index methodology is available within the dashboard itself. Empowering Community Use with ArcGIS To support community engagement and real-world application, the ArcGIS Dashboard integrates the ArcGIS Online Nearby Instant App. This feature allows users to: Center the map on their current location or type in an address Define a custom radius of interest View a list of nearby food establishments Discover healthier food options in their vicinity This search functionality is particularly valuable for users seeking better dietary options and for organizations working to improve health outcomes at the neighborhood level. The Atlanta Food Access Explorer demonstrates how data-driven mapping can strengthen collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and community members. By highlighting where healthy food access is limited, the tool sparks conversations and guides targeted interventions. As the region continues to grow, this resource can evolve to support long-term strategies for building healthier, more resilient neighborhoods. Explore the Dashboard We invite you to explore the Atlanta Food Access Explorer and learn more about this collaborative project aimed at addressing food insecurity and promoting healthier communities across Atlanta. "The Blue Raster team transformed a large and complex database of food outlets into a user-friendly, interactive Food Access Map of Atlanta. Their technical expertise, creativity, and collaborative approach made the process smooth and enjoyable, and the final product is both visually engaging and impactful. This tool not only brings our work to life but also empowers communities and decision-makers across the city. Their work will continue to drive impact well beyond this project. " -Dr. Karen Siegel, Emory Global Diabetes Research Center At Blue Raster, we bring the power of GIS to public health by building tools that make complex data accessible and actionable. From food access and environmental health to disease surveillance and community engagement, our team helps organizations visualize challenges and identify solutions. Learn more about our Health GIS solutions and contact us to explore how we can support your initiatives. - Categories: ArcGIS Pro, Esri, Nonprofit/NGO - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development Blue Raster partnered with FWCC to transform the Quaker meeting finder into a global, multilingual app powered by ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript. For years, the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) has worked to bring Quaker communities together across borders. Blue Raster has been a trusted partner in this mission, helping to design tools that make it easier for people to find and connect with Quaker meetings worldwide. (learn more here) The journey started with a Quaker Meeting Finder application built in ArcGIS Experience Builder. It offered an accessible way for users to search and discover meetings. From Experience Builder to Custom Development The next step was clear: move beyond the limitations of Experience Builder and create a custom application designed to scale. Using the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, Blue Raster is delivering advanced search and display options that meet user needs while opening the door to long-term innovation. A Fully Localized Experience A truly global tool must speak the language of its users. The new Quaker Meeting Finder platform supports multilingual capabilities, including character sets like Korean, Japanese, and Cyrillic. Everything from language to time zone to numeric formatting adjusts to match what users expect in their daily lives. The Friends meeting locations map will be expanded and updated. Re-Engineering the Data Model At the heart of this new application is a re-engineered data model. By shifting to a relational approach, FWCC gains: More efficient data storage flexible system ready for future growth This foundation creates space for enhancements like dynamic reporting, richer analytics, and integrations with other platforms-ensuring the meeting finder will continue to grow with the global Quaker community. Looking Ahead If your organization is ready to expand the reach of your ArcGIS Online Dashboard, Experience Builder app, Instant App, or Web AppBuilder app, connect with Blue Raster. We'll help you design a solution that grows with your mission. - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder, Conservation, Design, Drone, Esri, Field Mobility, GIS, Mobile, Public Gardens, UX/UI - Tags: American Public Gardens Association, APGA, ArcGIS, BG-Base, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Drone, Esri, Experience Builder, Field Maps, Flora Finder, Gardens, Holden, Holden Forests & Gardens, Public Gardens - Industries: Public Gardens - Services: GIS Consulting & Training Blue Raster partnered with BG-BASE to develop Flora Finder, a public application showcasing the living collections at Holden Forests & Gardens. Blue Raster partnered with Holden Forests & Gardens to launch Flora Finder, an interactive mapping application that allows researchers, staff, and the public to explore over 20,000 plant and tree records across Holden Arboretum, Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the David G. Leach Research Station. Built using ArcGIS Experience Builder, Flora Finder includes information about plant records (taxon, condition, measurements, provenance, and more) and also displays trails, water features, and amenities including parking and restrooms throughout the campuses.   Along with Flora Finder, Blue Raster created a robust GIS system for staff to maintain their growing GIS datasets. This project was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Service's Museums for America grant and allowed for Blue Raster to visit Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden to capture drone imagery. This current imagery is utilized in Flora Finder and across the organization's GIS maps as a high-resolution basemap. Blue Raster also implemented a bidirectional sync between BG-BASE - a botanical collections management platform - and ArcGIS, which allows Holden Forests & Gardens to maintain their existing system-of-record while taking full advantage of GIS for interactive and modern applications and ArcGIS Field Maps workflows. Flora Finder in Action The application is designed for use on desktop and mobile devices, meaning whether a user is sitting at home or exploring the arboretum, they can see the most up to date information about plant records across the three campuses. Specific plants can be searched by common name, scientific name, or accession number. See a flower icon on the map? You've found "It's Poppin'", a guide to exploring plant records across the campuses that have been highlighted by curatorial staff. These records will also likely include photo attachments, collected by staff and volunteers to showcase what these plants look like at their very best. Don't see a plant on the map? Click a white dotted garden bed to view a list of all plants in that location. Along with the launch, the Arboretum will be hosting drop-in sessions to explore and get to know the application. This will allow visitors of all ages to explore not only the data about plants throughout Holden Forests & Gardens but see the value of a geospatially enabled application. "This tool brings to life a decades-old dream," said Ed Moydell, President and CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens. "Years ago, former Arboretum Director R. Henry Norweb envisioned a way for visitors to easily find any plant they wanted to see in our collections. With Flora Finder, that vision is now a reality. It not only helps guests connect more deeply with the plants they love but also enhances our team's ability to care for them. " Flora Finder is part of a broader effort by Holden Forests & Gardens to enhance visitor engagement and operational efficiency through modern geospatial tools. By integrating GIS across departments, the organization can better analyze plant health trends, track maintenance, and support long-term planning. Blue Raster provided training and documentation to ensure the Holden team can continue expanding their GIS capabilities with confidence. As public gardens evolve into dynamic, data-rich environments, tools like Flora Finder demonstrate how location intelligence can support both mission-driven storytelling and day-to-day operations. This collaboration underscores Blue Raster's commitment to building sustainable, user-focused solutions for the public garden community. Blue Raster has partnered with Public Gardens and Cemeteries for over fifteen years to bring GIS and mapping to everyday workflows. We design intuitive tools for staff to manage plant records, and interactive applications for the public to search and enhance their experiences. Learn more about our Public Gardens Practice here! Our team is featuring our gardens work at the 2025 Esri User Conference with a poster in the Map Gallery. View the poster here! - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Cloud, Conservation, Custom Application, Environment, Forest, GIS, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, UI, UX/UI - Tags: Amazon S3, API Gateway, ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, ArcGIS Online, AWS, AWS S3, AWS step functions, Cloud, conservation, Custom Application, Forest, Supply Chain, UX/UI, Web Application - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster and World Forest ID (WFID) have partnered to create a powerful custom digital solution that enhances traceability and accountability in global forest supply chains. The WFID Evaluation Platform is a secure, user-friendly web tool that uses chemical data from geolocated reference samples and genus distribution information to predict the likely harvest origin of timber samples. Soon, the platform will also support agricultural commodities like soy and cocoa. Blue Raster and World Forest ID (WFID) have partnered to create the World Forest ID Evaluation Platform, a powerful digital tool that brings transparency and accountability to global forest-connected supply chains. As global demand for timber and agricultural products grows, forests are under increasing pressure. Without clear traceability, it's easy for illegal or unsustainable sourcing to go unnoticed. This lack of transparency contributes to environmental problems like biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. The World Forest ID Evaluation Platform helps solve these challenges by providing a reliable way to track the origin of forest products and support responsible sourcing practices. What is the World Forest ID Evaluation Platform? The WFID Evaluation Platform is a secure, user-friendly, web-based tool that helps stakeholders, including companies, regulators, certification bodies, and NGOs verify the origin of traded timber. Using advanced spatial analysis and machine learning, the WFID Evaluation Platform analyzes timber samples to predict their likely harvest location. Built by Blue Raster, the platform leverages a spatial model developed by WFID, combining geolocated reference samples and genus distribution data into an intuitive, cloud-based application developed using the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript. It simplifies the complex process of timber origin verification, with future support planned for agricultural commodities like soy and cocoa. Key Features and Benefits The WFID Evaluation Platform helps users verify timber sourcing claims and improve visibility across the supply chain. It supports: Certification schemes in ensuring sourcing integrity Regulators in enforcing supply chain transparency and accountability Companies in achieving sustainability goals and complying with international trade regulations Personalized Reports Users begin by sending timber samples to certified labs, which return a completed WFID chemical data spreadsheet. This file is then uploaded to the platform, along with the user's claimed harvest location. The platform runs its spatial model and produces a downloadable PDF report showing whether the claimed origin is plausible. The report also includes details about the modeling process and the geolocated reference samples used in the analysis. Intuitive User Interface The platform's simple, intuitive design lets users easily review results, manage data inputs, and store reports securely. Data protection is ensured through AWS cloud hosting solution and integrations with ArcGIS Online. Blue Raster's Role: Geospatial Technology Meets Forestry Innovation Data Visualization in ArcGIS Pro Our team used ArcGIS Pro to create high-resolution genus distribution grids. These grids allow users to spatially anchor their timber samples within corresponding native regions, delivering more accurate harvest origin predictions. Data Management in ArcGIS Online Blue Raster configured the application to record both user-submitted inputs and the results of spatial model outputs stored in ArcGIS Online. This ensures ongoing data integrity and allows WFID to analyze historical data for future research and enhancement of the model. Application Development & Integration From front-end UI design to backend modeling and cloud infrastructure, we worked closely with WFID to create a custom, scalable application that: Integrates with ArcGIS Online and AWS cloud environment and backend functions Runs WFID's spatial model seamlessly Delivers results in a secure and user-friendly environment Strengthening Global Wood Supply Chain Integrity At Blue Raster, we're proud to support World Forest ID's mission to improve supply chain transparency and combat illegal sourcing using GIS and spatial analysis. This partnership combines data science, spatial modeling, and environmental responsibility. We believe in the power of GIS for Good, using geospatial technology to drive meaningful change, inform communities, and support organizations working toward a more sustainable and equitable future. We collaborate with mission driven partners to build tools that make complex data accessible, actionable, and impactful If you need GIS consulting for forestry, environmental compliance, or supply chain transparency, contact Blue Raster today to discover how we can help you create advanced geospatial solutions. - Categories: 3D, Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, Environment - Tags: 3D, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights Palmer Wilson, a Blue Raster Senior DevOps Engineer, recently used 3D voxel rendering in ArcGIS Pro to analyze NOAA radar data from the Grand Junction, Tennessee tornado on April 3, 2025. This case study shows how integrating volumetric radar layers can help identify and interpret tornadic structures with greater clarity. Integrating NOAA NEXRAD Spectrum Width, Storm Relative Motion, and Reflectivity with Damage Survey Overlays Palmer Wilson, a Blue Raster Senior DevOps Engineer, recently used 3D voxel rendering in ArcGIS Pro to analyze NOAA radar data from the Grand Junction, Tennessee tornado on April 3, 2025. This case study shows how integrating volumetric radar layers can help identify and interpret tornadic structures with greater clarity. Explore the 3D public scene viewer here! Why Voxels? Voxels, short for "volumetric pixels", are 3D units used to build spatial visualizations. While they originated in early 90s video games, they are now a powerful tool in geospatial analysis. ArcGIS Pro's voxel capabilities let analysts explore vertical and temporal dimensions of weather events like never before. Visualizing the Hail Core By isolating high reflectivity values in radar data, we were able to extract and visualize the storm's hail column. These values typically indicate dense hydrometeors such as hail. Layering this volumetric data on top of 2D composite reflectivity gives insight into the size, intensity, and elevation of the hail core. Identifying Rotation Next, we filtered the data to display storm-relative motion. This allowed us to detect a rotating column of air, a classic signature of a mesocyclone. In the 3D scene, the hail column aligns vertically with the region of strongest updraft. Surrounding this core, storm-relative velocity data reveals rotation, with inbound and outbound winds clearly circling the hail column. Blue = outbound velocity Tan = inbound velocity This rotating motion combined with vertical alignment shows how the updraft lifts hail-forming precipitation into the storm's core, contributing to storm intensification. Adding Spectrum Width: A Deeper Look into Turbulence We also visualized Spectrum Width, which measures the variability in wind speed within the radar beam. High values indicate turbulence and shear, which are key components of tornadic activity. Concentrated areas of high spectrum width appeared near the tornado's center, providing further evidence of violent wind motion. When viewed together with storm-relative motion, these layers validate the presence of a well-developed tornado embedded within the mesocyclone. Bringing It All Together By combining hail reflectivity, storm-relative motion, and spectrum width into a single 3D visualization, we captured a dynamic, multi-dimensional view of the tornado-producing storm. Each layer added context: Reflectivity highlighted hail formation Velocity showed organized rotation Spectrum width pinpointed turbulent zones Together, they told the full story of the storm's structure, strength, and destructive potential. Interested in learning more about how Blue Raster visualizes extreme weather with ArcGIS Pro? Contact us to explore how 3D geospatial tools can support your meteorological, emergency management, or environmental research projects. - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder, Climate, Cloud, Conservation, Environment, GIS - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Survey123, Climate, Climate Change, Experience Builder, Flood, Python, Survey123 - Industries: Conservation, Water - Services: Web Application Development Blue Raster partnered with Climate Central to support the development of FloodVision, an ArcGIS Experience Builder application that helps communities visualize future flood risks from sea level rise and storm events. By integrating advanced imagery, cloud storage, and custom data workflows, the tool transforms complex climate data into clear, local insights that support planning, education, and resilience As climate change drives rising seas and more frequent extreme weather, communities need accessible, location-specific tools to understand and prepare for future flood risks. Translating complex climate models into actionable insights remains a challenge, especially when communicating risks to the public and decision makers in a clear and engaging way. Climate Central is a nonprofit organization of scientists and communicators who translate climate data into maps, images, and local stories. Their mission is to help people understand how climate change affects their lives today and in the future. Their tools have informed journalists, planners, and community leaders across the country and around the world. Partnering to Advance Climate Resilience To support this mission, Blue Raster partnered with Climate Central to develop and scale FloodVision, a new ArcGIS Experience Builder application that delivers immersive, street level views of future flood scenarios. This innovative tool enables planners, emergency managers, educators, and residents to visualize flood risk driven by sea level rise and storm events across multiple timelines. FloodVision is powered by imagery captured through Climate Central's FloodRover, a vehicle equipped with GPS, lidar, and stereoscopic cameras. Blue Raster supported the deployment of this application within ArcGIS Enterprise, configuring its data model and workflows to power a smooth, interactive experience.       Two datasets in the ArcGIS Data Store, a metadata table and a spatial feature class, are linked by a unique key and drive the application's functionality. The application is built using ArcGIS Experience Builder, which provides a flexible, modern framework that is fundamental to creating an immersive and responsive user experience. Flood images, stored as JPEGs in Google Drive, are linked using item IDs. Blue Raster created custom Python scripts to clean, organize, and publish this data to the ArcGIS platform. Additionally, Blue Raster implemented an ArcGIS Survey123 form to allow users to easily request and download visuals directly from the app for noncommercial use. '   Building Tools for Impact With FloodVision, Climate Central is helping communities visualize future flood risks with clarity and precision. The platform supports planning, public education, and resilience strategies by making climate data understandable and locally relevant. At Blue Raster, we believe in the power of GIS for Good, using geospatial technology to drive meaningful change, inform communities, and support organizations working toward a more sustainable and equitable future. We collaborate with mission driven partners to build tools that make complex data accessible, actionable, and impactful. In the face of climate change, we are committed to advancing climate resilience through innovative geospatial solutions. Ready to Take the Next Step? Partner with Blue Raster to bring your data to life and build tools that make a difference. Get empowered with GIS. - Categories: Conference, Esri, User Conference - Tags: conference, Esri Conference, Esri UC - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars Blue Raster is excited to participate in the 2025 Esri User Conference, happening July 14-18 in San Diego, California. As one of the largest gatherings of GIS professionals and innovators worldwide, the Esri UC is the place to explore new technologies and connect through the power of spatial thinking. Blue Raster Exhibiting at 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego Blue Raster is excited to exhibit again at the 2025 Esri User Conference, happening July 14-18 in San Diego, California. As one of the largest gatherings of GIS professionals and innovators worldwide, the Esri UC is the place to explore new technologies and connect through the power of spatial thinking. Why Attend the 2025 Esri User Conference? The conference kicks off with the Plenary Session, themed GIS-Integrating Everything, Everywhere. GIS acts as a universal language, connecting data from around the world to help us better understand our environment. Esri President Jack Dangermond will lead the session, along with keynote speaker Dr. Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Johnson will share insights from his work exploring over a thousand fossil sites and his research on the extinction of the dinosaurs. He'll also talk about the critical role of museums in advancing scientific knowledge and how GIS supports that mission. Fun fact: Smithsonian Institute is a Blue Raster client! In addition to the keynotes, you'll see live demos of the latest GIS tools and hear how organizations like CVS Health, CAL FIRE, and San Francisco International Airport are using GIS to drive real-world change. The 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego is a chance to see what's next in GIS technology. No matter which industry you represent, you'll find ideas and connections that help you use spatial data more effectively. Blue Raster's team will be there all week, from the Plenary to the Expo, sharing how we help clients solve challenges through GIS solutions. Meet the Blue Raster Team Blue Raster will be at booth 1912, near the GIS for Good zone. We're excited to show you how we use ArcGIS to tackle real-world challenges and make data work for our clients. Six of our team members will be there all week, ready to hear about your goals, share ideas, and swap stories. Come say hi and check out some of our latest projects. We'll have live demos running, plus fun giveaways and plenty of candy to share! Schedule Time to Meet Our Team Add These Sessions to Your UC Agenda Our team and clients are taking the stage at the 2025 Esri User Conference to share how geospatial technology is driving real-world impact: Christopher Messerich Spatial Analytics Summit Tuesday, July 15 | 10-11 AM | Room 8Chris joins a panel of leaders discussing how spatial analytics unlocks insights and drives better decisions. Benjamin Masters Federal and State Agricultural Programs Thursday, July 17 | 8:30-9:30 AM | Room 29 BLearn about our work supporting America's farmers and producers with the Agricultural Registry. Kate Lenzer, GISP (Blue Raster client NTHP) Mapping Stories and Communities for Inclusive Preservation Thursday, July 17 | 8:30-9:30 AM | Marriott Salon 25Discover how the National Trust for Historic Preservation is using Esri technology to highlight underrepresented stories through interactive maps. Explore the Esri UC Expo and Map Gallery The Expo will feature over 2,000 Esri staff and 200 exhibitors showcasing new products and solutions. Specialty zones, Esri staff, and demo presentation theaters provide the perfect place to discover the latest GIS tools, see real-world applications, and explore demos and services that bring ideas to life. Visit us at our booth or meet us at the Map Gallery Reception on Monday. https://www. blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-Esri-UC-booth-mockup. mp4 Expo Hours: Tuesday, July 15: 9 AM - 5 PM Wednesday, July 16: 9 AM - 5 PM Thursday, July 17: 9 AM - 4 PM Contact us now to schedule a time to meet! Map Gallery Reception: Monday, July 14: 3:30 - 6 PM Look for Blue Raster's posters about 3D Voxel Rendering, Web-Based Hydrologic Information Portal, San Mateo's Recycling Compliance Application, and our Public Gardens projects. Check them all out and vote for your favorite! Connect and Collaborate: Demos and Social Events Our team will be exhibiting on the expo floor, offering live demos of recent projects and sharing how we help clients deploy geospatial solutions in the cloud. Our team is also planning to join special interest group (SIG) meetings, attend evening socials, and connect with partners and peers to exchange ideas. If you're interested in seeing how GIS can support your goals, come by for a quick demo, join us for a SIG meeting, or just stop in to say hello! Are you attending the 2025 Esri User Conference? If you're interested in how Blue Raster can support your geospatial goals, stop by booth in the expo or contact us now to set up a meeting time! Contact Us - Categories: Water - Tags: water - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs, State & Local Government, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development The Upper San Pedro Web-Based Hydrologic Information Portal (WHIP) is a groundbreaking watershed monitoring tool for the Upper San Pedro River Basin. Developed in partnership with Blue Raster and the Upper San Pedro Partnership, WHIP transforms decades of environmental data into a dynamic, user-friendly platform. With real-time visualization and intuitive access to groundwater, precipitation, and vegetation trends, it empowers planners, researchers, and the public to make informed decisions for the region’s future. Introduction The Upper San Pedro Web-Based Hydrologic Information Portal (WHIP) is transforming how communities, agencies, and decision-makers monitor, understand, and respond to environmental changes in the Upper San Pedro River Basin. Built by an inter-agency consortium including the Bureau of Reclamation, The Nature Conservancy and the US Geological Survey, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality among many others, the WHIP serves as a public-facing, data-rich platform that combines cutting-edge visualization with real-time environmental intelligence. More than just a map, the WHIP is a communication tool, a planning asset, and a data repository-purpose-built to bridge the gap between technical complexity and public accessibility. Blue Raster's Role in WHIP Blue Raster, a leader in geospatial technology and data visualization, played a pivotal role in the development of WHIP. Collaborating closely with the Upper San Pedro Partnership, Blue Raster was instrumental in designing and implementing the interactive web-based hydrologic information portal that serves as the foundation of the platform. Using Esri's ArcGIS technology, Blue Raster developed an intuitive interface that makes environmental data accessible and actionable. Our expertise helps to fulfill the goals of the platform: to meet the needs of a wide variety of users, from policymakers and researchers to the general public, by providing powerful insights without the need for GIS training. What Makes the WHIP Unique The WHIP brings together decades of scientific research and monitoring data into one streamlined experience. With a few clicks, users can explore trends in groundwater levels, precipitation, riparian vegetation health, and development footprint. This type of integrated, interactive insight is typically reserved for analysts or internal dashboards. The WHIP democratizes that data-making it useful to city planners, landowners, nonprofit organizations, and the general public. Key Features and Selling Point Interactive Map Interface: Allows users to explore groundwater wells, vegetation health, precipitation trends, and development data across the San Pedro Basin with no GIS experience required. Real-Time and Historical Data: Combines long-term datasets with near real-time precipitation tracking and quarterly groundwater updates. Public Access: No login required. The WHIP is mobile-friendly and intuitive enough for public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and on-the-fly presentations. Export-Ready Insights: Data can be exported as PDFs or CSVs to support reporting, grant writing, and presentations. Planning and Compliance Support: the WHIP overlays environmental and administrative boundaries to aid in decision-making for conservation, policy development, and resource management. How the WHIP Adds Value The WHIP adds value by turning raw environmental data into actionable intelligence. It supports a wide range of users and goals: City and County Planners: Use the WHIP to assess growth impacts on local hydrology and vegetation health. Environmental Managers: Evaluate restoration effectiveness and identify new priority areas. Grant Writers and Advocates: Access real, defensible data to strengthen proposals and community initiatives. Educators and Outreach Coordinators: Use the WHIP in classrooms, workshops, and public forums to tell the story of watershed change Strategic Benefits The WHIP is not just a tool; it's a strategy. It enhances transparency, fosters collaboration, and builds trust by making complex environmental data visible and understandable. The platform positions agencies and organizations to lead conversations around climate adaptation, water policy, and land use with clarity and credibility. Get Involved and Learn More The WHIP is open and available to the public. Whether you're exploring a neighborhood, planning a regional strategy, or working on a conservation project, the WHIP provides the tools to engage, inform, and act. Start exploring: https://uppersanpedrowhip. orghttps://uppersanpedrowhip. org/map Contact us today to learn how we can help you turn your data into decisions! - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS for Server, Cloud, Esri, GIS, Microsoft Azure - Tags: 11.5, ArcGIS Enterprise, Cloud, Esri, hybrid - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights ArcGIS Enterprise 11.5 marks the final release in the 11.x series and a major leap forward for modern web GIS. With the retirement of classic apps like Web AppBuilder and Map Viewer Classic, organizations are encouraged to begin transitioning to tools like Experience Builder and Instant Apps. ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5 has arrived and it's packed with enhancements that we at Blue Raster are excited to share. As longtime experts and Esri partners, we've explored this latest release and are already helping clients unlock its full potential. From improved administrative tools to deeper integration with cloud environments, version 11. 5 is a big step forward for organizations managing spatial data, services, and applications. The Last Stop in the 11. x Series ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5 is more than just a feature rich release. It is also the final version in the 11. x series. This means it is the last release to include ArcGIS Web AppBuilder, ArcGIS Configurable Apps, and Map Viewer Classic. These long loved tools have served users well over the years and their retirement signals a shift toward the modern web GIS experience centered on Experience Builder, Instant Apps, and the new Map Viewer. Looking ahead, ArcGIS Enterprise 12. 0 will launch as a short term support release for Windows and Linux. It will no longer include these classic apps and will mark the beginning of the 12. x generation. If your organization relies on any of these applications, now is the time to begin planning for a smooth transition. Blue Raster can guide you through migration strategies that preserve your workflows while unlocking the benefits of the modern ArcGIS platform. Smarter Administration and Monitoring ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5 introduces key enhancements that make monitoring and managing your GIS deployment easier for both GIS and IT administrators. The new About page centralizes important system information such as machine details, operating system, CPU, and licenses, helping administrators with planning and resource management. This image shows the "About" page for an ArcGIS Enterprise organization, as well as the JSON representation of the data on the page. The service usage by user report offers detailed insights into how services are accessed, allowing administrators to identify usage trends and optimize content delivery. IT administrators benefit from improved audit logging for ArcGIS Server events, aiding security compliance and diagnostics. These logs integrate smoothly with Security Information and Event Management systems for centralized monitoring. Searching for the "oilPalmConcessions" sublayer returns the "SampleSHPUpload_Test1" hosted feature layer The "SampleSHPUpload_Test1" hosted feature layer contains an "oilPalmConcessions" sublayer The new Enterprise Manager interface simplifies system health checks, service management, and permission controls. Expanded REST APIs and flexible role configurations provide greater administrative control. At Blue Raster, we enhance these tools with Zabbix, integrated into our cloud managed services for real time monitoring and proactive alerts. Together with ArcGIS Monitor, this helps maximize uptime by tracking critical events such as license expirations and certificate renewals. Other improvements include: Enhanced delete protection and content management Greater control over ArcGIS Pro offline licenses Integration of Living Atlas deep learning models Support for Snowflake key pair authentication Migration support away from the tile cache data store Enhanced Map Viewer and Visualization ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5 brings a suite of enhancements that elevate productivity, editing workflows, and content management. In Map Viewer, users can now edit feature templates directly, improving consistency in data collection while eliminating app switching. A new multi-tab view allows users to work across tables, charts, and analysis tools simultaneously. Charting also sees major upgrades, with custom sorting, temporal axis guides, and the ability to build bar charts from numeric field parameters alone. Display filters from ArcGIS Pro are now honored in web maps, and subtype sublayers are fully supported for analysis. In Scene Viewer, users can take advantage of an improved Building Explorer, Slide Manager, and mobile interface to better present and explore 3D content. The update also includes new 3D analysis tools, viewshed capabilities, support for OGC WCS layers, and the integration of Oriented Imagery layers to visualize real-world perspectives in 3D. For content management, 11. 5 introduces the ability to publish geotagged photos directly from a . zip file as a hosted layer and overwrite item metadata using a more intuitive metadata editor-helping administrators maintain clean, accurate data across their organization. Easily switch between viewing tables, charts, geoprocessing results, and more with new multi-tab functionality in Map Viewer Stronger Performance and Cloud Optimization ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5 delivers significant performance upgrades across analytics, publishing, and service response. Organizations deploying in cloud or hybrid environments will benefit from improved container support, optimized deployment tools for Kubernetes, and better scalability for both Windows and Linux systems. Blue Raster is already helping clients upgrade to 11. 5 with smooth migrations and tailored configurations. Whether you are on premises, in the cloud, or working in a hybrid model, our team can help ensure your system is tuned for stability, speed, and security. Ready to Upgrade? Let's Talk ArcGIS Enterprise 11. 5 isn't just another update, it's a milestone. With the 11. x series coming to a close, now is the time to position your organization for the future. Whether that means upgrading, modernizing your apps, or transitioning to Experience Builder and the latest generation of web tools, Blue Raster is here to help. Reach out today to talk with our team about your ArcGIS Enterprise roadmap - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Education, Esri, GIS - Tags: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, education, Esri, school - Industries: Education, State & Local Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Discover how the Plano ISD Find My School app helps families quickly identify assigned schools, explore academic programs, and access key resources for enrollment. Project Background Blue Raster partnered with Plano Independent School District (ISD), a large public school district located in the fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, to build an interactive, web-based application designed to simplify one of the most important steps in a student's educational journey: finding their school. Serving more than 48,000 students across over 70 campuses, Plano ISD needed a scalable, user-friendly tool to help families quickly and confidently identify their assigned schools and access key district resources. The Plano ISD Find My School App enables families across the district to quickly identify which schools serve their address-from early childhood centers to senior high schools-along with access to special academic programs, magnet options, and key district facilities. With just an address search, users can discover detailed school information including grade levels, hours, and contact information. Plano ISD Find My School App Smart, Accessible Design Built with user experience as the top priority, the application combines clean design with powerful mapping tools. A streamlined interface allows users to: Search by home address View color-coded school boundaries by grade level Explore academic and enrichment program availability Discover district assets such as stadiums, enrollment centers, and early learning hubs Demonstrating the Plano ISD Find My School App Since its launch, the tool has averaged over 200 views per day, with more than 15,000 total views - demonstrating its value as a go-to resource for families navigating school enrollment. The intuitive experience helps families make informed decisions and better understand the school choices available to them. Plano ISD Find My School App Usage Statistics Built with ArcGIS Experience Builder The Find My School App was developed using Esri's ArcGIS Experience Builder, allowing for the rapid creation of both desktop and mobile-friendly versions to support families on any device. Leveraging Esri's built-in toolsets, the Blue Raster team was able to quickly deploy the application in time for Plano ISD's March enrollment period - ensuring timely access to school information. This flexible, web-first platform empowers the district to easily maintain and update the app as school boundaries, facilities, and program offerings evolve over time. Plano ISD Find My School Results A Tool for Engagement and Equity By removing barriers to information and providing a centralized resource for school assignment, the app supports Plano ISD's goals of community engagement, equitable access, and student success. It ensures all families - whether new to the district or planning future enrollment - have the tools they need to get started confidently. Interested in GIS for Education? Reach out today to explore how GIS can support your district's goals! - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Instant Apps, ArcGIS Online, Community, Development, Economic Development, Environment, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Survey123, Sustainable Development Goals, Training - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Community Engagement, Equity, Experience Builder, GIS, GIS for Equity, Non-Profit, Racial Equity, Survey123, Web AppBuilder - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster recently partnered with the Croatan Institute to enhance the NC Equitable Foodshed Map, a crucial resource for underserved farmers and ranchers. As part of the REEFS program, the map supports racial equity and economic sustainability by connecting users to vital resources. We transitioned the legacy application from ArcGIS Web App Builder to ArcGIS Experience Builder, offering a more flexible, dynamic platform. Additionally, we integrated ArcGIS Survey123 to gather user feedback, ensuring continuous improvement of the map At Blue Raster, we are passionate about using GIS technology to create solutions that drive positive change. Blue Raster supported the Croatan Institute in their mission to empower underserved farmers and ranchers through the data updates and enhancements to the NC Equitable Foodshed Map. The Croatan Institute is a nonprofit organization based in North Carolina dedicated to fostering economic and racial equity through research, policy advocacy, and direct engagement with communities. Their work focuses on creating pathways for sustainable development, specifically within underserved and marginalized communities in North Carolina. This important project is part of the Racial Equity, Economics, Finance, and Sustainability (REEFS) program. The program provides support for farmers and ranchers in North Carolina, particularly those from historically disadvantaged communities, by helping them access critical technical assistance and financial resources. The NC Equitable Foodshed Map, a key tool in this initiative, serves as an essential resource for these farmers and ranchers to navigate the complexities of obtaining support. Blue Raster's Role in Supporting the NC Equitable Foodshed Map Blue Raster was tasked with transitioning and enhancing the NC Equitable Foodshed Map, which was originally built using ArcGIS Web App Builder. The goal was to improve the user experience while preserving the map’s original functionality. A key element of our support for the Croatan Institute was transitioning the legacy application from ArcGIS Web App Builder to ArcGIS Experience Builder. The retirement of ArcGIS Web App Builder highlighted the need for a more advanced and flexible solution, making the transition to ArcGIS Experience Builder essential for enhancing the user experience and ensuring long-term sustainability of the tool. Blue Raster redesigned the map’s layout and functionalities, making it easier for farmers and ranchers to access the resources they need. To enhance the NC Equitable Foodshed Map further, Blue Raster utilized ArcGIS Survey123 to create a feedback mechanism that allows users to share their experiences and provide valuable input. Blue Raster configured three surveys specifically designed to gather feedback from users about their interactions with USDA facilities and other services offered through the REEFS program. This feedback is essential for ensuring the map remains relevant and effective for its users. By directly collecting input from underserved farmers and ranchers, the Croatan Institute can make informed decisions about how to improve and expand the platform over time. Additionally, Blue Raster configured ArcGIS Instant Apps with reviewer workflows for the REEFS program staff. This allowed administrators to review and manage survey responses easily. The reviewer application ensures that feedback can be tagged to specific organizations or services and prevents the submission of spam or irrelevant content. The NC Equitable Foodshed Map and its integrated surveys are available in both English and Spanish, ensuring that language is not a barrier to accessing vital agricultural resources or sharing feedback. By offering bilingual functionality, the platform supports broader participation from diverse communities across North Carolina, helping to foster inclusivity and equity for underserved farmers and ranchers. Empowering the REEFS Program with GIS Technology Through this engagement, Blue Raster helped the Croatan Institute enhance the NC Equitable Foodshed Map to better serve underserved farmers and ranchers. This project supports the broader mission of the REEFS program, which works to advance racial equity and sustainability within the agricultural sector. With these tools in hand, the REEFS program staff can maintain and update the map as needed, ensuring that it remains a valuable resource for the communities it serves. By providing farmers and ranchers with the tools they need to access essential resources, the NC Equitable Foodshed Map plays a pivotal role in supporting the long-term success of underserved communities. Connect with Blue Raster today to advance your GIS capabilities! - Categories: Health - Tags: Health, HealthGIS - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Developed by the Milbank Memorial Fund in partnership with HealthLandscape and other key stakeholders, the Milbank Primary Care Scorecard Data Dashboard offers a clear, data-driven view of primary care in the United States. At Blue Raster, our passion lies in bringing data to life through innovative geospatial technology. One of our most impactful collaborations is with HealthLandscape, a leader in health data analytics and visualization. Together, we've worked on numerous projects that empower decision-makers and community stakeholders with actionable insights, including the Milbank Primary Care Scorecard. About the Milbank Primary Care Scorecard Developed by the Milbank Memorial Fund in partnership with HealthLandscape and other key stakeholders, the Milbank Primary Care Scorecard Data Dashboard offers a clear, data-driven view of primary care in the United States. With a focus on state-level metrics, it sheds light on crucial areas such as: Access to Primary Care Supply of Primary Care Providers Training Use of Telehealth Health Outcomes and Equity By aggregating multiple data sources into an accessible, interactive dashboard, the Scorecard helps policymakers, providers, and advocates better understand where primary care is thriving and where investments are still needed. Our Role: Transforming Data into Insight Blue Raster partnered with HealthLandscape to design and optimize the Dashboard's interactive mapping and visualization components: Data Integration Incorporating a variety of data sources-ranging from national surveys to state-level health databases-to deliver a comprehensive view of primary care indicators. Ensuring data is consistently formatted, maintained, and updated to provide accurate, real-time insights. User-Centric Design Creating an intuitive interface that allows users to explore, filter, and compare states' performance on key metrics. Employing clear visual cues and interactive features so users can quickly identify trends, disparities, and successes across regions. Advanced Geospatial Analytics Developing mapping functions that highlight geographic patterns in care availability and outcomes. Integrating features that enable users to toggle different health measures, view top performers, and isolate areas with the greatest need for improvement. Impact on Primary Care Policy and Practice Evidence-Based Decision-Making: State and federal policymakers rely on Dashboard insights to guide legislation, funding, and resource allocation. Targeted Improvement Efforts: Health organizations and advocacy groups can pinpoint areas with limited primary care access and develop tailored initiatives to close gaps. Community Empowerment: Local leaders and community stakeholders gain a clearer picture of the primary care landscape in their regions, fostering collaboration and building momentum for long-term reforms. Looking Ahead We're proud to support HealthLandscape and the Milbank Memorial Fund in using data visualization to advance primary care. At Blue Raster, we see this work as central to our mission: empowering organizations with geographic insights to improve lives and communities. By leveraging the latest in GIS, analytics, and design, we are committed to driving innovation in healthcare-and beyond. If you'd like to learn more about how our GIS-driven solutions can help your organization or project, contact us today. Let's work together to turn your data into actionable, life-changing insights. - Categories: ArcGIS Data Pipelines, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Cloud, Community, Conservation, Culture, Economic Development, Environment, Federal, GIS, Google Cloud Platform, Tourism - Tags: ArcGIS Data Pipelines, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Canada, Canadian Tourism Commission, Data Pipelines, Destination Canada, Experience Builder, Google Cloud - Industries: Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster is supporting Destination Canada by enhancing TourismScapes, an interactive tool that provides insights into Canada’s tourism sectors. We’ve helped integrate big data from Google Cloud Platform into ArcGIS Online for real-time updates and improved accessibility. Additionally, our work with ArcGIS Experience Builder has streamlined the platform’s user interface, allowing stakeholders to easily explore key indicators and community assets. Destination Canada is the national marketing organization responsible for promoting Canada as a premier tourist destination. Their mission is to connect global travelers with Canada’s rich cultural experiences, natural beauty, and unique destinations. As a Canadian Crown Corporation, Destination Canada works in partnership with local tourism boards, provincial agencies, and industry stakeholders to drive sustainable growth across the country. The organization's focus goes beyond traditional marketing. By leveraging data-driven insights and sophisticated technologies, Destination Canada is continually enhancing the overall tourist experience, ensuring that both visitors and local communities benefit from increased economic activity and sustainable development. Introducing the TourismScapes Application At the heart of Destination Canada's data strategy is TourismScapes, an interactive mapping tool designed to give users deep insights into the tourism landscape across Canada. The application enables stakeholders to search, filter, and profile communities based on various attributes, providing a comprehensive understanding of local business sectors. This application empowers users to explore and assess key factors such as seasonality, employment, accommodation supply, and business mix, enabling a granular look at each community’s unique tourism ecosystem. By examining these key indicators, it offers valuable insights for strategic planning, helping local governments, business owners, and investors make informed decisions. Additionally, the application provides users the ability to explore a community's assets, such as arts and cultural facilities, parks, Indigenous businesses, and key investments. This level of detail helps stakeholders assess regional strengths and opportunities, ultimately promoting targeted and sustainable growth within the industry. Blue Raster's Strategic Support to Destination Canada Blue Raster has played a key role in supporting Destination Canada by providing technical assistance and enhancements to its Data Collective team, who serve as the foundation for TourismScapes. Our collaboration has focused on helping refine the platform’s capabilities and ensuring it can scale to accommodate the growing volumes of data from various sources. One of our primary areas of support have been in data engineering and improving user experience within the application. By assisting with the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of key data ingestion workflows in ArcGIS Data Pipelines, Blue Raster has helped facilitate the smooth ingestion of large datasets from Destination Canada's Google Cloud Platform (GCP) into ArcGIS Online. This process allows for timely updates to data, ensuring stakeholders have access to the most current information without delays. The data pipeline helps keep the application responsive to the evolving needs of the Destination Canada's continued data driven initiatives. Additionally, Blue Raster has contributed to improving the user experience within the application, ensuring that stakeholders can easily visualize and interact with data through ArcGIS Experience Builder. Our expertise in geospatial technology and user-centered design has helped enhance the interface, making it more intuitive and allowing users to identify trends, explore regional insights, and perform scenario-based analyses with greater ease. The Power of GIS in Advancing Tourism Initiatives GIS plays a crucial role in driving Destination Canada's initiatives by providing valuable spatial insights that help identify key assets, optimize resource allocation, and support data-driven decision-making to foster sustainable growth and enhance the visitor experience. As strategic partners to Destination Canada, Blue Raster has provided ongoing support and enhancements to the application and its data driven backend. Our focus has been on optimizing existing workflows, such as integrating Google Cloud Platform data into ArcGIS Online through ArcGIS Data Pipelines, ensuring seamless and real-time data updates. We’ve also contributed to improving the user experience by enhancing interactive dashboards and maps within ArcGIS Experience Builder, making it easier for stakeholders to explore and analyze data. The work Destination Canada is doing is vital to the future of Canada's tourism sector. By collecting and analyzing comprehensive data, Destination Canada is better equipped to inform strategic decisions, drive investment, and support sustainable growth across the country. Get empowered with GIS. Partner with Blue Raster to unlock the full potential of your data. Contact us today! - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Community, Design, Development, Environment, GIS, State & Local, Survey123 - Tags: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, California, Experience Builder, Local Government, Parcel, Recycling, Survey123, Sustainability - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Faced with California’s ambitious recycling mandates—AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383—San Mateo County turned to GIS to track, manage, and report compliance across its communities. Blue Raster partnered with the County to build a smart, centralized application using ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, and Survey123. The result? A powerful tool that streamlines inspections, visualizes hauler service routes, simplifies reporting, and supports the County’s mission to reduce waste and meet state environmental goals. Smart Tools for California Recycling Reporting and Enforcement In California, environmental responsibility is more than just a community value—it’s the law. With the passing of AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383, the state has implemented some of the most progressive and comprehensive recycling mandates in the nation. These laws require jurisdictions to ramp up recycling, organics diversion, and food waste reduction programs in an effort to combat climate change and reduce landfill waste. Understanding California Recycling Laws: AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383 AB 341 sets the foundation by mandating commercial recycling for businesses and multi-family dwellings. AB 1826 builds upon this by requiring organics recycling for businesses generating a specified amount of organic waste. SB 1383, the most ambitious of the three, aims to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025 and recover at least 20% of edible food that would otherwise be sent to landfills. To meet these mandates, local governments need more than just policy—they need powerful tools to manage, track, and report compliance across their communities. That’s where Blue Raster stepped in to support the County of San Mateo, California. Building a Smart California Recycling Compliance System Blue Raster partnered with the County of San Mateo's Office of Sustainability to design and implement a customized digital solution that brings together the power of ArcGIS Online, Experience Builder, and Survey123. To help San Mateo County track compliance across its unincorporated areas, Blue Raster developed a powerful, centralized GIS application using ArcGIS Experience Builder. Designed in collaboration with County staff, the solution connects directly to the County’s parcel data and organizes information on approximately 250 businesses and multi-family complexes, along with 2,500 residential accounts and five different haulers. The application gives County staff the ability to visualize inspection data on interactive maps, monitor enforcement activities, and understand service coverage at a glance. The user-friendly dashboard allows staff to visualize inspections, track enforcement actions, and map hauler service routes bringing together all the moving pieces of the County’s compliance program in one intuitive platform. Integrating Smart Forms and Streamlined Reporting To manage the intake of waivers and exemption requests, Blue Raster implemented ArcGIS Survey123 forms that are easy to use in the field and on the web. These digital forms ensure that data is submitted in a consistent format and feeds directly into the main application for review, helping staff stay on top of updates without relying on disconnected spreadsheets or manual entry. Behind the scenes, we created a cleaned and standardized dataset hosted in ArcGIS Online, supported by a carefully designed database schema. This structure allows the County to maintain and update its data efficiently, while also supporting calendar-year reporting requirements to CalRecycle. By aligning the system with California recycling reporting timelines, the County is now well-positioned to submit complete and accurate compliance reports each year. How San Mateo County Tracks California Recycling Compliance with GIS This solution is already making a difference. The County can now track and visualize inspections in real time, quickly identify non-compliant accounts, and make better decisions with integrated data and mapping tools. Staff have access to up-to-date information across all haulers and property types, enabling more proactive outreach and enforcement. By reducing manual processes and centralizing compliance data, the County has improved both operational efficiency and data reliability—critical steps toward achieving California’s ambitious recycling goals. Our Commitment to Using GIS for Good Blue Raster uses the power of GIS to drive positive change, supporting sustainability initiatives and environmental compliance efforts across the country. We partner with government agencies, nonprofits, and private organizations to build innovative, data-driven solutions that address challenges like waste reduction, climate resilience, conservation, and resource management. Whether it’s tracking compliance with recycling mandates or mapping the impacts of climate change, our geospatial tools help clients make smarter decisions, meet regulatory goals, and create lasting impact for communities and the planet. At Blue Raster, we believe in using GIS for good—to inform, inspire, and advance a more sustainable future Get empowered with GIS. Partner with Blue Raster to unlock the full potential of your data. Contact us today! - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Drone, Field Mobility, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Pro, Drone, Nonprofit/NGO - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster recently completed a high-resolution drone mapping project at The Henry Ford Museum campus in Dearborn, Michigan. By combining drone technology with GIS, our team produced a custom vector basemap using Drone2Map and ArcGIS Pro—helping the Facilities Team, students, and visitors alike. Drone Mapping at The Henry Ford: Creating a Smarter Campus with GIS At Blue Raster, we're always looking for innovative ways to combine technology, cartography, and utility. Recently, our team visited The Henry Ford Museum campus in Dearborn, Michigan to carry out a special drone mapping project. This collaborative effort resulted in a comprehensive, fully vector basemap of the entire campus-one that benefits everyone from The Henry Ford Facilities Team to the Henry Ford Academy students, and soon, museum visitors. Preparing for Lift-Off Before we ever take flight, planning is everything. Our team organized a flight plan that included: Ground Control Targets (GCPs): Precisely positioned markers on the ground that ensure highly accurate geolocation in the final map product. FAA Compliance: We filed a detailed flight plan to comply with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, ensuring a safe and responsible operation. Coordination with The Henry Ford Team: We work closely with museum staff to schedule flights during low visitor traffic and under clear skies, ensuring safety, minimal disruption for guests, and optimal conditions for high-quality imagery. https://www. blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/thf_drone_video. mp4 Processing the Imagery with Drone2Map Once the flight concluded and the drone landed, our data processing began: Image Review: We first checked the collected imagery for clarity and coverage. Stitching & Orthomosaic Creation: Using Esri's Drone2Map, we seamlessly stitched hundreds of images into one high-resolution orthomosaic of the entire campus. Quality Assurance: The ground control points and rigorous processing workflow ensured a precise, consistent result. From Imagery to Tile Layer With the orthomosaic in hand, we uploaded the imagery to ArcGIS Online as a tile layer. This step made the data easily shareable and ready for use across various web maps and applications. Building a Custom Vector Basemap The next step was to transform this accurate orthomosaic into a polished, fully vector basemap using ArcGIS Pro. Our cartographers carefully designed the basemap to: Highlight Key Features: Buildings, pathways, historical exhibits, and green spaces are clearly depicted. Enhance Readability: Thoughtful symbology and labeling ensure the map is intuitive and accessible for a broad user base. Publishing to The Henry Ford's ArcGIS Online Once finalized, the custom basemap was published directly to The Henry Ford's ArcGIS Online account. This enabled multiple stakeholders to access and leverage the data instantly. Helping the Facilities Team, Educators, and Visitors Now that the drone-based imagery and custom vector basemap are live, the campus community is already seeing its benefits: Facilities Management: The new basemap helps teams maintain and plan updates to buildings, parking, and landscaping with the most accurate information possible, and enables use of Survey123 and Field Maps for data collection and updating Field Data Collection: Students at the Henry Ford Academy can now use the basemap for hands-on research and outdoor projects using mobile devices with Survey123 and Field Maps. Visitor Experience: Future plans include integrating this enhanced basemap into visitor-facing applications, built with Experience Builder so guests can navigate the museum campus with ease, and find the moveable popcorn cart, hot chocolate stand or open restrooms! Looking Ahead This project exemplifies how advanced GIS technology, paired with professional drone workflows, can deliver real-world solutions that improve operations and enrich the visitor experience. We at Blue Raster are proud to have partnered with The Henry Ford to create a dynamic basemap that showcases their remarkable campus and supports their mission of innovation and education. Want to explore drone mapping for your campus, facility, or community? Contact Blue Raster to learn how drone imagery and GIS can support your goals. Reach out to our team at Blue Raster to start the conversation. - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Culture, Human Rights, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Experience Builder, faith based, friends, Nonprofit/NGO, quaker - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development At Blue Raster, we believe that well-designed, data-driven solutions can bring people together and foster meaningful connections. Our ongoing collaboration with the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Section of the Americas perfectly illustrates this principle. Through the creation of an ArcGIS Experience Builder application, we’ve helped FWCC more effectively map and connect Quaker communities across the region, advancing their mission to nurture fellowship, communication, and spiritual unity. Building a Custom ArcGIS Experience Builder App for FWCC At Blue Raster, we believe that well-designed, data-driven solutions can bring people together and foster meaningful connections. Our ongoing collaboration with the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Section of the Americas perfectly illustrates this principle. Through the creation of an ArcGIS Experience Builder app, we've helped FWCC more effectively map and connect Quaker communities across the region, advancing their mission to nurture fellowship, communication, and spiritual unity. About FWCC, Section of the Americas The Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas is dedicated to bringing together the diverse community of Quakers (Friends) across North, Central, and South America. By fostering spiritual enrichment, collaboration, and service opportunities, FWCC strengthens bonds among individuals, meetings, and churches of all Quaker traditions. One of their core values is making these communities more visible and accessible, helping newcomers and longtime Friends alike find and engage with local meetings and worship groups. The Challenge: Mapping Quaker Communities FWCC needed a modern, user-friendly platform to display Quaker meetings and churches throughout the Americas. Their goals included: Centralized Data: Unifying information on numerous Quaker meetings and churches, each with unique contact details, worship times, and affiliations. Interactive Search & Discovery: Enabling visitors to easily explore, filter, and locate gatherings based on geography or specific criteria. Enhanced Community Engagement: Encouraging new and existing members to connect with meetings that resonate with their preferences, traditions, or language needs. Our Solution: An ArcGIS Experience Builder App Blue Raster leveraged ArcGIS Experience Builder to create a, fully responsive web application that seamlessly combines powerful GIS mapping with an intuitive user interface. Key features include: Dynamic Map Visualization We integrated FWCC's comprehensive location data to generate a navigable, zoomable map of Quaker gatherings. Robust Search & Filter Tools Built-in filtering capabilities allow visitors to refine searches by language offerings, worship style, or geographical region. Responsive, Accessible Design The user interface is designed to work seamlessly on a variety of screen sizes, from desktop monitors to mobile devices. Looking Ahead Blue Raster is proud to support FWCC's efforts to unite Quakers throughout the Americas with technology that brings people closer together. This project showcases our dedication to creating engaging, accessible, and dynamic mapping solutions that nurture community and amplify organizational missions. If you're interested in learning more about how ArcGIS Experience Builder can help your organization visualize data, drive collaboration, and make an impact, reach out to our team. We look forward to working with you to harness the power of GIS for positive change. Interested in building your own ArcGIS Experience Builder app? Let's talk about how GIS can bring your mission to life. Contact us - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, Health, HIV, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: CDC, food security, HIV, UNICEF, USAID - Industries: Health, Uncategorized - Services: Technological Insights, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Discover how Blue Raster uses ArcGIS Pro to create printable PDF maps for partners like UNICEF and CDC—perfect for reports, records, and offline access. Even with the rise of digital dashboards and real-time web mapping apps, there's a quiet but important corner of the GIS world still producing classic, printable maps for reports issued in PDF format. At Blue Raster, we frequently create such maps for partners liked UNICEF and CDC who need clear, shareable visuals in formal reports-both digitally and in print. Why Report Maps Still Matter Ease of Printing: Some audiences (executives, government agencies, etc. ) may prefer or require printed reports. Offline Usage: Rural areas or locations with low-bandwidth internet. Archiving & Record-Keeping: Reports can be filed, referenced, and archived over decades. Simplicity & Standardization: PDFs are universally recognized; no specialized software required to open or view them. The Role of ArcGIS Pro Modern Cartography Tools Map Automation Customization & Scale ArcGIS Pro offers a range of layout customization options-like guiding rulers, dynamic legends, and scalebars-that ensure our PDFs are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to interpret. When producing reports that contain dozens of maps, these tools become essential. Examples of GIS Report Maps for Global Health Projects Here are some example maps (in report context) that we have made for public release for UNICEF, USAID and CDC: HIV indicator maps for the PHIA project Report maps aren't going anywhere. They're one of the timeless ways to convey spatial information-and by harnessing ArcGIS Pro's modern cartographic tools, we can ensure that these maps meet today's high expectations for professionalism and clarity. If you're curious about the process or need help with your own PDF maps, reach out to our team at Blue Raster. - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Conservation, Environment, Esri, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, conservation, Environment, Experience Builder, Living Atlas, water, Water Conservation, Wetlands - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster worked with NRDC to identify which wetlands were potentially protected under the previous interpretation of the Clean Water Act but are now at risk of not being protected. Using the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) data, our team first created a dataset of wetlands likely to meet the regulatory definition of "wetlands" in federal Clean Water Act rules, based on the presence of water, hydric soils, and hydrophilic soils. In honor of World Water Day, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has published a groundbreaking report, Mapping Destruction: Using GIS Modeling to Show the Disastrous Impacts of Sackett v. EPA on America's Wetlands, on how federal wetlands protection under the Clean Water Act has changed after the Supreme Court's decision in Sackett v. EPA. In 2023, the Supreme Court issued the decision in Sackett v. EPA, which narrowed the scope of wetlands protected by the Clean Water Act. Prior to the decision, consistent with the Supreme Court's prior case law, the EPA interpreted the Waters of the United States to include wetlands that had a "significant nexus" to navigable waters. This meant that nearly all wetlands and non-perennial streams were eligible for protection. Sackett v. EPA narrowed this definition to include only wetlands that have a continuous surface connection to Waters of the United States. What Changed in Wetlands Protection Blue Raster worked with NRDC to identify which wetlands were potentially protected under the previous interpretation of the Clean Water Act but are now at risk of not being protected. Using the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) data, our team first created a dataset of wetlands likely to meet the regulatory definition of "wetlands" in federal Clean Water Act rules, based on the presence of water, hydric soils, and hydrophilic soils. We then used the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) to identify jurisdictional wetlands under three scenarios interpreting Sackett v. EPA in comparison to jurisdictional wetlands under the previous interpretation. Includes streams that the NHD identifies as "relatively permanent" and human-made features, such as ditches and canals, as having perennial or intermittent flows, which likely overstates the number of streams and wetlands remaining protected Excludes human-made features and only includes streams NHD classifies as perennial. Excludes wetlands except those that are likely to have surface water for a very substantial part of the year, in order to approximate the effect of an interpretation requiring that wetlands must be "indistinguishable" from other Waters of the United States. Wetlands Eligible for protection prior to Sackett v. EPA (green) as compared to three separate interpretations. Scenario 1: yellow; Scenario 2; Pink; Scenario 4: Purple NRDC used these datasets to estimate the area and number of wetlands in each state, and by county, that have lost federal protection and is advocating for state and local government protections to fill the gap left by Sackett v. EPA. These datasets can also be explored in a companion viewer application that Blue Raster helped create. Want to understand how GIS can support policy, advocacy, and environmental protection? Contact Blue Raster to explore what’s possible with spatial analysis. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Elections, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Online, election, elections, GIS - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development Blue Raster Deployed Esri's Election Management Solution for San Patricio County, Texas during the 2024 Presidential Election. The solution gave insights into voting wait times and early voting ballot counts. Project Background This past election season, Blue Raster worked with San Patricio County, Texas, to deploy GIS work flows for the county Elections Office. Located just north of Corpus Christi, on Texas's Gulf Coast, San Patricio County has a population just shy of 70,000. The San Patricio County Election Office is in charge of 14 Voting Centers and 4 early voting locations across the county to serve their voting population during the early voting period leading up to election day through the first Tuesday in November. The Need for an Elections Management Solution To better inform staffing decisions and improve reporting workflows for early voting and during election day, Blue Raster helped to deploy the Esri's Election Management Solution within the county's ArcGIS Online Organization to create a GIS-focused management and reporting solution for the county Elections Office. The Election Management Solution creates a handful of configurable applications and workflows that allow for elections officials to facilitate Poll Worker duties, applications for poll watchers and volunteers, a public ArcGIS Hub site for transparency, and an ArcGIS Workforce integration for easy work order and assistance request management which can all be tailored to the users needs. Implementing GIS Workflows for San Patricio's Election To aid San Patricio's Election Office in adopting more GIS-focused practices, Blue Raster helped to deploy the Election Wait Time Reporting Tool and a custom Voter Turnout Reporting Tool for the county. Using the data structures already provided with the Election Management Solution, Blue Raster created a Survey123 form that allowed Voting Center workers to report daily turnout. At the end of each day during the early voting period, election officials could use the Survey123 form to select their voting location from a dropdown list and report on the number of voters that cast ballots at their location that day. During Election Day this process was the same, but workers reported every 2 hours throughout the day. San Patricio's Voter Turnout Reporting Form To improve public transparency of turnout throughout the process, the reported turnout fed a Public Dashboard created specifically for the customized Voter Turnout reporting tool, which was designed to mimic the simple usability already present in the other Election Management Solution Apps. This dashboard was hosted on the County's Election Office webpage and provided live updates throughout the open voting period. Dashboard displaying voter turnout This Voter Turnout reporting helped to provide public transparency, while getting Election Office officials experience using GIS tools without overcomplicated workflows that would have led to a less successful user experience. San Patricio's Internal Election Tracking Dashboard Interested in GIS for Elections? Visit Blue Raster's GIS for Elections Capabilities Page to learn more about how we support State and Local Governments with GIS support around elections. Reach out today to get started! - Categories: Health - Tags: Columbia University, Health, HealthGIS - Industries: Education, Health - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster partnered with Columbia University to launch the Columbia Impact Exchange—a platform that maps global projects, fosters collaboration, and amplifies research impact across health, climate, and social justice. At Blue Raster, we are dedicated to helping organizations harness the power of data and GIS to spark collaboration, drive innovation, and improve lives. Since 2015, we have been collaborating with Columbia University on a variety of health initiatives (like PHIA and TRACE). Our partnership with Columbia Global reflects this commitment. Together, we developed and launched the Columbia Impact Exchange, a dynamic platform designed to showcase and connect the University's global projects, research, and partnerships. About the Columbia Impact Exchange The Columbia Impact Exchange serves as a virtual hub that amplifies knowledge-sharing, fosters multidisciplinary collaboration, and maximizes the real-world impact of Columbia's teaching, research, and scholarship. By integrating data from diverse academic departments, regional initiatives, and community-based programs, the platform demonstrates how Columbia faculty, students, and partners are addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges like climate change, health inequities, social justice, and more. Key Goals of the Columbia Impact Exchange: Accelerate Collaboration:By visually mapping projects and partnerships across the globe, the platform helps connect scholars, practitioners, and communities working in similar fields or locations. Amplify Knowledge:The site centralizes findings, insights, and innovations, making them more accessible to policymakers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, and the broader public. Maximize Global Impact:Through transparency and easy discovery of ongoing and completed initiatives, the platform encourages the sharing of best practices, scalable interventions, and groundbreaking research. The Columbia Impact Exchange is a powerful example of how data and mapping technology can advance collaboration and accelerate impact across sectors. With Blue Raster's technical expertise and Columbia Global's vision, the platform brings visibility to critical research and fosters real-world solutions to global challenges. Contact Us Interested in building your own collaborative data platform? Whether you're a university, nonprofit, or global organization, Blue Raster can help you bring your data to life. Reach out today to explore how we can support your next data-driven initiative - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Development, JavaScript API, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Custom Application - Industries: Commercial - Services: Software & Data Solutions, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development As decision-making grows more complex, the ability to integrate geospatial insights with robust analytics will be crucial for many organizations. By working with Decision Lens, Blue Raster aims to continue driving innovation in the market—ensuring that stakeholders can see exactly where their decisions will have the most profound effect. When organizations need to make difficult choices about resource allocation, budget prioritization, or strategic planning, Decision Lens is often at the forefront of delivering powerful, data-driven solutions. However, these critical decisions become even more impactful when enhanced by geographic context. That's why Blue Raster partnered with Decision Lens to bring ArcGIS Online integration capabilities directly into Decision Lens's suite of tools. Expanding Decision-Making Capabilities with GIS For years, Decision Lens has helped clients efficiently evaluate trade-offs, streamline processes, and optimize outcomes. With ArcGIS Online Integration, Decision Lens can now take these capabilities a step further, overlaying location-based data to better understand where key factors are happening and why. This geo-enabled approach empowers teams to visualize everything from resource distribution and demographic patterns to logistical pathways and operational constraints, all within the familiar Decision Lens environment. Blue Raster's Role: Bringing Spatial Insights to the Forefront As an Esri Gold Partner and a recognized leader in GIS development, Blue Raster was uniquely positioned to guide Decision Lens through every step of the integration process. The project required bridging robust decision-making analytics with the ArcGIS ecosystem in a way that was both seamless to the end user and easily scalable. Custom JavaScript & GIS Development Blue Raster leveraged its extensive JavaScript expertise to customize web components and build interactive GIS dashboards that plug directly into Decision Lens software. By writing clean, modular code, Blue Raster ensured that location-based features-like interactive maps, real-time data feeds, and geo-queries-fit naturally into existing Decision Lens workflows and user interfaces. Expertise in the ArcGIS Platform Beyond development, Blue Raster also provided key ArcGIS Platform guidance. This included best practices for managing spatial data, setting up secure services, and optimizing map performance. Whether pulling in live operational data or showcasing detailed basemaps and spatial layers, Blue Raster helped Decision Lens harness the full power of ArcGIS Online for geospatial analysis, visualization, and collaboration. How the Integrated Solution Works Data Import & Preparation: Users can import location-relevant datasets into Decision Lens, whether those datasets originate from internal systems or publicly available sources. ArcGIS Online Mapping: Thanks to the custom JavaScript components, maps and spatial layers hosted on ArcGIS Online can be embedded seamlessly within Decision Lens interfaces. Geo-Visualization & Prioritization: Users can visualize and prioritize projects, budgets, or resources in real time, overlaying data layers to reveal patterns or gaps that would otherwise remain hidden. Collaboration & Decision-Making: Teams gain a single platform for capturing discussion points and making trade-off decisions, while simultaneously referencing geography-based metrics and trends. Looking Ahead As decision-making grows more complex, the ability to integrate geospatial insights with robust analytics will be crucial for many organizations. By working with Decision Lens, Blue Raster aims to continue driving innovation in the market-ensuring that stakeholders can see exactly where their decisions will have the most profound effect. This ArcGIS Online integration gives organizations a unified platform to combine spatial context with performance metrics, enabling more informed, data-driven decisions. Whether planning capital investments, prioritizing projects, or optimizing limited resources, the combined power of Decision Lens and ArcGIS helps teams align strategies with real-world geography for measurable impact. Contact Us Today! If you'd like to learn more about how Blue Raster can deliver ArcGIS Online integrations into your applications, or if you're curious about how Decision Lens is transforming resource allocation and strategic planning, contact us. We're excited to work with you to unlock the power of location intelligence and drive better results for your organization. - Categories: Real Estate, Uncategorized - Tags: Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate - Industries: Commercial, Commercial Real Estate - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, Technological Insights, Web Application Development Blue Raster is expanding its impact in Commercial Real Estate with GIS technology. In collaboration with Esri, we’re helping firms analyze locations, visualize portfolios, and drive better decisions using tools like ArcGIS Online, Business Analyst, and Experience Builder. Over the past year, Blue Raster has significantly expanded its footprint in the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) sector, delivering powerful GIS-driven commercial real estate solutions to help clients analyze, visualize, and optimize their real estate portfolios. Through our strong relationship with Esri Commercial Real Estate, we continue to provide innovative geospatial solutions that empower CRE firms to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Growing Our Impact in Commercial Real Estate From market feasibility studies to site suitability analysis, we've worked closely with a diverse set of CRE clients to provide tailored GIS applications that enhance business operations and inform strategic planning. Some of the firms we've recently partnered with include: MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Metro Commercial Real Estate Texwin Custom Buildings The Concord Group Colliers The Macerich Company Main Street America HSF Affiliates Each of these companies brings a unique set of challenges, from identifying ideal retail locations to monitoring real estate trends and streamlining site selection processes. With our expertise and close collaboration with Esri Commercial Real Estate, our clients now have access to industry-leading GIS technology and spatial insights that drive better decision-making. GIS Solutions Powering Commercial Real Estate Our work in the CRE sector continues to evolve, integrating a mix of geospatial analysis, real-time data visualization, and advanced mapping techniques to support our clients' needs. Some of the key commercial real estate solutions and services we've provided include: ArcGIS Online Training - Helping teams upskill with hands-on experience in Esri technology. Experience Builder & Dashboards - Custom applications for interactive property analysis, portfolio management, and KPI tracking. Site Suitability Analysis - Identifying high-potential locations using spatial modeling. Leveraging Living Atlas & Census Data - Providing deep demographic insights and real-time market trends. Parcel Data & Satellite Imagery - Enhancing decision-making with our Regrid parcel data partnership and Planet satellite imagery. A Strong Partnership with Esri Commercial Real Estate As an Esri partner, Blue Raster has worked closely with the Esri Commercial Real Estate team to develop and implement GIS solutions that align with the latest industry trends and technologies. Our ability to integrate ArcGIS Online, Business Analyst, Experience Builder, and Site Suitability Analysis workflows into real estate operations has been instrumental in helping clients navigate market shifts and investment opportunities. Through this collaborative relationship with Esri, we continue to deliver cutting-edge commercial real estate solutions, ensuring our clients stay ahead of the curve with spatial intelligence, real-time data visualization, and dynamic property analysis tools. What's Next? As we move into 2025, Blue Raster remains committed to advancing GIS technology in the CRE industry, helping organizations visualize opportunities, reduce risks, and optimize their investments. Whether it's developing custom applications, providing expert training, or integrating real estate data with GIS, our team continues to push the boundaries of spatial analysis for commercial real estate success. If you're looking for GIS-powered real estate solutions, let's connect and explore how Blue Raster-in partnership with Esri Commercial Real Estate-can help your organization navigate the market with confidence. Ready to transform your real estate strategy? Schedule a free consultation today! Contact Us GIS for real estate is transforming how firms analyze properties, identify opportunities, and streamline decision-making. By integrating spatial data with market intelligence, our solutions help clients assess location value, visualize trends, and manage assets more efficiently. Whether you're evaluating new developments or optimizing existing portfolios, GIS for real estate provides the tools you need to stay competitive in a dynamic market. Contact us today to learn how Blue Raster's commercial real estate solutions can help your organization today! - Categories: ArcGIS Pro, Training - Tags: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, Python, Training - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Software & Data Solutions, Technological Insights Blue Raster had the privilege of conducting a comprehensive virtual training session on ArcGIS Pro for a leading commercial real estate company. This training aimed to empower participants with the skills and knowledge needed to maximize the potential of ArcGIS Pro within their workflows. ArcGIS Pro Training for Real-World Impact: Blue Raster's Virtual Learning Experience In today's data-driven landscape, the ability to harness the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is critical, particularly in industries where spatial insights drive decision-making. Recently, Blue Raster had the privilege of conducting a comprehensive virtual training session on ArcGIS Pro for a leading commercial real estate company. This training aimed to empower participants with the skills and knowledge needed to maximize the potential of ArcGIS Pro within their workflows. Inside the ArcGIS Pro Training with Blue Raster The training kicked off with an in-depth exploration of ArcGIS Pro's interface and key features. Participants gained valuable insights into the benefits of ArcGIS Pro over its predecessor, ArcMap, including improved collaboration capabilities and enhanced file management functionalities. One of the highlights of the training was the discussion on file management and sharing. Participants learned about best practices for active file management within ArcGIS Online and discovered how ArcGIS Pro facilitates concurrent use and collaboration, seamlessly integrating with cloud storage solutions like Dropbox or Box for efficient data access. Supporting a Smooth Transition from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro Addressing concerns about transitioning from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro, the training provided practical tips and strategies to ease the migration process. Participants gained a clear understanding of the similarities and differences between the two platforms, empowering them to adapt quickly and effectively. The training also explored the mapping and analysis tools offered by ArcGIS Pro, showcasing its advanced capabilities in custom styling, Python toolboxes, and map layout optimization. Participants discovered techniques for demographic analysis and trade area delineation, gaining actionable insights for informed decision-making. Workflow Optimization Through ArcGIS Pro Training A key focus of the training was on workflow optimization, where participants learned strategies for maximizing productivity within ArcGIS Pro. From data export options to documentation techniques, every aspect of the workflow was meticulously examined to ensure efficiency and accuracy. In summary, the ArcGIS Pro training conducted by Blue Raster was a resounding success, equipping participants with the skills and knowledge needed to unlock the full potential of this powerful GIS platform. As organizations continue to embrace the transformative power of location intelligence, Blue Raster remains committed to driving innovation and excellence in GIS education and training. Ready to Elevate Your Team with ArcGIS Pro Training? Partner with Blue Raster for Customized GIS Learning Solutions Contact Us - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS Online, Conservation, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Survey123, Women in Science - Tags: 3D, ArcGIS Online, conservation, Jane Goodall Institute, JavaScript, Nonprofit/NGO, Survey123 - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development The Jane Goodall Institute’s Tapestry of Hope project weaves together uplifting stories of individuals, organizations, and communities working to protect the environment, support wildlife, and uplift human well-being. This dynamic platform highlights the collective impact of grassroots efforts around the world—encouraging visitors to explore, share, and become part of a global movement dedicated to creating a brighter future. The Jane Goodall Institute's Tapestry of Hope project weaves together uplifting stories of individuals, organizations, and communities working to protect the environment, support wildlife, and uplift human well-being. This dynamic platform highlights the collective impact of grassroots efforts around the world-encouraging visitors to explore, share, and become part of a global movement dedicated to creating a brighter future. Blue Raster is proud to have partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute to enhance the Tapestry of Hope experience through custom JavaScript development and ArcGIS Online configuration. Our collaboration centered on creating an engaging and intuitive interface that allows participants to seamlessly discover and contribute to this ever-growing digital tapestry. Building a Seamless Interactive Experience A primary goal was to ensure that anyone-whether an avid conservationist or a newcomer to environmental efforts-could easily navigate and contribute to the tapestry. To support this: Custom JavaScript Development We developed a user-friendly interface that invites participants to explore content in a visually compelling manner. Interactive map elements guide visitors through stories of hope around the globe, linking project descriptions with geographic locations for deeper context. Responsive design principles ensure the tapestry looks and functions beautifully across devices, from desktop browsers to mobile phones. ArcGIS Online Configuration ArcGIS Online's robust mapping capabilities power the spatial storytelling component. We configured hosted feature layers, web maps, and map applications tailored to the Jane Goodall Institute's needs. A Survey123 form allows anyone to contribute to the tapestry. Leveraging ArcGIS Online's flexible platform ensures real-time updates and easy management of new stories as they are added. Inspiring Change Through Maps and Storytelling The heart of the Tapestry of Hope is the collection of stories showcasing how individuals and organizations are making a difference. By combining ArcGIS Online's mapping power with custom JavaScript interfaces: Location-Based Engagement: Visitors can zoom into specific regions, discovering on-the-ground initiatives, from wildlife conservation projects in Africa to community-led cleanups in urban centers. Data-Rich Storytelling: Each story features multimedia elements-images, video, or infographics-to convey the impact of the efforts highlighted. Sustainable Scalability: Because the tapestry's growth is ongoing, ArcGIS Online's cloud-based infrastructure allows new stories, data, and imagery to be added without downtime or extensive rework. Looking Ahead: A Growing Tapestry The success of the Tapestry of Hope underscores the power of digital storytelling and interactive mapping to spark meaningful engagement. As new partners and individuals join, the tapestry will continue to grow, illustrating how collective efforts can weave together a future built on hope and cooperation. We at Blue Raster remain committed to supporting the Jane Goodall Institute's vision of a world where every individual plays a role in protecting animals, people, and the environment. By harnessing innovative GIS tools and custom web development, we are helping to nurture a digital space where everyone can witness-and contribute to-this global story of hope. Add your story to the Tapestry of Hope! Visit the Jane Goodall Institute's Tapestry of Hope website to discover inspiring stories, add your own experiences, and learn how you can help make a lasting difference. - Categories: Conference, Esri, Federal - Tags: Esri FedGIS, Federal, Federal Small Business Program, Small Business Partners - Industries: Federal Government, Uncategorized - Services: Software & Data Solutions, Technological Insights Blue Raster, a premier Esri Partner specializing in geospatial solutions and IT consulting, has been awarded the Esri Federal Small Business Specialty Partner of the Year at the Esri Federal GIS Conference (FedGIS) 2025 Recognizing Excellence in Esri Partner Collaboration and Federal GIS Solutions Blue Raster, a premier Esri Partner specializing in geospatial solutions and IT consulting, has been awarded the Esri Federal Small Business Specialty Partner of the Year at the Esri Federal GIS Conference (FedGIS) in Washington, DC. This prestigious recognition highlights Blue Raster's outstanding contributions to the US Federal Government sector through innovative applications of Esri's ArcGIS technology. As one of only two Esri partners in the Esri Partner Network (EPN) recognized at the event, this award underscores Blue Raster's commitment to advancing geospatial intelligence and Esri federal small business solutions. Leading the Way in Federal GIS Innovation Blue Raster empowers federal agencies, conservation organizations, and public-sector partners with advanced mapping, data visualization, and web and mobile application development. By leveraging Esri technology, the company delivers cutting-edge solutions that optimize resource management, enhance operational efficiency, and drive mission-critical outcomes for government agencies. "It is an honor to be recognized by Esri as the Federal Small Business Specialty Partner of the Year," said Michael Lippmann, co-founder of Blue Raster. "This award underscores our team's dedication to providing cutting-edge geospatial solutions that empower our Federal Government partners to achieve their goals more effectively and efficiently. We are excited to continue collaborating with Esri to drive innovation and deliver impactful results. " Contact Blue Raster Today! Esri Recognizes Blue Raster's Commitment to Federal GIS Excellence With over 3,000 partners worldwide, Esri leads the way in location intelligence and GIS solutions. The Esri Partner Network acknowledges partners that have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in delivering ArcGIS-powered solutions for the US Federal Government. "Esri congratulates Blue Raster on their 2025 Federal Small Business Specialty Partner of the Year award in recognition of their work leveraging ArcGIS software," said Thomas Fair, Director, Esri Partner Network. "We are proud to partner with Blue Raster to foster the use of ArcGIS as a system in support of our mutual US Federal Government customers. " About Esri Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world's most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit esri. com to learn more. About Blue Raster Blue Raster is a leading provider of geospatial solutions, IT consulting, and GIS application development, empowering organizations to make data-driven decisions through advanced mapping, data visualization, and analytics. As an Esri Partner, Blue Raster specializes in delivering cutting-edge Esri ArcGIS-based solutions that help Federal Government agencies, conservation organizations, and public sector clients improve efficiency, optimize resources, and achieve mission success. - Categories: ArcGIS Hub, Esri, GIS, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Hub, Esri, State and Local - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, Software & Data Solutions, Technological Insights, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster & Esri team up to host an ArcGIS Hub Innovation Workshop for State and Local governments from Northern Virginia. The 2025 ArcGIS Hub Innovation Workshop, co-hosted by Blue Raster and Esri, brought together local government leaders and GIS professionals at Blue Raster's Arlington, VA office to foster collaboration, share the latest innovations, and provide hands-on learning experiences with ArcGIS Hub. This event provided attendees with insights into product roadmaps, innovative use cases, and opportunities to collaborate on Hub deployments tailored to their community needs. Workshop Recap Esri Shares ArcGIS Hub Roadmap & Generative AI Examples Ben and Mary presenting advanced use cases for ArcGIS Hub. Andrew Turner, Director and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Esri Research and Development Center, kicked off the workshop by presenting the ArcGIS Hub roadmap and showcasing examples of its practical applications. He then provided updates on GeoAI and highlighted use cases for Generative AI. Andrew also shared Esri's Hub Gallery - check out the great Hub examples to find some inspiration for your own Hub site! Blue Raster Presents Advanced Hub Use Cases & Customer success Stories Ben Masters, Mary Bracho, and Phil Satlof from Blue Raster demonstrated how they have pushed ArcGIS Hub to its limits across multiple projects. Some highlights included: Main Street America BOOMS Tracker and the automation of over 1,300 Hub pages Supporting Georgia Secretary of State with rapid development of a voter redistricting QA/QC platform OC Works Hub that utilized highly customized UI/UX These projects, along with others, sparked insightful discussions and led to several meaningful hands-on breakout sessions. Hands-on Breakout Sessions for Special Topics One of the most valuable portions of the day was the hands-on Bring Your Own Hub workshop, where attendees worked directly with Esri and Blue Raster experts to explore solutions for their existing or proposed Hub deployments. We covered: User Feedback and Roadmap discussion with Andrew Turner Automation and Scripting Workflows Custom HTML & CSS for Dynamic UI/UX Getting Started with Hub Beyond the technical deep dives, the workshop was an opportunity for collaboration and networking. Attendees connected with local peers, shared best practices, and discussed the evolving role of GIS in public sector innovation. What's Next? Let's Keep the Conversation Going! With such great discussions throughout the day, we're excited to continue supporting agencies in their ArcGIS Hub journeys. Whether you're looking to launch a new Hub, expand an existing deployment, or tackle specific GIS challenges, our team is here to help. We also invite you to connect with us in person at Esri's FedGIS Conference (February 24-26)-stop by our booth and let's talk about what's next for your GIS initiatives! At Blue Raster, we're dedicated to pioneering GIS solutions that transform how industries operate. We invite you to reach out and explore how we can collaborate on your next GIS project. Stay connected with us for updates on future events and opportunities to innovate together. - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, Climate, Cloud, Conservation, Environment, Forest, Greenhouse Gas, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Image Server, Climate Change, conservation, GHG Emissions, ICLEI, LEARN, Woodwell, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Launched in 2021, the Land Emissions and Removals Navigator (LEARN) Tool was designed to help communities easily measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from land use changes. The tool enables users to intuitively analyze how forests and trees impact GHG emissions using land use and land cover data. In its latest update, Blue Raster collaborated with the Woodwell Climate Research Center, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and the World Resources Institute to expand its features, giving local governments and landowners even more tools to understand and manage the carbon stored in their forests and trees. Blue Raster supported the initial development of the LEARN Tool to address a significant gap in existing carbon accounting methods. Traditionally, previously analyses have focused on measuring their emissions from energy and transportation sectors, while the emissions and removals from land-use change and forestry have been overlooked. However, these land-based emissions and removals are responsible for a significant proportion of the carbon footprint, particularly in rural areas. What's New in the LEARN Tool? The latest iteration of the the LEARN Tool was built with the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript and utilizes geoprocessing and image services hosted in an ArcGIS Enterprise environment. The updated analysis in the LEARN Tool now includes the latest maps of Mature and Old Growth Forests, along with their protected status, offering a more comprehensive view of forest ecosystems. In addition to reporting net GHG emissions, the tool breaks down the total forest area by age and protection level, while calculating the carbon stored within each category. This deeper insight allows communities to understand the critical role forests play in carbon sequestration and climate mitigation. With this information, users can easily identify high-value areas for preservation, develop strategies to protect mature and old growth forests, and take actionable steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By highlighting the connection between forest preservation and climate impact, the LEARN Tool empowers communities to make informed decisions that align with their environmental goals. Blue Raster also enhanced the LEARN Tool’s greenhouse gas analysis module with the latest National Land Cover Database (NLCD) data and added the ability for users to customize carbon factors with their own data. The default carbon factors used by the tool are derived from the Forest Inventory and Analysis database, providing a reliable foundation for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. Now, users can upload local carbon data tailored to their specific community, enabling more accurate and precise analysis. Finally, the tool’s user interface has been revamped, making it even easier to run analyses and interpret results. These updates provide users with greater flexibility, improved accuracy, and a more streamlined experience as they work to understand and address the role of forests in greenhouse gas emissions. Our Commitment to Conservation and Addressing Climate Challenges Blue Raster is deeply committed to supporting conservation efforts and empowering communities with the tools they need to address climate challenges. This commitment drives our continuous development of the Land Emissions and Removals Navigator (LEARN) Tool, ensuring it remains at the forefront of innovation in measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions from land use changes. By collaborating with leading organizations and integrating the latest data and technologies, we strive to make the LEARN Tool a comprehensive and accessible resource for local governments, landowners, and conservationists. Our dedication to refining and expanding the tool reflects our belief in the power of actionable insights to promote sustainable land management and protect valuable ecosystems for future generations. At Blue Raster, we are proud to be part of the global effort to create a healthier, more resilient planet. Learn more about our work here and contact us today to see how we can support your mission and objectives. - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Economic Development, Education, GIS - Tags: ArcGIS Hub, community college, education, orange county - Industries: Education - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development Blue Raster teamed up with Mackey Creative Labs of Pasadena, CA, to create an engaging user experience and visual design. The platform leverages Esri’s ArcGIS Online (AGOL) Hub Premium, along with customized dashboards, Experience Builder capabilities, and tailored HTML/CSS enhancements. This technological backbone ensures that workforce data is both visually compelling and easy to navigate, giving users the insights they need to make informed decisions about their career journeys. OC Works: Mapping Career Pathways in Orange County with ArcGIS Hub Blue Raster has been collaborating with Coast Community College District (CCCD) since 2018, leveraging advanced geospatial solutions to support the District's workforce development goals. Building on this long-standing partnership, we're excited to introduce OC Works, a refreshed, mobile friendly and upgraded platform based on the former TalentED initiative and built with ArcGIS Hub. Yes, this is an ArcGIS Hub site! By integrating cutting-edge technology with CCCD's commitment to fostering career pathways in Orange County, OC Works provides a streamlined one-stop resource for students and jobseekers. Using ArcGIS Hub to Support Workforce Development In this latest iteration, Blue Raster teamed up with Mackey Creative Labs of Pasadena, CA, to create an engaging user experience and visual design. The platform leverages Esri's ArcGIS Online (AGOL) Hub Premium, along with customized dashboards, Experience Builder capabilities, and tailored HTML/CSS enhancements. This technological backbone ensures that workforce data is both visually compelling and easy to navigate, giving users the insights they need to make informed decisions about their career journeys. With OC Works, CCCD further demonstrates its dedication to cultivating a strong local workforce that's ready to meet the challenges of a competitive job market. The enhanced platform not only improves user experience but also expands the scope of data-driven insights available to students and jobseekers. Interested in seeing these advancements in action? Visit oc-works. org today to discover how Blue Raster and Coast Community College District are transforming career pathways in Orange County. To learn more, reach out to Blue Raster today and read these Esri stories: Orange County Community Colleges Drive Social and Economic Mobility with Spatially Enabled Data Charting the Future of Student Success Colleges Drive Social and Economic Mobility with Spatially Enabled Data Want to see how GIS can support career pathways in your region? Contact Blue Raster to learn how platforms like OC Works are making an impact. Contact Us - Categories: Land Trust, Land Use, Real Estate, State & Local - Tags: Parcel Data - Industries: Commercial, Commercial Real Estate, Federal Government, State & Local Government, Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Software & Data Solutions Blue Raster partners with Regrid to provide industry-leading parcel data solutions, integrating nationwide parcel data into GIS for enhanced property analysis, urban planning, and Commercial Real Estate (CRE). Blue Raster is now an authorized Sales Partner with Regrid! Blue Raster is thrilled to announce our partnership with Regrid to offer unparalleled property data tools. As a leading provider of nationwide property information, Regrid helps us expand our property analysis and GIS capabilities, providing comprehensive tools for Commercial Real Estate (CRE), land management, and urban planning. This collaboration allows us to deliver cutting-edge property data services that empower clients with the most up-to-date and accurate insights. Enhanced Parcel Data Solutions for Property Insights Our partnership with Regrid gives Blue Raster the power to provide you with competitive pricing for access to an extensive database of property boundaries, ownership information, and land use classifications, creating a powerful toolset for precise property analysis. For example, property records in Regrid's database include detailed insights such as calculated acreage, zoning classifications, ownership data, property tax assessments, and land value. This comprehensive information allows professionals across industries to make data-driven decisions, whether assessing investment opportunities, managing portfolios, or planning development projects. Enhanced Parcel Data Solutions for Property Insights Our partnership with Regrid gives Blue Raster the power to provide you with competitive pricing for access to an extensive database of property boundaries, ownership information, and land use classifications, creating a powerful toolset for precise property analysis. For example, property records in Regrid's database include detailed insights such as calculated acreage, zoning classifications, ownership data, property tax assessments, and land value. This comprehensive information allows professionals across industries to make data-driven decisions, whether assessing investment opportunities, managing portfolios, or planning development projects. Market Analysis for CRE and Land Development Our property-focused solutions offer a unique advantage to Commercial Real Estate professionals by facilitating in-depth analysis of property portfolios, zoning regulations, and potential investment opportunities. The ability to analyze property information at this level gives CRE teams the edge in making data-driven decisions that optimize management and investment strategies. Urban Planning and Smart Growth With Regrid's property data integrated into Blue Raster's GIS solutions and services, urban planners and land developers can plan projects more effectively. Our tools enable smart growth strategies by offering detailed insights into community planning, infrastructure needs, and development projections, resulting in more informed urban development. Seamless Integration with GIS The integration of Regrid's property data with Esri's ArcGIS platform provides seamless data visualization and analysis. This makes it easier for users to integrate property information into their workflows, streamlining decision-making processes for site selection, infrastructure planning, and market demand analysis. Next-Level Parcel Data Solutions for Every Industry At Blue Raster, we believe that high-quality property insights are essential for our clients to thrive in industries such as CRE, urban planning, land trust management, and local government. This partnership allows us to provide next-level tools that open up new revenue streams, simplify project workflows, and enhance overall decision-making. Whether you're working on site selection, growth projections, or property analysis, Blue Raster and Regrid's solutions can help you achieve your goals with greater accuracy and efficiency. Explore how Blue Raster and Regrid can bring your property strategies to life and transform your decision-making process. Contact us today to learn more about how we can enhance your property data strategy. - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Climate, Environment, GIS, Human Rights, Natural Hazards, Nonprofit/NGO, Uncategorized - Tags: ArcGIS Dashboard, ArcGIS Online, Environmental Justice, Equity, Experience Builder, FTP, Social Justice - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Our latest collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab - Space Enabled Research group and Fight Toxic Prisons (FTP), is a participatory research initiative designed to shed light on the environmental hazards faced by prisons, jails, and detention centers across the United States. At Blue Raster, we are committed to leveraging technology for equity and environmental justice. Our latest collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab - Space Enabled Research group and Fight Toxic Prisons (FTP), is a participatory research initiative designed to shed light on the environmental hazards faced by prisons, jails, and detention centers across the United States. From extreme heat and air pollution to flooding and wildfires, this project aims to document the challenges that these facilities impose on both the incarcerated individuals and the surrounding communities. The heart of the project lies in its community-driven approach. It brings together a diverse team of academics, grassroots organizers, and, most importantly, those directly impacted by incarceration. Our role at Blue Raster was to transform the vision of this initiative into an interactive mapping tool that not only highlights these environmental hazards but also elevates the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals. By incorporating their stories, we aim to facilitate a deeper understanding of the human impact behind the data. Blue Raster's Role in the Project Our team was tasked with transforming a wealth of qualitative and quantitative data into a user-friendly mapping tool. Our development process emphasized community engagement, gathering input from focus groups and interviews to ensure the platform reflects the needs of those most affected by the carceral system.       The development process, led by Dr. Ufuoma Ovienmhada from MIT Media Lab's Space Enabled Research Group, unfolded in three pivotal phases. It began with in-depth interviews with community organizers, many of whom had firsthand experience with the prison system. These discussions highlighted the essential environmental data needed to support their advocacy efforts. In response, we designed a tool that enables users to visualize key environmental hazards affecting prisons, empowering organizers to drive meaningful policy change. The tool developed using ArcGIS Dashboard and Experience Builder was utilized to house and display all the information captured as part of this initiative. It featured several tabs for viewing carceral facilities on map with more specific details to each facility attributed to each point using pop-ups and info tables. Additionally, users can navigate to the 'Insights' tab to learn more about risk factors these facilities experience. These risk factors include particulate matter, wildfire, overpopulation, extreme heat, flooding and drought intensity. And finally, user can navigate to the 'Storytelling' tab to read and listen to narratives and accounts from previous inmates around some of the environmental conditions they faced when they were detained or incarcerated at specific facilities.       The team collaborated closely with Fight Toxic Prisons (FTP), a human rights activism group. The FTP movement is inspired by the abolitionist movement against mass incarceration and the environmental justice movement, which have both been led by the communities of color who are hardest hit by prisons and pollution. For this project, they were very instrumental in outlining requirements for the tool and further refining the tool based on the feedback gathered from focus groups. Gathering stories from individuals within the system. Monitoring of Environmental Hazards Utilizing Esri's powerful GIS software, we designed an accessible interface that features not only quantitative data but also qualitative narratives. These personal stories add a vital layer of context to the environmental data. In its Beta form, the Toxic Prisons Mapping Project is a starting point for ongoing monitoring of environmental hazards related to carceral facilities. We envision this tool evolving through continuous feedback and contributions from the community, particularly those who have been directly impacted by the system, providing a resource for real-time awareness and long-term advocacy. The dedication of individuals like Dr. Ovienmhada, Mei Azaad, and the many activists who shared their stories has been instrumental in bringing this project to life. We invite you to explore the mapping tool at it's official website. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to refine the tool and expand its capabilities. - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Community, Culture, Economic Development, GIS, Media, Mobile, Nonprofit/NGO, Survey123 - Tags: AANHPI, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Dashboard, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Online Specialty, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Asian American Unity Coalition, Experience Builder, mobile, Survey123, White House - Industries: Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Insight Blue Raster supported the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) at the 2024 AANHPI Unity Summit in Washington, D.C., focusing on civic engagement and advocacy for key issues like immigration and civil rights. Our team helped amplify AAPI voices by utilizing ArcGIS technology to drive change and enhance community engagement. Learn how Blue Raster's commitment to "GIS for Good" plays a crucial role in fostering unity and creating impactful solutions for underrepresented communities. Blue Raster supported our client, the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) during the 2024 AANHPI Unity Summit in Washington, D. C. , focused on "Lifting Our Community Voices in Building Unity and Affecting Change. " This event provided a vital platform for AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) organizations to engage with policymakers and address pressing community issues such as immigration, civil rights, and racial discrimination. Blue Raster's Commitment to Civic Engagement During the summit, our colleague Mary Bracho presented on behalf of Blue Raster at both the White House and the U. S. Capitol, where she collaborated with community leaders and government officials to amplify AAPI voices. The two-day event brought together key figures, including Krystal Kaai from the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and Kota Mizutani, Senior Advisor at the White House, further highlighting the significance of unity in affecting change. As part of the summit, Blue Raster collaborated with the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) to support the launch and demonstration of the AAPI Partner Network application and the AAUC Hub site. Developed using ArcGIS Experience Builder, with key components built in ArcGIS Dashboards and Survey123, the AAPI Partner Network now boasts the most comprehensive and robust database of AAPI organizations. The platform empowers users to explore data, identify gaps in services and support, make informed decisions, and foster collaboration within the AAPI community.   The event featured panels addressing key community issues such as immigration, civil rights, and racial discrimination, with a focus on building unity across diverse ethnic groups. As our partners noted, "Blue Raster's unwavering support and contribution played a pivotal role in the successful execution of our 2024 National AANHPI Unity Summit... expanding the reach of AAUC and furthering our mission to promote civic engagement among Asian Americans. " Blue Raster's partnership with AAUC extends beyond our support at the summit. We've been instrumental in the development of the AAPI Community Hub Project, which leverages our expertise in ArcGIS to provide community organizations with powerful tools to advocate for change and engage with lawmakers. Our Commitment to GIS for Good At Blue Raster, we believe in the power of GIS to drive positive social change. Our partnership with AAUC and our involvement in the 2024 AANHPI National Unity Summit are examples of how we utilize ArcGIS technology to help amplify voices that often go unheard. By providing the tools and resources necessary to elevate community concerns, we are proud to play a role in fostering unity and advocating for meaningful change. As we look forward to future collaborations, we remain committed to leveraging our expertise for the greater good, working alongside organizations like AAUC to build a more inclusive and just society. Stay connected with us for future updates on how we're partnering with organizations like AAUC to amplify voices and foster unity. Interested in learning how GIS can empower your organization? Contact us today to explore how we can help you make an impact! - Categories: Conference, Esri, GIS - Tags: conference, Esri, NCAUG - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The 2024 North Carolina ArcGIS Users Group Conference brought together the North Carolina GIS community in Wilmington, NC. The 2024 North Carolina ArcGIS Users Group Conference brought together the North Carolina GIS community in Wilmington, NC. Hosted by annually by NCAUG, the event showcases a wide array of topics, from practical applications of GIS in various industries to advanced Analysis using Artificial Intelligence. This year, the event theme was "Mind Maps - Exploring the Intersection of GIS & AI". Ben and his teammates at Reem's Creek Golf Course in Asheville, NC Blue Raster Stays Involved in North Carolina Marking Blue Raster's second time attending the conference, Project Manager Ben Masters represented Blue Raster in Wilmington where he showcased the ways Blue Raster implements innovative GIS solutions for our customers. The week began on the golf course with the annual pre-conference tournament, where Ben connected in-person with other conference attendees and learned more about how each of his teammates utilized GIS in their day-to-day roles. The following day was the opening of the conference, exhibit hall, and plenary session. Blue Raster was a platinum sponsor of the conference, giving us the opportunity to present company information and introduce Blue Raster to the community during the Vendor Parade. The opening of the exhibit hall allowed us to connect with our partners at Esri, businesses, and state and local government GIS professionals to understand their current GIS needs and showcase Blue Raster's latest solutions and services. Parting Thoughts The NCAUG Fall Conference in Wilmington was a great way to connect with GIS professionals and stay involved in the North Carolina GIS community. Ben enjoyed getting to meet new people and connect with old customers and colleagues. Blue Raster looks forward to the next NCAUG event and connecting with those we met at this year's conference to help solve their GIS problems with innovative solutions. Wendy McGuire of Esri Representing Blue Raster on her laptop with some conference swag! At Blue Raster, we're dedicated to pioneering GIS solutions that transform how industries operate. We invite you to reach out and explore how we can collaborate on your next GIS project. Stay connected with us for updates on future events and opportunities to innovate together. - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder, Cemetery, Public Gardens - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Discover how Blue Raster partnered with the Historic Oakland Foundation to digitize and transform 150 years of burial records into an interactive, accessible map using Esri ArcGIS technologies. By leveraging ArcGIS Enterprise for data hosting and ArcGIS Experience Builder for application development, we helped preserve Oakland Cemetery’s rich history while enhancing visitor experiences. Explore how our innovative GIS solutions can bring your data to life and drive impactful results. Contact Blue Raster today to learn how we can support your next GIS project. At Blue Raster, we're dedicated to leveraging cutting-edge technology to breathe new life into historical records. Our recent collaboration with the Historic Oakland Foundation on the Oakland Cemetery Burial Records Database Interactive Map is a perfect example of how Esri ArcGIS technology can transform the way we preserve and access historical data. This project has made over 150 years of burial records not only accessible but also interactively engaging for anyone with an internet connection. A Complex Challenge Oakland Cemetery, a historic landmark in Atlanta, holds burial records that span nearly two centuries. These records, originally kept in various physical formats, were critical for the cemetery's operations and educational initiatives. However, accessing this information was a time-consuming and delicate process due to the fragile nature of many documents. When the Historic Oakland Foundation sought our help in digitizing and centralizing these records, we recognized the significance and complexity of the task. Our mission was to create a comprehensive digital map that was easy to use and accessible to all.     Oakland Cemetery Grounds Building the Geodatabase with ArcGIS Enterprise Our work began by consolidating all the available burial records into a robust geodatabase. To host this critical data, we utilized Esri's ArcGIS Enterprise, ensuring that the data was securely managed and easily retrievable. This enterprise-level solution provided the backbone for the geodatabase, allowing for seamless integration and long-term scalability. One of the most significant challenges was ensuring data accuracy. To achieve this, we employed field GIS tools and workflows, making the meticulous process of cross-referencing the digitized records with physical burial sites possible by a group of staff and volunteers. This ground-truthing process was essential in verifying the information and ensuring that the digital records reflected the reality on the ground. Developing the Interactive Viewer with ArcGIS Experience Builder After we established the geodatabase, we turned our focus to designing and developing the interactive map interface using Esri's ArcGIS Experience Builder. This powerful tool enabled us to craft a user-friendly and visually engaging application that allows users to search for burial records by name, locate gravesites on a map, and access detailed information about notable figures buried at Oakland. In addition to the burial records, the application includes features designed to enhance the visitor experience. Users can explore points of interest, visitor amenities, and even famous burial sites, all through an intuitive and interactive interface. The flexibility of ArcGIS Experience Builder allowed us to create a customized solution that met the unique needs of the Historic Oakland Foundation. Search Burial Records within the Viewer Legacy for Future Generations This project was a collaborative effort involving our team at Blue Raster, the Historic Oakland Foundation, and a dedicated group of volunteers. The Oakland Cemetery Interactive Viewer represents more than just a technological achievement; it is a bridge between the past and the present. By digitizing and centralizing these records, we've helped ensure that Oakland Cemetery's rich history is preserved and accessible for future generations. We're honored to have contributed to this project and are excited to see how the community uses this tool to connect with their heritage. At Blue Raster, we believe in the power of GIS technology to enhance our understanding of history and the world around us. The Oakland Cemetery project is a shining example of how Esri ArcGIS technologies like ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Experience Builder create meaningful connections between people and the past. Search for the meaning behind different land plots within the cemetery.   Explore the Oakland Cemetery Interactive Viewer here and discover how technology and history come together. Ready to find out more? Learn more about how we modernize Public Gardens! Visit our Gardens Page - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, ArcGIS Monitor, ArcGIS Velocity, Cloud, Esri, Federal, GIS, Microsoft Azure, Nonprofit/NGO, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty, ArcGIS Cloud Specialty, ArcGIS Monitor, AWS, Cloud Managed Services, Cloud Migration, Esri Cloud Migration, Federal, Google Cloud, Managed Services, Microsoft Azure, Monitoring, Non-Profit, server, State and Local, Zabbix - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights - Types: Insight At Blue Raster, we understand that organizations rely on uninterrupted access to their geospatial data and services. With the rapid shift towards cloud-based infrastructure, it's essential to have a solution that not only supports deployment and scalability but also proactively manages and monitors these environments. That's where our cloud-managed services come in, offering an all-encompassing solution designed to ensure your ArcGIS Enterprise environment runs smoothly and efficiently. Why Cloud-Managed Services Matter The complexity of modern GIS environments means that organizations need to stay ahead of potential issues before they impact performance or cause downtime. Managing an ArcGIS Enterprise environment involves more than just deploying servers—it requires constant oversight of infrastructure, software updates, system performance, and security compliance. Blue Raster’s Cloud-Managed Services provides a comprehensive solution, taking the burden off your internal teams and ensuring your systems are optimized and up-to-date. Zabbix and ArcGIS Monitor: A Perfect Partnership One of the key features of our managed services is proactive monitoring. We leverage industry-leading tools such as Zabbix and ArcGIS Monitor to give clients visibility into system performance, helping to anticipate issues before they become problems. Zabbix, a powerful and highly customizable monitoring tool, offers real-time monitoring of cloud infrastructure, allowing us to track server health, certificate expirations, license renewals, and more. ArcGIS Monitor provides deep insights into the health and performance of your ArcGIS Enterprise deployment, tracking usage patterns, service response times, and system resources. While both capable of working as standalone monitoring solutions, the ability of Zabbix and ArcGIS Monitor to work in tandem creates a dynamic duo, offering comprehensive monitoring across both your infrastructure and GIS-specific components. This ensures that our team can monitor everything from hardware utilization to application-level performance. By utilizing both tools, Blue Raster can help you maximize uptime, optimize resources, and ensure that your GIS operations are always running at peak efficiency. Cloud-Managed Services Tailored to Your Needs Our managed services aren’t just about keeping the lights on—they’re about future-proofing your investment in GIS technology. With our cloud management services, you can be rest assured that you’ll have a partner dedicated to not only monitoring your systems but also optimizing them for long-term success. Whether it’s managing updates to ArcGIS Enterprise, renewing licenses, or ensuring security patches are applied, Blue Raster has you covered. Let Us Handle the Heavy Lifting With over two decades of experience as an Esri Partner, Blue Raster’s team of DevOps engineers and GIS experts are equipped to handle the most complex cloud environments. We offer a tailored approach to meet your organization’s unique needs, ensuring that your GIS infrastructure stays secure, efficient, and scalable. Our services go beyond deployment to provide continuous monitoring, management, and optimization. By incorporating tools like Zabbix and ArcGIS Monitor, we not only track the performance of your entire GIS ecosystem but also give you peace of mind knowing that potential issues are caught early. This allows your organization to focus on what matters—delivering value through GIS, without worrying about downtime or performance bottlenecks. - Categories: ArcGIS Pro, Design, Esri, GIS, Infrastructure, State & Local, Training, UI - Tags: ArcGIS Pro, City of Aurora Water District, Design, HB21-1110, State and Local, UI - Industries: Energy & Utilities, State & Local Government, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is transforming City of Aurora Water District's Esri GIS to set a new standard in accessibility, ensuring compliance with Colorado's HB21-1110 and making vital information available to all citizens, including those with disabilities. When Colorado passed HB21-1110, a law designed to guarantee that all government services are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities, it signaled a significant shift in how public data is presented. For organizations like Blue Raster, this was an opportunity to lead the way in creating more inclusive and accessible GIS mapping solutions using Esri technology. Our journey began with a clear understanding of the stakes. The new law wasn't just about compliance; it was about making critical water data available to all citizens, regardless of their abilities. We knew that for the City of Aurora Water District, which plays a crucial role in public health and safety, accessibility was paramount. That's where our expertise in Esri's ArcGIS Pro and our partnership with a local GIS authority in Colorado came into play. Understanding Compliance: Meeting the Mandate of HB21-1110 The first step in our project was to fully grasp the requirements set forth by HB21-1110. This meant diving deep into the guidelines and ensuring that every aspect of our work met section 508 standards, which dictate how digital content should be made accessible to people with disabilities. But compliance wasn't just about ticking boxes-it was about genuinely improving access for all. To achieve this, we focused on developing a color palette and symbology in Esri's ArcGIS Pro that would be easily distinguishable by everyone, including those with color blindness. This approach was crucial to ensuring that no one would be excluded from accessing the vital water data. Crafting an Accessible Color Schema: A Balancing Act Creating an accessible color schema was more than just a design challenge; it was a balancing act. We needed to adhere to industry standards while also making sure that our designs were inclusive. This involved carefully selecting and testing colors to guarantee they would be visible and distinct across various types of color blindness. Aleah Ross, Blue Raster's UI/UX Designer, played a critical role in this process. Her expertise and attention to detail were instrumental in developing a color palette that not only complied with HB21-1110 but also enhanced the overall user experience. Through rigorous testing and the use of accessibility tools in ArcGIS Pro, we created a palette that made the City of Aurora data visually accessible to a broad audience, regardless of their visual capabilities. Designing for Clarity: Symbology and Tools Once the color palette was established, we turned our attention to the symbols used in the maps. With over 120 feature layers, each containing multiple symbols, clarity and differentiation were paramount. We utilized tools like Esri ArcGIS Pro to update existing symbols and create new ones that would be easily recognizable, even for users with visual impairments. The goal was to make sure that each layer of information was clear and accessible, without sacrificing the complexity and detail that professionals rely on. By blending innovative design with industry standards, we created a map that was both functional and inclusive. Overcoming Challenges: Guaranteeing Accessibility Across All Layers Throughout the project, we encountered several challenges. Making sure that each layer of information was distinguishable was no small feat, especially with the need to maintain industry consistency. However, by carefully selecting contrasting colors and designing unique symbols, we overcame these obstacles. One of the most significant challenges was balancing the need for detailed, complex symbols with the requirement for simplicity and clarity. In some cases, this meant completely redesigning symbols to better serve all users. In others, it involved making subtle adjustments that enhanced visibility without altering the symbol's meaning. Setting a New Standard in Accessibility Our work on this project not only fulfilled the requirements of Colorado law HB21-1110 but also set a new standard in accessible map design. By thoughtfully selecting colors and designing symbols that accommodate all users, we created a city water data map that is inclusive, effective, and accessible to everyone. This project is more than just a compliance exercise; it's a demonstration of our commitment to making critical information available to all, regardless of their abilities. As we look to the future, we see this as a model for how GIS technology can be used to create more inclusive public services. Explore the Color Palette - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, Conservation, Environment, Forest, GIS, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, SDG, Supply Management - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Enterprise, conservation, Deforestation, Forest, GFW Pro, Global Forest Watch Pro, Supply Chain, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is proud to announce two updates to GFW Pro that allow for more efficient analysis of supply chains in light of new international regulations. By applying the Accountability Framework, producers can better ensure that their supply chains adhere to international standards of sustainability and report to stakeholders and consumers the steps they are taking to secure a better future for people and the planet. The Global Forest Watch (GFW) Pro application allows users to track and receive alerts of deforestation within their supply chains in real time, offering an accessible and comprehensive way for organizations to view their own progress in this key area of natural resource conservation. Blue Raster is proud to announce two updates to GFW Pro that allow for more efficient analysis of supply chains in light of new international regulations: new analyses specific to Argentina, and implementation of an E. U. deforestation regulation module tracking deforestation of natural lands since 2020. Accountability Framework Initiative and the EUDR The Accountability Framework, introduced in 2019 by an international collaboration of private producers and NGOs that form the Accountability Framework Initiative (AFi), provides companies a roadmap to more sustainable production methods by outlining best practices and measures of impact. By applying the Accountability Framework, producers can better ensure that their supply chains adhere to international standards of sustainability and report to stakeholders and consumers the steps they are taking to secure a better future for people and the planet. A particular standard of sustainability for producers will soon be implemented in the EU--the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which obligates organizations that trade within the EU to ensure that their products are: Deforestation-free, meaning they come from a plot of land that was not deforested after 31 December 2020 Produced in line with the relevant legislation in the country of production Covered by a due diligence statement. GFW Pro now allows organizations to explore their production within the framework of EUDR and uses a new layer showing natural lands in 2020 as a baseline for deforestation analyses, confirming that products regulated by the EU are free from deforestation and degradation. Argentina OTBN Data Additionally, GFW Pro now includes province-by-province data on Argentina’s Territorial Planning of Native Forests (OTBN). The 2007 regulation categorizes Argentina’s forests into three levels of conservation value and corresponding regulation, ranging from Category I (forest lands of high conservation value that cannot be transformed) to Category III (forest lands of low conservation value that can be transformed within existing regulation). The new data lets organizations monitor the overlap of the OTBN category of lands utilized in production and deforestation of those lands, enabling producers to more efficiently track whether or not tree cover loss remains within limits set by the OTBN regulation. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/gfwpro_scroll. mp4 Blue Raster is a proud partner of the World Resources Institute and GFW Pro. Learn more about our work here. - Categories: Esri, Field Mobility, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Parks, Public Gardens - Tags: American Public Gardens Association, APGA, Arboretum, BG-Base, Cemeteries, Cemetery, Esri, GIS, Map, Public Garden, Public Gardens - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Last month, Blue Raster showcased its flourishing Public Garden practice at the American Public Gardens Associations Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the largest gathering in the conference's history, and the entire week was full of excitement, knowledge, and opportunities to connect with colleagues, both old and new. Blue Raster split time between our booth in the expo and the presentations, where many of our partners spoke. At the booth, we shared our deep experience and passion for designing and developing custom interactive web and mobile mapping applications that highlight public garden collections, tours, and visitor amenities. Our partners, including The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Holden Forests & Gardens, and Cypress Lawn Arboretum presented on our collaboration using GIS and mapping to enhance not only the visitor experience but also internal workflows that allow for more efficient and dynamic plant records keeping. The entire conference was capped off with an evening at Mount Auburn Cemetery, with whom we collaborate on their Flora public web application. Blue Raster has been supporting public gardens and cemeteries for 15 years and has been an APGA member since 2018. Having attended five in-person annual conferences, Christopher Gabris, Blue Raster's Public Gardens Practice Lead, had this to say: "The prevalence of GIS and maps is growing at this conference every year. Blue Raster is proud to partner with gardens to develop well-designed and intuitive staff workflows and powerful web and mobile mapping applications for the public. Every garden is unique, and our dedicated team can bring your data and special story to life. " Blue Raster is an Esri Gold Business Partner and offers something very special to gardens - the ability to design a tool for visitors that is as unique as the garden we work with. "We are not trying to put all our partners applications into a template that looks like everyone else's or has restrictions on functionality. We will work with you to design and develop and application that meets the needs of your data, workflows, and your users," says Gabris. "Our applications are designed to work on mobile devices, be styled to fit your gardens wider brand, and sync data between GIS and your database system of record. " Learn more about how Blue Raster uses GIS to enhance public, staff, and research workflows at our partner gardens and reach out to see how we could help you: https://www. blueraster. com/what-we-do/modernize-public-gardens/   - Categories: Community, Development, Esri, GIS, JavaScript API, State & Local, Transportation - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS API for JavaScript, Custom, Esri, Fehr & Peers, GIS, SEMCOG, Transportation - Industries: State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster collaborated with Fehr and Peers and SEMCOG to develop a custom transportation planning tool that leverages GIS technology. In a world where transportation demands are continuously evolving, the competition for space on our roads has never been fiercer. Urban planners and transportation professionals face the challenge of accommodating diverse travel modes within limited right-of-way areas. Enter SEMCOG's Multimodal Tool, developed by Blue Raster in partnership with Fehr & Peers and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). This innovative digital planning tool is transforming how communities plan, design, and evaluate complete streets for autos, freight, pedestrians, bikes, and transit. Understanding the Multimodal Tool The Multimodal Tool was designed with clear objectives in mind: Address Growing Competition: It helps local communities manage the increasing competition between different travel modes for the limited space within the right-of-way. Clarify Project Limitations: The tool assists users in understanding what is allowed for each project within different road jurisdictions. Prioritize Modes Efficiently: It provides a framework for communities to collaborate with SEMCOG and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to prioritize travel modes on specific corridors or districts while adhering to operational standards. With these goals, the tool supports county and local jurisdictions in Southeast Michigan, various stakeholders, community organizations, and staff from SEMCOG and MDOT. It can be used for state, county, and local roads within Southeast Michigan, promoting a balanced and inclusive approach to transportation planning. The Four Steps of Using the Multimodal Tool Step 1: Modal Network Viewer The first step involves using the Modal Network Viewer. This feature allows users to: View geospatial modal networks and tiers Identify project corridors Review modal priorities Determine land use contexts This comprehensive map view helps planners understand the existing transportation landscape and plan accordingly. Map-centric landing page starts the project set up process Step 2: Project Setup and Street Builder Once a street segment is selected from the map, information stored in the GIS features is imported into the project set up panel. This information informs project set up and cross-section design to best accommodate the prioritized travel modes. The tool integrates Streetmix, an open-source technology that allows users to design their street cross-sections with ease. This step ensures that the design aligns with the specific land use context and serves all users effectively. Project set up panel is populated with modal network information Drag and Drop Components to Design a Complete Streets Cross Section Step 3: Project Scoring After designing the street cross-sections, the tool provides a level of service by mode, enabling users to evaluate how well the design meets the needs of all travelers. This scoring system is crucial for ensuring that the final design is not only functional but also equitable and efficient. User's Inputs are Reflected in the Scoring and Cross Section Design Sections Step 4: Share Your Project The final step is sharing the constructed street segments with the wider team. Users can export their designs as printable PDFs or share them via a link. This feature fosters collaboration and ensures that all stakeholders are on the same page. PDF Report of Scoring Summary based on User Input Why This Tool Matters The Multimodal Tool aids analysis and decision making around larger discussions covering economic development, livability, environmental sustainability, safety, and equity in local communities. By providing a structured approach to multimodal planning, the tool supports these broader goals and helps communities thrive. Behind the Technology The Multimodal Tool was built using cutting-edge technologies to ensure robust performance and usability: ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript: An application development framework used to develop rich mapping and spatial analysis applications for web. React and NodeJS: These technologies provide a seamless user interface and efficient back-end processing. Streetmix: This open-source software allows users to construct detailed street segments. PostgreSQL: Databases handle the complex data management required for GIS analysis and transportation planning. Join the Future of Multimodal Planning The demands on our roads are evolving, and so must our approach to transportation planning. By leveraging advanced technologies, GIS, and a collaborative framework, SEMCOG's Multimodal Tool offers a promising solution for the challenges facing today's transportation professionals. Learn more about how the Multimodal Tool can transform your transportation planning efforts and sign up for a demo today! - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Community, Culture, Economic Development, GIS, Survey123 - Tags: AAUC, ArcGIS Dashboard, ArcGIS Online, Experience Builder, Instant Apps, Survey123 - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster and the Asian American Unity Coalition partnered to deliver updates to the AAPI Network Dashboard and the associated data. The diverse Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, with origins spanning over 42 countries in Asia and 15 countries in the Pacific, often face the challenge of being homogenized despite their rich cultural tapestry. Compounded by the presence of numerous ethnic groups within each origin country, each with distinct migration histories, understanding the nuanced complexity of these communities and effectively catering to their needs becomes imperative. In response to this challenge, the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) collaborating with its technology partner, Blue Raster Inc. , are employing the power of GIS technology to shed light on the complexity of the diverse AANHPI communities. Through this collaboration and the dashboard application, we have undertaken a comprehensive exploration of the characteristics of various ethnic groups from East, Southeast, and South Asia, Syria, Yemen, as well as Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Hawaii. The heart of this application lies in its ability to offer a comprehensive directory of Asian American nonprofit organizations across the United States. This invaluable resource retrieved from the IRS database provides a wealth of information about each organization, including its name, type, website, EIN (Employer Identification Number), classification, location by state and address, contact details, year formed, last year filing, income, and assets. This single, centralized platform streamlines access to essential information, making it easier than ever for individuals and entities to engage with and support AAPI nonprofits. The AAPI Network Application The AAPI interface was developed with ArcGIS Experience Builder with ArcGIS dashboards embedded into the Experience Builder application to allow users to interact with the data, map and chart functionalities. Additionally, the Blue Raster team utilized ArcGIS Survey123 to configure a feedback form to allow organizations currently not in the network to seamlessly add and map their organizational info into the network inventory. Behind the Survey123 form, Blue Raster also developed an ArcGIS Reviewer Instant App to allow administrators to review and update survey entries. The application was also configured for web and mobile functionality. Benefits to the Asian American Community One of the most significant benefits of this dashboard is its capacity to empower users with well-informed choices. Individuals looking to support Asian American nonprofits can now easily identify organizations aligning with their interests and values. Whether it's civil rights, arts and humanities, religious, healthcare, or other areas, users can make decisions based on their preferences and contribute to causes they are passionate about. This newfound transparency ensures that resources are channeled more effectively towards causes that truly matter. By serving as a hub for the AAPI nonprofit network, this ArcGIS dashboard promotes greater synergy among organizations. Collaboration and networking are essential components of community-building, and this tool simplifies the process. Organizations can identify potential partners, discover complementary initiatives, and collectively work towards the betterment of the AAPI community. Nonprofits can use this platform to expand their reach, connect with a broader audience, and raise awareness about their missions and initiatives. ArcGIS's scalability and adaptability means it can be tailored to various needs and industries, from environmental conservation to public health and beyond. Its user-friendly interface ensures that users of all technical backgrounds can access valuable insights, making it a versatile tool that empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their data. The integration of GIS mapping has facilitated the identification of the geographic distribution of these ethnic communities. The dynamic dashboard application seamlessly interconnects the collected information, allowing users to apply filters based on state, purpose, and ethnicity. Currently, our initiative has identified over 16,500 nonprofit AANHPI organizations in all 50 states, with approximately 15,000 of them geocoded. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive dataset, we aspire to expand the AAPI network to include over 20,000 organizations, necessitating continuous data validation and updates in sync with the IRS's regular data refresh cycles. - Categories: Esri, User Conference - Tags: conference, Esri Conference, Esri UC, Esri User Conference, UC - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Meet with Blue Raster at the 2024 Esri User Conference in San Diego on July 15-19. Our team of experts will be on hand to showcase what we’ve been up to. Find us on the Expo floor (booth #2326, near the Hands on Learning Lab). Meet with us at the 2024 Esri User Conference We're looking forward to the 2024 Esri User Conference in San Diego on July 15-19. Our team of experts will be on hand to showcase what we've been up to. Find us on the Expo floor (booth #2326, near the Hands on Learning Lab) and learn more about our work. We are especially excited to share our latest work with state and local governments, cloud solutions, AEC and renewable energy projects, and conservation and nonprofit initiatives. Schedule a Meeting Set up time to meet with our team! Send Us a Meeting Request Find us on the Expo Floor using the UC Event Map 2024 Esri User Conference Map Gallery We will have three posters on display in the Map Gallery. We're highlighting our work with ICF & USAID on Food Security, AAUC Connecting the Asian American Community with GIS, and Tracking Opportunities in America's Historic Main Street Districts with Main Street America. Find our maps and visit with the Blue Raster team after the Plenary. Meet with Us Schedule time with the Blue Raster team! Send Us a Meeting Request - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS StoryMaps, ArcGIS Urban, Community, Development, Economic Development, Esri, GIS, Infrastructure, Nonprofit/NGO, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Dashboard, ArcGIS Hub, community, Economic development, Experience Builder, Survey123 - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Discover how Blue Raster supports Main Street America with the BOOMS Tracker, a property inventory tool designed to revitalize historic commercial districts. Using advanced geospatial technologies like ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Hub Premium, the BOOMS Tracker helps local leaders collect and analyze data on housing, businesses, and civic spaces, identifying development opportunities to drive community growth. Learn how our innovative solutions can enhance your projects and foster economic vitality. Contact Blue Raster today to get started! Main Street districts across America, once vibrant centers of community life and economic activity, have faced significant challenges over recent decades. Economic shifts, suburbanization, and changing retail landscapes have left many of these historic areas struggling with vacant buildings, underutilized spaces, and a decline in local businesses. The need to revitalize these districts is critical for preserving cultural heritage, fostering economic growth, and enhancing community resilience. Addressing Community Challenges with Main Street America Main Street America, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting traditional commercial districts, has launched the Building Opportunities on Main Street (BOOMS) Tracker to address the issues these areas are now facing. This innovative property inventory tool helps local Main Street leaders collect and analyze data on housing units, businesses, and civic spaces within their districts. By identifying development opportunities in vacant buildings, lots, and upper floors, the BOOMS Tracker provides actionable insights to drive revitalization efforts. How Does the BOOMS Tracker Work? Mobile Access: Users access district-specific ArcGIS Hub pages on their mobile devices to begin data collection. Detailed Surveys: By selecting a parcel on the map, users complete detailed surveys to capture property information. Real-Time Analysis: Collected data is analyzed and visualized to reveal opportunities, with statistics calculated in real time. Aggregated Insights: Information is aggregated at regional and national levels to support decision-making and policy changes. Users access the ArcGIS Survey123 through an Experience Builder app embedded in an ArcGIS Hub Page Data collected is analyzed and visualized in ArcGIS Dashboards to support decision making The Impact of the BOOMS Tracker The BOOMS Tracker serves as a central repository for valuable information about the built environment in each district. Insights derived from this tool empower local leaders to make authoritative decisions on housing and land use, driving revitalization efforts. Furthermore, aggregated data at larger regional and national levels provides evidence to influence policy changes and attract more investment into existing buildings. Blue Raster's Role in Supporting Main Street America At Blue Raster, we are proud to support the Main Street America's initiative with our expertise in geospatial technology. Utilizing tools such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Hub Premium, ArcGIS Survey123, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Dashboards, and the ArcGIS API for Python, we have developed the BOOMS Tracker to help communities visualize and analyze their data effectively. Our work supporting Main Street America ensures that local leaders have the tools they need to revitalize their downtown areas and promote sustainable growth. Although the full functionality of the BOOMs Tracker is only available to designated Local and Coordinating Programs within the Main Street network, the public can access the BOOMS Tracker home page to see high-level statistics and the collection progress leaderboard. Visit the BOOMS Tracker and Main Street America for more information. BOOMS Tracker Public Statistics BOOMS Tracker Collection Progress Leaderboard BOOMS Tracker Homepage Learn More About Our Work Discover how Blue Raster's advanced geospatial solutions can support your projects. Contact us today to learn how our expertise can make a difference in your efforts to improve community resilience and economic vitality. Click here to learn more. - Categories: ArcGIS Pro, Federal, Nonprofit/NGO, Power BI, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: ArcGIS Pro, Federal, Federal Small Business Program, Power BI - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is excited to announce our collaboration with ICF International on the Surveys for Monitoring in Resilience and Food Security (SMRFS) project. This initiative, supported by the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS) and Feed the Future, focuses on combating global hunger and enhancing food security through advanced data collection and analysis. Blue Raster is excited to announce our collaboration with ICF International on the Surveys for Monitoring in Resilience and Food Security (SMRFS) project. This initiative, supported by the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS) and Feed the Future, focuses on combating global hunger and enhancing food security through advanced data collection and analysis. Leveraging GIS for Impact Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a crucial role in the SMRFS project. The team utilizes GIS for planning, field navigation, and producing detailed reports that highlight the Zones of Influence (ZOI). These maps are indispensable tools for policymakers and stakeholders, providing clear visualizations of critical data. Blue Raster's Role At Blue Raster, we support SMRFS with our expertise in geospatial technology: PowerBI Dashboards: We have created dynamic dashboards to visualize survey data effectively. On-Demand Maps: Our team produces detailed maps for comprehensive reporting. GIS Training Curriculum: We are developing training programs for field teams in Uganda, ensuring they can effectively utilize GIS tools. Explore More Discover more about how Blue Raster is contributing to global food security efforts. Learn about our innovative projects and the impact of GIS technology on our website. At Blue Raster, we are committed to using cutting-edge geospatial solutions to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, ensuring a more resilient and food-secure future. - Categories: Drone, Environment, Esri, Field Mobility, GIS, Parks, Public Gardens - Tags: arboreta, Arboretum, ArcGIS, basemap, BG-Base, Drone, GIS, Public Garden, Public Gardens - Industries: Public Gardens - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work On a beautiful April morning in Northeast Ohio, Blue Raster made final preparations for a drone basemap capture. Located in Kirtland, about 30 minutes East of Downtown Cleveland, is the sprawling 3,600-acre Holden Arboretum, one of the largest public gardens in the county. With over 20,000 annual member households and an annual attendance of over 350,000 visitors, people flock to see the beauty of the different landscapes in search of inspiration, education, and peace. On this day, Blue Raster was tasked to capture approximately 300 acres of the curated collections and gardens (the rest being mostly natural lands) with a drone to create a high-resolution basemap for use by staff and in a future public application. After a brisk morning drive in the golf cart to review the locations of the preset ground control points, the drone was ready to fly. Blue Raster's Associate Project Manager and Drone Pilot, Ben Masters, explained to the Holden Team along for the ride how the drone would capture the images, the planned flight paths, altitude, and speed, and provided a safety moment. In four separate planned missions, over 1,400 images were captured in a matter of hours. Then it was off to the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the second institution in the Holden Forests & Gardens family, to capture the approximately 10 acres located in Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood. Combined, the five drone missions and over 1,700 images captured were processed for the two sites using Esri's ArcGIS Drone2Map software. The high-resolution and current imagery allows for accurate GIS and mapping workflows. Over the next few weeks, Blue Raster will prepare the basemap for use in Holden's ArcGIS Enterprise environment. Everything from workflows in ArcGIS Field Maps to the future public application will utilize this basemap. Holden Forests and Gardens has nearly 20,000 individual living plant records in their botanical repository, BG-BASE, which will be synced with GIS for real-time display of location, condition, measurements, and more in GIS. Want to learn more about Blue Raster's drone and Public Gardens capabilities and experience? We've supported over a dozen Public Gardens since 2010. Check out our website and reach out! - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Climate, Conservation, Environment, Esri, GIS, UI - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work On Friday April 19th the White House announced the launch of Conservation. gov, an information hub supporting locally led efforts to conserve and restore our nation's lands, waters, and wildlife. Designing this brand new website was an exciting project that Blue Raster was proud to support. Launched just in time for Earth Day 2024, Conservation. gov is home to a wide variety of resources that support conservation, including the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas (currently a beta version). Conservation. gov Welcome Banner To celebrate and announce the launch of Conservation. gov the White House released a press statement, including a quote from John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, who said: "With the launch of Conservation. gov and its tools like the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas, Americans can explore how they can take action to support conservation in their own communities. " Conservation. gov Interactive Map Blue Raster supported this project by designing the website and pages using ArcGIS Hub. Blue Raster provided the visual designs, page layouts and graphic elements for the site, as well as configuring some of the included interactive elements such as the Find Financial Assistance tool. In supporting this project Blue Raster worked closely with our Esri partners, and an interagency partnership co-led by the Department of the Interior (DOI), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). This prototype tool currently aggregates financial assistance information from select programs in Grants. gov Inspired by our work on Conservation. gov? Contact us to discover how Blue Raster can tailor GIS solutions to enhance your organization's impact. Visit our contact page to get started! - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, Federal, JavaScript API, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals, Water - Tags: DHS Program, Global Water, Spatial Data Repository, water - Industries: Federal Government, Health, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work World Water Day is celebrated on March 22 to raise awareness of and to inspire action to tackle water and sanitation issues globally. Blue Raster, with leadership from and in close collaboration with The DHS Program, has developed the Local Data Mapping tool ,debuting today on the DHS Program Spatial Data Repository(SDR). New Resource in Time for World Water Day! World Water Day is celebrated on March 22 to raise awareness of and to inspire action to tackle water and sanitation issues globally. Blue Raster, with leadership from and in close collaboration with The DHS Program, has developed the Local Data Mapping tool, debuting today on the DHS Program Spatial Data Repository(SDR). Just in time for World Water Day, the tool features new visualizations for four WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) indicators disaggregated to a more granular level then previously available and in both vector and raster format! Browse to the new page here: https://spatialdata. dhsprogram. com/local-data-mapping-tool/ To visualize: Administrative Area Level 2 in vector format Raster images at a 5 x 5 KM resolution Traditional Administrative Area 1 disaggregation Viewing and interacting with raster data on a map is an entirely new offering for the USAID funded DHS Program. The 5 x 5 KM raster layers are stored on Esri ArcGIS Enterprise and accessed using the ArcGIS SDK for JavaScript. Raster and vector data are processed and published using the powerful ArcGIS Pro desktop software. Blue Raster's Bojan Zivkovic and Chris Messerich tightly integrated with Dr. Ben Mayala and Dr. Rose Donohue from the DHS Program GIS team to make sure the data and application was developed to the requirements from USAID. Blue Raster and The DHS Program have a successful 15 year partnership and the venerable Spatial Data Repository has served GIS data to the public for over 10 years. We love seeing this workhorse tool getting updated and adapted to more and more uses. It's perfect for viewing water indicators for World Water Day! Visit spatialdata. dhsprogram. com today! Contact Us Today! - Categories: Amazon Web Services, Cloud - Tags: AI, AWS, Chatbot, ChatGPT, CI/CD, database, docker, GitHub, OpenAI, PostgreSQL - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Insight Using AI, Blue Raster engineered a cutting-edge solution that allows website visitors to interact with data in a conversational manner, turning any website into a dynamic data-driven experience. In more recent times, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has marked a transformative shift in modern technology. As industries across the globe embrace the potential of artificial intelligence, it has become an integral force driving innovation and efficiency. From machine learning algorithms that optimize processes to natural language processing systems that enhance communication, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we interact with and harness the power of technology. Employing the robust capabilities of Amazon Web Services (AWS), OpenAI (ChatGPT), Flowise and PostgreSQL, Blue Raster engineered a cutting-edge solution capable of processing various data types such as PDFs, text files, websites, and GitHub repositories. This solution is a key feature of our latest offering: an embeddable chatbot that allows website visitors to interact with data in a conversational manner, turning any website into a dynamic data-driven experience.   Implementation of RAG Architecture to Create Chatbot Blue Raster recently integrated the Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture into its systems. RAG is a cutting-edge model architecture that combines the strengths of both retrieval-based and generation-based AI to amplify the capabilities of conversational systems. Key components of RAG include: Retrieval-Based Approach: Utilizes a knowledge base to fetch pertinent information, ensuring the model delivers contextually accurate answers. Generation-Based Approach: Employs generative capabilities to craft novel responses, especially when answers aren't directly available in the knowledge base. Augmentation: Enhances the generative process by incorporating retrieved data, resulting in accurate and contextually relevant responses. By fusing these elements, RAG overcomes the constraints of purely generative or retrieval-based models. It ensures factual and coherent interactions, making it an excellent fit for tasks requiring nuanced language understanding and generation.   Architectural Blueprint for Chatbot Deployment In this streamlined workflow, developers commit code to the GitHub repository, triggering GitHub Actions to automate the building and pushing of a Docker image to AWS ECR. The Docker image is then deployed onto an EC2 instance where the application interfaces with the database. User interaction is facilitated through routing, with a Load Balancer efficiently managing traffic. The entire communication is secured through TLS termination, ensuring a robust and protected HTTPS connection throughout the process. This architecture guarantees high availability and security and streamlines updates and maintenance through an automated continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline, ensuring clients can receive dynamic and adaptable services. Surging Forward with AI The chatbot service is a testament to the efficiency and reliability of modern deployment strategies, incorporating various AWS services and GitHub within a CI/CD pipeline for seamless development and deployment processes. It is more than just a tool; it's a conversation starter, a problem solver, and a data navigator, all rolled into one intuitive package. With the implementation of the RAG model and a robust CI/CD pipeline, we ensure that your website is not only equipped with the latest in AI but also future-proofed against the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Integrating an AI chatbot into your web platform can revolutionize user experience and bolster your online capabilities. These intelligent virtual assistants offer instantaneous responses to user queries, ensuring round-the-clock availability and personalized interactions. Using natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, chatbots can understand user intent, provide relevant information, and even execute tasks seamlessly. Its versatility spans from customer support and lead generation to product recommendations and content delivery, enhancing engagement and driving conversions. Furthermore, these chatbots continuously learn from interactions, refining their responses and adapting to user preferences over time. This not only streamlines communication but also empowers businesses to gather valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences, and pain points, facilitating informed decision-making and fostering long-term relationships with their audience.   Contact us today to explore how our AI solutions can transform your online presence and open a world of opportunities for your business.   - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Climate, Cloud, Conservation, Development, Disaster Response, Environment, Esri, Land Use, Microsoft Azure, Natural Hazards, Nonprofit/NGO, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Image Server, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, High Resolution Imagery, Image Mosaic, Imagery, Raster Datasets, Satellite Imagery - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Managed Services, Software & Data Solutions, Technological Insights - Types: Insight Blue Raster excels in tapping into the full potential of ArcGIS for imagery hosting, analysis, and delivery workflows across ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online. With ArcGIS Image Server and ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online, we enable organizations to host and conduct dynamic imagery analysis on an unprecedented scale. Many organizations prioritize the accessibility of imagery and image-derived products for visualization and analysis among both internal and external users. As such, efficient management and delivery workflows are crucial for these organizations to fully harness the power of spatial data and maximize their product impact. Use cases for aerial images and raster data include land cover classification, urban planning, natural resource management, emergency response and disaster management, precision agriculture and conservation, environmental monitoring and change detection/climate change analysis. Blue Raster specializes in utilizing the robust capabilities of GIS and cloud services to facilitate the seamless assembly, analysis, management and dissemination of multiresolution imagery, and raster data from different sources and timeframes. Our expertise helps organizations enhance their spatial data management and analysis capabilities. Employing ArcGIS for Imagery Hosting, Analysis & Management Empowered by cutting-edge technology, Blue Raster excels in tapping into the full potential of ArcGIS for image hosting, analysis, and delivery workflows across ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online. With ArcGIS Image Server and ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online, we enable organizations to host and conduct dynamic imagery analysis on an unprecedented scale. The scalability and performance of ArcGIS Image Server redefines the boundaries of what is achievable in geospatial analytics. Additionally, by integrating imagery into the ArcGIS Online platform, organizations can create compelling and informative maps that facilitate a deeper understanding of their spatial data. Providing On-Demand Imagery Delivery Services We specialize in providing swift, on-demand collection and smooth delivery of imagery through versatile means including API keys, custom widgets, online user interfaces, and application plugins. Our expertise ensures that you have the necessary tools and support to cater to diverse requirements and preferences. Whether you need quick access to specific imagery, or a tailored solution embedded within your applications, Blue Raster stands ready to assist, offering a range of flexible and efficient options to meet your unique needs. Furthermore, we recognize the importance of seamless delivery workflows in ensuring timely access to critical imagery resources. Our solutions are designed to optimize delivery pipelines, minimizing latency and maximizing efficiency. Whether it's delivering imagery to remote field teams or integrating seamlessly with existing systems, we prioritize speed, reliability, and scalability to meet the dynamic needs of our clients. Our commitment to innovation extends beyond just technology; it's ingrained in our culture. We're constantly exploring new ways to push the boundaries of what's possible, whether it's through advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, or data visualization. By staying at the forefront of technological innovation, we empower our clients to stay ahead of the curve and achieve their objectives with confidence. Our teams of professionals are here to assist you in developing and deploying your delivery workflows. Pioneering Collaborative Cloud-Based Imagery Management For over a decade, Blue Raster has been working with clients and partners to deliver large volumes of imagery to support various geospatial workflows. Our cloud specialty has opened new frontiers for collaborative management. Maximizing the cloud's scalability, organizations can now store, share, and analyze vast amounts of data in real-time. This not only streamlines internal processes but also facilitates effortless collaboration with external stakeholders. Across the globe, our clients and partners are employing our services to manage and deliver their imagery to support their projects and organizational goals. Here are some examples: Promoting Sustainable Forestry Practices with High Resolution Imagery Utilizing Invasive Plant Species to Mitigate Lake Pollution in Benin Estimating Community GHG Emissions from Land Use Change Bringing Transparency to Transboundary Water Policy in the Mekong River Basin Using High-Resolution Imagery to better respond to Fires Learn more about our work here   - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, Esri, GIS, Training - Tags: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, GIS, GIS Migration, Migration, Pro - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Insight Blue Raster offers comprehensive migration services to streamline your transition from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience As Esri transitions users from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro, GIS professionals are presented with an opportunity to embrace a more powerful and modern platform. Technology advances, and so too do the tools available for GIS professionals. For years, ArcMap has been a staple in the GIS industry, serving as a robust platform for spatial analysis and mapping. However, with the release of ArcGIS Pro, Esri has ushered in a new era of GIS software, offering enhanced capabilities and a modernized user experience. As Esri transitions users from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro, GIS professionals are presented with an opportunity to embrace a more powerful and modern platform. However, migrating from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro can be an intricate task for many organizations. That's where Blue Raster comes in. With our expertise and experience, we offer comprehensive migration services to streamline your transition to ArcGIS Pro, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience. Why Migrate from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro? ArcGIS Pro represents the next generation of GIS software, offering enhanced capabilities and a modernized user experience. With ArcGIS Pro, users can leverage advanced 2D and 3D visualization tools, perform complex spatial analysis, and collaborate more effectively with colleagues. Additionally, ArcGIS Pro is tightly integrated with the ArcGIS platform, providing seamless connectivity to ArcGIS Online and other Esri services. Another key benefit of ArcGIS Pro is its enhanced performance and scalability. Utilizing a 64-bit architecture, ArcGIS Pro can handle larger datasets and perform complex analyses more efficiently than its predecessor. This improved performance translates to increased productivity for GIS professionals, allowing them to accomplish more in less time. By migrating to ArcGIS Pro, organizations can unlock new possibilities for GIS projects and workflows, ultimately driving better decision-making and outcomes. The Challenges of Migration While the benefits of ArcGIS Pro are clear, migrating from ArcMap can present some challenges. Legacy data formats, customized workflows, and familiar interfaces may need to be adapted to fit the new environment. Furthermore, ensuring data integrity and preserving existing projects during the migration process is paramount. Without proper planning and expertise, organizations may encounter delays, disruptions, and potential data loss. However, many users find that the benefits of ArcGIS Pro outweigh any challenges associated with the transition. With proper planning and support, the migration to ArcGIS Pro presents an opportunity for GIS professionals to elevate their skills and unlock new possibilities in spatial analysis and visualization. The modern interface and streamlined workflows make it easier to accomplish common tasks, and the enhanced capabilities open up new possibilities for GIS analysis and visualization. Blue Raster's Migration Services At Blue Raster, we understand the complexities of migrating from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro. We recognize that every organization has unique needs and challenges when it comes to migrating from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro. We believe that successful migration goes beyond simply transferring data from one platform to another; it's about optimizing workflows, maximizing efficiency, and empowering organizations to achieve their GIS goals. That's why we take a customized approach to every migration project, ensuring that our solutions align with your specific goals and workflows. With our team of GIS ArcGIS Pro certified experts, we offer tailored migration services to meet the unique needs of each organization. Our proven methodology ensures a smooth and efficient transition, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity. Whether you're a small business, government agency, or multinational corporation, we're committed to helping you unlock the full potential of ArcGIS Pro and take your GIS workflows to the next level. Blue Raster understands the transformative potential of ArcGIS Pro and is committed to helping organizations maximize its full GIS capabilities. With Blue Raster as your migration partner, you can trust that your transition to ArcGIS Pro will be smooth, efficient, and ultimately transformative for your organization. Learn more about our work   - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Esri, GIS, Training - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Online Specialty, Configurable Application, Custom Application, Esri, Experience Builder, Web AppBuilder - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, Technological Insights, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Insight Blue Raster has assisted numerous clients, spanning a variety of industries, in both developing Experience Builder applications and migrating existing Web AppBuilder apps into Experience Builder. ArcGIS Web AppBuilder has been a reliable product for many GIS users to quickly deploy applications, serve data out to their customers, and provide access to maps and analysis. It has a breadth of out-of-the-box widgets available and allows ease of UI/UX design for rapid application deployment. As ArcGIS Web AppBuilder now officially moves towards retirement, ArcGIS Experience Builder presents itself a suitable commercial-off-the-shelf replacement for users to continue building and deploying their web applications. What is Experience Builder? ArcGIS Experience Builder, introduced as a next-generation web application and design tool, empowers users to create immersive and interactive web applications with ease. As an upgrade to its predecessor, It provides a more intuitive and flexible environment for designing web applications, allowing users to craft dynamic layouts and incorporate advanced functionality effortlessly. One of the standout features of is its drag-and-drop interface, which simplifies the process of building web applications. Users can easily add and customize widgets, such as maps, charts, and media elements, by simply dragging them onto the canvas and configuring their properties. This intuitive approach streamlines the development process, reducing the learning curve for both new and advanced users. Another notable aspect of Experience Builder is its integration with other ArcGIS products and services. Tapping into the power of ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise, users can easily incorporate maps, layers, and spatial analysis tools into their web applications, enriching them with geospatial data and insights. Why Experience Builder? For those familiar with ArcGIS Web App Builder, the transition may initially seem daunting. After all, change can be unsettling, especially when it involves a tool as integral to workflows as Web App Builder. However, as we delve deeper into what this new tool offers, it becomes evident that this evolution represents a significant leap forward in GIS capabilities. The transition from ArcGIS Web App Builder to ArcGIS Experience Builder marks a significant milestone in the evolution of GIS web application development. By embracing its innovative features and capabilities, users can unlock new possibilities for creating immersive and interactive web experiences that resonate with their audiences. ArcGIS Experience Builder offers greater flexibility in terms of design and customization. With support for responsive layouts, users can ensure that their web applications adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and devices, providing an optimal viewing experience for end-users across desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Additionally, it provides extensive styling options, allowing users to fine-tune the appearance of their applications to match their branding or design preferences. Try Experience Builder How do I Migrate from Web AppBuilder to Experience Builder? As with transitioning to newer technology, transitioning your ArcGIS Web AppBuilder application to ArcGIS Experience Builder requires some effort. Prior to migration, it is important to review the widget functionality matrix which details the Web AppBuilder widgets that were migrated to Experience Builder and all new widgets available in Experience Builder as well as their functionalities. Keep in mind that the migration process might require modifications to ensure smooth functionality your newly configured application. Luckily there are several resources to help your migration. Here are a few: Migrate a Web AppBuilder app to Experience Builder Modernize Your ArcGIS Web AppBuilder Apps Using Experience Builder Experience Builder for Web AppBuilder Users Blue Raster is Here to Help Blue Raster has assisted numerous clients, spanning a variety of industries, in both developing Experience Builder applications and migrating existing Web AppBuilder apps into Experience Builder. Since the two applications are not completely analogous, we are here to guide you every step of the way. Experience Builder provides a wide range for customization and design, allowing for applications with multiple pages, and no requirement for a map on each page. It is highly responsive, enabling analysts or designers to optimize the application for viewing on multiple devices and resolutions. It also allows more interaction with other ArcGIS apps - like Dashboards and the ability to create a survey within the builder. If you are new to Experience Builder or transitioning from Web AppBuilder, Blue Raster is here to support you as you embark on your new web experience. - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Enterprise, Esri, Federal, JavaScript API, Open Data, Sustainable Development Goals - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work You may be familiar with the USAID funded DHS Program Spatial Data Repository (SDR) and use it to access spatial and non-spatial indicator data produced by The DHS Program surveys. However, if you have not visited recently or are new to the tool check it out today!   There are brand new features, like a Model Dataset to use for familiarizing yourself with The DHS Program data, lesser known features like Geospatial Covariates and Modeled Surfaces and even some amazing new visualizations under construction that will debut in spring 2024. The new Model Dataset is useful for learning how to use DHS Program data to produce your own results. The SDR is a custom application built with JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Python, Node and other tools. It relies on Esri's ArcGIS Enterprise for serving boundary files, Python tools for creating customized datasets and The DHS Program Indicator Data API for instant access to the vast universe of DHS Program survey data and Amazon Web Services (AWS) for hosting and serverless solutions. Blue Raster is a trusted technology partner to The DHS Program with over 15 years of dedicated service to the USAID funded project. Keep your eye on this space and visit the Spatial Data Repository today! Download Modeled Surfaces produced from DHS Program survey estimates like this one from the Philippines.   - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, GIS, Open Data, Training - Tags: API, ArcGIS Cloud Specialty, Cloud, Custom Application, Data Integration, KoopJS, Node.js, Web Application - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights, Web Application Development - Types: Insight In the ever-expanding landscape of web development, the integration and presentation of geospatial data poses unique challenges. As applications increasingly demand the seamless incorporation of location-based information, developers find themselves grappling with diverse data sources, formats, and APIs. It is in this dynamic environment that tools like KoopJS emerge as indispensable assets. In the ever-expanding landscape of web development, the integration and presentation of geospatial data poses unique challenges. As applications increasingly demand the seamless incorporation of location-based information, developers find themselves grappling with diverse data sources, formats, and APIs. It is in this dynamic environment that tools like KoopJS emerge as indispensable assets. What is KoopJS? KoopJS is a powerful Node. js-based server application designed to bridge the gap between geospatial data from diverse sources. This innovative tool enables users to maintain their data in its native format and location while effortlessly transforming and serving it for consumption by a multitude of clients. Serving as a middleware, KoopJS acts as a bridge between diverse geospatial data sources and standardizes the process of accessing and delivering this information. By doing so, it enables developers to efficiently connect to different APIs, transforming and presenting geospatial data seamlessly. Creating a Custom Plugin A standout feature of KoopJS is its robust plugin architecture, which allows users to create custom plugins. These plugins define how data from disparate sources should be transformed, offering a high level of flexibility. For instance, if you needed to showcase data hosted on platform like Carto that may not be inherently compatible with tools in ArcGIS, KoopJS allows you to craft custom plugins to seamlessly integrate and present the data. With KoopJS, a developer can craft a plugin tailored to convert the data into a format compatible with the ArcGIS suite of tools. The custom plugin serves as an intermediate layer between the Carto data source and ArcGIS, ensuring smooth integration and presentation of the data. Why KoopJS? KoopJS enhances the accessibility of geospatial data by providing a unified API that can be easily consumed by web applications. This simplifies the development process and promotes interoperability across various platforms. Whether your data is hosted on a different platform or exists in a non-compatible format, KoopJS offers a flexible and scalable solution to elevate your geospatial workflows. This unique application opens up new possibilities for enhancing geospatial workflows and facilitating seamless integration of diverse datasets. In conclusion, KoopJS is a valuable tool for developers working with geospatial data, offering a practical solution to the challenges of integrating and serving location-based information in web applications. Contact us today to get started. Learn more about our recent work here.   - Categories: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Conservation, Environment, Esri, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map, Women in Science - Tags: Jane Goodall Institute, JGI, Templeton - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Blue Raster is proud to announce another project from our long running collaboration with The Jane Goodall Institute. Blue Raster is proud to announce another project from our long running collaboration with The Jane Goodall Institute. Among Jane Goodall's many vital programs is Roots & Shoots, with the mission to empower young people to affect positive change in their communities. In 2023, JGI collaborated with the John Templeton Foundation to award the Templeton Roots & Shoots Prizes. From the JGI website: "The Templeton Roots & Shoots Prizes are an extension of the partnership between JGI and the John Templeton Foundation to elevate the extraordinary efforts of visionary youth leaders and their adult mentors worldwide. Awardees were selected based on their exceptional work with Roots & Shoots at the intersection of science, compassion, and community - specifically those who exemplify curiosity and wonder and the pursuit of knowledge, as well as the expression of compassion towards people, other animals and the environment we share. " When Erin Griffin, Director of Partnerships, Jane Goodall Institute-USA sought a novel way to showcase the 30 winners of the inaugural Templeton Roots & Shoots Prizes she turned to trusted partner Blue Raster and the concept of an ArcGIS StoryMap. The StoryMap showcases the 2023 winners and features an interactive map, videos and a brief write up of each winner and their vital contributions. Blue Raster built several StoryMaps for The Jane Goodall Institute. The platform is ideal for visual story telling, with or without a map based visualization. Check out the Templeton Roots & Shoots Prizes StoryMap, honoring international changemakers who are making a difference today! Ready to tell your story? - Categories: Community, Conservation, Culture, Education, Environment, GIS, Media, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: conservation, delaware, delaware river, education, Environment, Pollution, watershed - Industries: Education, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design - Types: Active Work The Delaware River holds a rich tapestry of history, playing a pivotal role in the development of the United States and serving as a witness to centuries of human activity. Flowing for approximately 330 miles through the eastern United States, the river originates in the Catskill Mountains of New York and eventually empties into the Delaware Bay. The Delaware River holds a rich tapestry of history, playing a pivotal role in the development of the United States and serving as a witness to centuries of human activity. Flowing for approximately 330 miles through the eastern United States, the river originates in the Catskill Mountains of New York and eventually empties into the Delaware Bay. Its watershed encompasses parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, making it a vital waterway that has shaped the region's cultural, economic, and environmental landscape. It serves as a source of drinking water, supports diverse ecosystems, and offers recreational opportunities. Efforts to balance conservation and development persist, as communities work together to ensure the sustainable use and preservation of this historic and ecologically significant waterway. Today, the Delaware River continues to play a crucial role in the lives of millions of people. The Delaware River stands as a symbol of the intertwined relationship between human societies and the natural environment, showcasing the ongoing importance of responsible stewardship for future generations. Telling the Story of the Delaware River Watershed Blue Raster partnered with Delaware Currents to create and deliver an educational video about the Delaware river watershed. With aerial footage provided by Light Hawk and contributions from Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE), viewers can embark on an immersive journey along the Delaware River learning about its history, challenges and significance. Embarking on a flight along the Delaware River unveils a captivating journey through time, weaving together the threads of history, culture, and environmental significance that have shaped this iconic waterway and its expansive watershed. This aerial expedition provides a unique perspective, allowing us to appreciate the interconnectedness of the region's past, present, and future.   As we approach the 20th century, the flight takes us over urban centers and industrial landscapes, bearing witness to the environmental challenges that emerged. Efforts to balance industrial progress with environmental preservation became increasingly critical, leading to the establishment of regulatory bodies like the Delaware River Basin Commission. This commitment to conservation aimed to protect the river's waters and ecosystems for future generations. The journey concludes as we survey the modern landscape shaped by environmental stewardship and community engagement. The Delaware River stands as a testament to the resilience of ecosystems, the importance of clean water, and the ongoing efforts to balance human needs with environmental sustainability. From the headwaters to the estuary, the flight along the Delaware River highlights not just a waterway but a living, breathing testament to the intertwined history, culture, and ecology of the region-a journey through our history, our watershed. The Impact of Partnerships in Storytelling The creation of the video involved a collaborative effort, bringing together various organizations, contributors, and media partners to produce a visually stunning and informative exploration of the Delaware River. Brought to you by Delaware Currents, the video's production was made possible through the support of key entities and contributors. The Blue Raster team was responsible for editing and production of the video, incorporating GIS element to provide a more spatial context and location-based visualizations. Of particular note, the DRBC played a pivotal role in providing insights into the river's management, regulatory efforts, and environmental conservation while the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary added valuable insights into the ecological importance of the river's estuarine region and its role in sustaining diverse ecosystems. Media partners played a crucial role in amplifying the project's reach, ensuring that the video's content was well researched and reached the necessary audiences through various platforms. Ready to tell your story? - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Esri, Federal, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, Esri, GIS, Smithsonian Institution, Story Map - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster developed an ArcGIS StoryMap to promote Smithsonian Affiliations Leadership for Change Internship Program. Blue Raster worked to develop an ArcGIS StoryMap to promote the Smithsonian Institution's Leadership for Change Internship Program. The Leadership for Change Internship, helmed by Smithsonian Affiliations, provides paid internship opportunities for students at museums, cultural, and educational organizations that are partners within the Smithsonian Affiliations network. To help showcase the impressive reach of Leadership for Change, Smithsonian Affiliations collaborated with Blue Raster to develop a StoryMap highlighting past internship projects and explaining the program to potential applicants. What Leads to Successful StoryMap Development? Blue Raster worked directly with Smithsonian Affiliations to plan and create an ArcGIS StoryMap to meet their goal of promoting the Leadership for Change Internship Program. In planning out the StoryMap content, Smithsonian Affiliations used the StoryMap Accelerator offered by Blue Raster. The StoryMap Accelerator aids development through a series of guided discovery questions that help to outline the narrative and content to be used in the ArcGIS StoryMap. Highlighting the Internship Experience Smithsonian Affiliations identified StoryMaps as their preferred platform because it enabled a multimedia showcase of both the opportunities afforded through the Leadership for Change Internship Program and the impressive student internship projects created across the country. The StoryMap provides a multimedia experience for those looking to learn about Leadership for Change Smithsonian Affiliations is utilizing the StoryMap as their homepage for the Leadership for Change Internship Program this year. Blue Raster worked within the Smithsonian's timeline to allow for a launch date right at the beginning of 2024. The deadline to apply for the Leadership for Change internship program is February 26th, 2024. We encourage everyone to share this great opportunity with young people that may be interested in applying. The map portion of the StoryMap highlights the nation-wide community impacts of past internship projects Enrich your Projects with ArcGIS StoryMaps Blue Raster is here to discuss your project and explore the possibilities of ArcGIS Story Maps. Our talented team of designers and GIS analysts will work closely with you to understand your goals and vision. Blue Raster can turn your ideas into immersive and engaging narratives that leave a lasting impact. Contact Blue Raster now to embark on a journey of storytelling, innovation, and project enrichment. Overview of ArcGIS Story Map Are you ready to tell your story? - Categories: Community, Design, Development, District of Columbia, Mobile, Nonprofit/NGO, UI - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design - Types: Active Work See how Blue Raster helped a nonprofit’s Healthy Corners Shopper app connect low-income communities in DC to affordable produce in their corner stores. What if you lived in a neighborhood where you didn't have a local supermarket with affordable and nutritious food offerings? This is a very realistic scenario for many low-income communities in Washington, DC, but a local nonprofit-DC Central Kitchen (DCCK)-is aiming to solve this issue. The organization provides culinary job training for individuals facing barriers to employment while simultaneously bringing nourishing foods and meals to communities that lack fairly-priced and wholesome options. Partnering with DC schools, community agencies, and corner stores, DCCK is continuing to find inventive and impactful ways to combat hunger and create healthy food access-and Blue Raster had the opportunity to be part of this mission. Introducing the Free Healthy Corners Shopper App In 2022, DCCK came to Blue Raster with the Healthy Corners Shopper app-originally developed by students at the University of California, Berkley-with the goal to display corner stores in DC neighborhoods that offer fresh, affordable produce to residents through the Healthy Corners program. DCCK wanted a user-friendly application that would clearly show customers product availability by location and offer free recipes, resources, and more to inspire better eating. In addition to showing the location of inexpensive produce, the app also notes which stores in the Healthy Corners program offer a "SNAP Match" coupon program for SNAP/EBT customers and/or serve as DC WIC-approved vendors. An App that Serves Up Real Change Working off the original application structure, Blue Raster made the Healthy Corners Shopper app production-ready using the cross-platform framework React Native with an innovating backend in Airtable-a low-code platform for building applications. Since 2020, DCCK's Healthy Corners program has assisted in selling over 1. 2 million units of healthy food options in DC corner stores (Source: https://dccentralkitchen. org/healthy-corners), and the Healthy Corners Shopper app is only helping that number rise. Interested individuals can download the app for free on their Android or iOS device-with exciting, new features coming soon thanks to the continued collaboration of DCCK and Blue Raster. Strengthening Food Security in DC Learn more and explore DCCK's Healthy Corners Shopper app here, or contact Blue Raster today to discuss our hands-on process for creating custom mobile applications. - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, Conservation, Esri, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Parks, Public Gardens - Tags: American Public Garden Association, Arboretum, ArcGIS, Buffalo Olmstead Parks Conservancy, Esri, Experience Builder, GIS, Public Gardens, South Park Arboretum - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster developed an ArcGIS Experience Builder application to help the Buffalo Olmstead Parks Conservancy showcase the South Park Arboretum's “outdoor museum of trees” Blue Raster partnered with Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (BOPC) to develop the South Park Arboretum Plant Finder application using ArcGIS Experience Builder and assist in the data management of South Park Arboretum's "outdoor museum of trees". With the launch of their new website on November 10th, visitors to the arboretum will have a new tool in hand that allows them to explore individual plant records, search information about featured plantings, get restoration project updates, and learn how South Park Arboretum staff are mitigating and managing invasive species on the property. Plant Finder Application Developed with ArcGIS Experience Builder Historic Restoration of South Park Arboretum Located in Buffalo, New York and unique to the historic Olmsted park and parkway system is South Park Arboretum, an arboretum that was on par with the most notable arboreta of the late 19th century and early 20th century. The multi-year, eleven phase restoration of the South Park Arboretum, consisting of 155 acres of historic and culturally significant "Olmstedian" character-defining features, including approximately 400 "Olmsted Original" or heritage trees, is an exceptional feat, requiring significant oversight and planning. The vision behind the restoration is to capture and integrate Olmsted's original design into the current park by selective plant evaluation for their contribution to the collection including plant removal, cultivation, and care of "Olmsted Original" trees that support the original taxonomical organization that the Olmsted design established in 1895. ArcGIS Experience Builder Mobile View of Plant Finder Application Developing Plant Finder with ArcGIS Experience Builder Blue Raster established an ArcGIS Online environment for BOPC by leveraging their status as a non-profit for reduced software costs. We then assisted with preparing and publishing data and identifying additional datasets of interest. Blue Raster successfully ingested plant records data into our plant synchronization workflow - which automates updates from BG-BASE, the organization's botanical repository, into GIS. This workflow provides staff with the ability to make data modifications in the field, while pushing the data back to the system of record seamlessly. After finishing the backend data workflows, Blue Raster designed and developed an ArcGIS Experience Builder application for both internal and public use. The application contains filters, queries, and navigational tabs for users to identify trees of interest, facilities information, featured photos and plantings, reference data such as Olmsted's original 1895 Planting Plan, and a survey for visitor feedback. As the application was developed with a mobile-friendly design in mind, users can easily use the tool while on the grounds to navigate and find relevant information. When working to finalize the Plant Finder mapping application to coincide with the launch of the new website, South Park Arboretum's Director and Curator, Margaret Lapp, had this to say about the efforts to make their data more accessible for staff and the public by utilizing GIS "Partnering with Blue Raster and BG-BASE has proven invaluable to the Arboretum's overall restoration and awareness-building efforts. GIS enables South Park Arboretum to integrate collections documentation with geographically referenced information supporting tree care, its coordination and curation alongside public enjoyment and discovery. The launch of the Plant Finder App. is a testament to Frederick Law Olmsted's democratic and inclusive principles and transcends time in upholding Olmsted's vision-to create an Arboretum where visitors could observe and learn about plants. BOPC is absolutely delighted to share our plant collection with the community near and far, fostering a spirit of curiosity for the natural world. " - Margaret Lapp, Director and Curator, South Park Arboretum Plant Finder Application Developed with ArcGIS Experience Builder Learn More About Blue Raster's Work with Public Gardens and Arboreta Blue Raster is an Esri Gold Business Partner and Nonprofit Specialty holder. Blue Raster is excited to support Public Gardens clients and bring awareness to some of the most beautiful and historic public spaces. Learn more about Blue Raster's long history working with Public Gardens on innovative GIS solutions for staff and the public. - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Monitor, Cloud, Esri, GIS, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Monitor, Collin County, Esri, GIS, State & Local Government, Texas - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services - Types: Active Work Blue Raster deployed ArcGIS Monitor for Collin County, TX to help their GIS team gain insights and quickly resolve issues with ArcGIS Enterprise. Blue Raster worked to deploy a well-architected ArcGIS Enterprise installation to support the growing GIS user base of Collin County, Texas. Just north of the Dallas - Fort Worth metropolitan area, Collin County has a rapidly growing population of over 1 million residents. With such a large and growing GIS practice to manage, the county looked to Blue Raster to install ArcGIS Monitor to aid in monitoring its GIS infrastructure and ensure that it stays up and running. What is ArcGIS Monitor? ArcGIS Monitor is a powerful tool from Esri that allows organizations to monitor the health of GIS infrastructure in real-time. It can help organizations identify and fix issues before they become major problems, saving time and money in the long run. This tool excels in: Real-time monitoring of environments Alerting and notifications for issues Collection and analysis of performance data Detailed resource utilization reporting Monitoring of security events Visualization of data in dashboards and reports ArcGIS Monitor Provides Real-Time Performance Metrics for ArcGIS Enterprise ArcGIS Monitor Helps Identify and Resolve Issues Blue Raster worked with Collin County to deploy a robust, well-architected installation of ArcGIS Enterprise 10. 9. 1 on-premises in 2022 and later added ArcGIS Monitor to maintain a healthy and stable environment. With Monitor, improved insights were apparent quickly with better visibility and quantification for issues related to Collin County's enterprise GIS. The tool saves time for GIS Supervisor Bret Fenster, providing a single location to monitor all components of ArcGIS Enterprise and make quick decisions based on real-time metrics. "With ArcGIS Monitor, we're able to assess the performance of our services and multi-server environment easily. Before we had Monitor, we had to RDP into each server to see exactly what was going on. Now, we can see CPU and RAM performance with one login and a well-crafted dashboard configured by our consultant, Blue Raster. " - Bret Fenster, GIS Supervisor, Collin County With improved visibility and insights into their ArcGIS Enterprise, Bret and his team were able to immediately address patterns they noticed with server performance and allocate more resources to the problem. The deeper level of metrics provided by ArcGIS Monitor helped Bret and team to address data and content governance with their internal customers, improving performance for all users of ArcGIS Enterprise. ArcGIS Monitor Displays Metrics Highlighting Need More Server Resources "We're able to determine where we need more resources immediately. For example, recently we noticed our hosting server began to consume more RAM (90%). We worked with our server team to get 12GB added to the VM. After the increase in RAM, the hosting server continued to use more RAM and motivated the team to look at ArcGIS Server manager and inventory the services. We noticed some new, unexpected layers published from our internal portal that were created by another team. We were able to contact that department and remove the services that were creating the impact and resolve the issue. " - Bret Fenster, GIS Supervisor, Collin County ArcGIS Monitor Displays Improved Performance of ArcGIS Enterprise after Increasing Server Resources & Addressing Data Publishing Governance Is ArcGIS Monitor Right for You? Collin County's success with implementing ArcGIS Monitor for their ArcGIS Enterprise deployment demonstrates that the insights and resulting solutions stemming from the data collected and visualized provides value to the County's GIS and IT teams. The ability to support observations with quantified metrics empowers Collin County's team to maintain a performant enterprise GIS environment and reduce downtime. Blue Raster strongly recommends including Monitor in all new deployments of ArcGIS Enterprise or adding it to existing installations. Get in touch to start the conversation - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Disaster Response, Emergency Management, Esri, GIS, Survey123 - Industries: Public Safety, State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work In 2020, the State of Nevada's Department of Public Safety began discussing the possibility of using Esri's ArcGIS disaster response and damage assessment solutions to support emergency preparedness, response, and recovery more efficiently and effectively within its Division of Emergency Management (DEM). With Blue Raster's extensive knowledge on these configurable solutions, Nevada's DEM selected our team to partner together to build out the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) Tool utilizing ArcGIS in Nevada's specific environment. With the PDA Tool, Nevada's DEM is able to: Conduct initial damage assessments following natural disaster(s) or destructive event(s) Capture the extent and severity of damage to property Streamline evaluation of need for resources and acquisition of resources after disaster(s) Aid emergency management Collect damage reports Perform initial assessments Monitor the impact of disaster(s) Provide critical information to stakeholders and the public For the next few months, our team collected the necessary data to bring into the ArcGIS applications; configured and tested the disaster-management capabilities; and created several workflows in ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Hub, Survey123, and ArcGIS Dashboards that would soon be presented to Nevada representatives from the state and local levels, as well as tribal lands. To successfully build out the services Nevada DEM needed, our team also collaborated with Esri to secure the purchasing of Surge Licensing activated through Esri's Disaster Response Program and requested through the State. With Surge Licensing, the division can request as many additional licenses as needed during the time of a disaster response without having to manage a large number of users on a day-to-day basis. Nevada DEM's PDA Tool utilizes: ArcGIS Online to host and serve out content to the applications within the PDA Tool-including ArcGIS Dashboards, Survey123, and ArcGIS Hub ArcGIS Dashboards to provide a comprehensive, at-a-glance view of the data and monitor trends Survey123 so data can be collected via forms that are built into the tool; this includes operational surveys that can be accessed through the Damage Assessment Content group ArcGIS Hub which offers a public site for county and local users and an internal destination for Nevada DEM; it also serves as a platform for connection and engagement between government entities and residents and promotes resources and data that are useful to the community ArcGIS Experience Builder which is the configurable solution Blue Raster used to build the PDA Tool web application In 2022, once the PDA Tool was in a good place, Nevada DEM brought in stakeholders-who were county officials, DEM employees, and local community and tribal leaders-so our team could deliver a series of trainings in their Emergency Operation Centers (EOC). Blue Raster GIS Analyst Andrew Patterson traveled to Carson City and Las Vegas to provide on-site, day-long trainings at the Nevada EOCs. These sessions included hands-on demonstrations, out-in-the-field practice, and thorough documentation so attendees could take what they learned during the training back to their communities and teach other people how to use this beneficial tool. "Providing on-site training for Nevada DEM was a fantastic learning and teaching experience. I was able to work directly with the DEM's GIS project manager and lead grants coordinator to provide day-long trainings at both the Carson City EOC and North Las Vegas City Hall. We used these trainings to not only showcase and teach the Preliminary Damage Assessment Tool but to also provide education on damage assessment best practices and its importance. " - Andrew Patterson, GIS Analyst, Blue Raster Be Prepared in the Face of a Disaster Blue Raster excels in creating fully operational emergency-management solutions. Interested in learning more? Contact us today to tell us more about your needs. - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, Survey123, Transportation - Industries: State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is giving its citizens a say in the latest Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) configuration, locations, and corridor termini serving Takoma Park, Langley Park, and White Oak-and ArcGIS is helping make it all possible. With its New Hampshire Avenue BRT planning study, MCDOT is providing Montgomery County residents with the opportunity to explore and evaluate four transit alternatives that include the best Flash bus routes, future station locations, transportation connections, and more. Blue Raster Joins the Route to Improved Transit To make this study successful, MCDOT and a group of partners (including transportation communications experts Sharp & Company, engineering firm Kittelson & Associates, and Blue Raster) needed an engaging way to portray the four different alternatives and make them easily digestible for the community members who would be viewing, interacting, and commenting on them. That's when Blue Raster was able to get behind the driver's seat. Working with the partners, our team created the New Hampshire Avenue Flash BRT Alternatives Map-using ArcGIS Experience Builder to create the application and map that portrays the different alternatives. The Map that Leads the Way This map provides people who live in the area with a visual depiction of MCDOT's proposed changes, allowing them to determine if they could be potentially impacted by these transit modifications and giving them the power to help improve the service. After examining the suggested options, users can voice their opinions, suggestions, or concerns directly in the application through a Survey123 form that Blue Raster initiated, giving MCDOT direct access to the public's thoughts and fueling the results of the planning study. Though the study is still being conducted, it's a privilege to be part of a project that allows our team to showcase our understanding of the transportation industry and its needs and influences the direction of a countywide transit service. Help MCDOT Pave the Way to Better Bus Rapid Transit Learn more about MCDOT's BRT planning study and explore the New Hampshire Avenue Flash BRT Alternatives Map. Make sure to submit a helpful comment to make a difference in future transit planning! Read About the Study > Take a Look at the Map > - Categories: ArcGIS Velocity, Community, Esri, GIS, Public Safety, State & Local - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The North Carolina ArcGIS Users Group (NCAUG) 2023 conference brought together GIS professionals, industry leaders, and innovators within the North Carolina GIS community. Hosted annually by NCAUG, the event showcases a wide array of topics, from advanced spatial analytics to the practical applications of GIS in various industries. This year, the event's theme was "Sparking Innovation: Energizing GIS Technology for the Future. " Blue Raster Gets Involved in North Carolina From September 26 - 29, Project Managers Chris Gabris and Ben Masters represented Blue Raster in Asheville, NC-marking our organization's first time attending the NCAUG fall conference-where they showcased the ways our team implements innovative GIS solutions for our customers. The week began on the Reem's Creek Golf Course for the pre-conference tournament, where Ben connected in person with other conference attendees and learned how each of his teammates utilize GIS in their day-to-day roles. Ben and his teammates at Reem's Creek Golf Course in Asheville, NC. The following day kicked off the opening of the conference, exhibit hall, and plenary session. As a platinum sponsor of the conference, Chris and Ben were given the opportunity to introduce Blue Raster to the community and present company information during the Vendor Parade. The opening of the exhibit hall allowed them to connect with current customers like the Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina businesses, and state and local government GIS professionals to understand their current GIS needs and showcase Blue Raster's latest solutions and services. Presenting at NCAUG Chris and Ben presented Blue Raster's work with the City of Manassas Park, VA, in support of the conference's theme of innovation in GIS. The presentation told the story of how Blue Raster helped Manassas Park transform their GIS practices, bringing modern solutions to multiple departments and highlighting GIS as an authoritative source of information for city workflows. Chris and Ben covered the history of the engagement, how GIS has grown and been adopted by city employees, and how GIS integrated and improved existing systems. One highlight of the presentation was the deep dive into Manassas Park's ArcGIS Velocity deployment for public safety and public works vehicles. The topic of real-time data in GIS was a persistent theme at the conference and Blue Raster is excited to support organizations looking to add these capabilities to their GIS practices. Chris and Ben presenting Blue Raster's ongoing work with the City of Manassas Park, VA. Parting Thoughts NCAUG's fall conference was a great way to connect with GIS professionals and get more involved in the North Carolina GIS community. Both Chris and Ben enjoyed getting to meet new people and reuniting with old customers and colleagues. Blue Raster looks forward to the next NCAUG event and working with those we met at this year's conference to help solve their GIS problems with advanced solutions. Blue Raster and the local North Carolina Esri team continuing to build a strong partnership. - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Pro, Community, State & Local - Tags: elections - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Ahead of the November 2022 election, the Georgia Secretary of State (SOS) Elections Division approached Esri and Blue Raster to develop an efficient, well-defined process for mapping registered voters-helping election officials ensure voters were assigned to the proper polling places after redistricting. With nearly 8 million registered voters spread across 159 counties, Georgia officials needed an affordable and efficient solution to geocode each voter in the state with a verification process that could be overseen and managed at the state and county levels. This new tool would need to be active and ready for use by the end of February 2022-a turnaround time of less than two months-in addition to training election officials. Meeting the Distinct Needs of Georgia SOS The Georgia SOS Elections Division required one resource that would: House every county's unique voter data Alert election officials of any inconsistencies within the system Allow election officials to make necessary corrections Account for a variety of users and levels of permission-as state election officials would need to access records for the entire state, while officials in each county would only be granted access to the data pertaining to their jurisdiction To accomplish the massive task of geocoding nearly 8 million registered voters, Esri and Blue Raster applied the ArcGIS System including ArcGIS Pro on its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud environment to process Georgia's entire voter data file in just a matter of hours. ArcGIS StreetMap Premium allowed for fast and accurate geocoding of addresses to the building and street level. Mapped voters were intersected with new district boundaries to confirm voter assignments. With the process finalized, the team worked quickly to automate it, allowing the voter file to be received each month and fully processed and geocoded within 48 hours to ensure its ongoing accuracy. Process overview for the 2022 Redistricting Quality Assurance Tool. Customizing 159+ Dashboards for County and State Election Officials Once a solution was presented for geocoding, Esri and Blue Raster used the Georgia SOS 2022 Redistricting Quality Assurance Tool-an interactive, online mapping resource developed using ArcGIS Hub-to make voter data at the state and county levels accessible to Georgia's election officials. The innovative tool features: A central landing page that is viewable to all users with an account Unique ArcGIS Dashboards that are only viewable to their corresponding state or county officials 159 automated Hub pages for each county that include instructional information and can only be accessed within officials' jurisdiction Maps of voting districts in officials' counties and action items they need to address, including any voter records to review Voter details-such as where they're mapped based on the geocoding to confirm the voter is assigned to the correct polling location CSV files for voting district assignments that need to be reviewed and for any addresses that could not be placed on the map Every time voter registration data is updated, any voter records that expose a discrepancy are flagged, and local staff can quickly review each record. By the end of February 2022, Esri and Blue Raster successfully trained Georgia election officials on the 2022 Redistricting Quality Assurance Tool to verify the accuracy of their voter records. The statewide voter record was updated monthly, and geocoded, with updates published to the Hub pages, maps, and reviewable records available within 48 hours. Election officials were reviewing their county Hub pages regularly and reporting back to the Elections Division when updates were made in the voter registration database. This ensured consistent reporting of voter record review progress and official sign-off of completion from Georgia SOS. Video walkthrough resource provided to all Georgia election officials. Explore Blue Raster's Elections Services See how our team can help you make sense of your voter registration files and analyses leading up to the next election-and beyond! Contact Us to Get Started - Categories: Conservation, Education, Field Mobility, GIS, Public Gardens - Tags: Arboretum, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Field Maps, BG-Base, GIS, Public Garden, Public Gardens, Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The recently launched Scott Arboretum Explorer helps users search and navigate the plant collection and beautiful campus. Hailed as one of the country's most beautiful college campuses, Swarthmore College features more than 4,000 plant varieties and 425 acres of cultivated, flowering hills. As part of the breathtaking campus, the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College hosts numerous learning programs, extends incredible volunteer opportunities, and supports educational courses offered at the college. One of the arboretum's central goals is to cultivate and display plants specific to the region and inspire visitors with ideas for their own gardens. Considering the volume of plants, frequency of plant updates, and educational purposes of the arboretum, a robust plant record management system and a publicly accessible application for exploration are integral to supporting Scott Arboretum's ongoing mission. In 2021, Blue Raster partnered with Scott Arboretum to establish a synchronization process between GIS and the arboretum's botanical repository, BG-BASE. Another outcome was to update and modernize the arboretum's public plant and dedication search site. Blue Raster created GIS data representing surveyed plant locations, garden features, points of interest, and other reference data for visitor amenities. The team also facilitated the expansion of field GIS for plant mapping by leveraging ArcGIS Field Maps to streamline and improve the efficiency of data collection and updates. The workflow enables internal staff and plant managers to modify and update plant records in the field while edits are committed to near real-time, allowing them to flow seamlessly into internal and public applications. The BG-BASE-ArcGIS sync exploits the powerful capabilities of Field and Web GIS in tandem with Python scripting for a continuous connection between the botanical system of record, GIS data, and associated information products. Finally, the new Arboretum Explorer application, developed in the latest version of the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, is an interactive site for researchers, staff, and visitors to explore both the arboretum and campus attractions and filter and search for plants and memorials. The application enhances the user experience of engaging with the botanical database, enabling Scott Arboretum to thoroughly operate and present information to users. Arboretum Explorer is a dynamic application that highlights the arboretum's garden collections, allowing users to identify dedicated benches and plaques, and other tools for navigating the historic gardens. As a mobile-friendly app, the Arboretum Explorer is a great resource for visitors to navigate and explore the collections while onsite. "The Blue Raster team is incredibly knowledgeable, innovative, and amenable. They have the innate ability to take a basic concept and masterfully turn it into a functional, creative, and user-friendly end product. " - Mary Tipping, Curator and Plant Recorder, Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College Blue Raster has been supporting public garden, arboreta, and cemetery customers for over ten years, developing custom applications and providing training to increase the use of GIS for staff and public workflows. Click here to learn more about Blue Raster's work with public gardens. - Categories: Esri, User Conference - Tags: Esri, Esri Conference, Esri UC, Esri User Conference, EsriUC - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Did you get a chance to stop by Blue Raster’s booth this year? (Hint: Are you still wearing your cool Blue Raster sunglasses? Are your Crocs properly studded with Blue Raster jibbitz?) This year we had over 500 people stop by the booth to learn more about how Blue Raster visualizes data that shapes our world. Blue Raster's 2023 Esri UC Highlights Our team is back from one of the most exciting annual events, exhibiting at the 2023 Esri User Conference in San Diego! Blue Raster has attended nearly every User Conference since 1999-and this year was one of the best! This year Blue Raster had 8 colleagues attend and now that were back, here are some of our favorite highlights: Meeting conference attendees, clients, colleagues, and friends at Blue Raster's Booth Did you get a chance to stop by Blue Raster's booth this year? (Hint: Are you still wearing your cool Blue Raster sunglasses? Are your Crocs properly studded with Blue Raster jibbitz? ) This year we had over 500 people stop by the booth to learn more about how Blue Raster visualizes data that shapes our world. Thanks for stopping by! Let's Talk! We want to help you with your GIS projects! Contact us today to schedule a call. Contact Us The 2023 Esri UC Plenary Session Longtime friend of Blue Raster, and founder and CEO of Esri, Jack Dangermond kicked off this year's Plenary session "GIS - Creating the World You Want to See", to give us updates on all the new products and feature enhancements of ArcGIS tools. He guided us on a tour of how Esri is incorporating AI into geospatial workflows, meshing different data formats into real-world solutions (including 3D drone-imagery and augmented reality), and continuing to add advanced functionality to our favorite existing Esri products like ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. We also got to hear from inspiring thought leaders and innovators who shared their experiences using GIS to improve the world. Our team was moved by Kadaster's work creating tactile maps for the blind and visually impaired community and enraptured by Dr. Steve Boyes (National Geographic Society) exciting freshwater studies in the Okavango Delta. Blue Raster's Fish Taco Night A beloved Blue Raster tradition, we hosted our annual Fish Taco Night on Tuesday. We had a great turnout where we took over a beachside roof-deck to enjoy tasty fish tacos (a San Diego delicacy) and few cold beverages while looking out over the Pacific Ocean. Thanks to everyone who came out for this 2023 Esri UC event! Conference Social Events and Balboa Park Party After long days of technical sessions, connecting with attendees at the booth, and meeting with clients and colleagues during the 2023 Esri UC, our team had to get serious about having fun at the several conference social events! Since Blue Raster works in so many different industries our team split up to divide and conquer the socials focused on Sustainable Worlds, AEC, Business, State and Local Government, Women in GIS, and Young Professionals Network. Blue Raster is known for our geospatial work and achievements, but we are also a really fun group of people to have at your social event Meeting with clients in person As the largest GIS conference in the world, many of our clients and collaborators were also in attendance. We used the opportunity to meet in person to talk about ongoing and future projects with some of the people we've only known virtually. And while we love the benefits of serving clients remotely, it's always more fun to say hi in person! Technical Sessions and User Presentations Three days is not enough time to attend the hundreds of technical sessions throughout the conference-especially when there were so many topics and tools our team was excited to learn about! Luckily, many of the sessions were recorded and will be available to view online soon. Here are some of the favorite sessions our team attended (hopefully the wide range of topics and tools shows how varied our expertise is): Advanced Map Automation with Python - GIS Analyst Anna Wegbreit attended this session because of the advanced map automation our team has been working on with AAA. Wow! It was so exciting to see an overflowing room of other cartographic professionals who use ArcPro, Python and arcpy to automate their map creation processes. One takeaway is using the CIM to get and set super fine-grain details in the properties of production maps and layouts. ArcGIS Parcel Fabric: Introduction to Record Driven Workflows - Don't let "introduction" fool you, this session was highly technical and advanced, especially if you use Parcel Fabric like we do at Blue Raster! This session was highly informative, with a focus on Parcel Fabric Records, which are a keystone component of the Parcel Fabric Information Model. Map Wizardry and Thematic Mapping - If you've ever gotten to attend a session with John Nelson and Ken Fields, you know that not only are they hilarious, but their maps and overall approach to cartography and map-making are truly inspiring. Team bonding We love working with our remote team virtually, but the UC was a great opportunity to bond with our colleagues in person. We had a great time going out after the conference for food, drinks, and fun. Italian food, a dueling pianos bar, and a hidden speakeasy are just three easy places to get to know your colleagues better. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Mobile, Nonprofit/NGO, Parks, Survey123 - Tags: AppStudio, ArcGIS Online, mobile, Survey123 - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design - Types: Active Work Discover new places to connect with nature across the island of Martha’s Vineyard on the all-new TrailsMV mobile app, featuring a dynamic redesign using state-of-the-art ArcGIS technology. TrailsMV mobile app is the modern day treasure map The TrailsMV mobile application is an immersive experience developed by Blue Raster in collaboration with the Sheriff's Meadow Foundation (SMF) and their conservation partners. Designed to cater to hiking enthusiasts, residents, and visitors of Martha's Vineyard, MA, TrailsMV offers an interactive guide to over 220 miles of public trails spread across one hundred protected properties. This easy-to-use app allows users to: browse places to explore through the interactive map explore Martha's Vineyard trails with confidence through in depth property details get important alerts about trail closings and guided hikes learn about the island's rich natural history TrailsMV provides a comprehensive resource for adventurers through detailed maps, property descriptions, and upcoming event listings. Moreover, users can access curated excursions, informative seasonal articles, and stay informed about upcoming events. Featured in The New York Times, TrailsMV is an interactive guide to 220+ miles of public trails on more than 100 protected properties across the island of Martha's Vineyard. One key feature of the project is the seamless integration of ArcGIS Online data and maps with relevant contextual information, such as photos, text, and directions. Blue Raster developed flexible and repeatable backend workflows to consume dynamic content in the application. Leveraging Survey123 allows the team at Sheriff's Meadow Foundation the power to update, add, or remove content from the app without need for a developer to manually make modifications. TrailsMV was built using AppStudio for ArcGIS and the ArcGIS Runtime API for Qt (Runtime). With Esri's recent retirement announcement of ArcGIS AppStudio, Blue Raster will work with Sheriff's Meadow Foundation on migration options to a new framework. Incorporating the power of ArcGIS Online, Survey123, and thoughtful design, TrailsMV Mobile Application brings the beauty of Martha's Vineyard's trails to the fingertips of users, empowering them to explore, connect with nature and others, and discover what the island has to offer. Featured in The New York Times, is an interactive guide to 220+ miles of public trails on more than 100 protected properties across the island of Martha's Vineyard. Download TrailsMV Today Available in the Apple AppStore and the Google Play Store! - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS Experience Builder, Development, OIC, Real Estate - Tags: 3D, Experience Builder, Imagery, OIC, Real Estate - Industries: Commercial, Commercial Real Estate - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Use of an Oriented Imagery Catalog (OIC) from AerialSphere and the Oriented Imagery widget now available from ESRI affords the opportunity to explore properties in an immersive 3D environment. Selecting the right location for a commercial real estate project can be daunting, given the numerous factors that need to be taken into consideration. Often, this is done utilizing an overhead view of properties. Use of an Oriented Imagery Catalog (OIC) from AerialSphere and the Oriented Imagery widget now available from ESRI affords the opportunity to explore properties in an immersive 3D environment. In this Commercial Real Estate application, Blue Raster: Utilized Open Street Map data from ESRI Living Atlas Configured multiple filters based on commercial real estate needs - submarket, available square footage, parking cost, and year built Built Dashboard and 3D Scene elements to dynamically reflect filters applied Integrated imagery from AerialSphere to show a point of view from a specific location or floor Generated dynamic viewsheds to illustrate what can be seen from that location Calculated travel time analysis polygons for multiple modes of transportation (both walking and driving) Blue Raster configured an ArcGIS Experience Builder application to aid in the exploration of relevant commercial real estate data in a 3D scene. Utilizing this application, real estate investors can hone in on the properties that meet their needs with specific parameters, and easily traverse the map to further explore the properties. The integration of 360 degree imagery from AerialSphere provides a more immersive experience, and allows the user the ability to pan, zoom in, zoom out, and explore viewsheds from a given vantage point. This can make all the difference in understanding the suitability of a site. While this solution was originally developed to aid in the exploration of commercial real estate properties, this technology can be implemented for a number of other industries. Contact us today to see how we can use this technology in your organization! Thanks to Kat Clifton and the team at AerialSphere for their collaboration on this case study. - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, Cloud, Microsoft Azure - Tags: ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty, ArcGIS Cloud Specialty, ArcGIS Enterprise, Cloud, Cloud Migration, Esri Cloud Migration - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Technological Insights - Types: Insight If you’re thinking about deploying ArcGIS Enterprise on cloud environments then it’s important to know what the discovery, execution, and maintenance phases of ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration entail. If you're thinking about deploying ArcGIS Enterprise on cloud environments then it's important to know what the discovery, execution, and maintenance phases of ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration entail. At Blue Raster, we're known for our extensive experience in deploying and managing cloud services and delivering top-notch ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration support. In fact, our employees hold the following certifications to ensure the smoothest ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration experience: Esri Enterprise System Design Professional Enterprise Geodata Management Professional Enterprise Administration Professional Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network Select Consulting Partner AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner AWS Certified Security Specialty AWS Certified Solutions Architect Microsoft Partner Network Our certified team will collaborate with you at every stage of your ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration, so you're always informed and onboard for every decision. We aim for every objective to meet your budget and schedule-no matter the cloud computing platform you choose to move forward with. Work With Our Certified Team We've broken down the discovery, execution, and maintenance phases of an ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration so you can have a better understanding of how hands-on our process is! The Discovery Phase of ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud Migration Before any cloud migration action can take place, our experts will meet with you to dive into your current architecture, GIS assets, and workflows. The discovery phase of an ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration allows us to understand how your organization is currently using GIS, as well as the ways you want to enhance its capabilities in the future. By determining what is currently working well for your organization and what is not, we're able to: Choose the right cloud computing platform and architecture Define the type of scalability you need and pinpoint the solutions that will increase your performance levels Control how you want your data to be accessed, used, and stored Most importantly, we will discuss together the fundamental ways that geospatial data and analysis support your operations. Once we feel like we have a good understanding of your organization and its needs, we will move on to the execution phase of the ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration process. Unlock ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud Migration Support The Execution Phase of ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud Migration When we've covered the critical bases of your organization, our certified professionals will craft a cloud migration plan that helps you accomplish all of your goals. If there are tools or workflows that are not working well for your organization, we will exclude them from the execution of the migration process. We will work hand-in-hand with your IT team and other key stakeholders throughout the execution phase of the ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration to ensure all of the cloud services integrate well with your existing systems and align with your overall technical roadmap. During the execution phase, we will focus on installing and deploying ArcGIS Enterprise and any other necessary or desired components that were decided upon during discovery. This will all be documented in your finalized architecture. Our team will also: Assist with the configuration of user accounts and permissions Implement a relational database management system as a datastore for GIS data Set up a secure host for GIS administration Ensure appropriate security measures and backups are in place Execute a Seamless Cloud Migration The Maintenance Phase of ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud Migration After completing the execution phase, our experts are readily available to support you with IT trainings, ongoing consultation services, proactive monitoring and health checks, and on-demand support services for any technical issues that may arise when administering and using ArcGIS Enterprise in the cloud. The maintenance phase of ArcGIS cloud migration may be the third step, but it's not the end of our partnership. We're here for you and your team whenever you need us! Get Ongoing ArcGIS Enterprise Help Expert Guidance for Your ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud Migration Learn more about our ArcGIS Enterprise cloud migration plans and get started with our team today! Get Started - Categories: Esri, GIS, Media, News, User Conference - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Maps, Blue Raster, Esri, Esri Conference, Esri UC, Esri User Conference, EsriUC, presentation - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Blue Raster is looking forward to exhibiting at the Esri User Conference in July. The Esri UC is the biggest event in GIS and represents the nexus of innovation in mapping solutions. Blue Raster will be exhibiting the most exciting solutions and tools we’ve built. We look forward to showcasing the power and capabilities of the latest tools in GIS. Contact us now to schedule a meeting with us or stop by our booth during Expo hours! Visit Blue Raster at Esri UC! Esri UC is 2 weeks away! Blue Raster is once again looking forward to exhibiting at the Esri User Conference that takes place July 10-14 in San Diego, CA. The Esri UC is the biggest event in GIS and represents the nexus of innovation in mapping solutions. The UC promises the opportunity to hear inspiring stories on how GIS is making an impact, gain insight from industry experts, and speak with others who are making a difference in the field. This year's event will kick off with a Plenary session hosted by Jack Dangermond, Founder and CEO of Esri. In addition, we will hear from a range of inspiring leaders, including Richard W. Spinard Ph. D. from NOAA and Dr. Steve Boyes from National Geographic. Let's Connect Connect With Us at Esri UC As the use and capabilities of Esri-powered GIS products are ever advancing, the user conference is our opportunity to stay on top of new innovations and developments in order to best help our clients address their geospatial needs. This year, Blue Raster is bringing eight of our team members to the Esri UC to share our work and get a peek at everything new in the world of GIS. The Expo at Esri UC The expo portion of the conference will offer the opportunity to preview the latest tech in geospatial analysis and get a look at the new and interesting success of users across the field. Attendees can find us on the Expo floor at Booth 2226 and learn more about our work with the latest ArcGIS patterns, trends, and solutions including ArcGIS Real Time, ArcGIS Velocity, ArcGIS Hub, Experience Builder, Field Maps, Survey 123, ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud deployments, and more. Search for Blue Raster using the official UC Map! Schedule a Meeting Expo Hours: Tuesday, July 11 from 9:00am - 6:00pm Wednesday, July 12 from 9:00am - 6:00pm Thursday, July 13 from 9:00am - 4:00pm Visit us at our booth at Esri UC for a chance to win a Blue Raster Yeti and Swag Box! Will you be at Esri UC? Let us know if you plan on attending any of the industry socials or events! Drop Us a Line Map Gallery Blue Raster is proud to display two posters in the Esri UC Map Gallery. We're highlighting our ArcGIS work with HealthLandscape and our UI/UX methods to visualize data. Stop by to look for our entries in the Sails Pavilion and vote on your favorite! Look for our team at the Map Gallery Reception! Monday, July 10 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm Want to meet up with us? Schedule a time now to visit us at our booth! Contact Us - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Online, Development, Economic Development, GIS, Infrastructure, Transportation - Tags: ArcGIS Arcade, ArcGIS Dashboard, ArcGIS Online, Economic development - Industries: Commercial, Federal Government, Transportation & Logistics, Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster has collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to develop the Hub de Integracion de Transporte (HIT) Platform, a groundbreaking initiative that serves as a regional infrastructure and transport hub, consolidating and presenting crucial information layers for effective planning and decision-making. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) plays a pivotal role in financing sustainable, social, economic, and institutional development. With a mission to support transportation and infrastructure projects across South and Central America, the IDB collaborates with various partners to drive positive change in the region. Blue Raster collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to develop the Hub de Integracion y Transporte (HIT) Platform, a groundbreaking initiative that serves as a regional infrastructure and transport hub, consolidating and presenting crucial information layers for effective planning and decision-making. The HIT Platform offers an innovative solution by providing a comprehensive platform that combines key information related to infrastructure, logistics, value chains, projects, climate change, Covid impacts, and development perspectives. This platform acts as a powerful planning tool and an invaluable information repository, catering to the needs of government officials, Mesoamerican stakeholders and IDB specialists. The HIT Project is divided into six modules, each utilizing the robust capabilities of the ArcGIS Online suite of solutions and incorporating custom-developed features to address specific requirements. Recognizing the linguistic diversity of the region, all modules of the HIT Platform were developed in Spanish. The HIT Platform encompasses a series of interactive web applications and dashboards developed with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Dashboards. The HIT Platform offers a personalized user experience by incorporating customized list and pop-up elements. These interactive components allow users to access specific information related to infrastructure, logistics, and value chains conveniently. By tailoring the user interface to meet specific requirements, the platform enhances usability and efficiency. To enable intuitive data visualization, the HIT platform project utilizes data-driven symbology, a feature within ArcGIS, to dynamically represent information based on various attributes. ArcGIS Arcade expressions, a flexible scripting language within ArcGIS, are employed extensively throughout the HIT project to ensure accurate and consistent data cleaning and formatting. By leveraging Arcade expressions, the platform achieves seamless integration and harmonization of diverse datasets, enhancing data quality and reliability. Through its effective utilization of ArcGIS Online and its suite of applications and customization options, the HIT Platform sets a benchmark for effective planning and information management in the region, fostering positive change and driving sustainable growth. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Conservation, Environment, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS StoryMaps, community, conservation, Freshwater, Nonprofit/NGO - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster partnered with the Nature Conservancy's Freshwater Community-Led Conservation Program to develop a series of StoryMaps that shed light on their work with Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLC) around freshwater ecosystems, highlighting their efforts to propagate and enhance community-led conservation initiatives across Africa and Latin America. Freshwater ecosystems contain an incredible 10% of the world's known species and support the livelihoods of billions of people including many Indigenous Peoples and local communities. However, since 1970, freshwater plants and animals have declined by 84% due to threats like poor fisheries management, watershed degradation and overuse. The Nature Conservancy is partnering directly with local communities around the world to apply traditional knowledge and co-create new, science-based conservation strategies. To tell the story of its partnership with these Indigenous People and Local Communities, The Nature Conservancy employed the services of long-time partner, Blue Raster to develop a series of Storymaps to shed light on TNC Freshwater Community-Led Conservation Program's work with freshwater communities and indigenous people, highlighting their efforts to propagate and enhance community-led conservation initiatives across Africa and Latin America. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/TNC-clip. mp4 TNC's collaboration with communities in Africa is focused on three critical regions: the Bas Ogooué wetland area in Gabon, the upper catchment of the Okavango Basin in Angola, and the remarkable Lake Tanganyika, which borders Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burundi. In Latin America, TNC's collaboration with communities extends to the Andean Amazon region in Ecuador, Colombia, and the Tapajos River Basin in Brazil. These ecosystems are not only home to remarkable biodiversity but also provide essential resources and cultural heritage for indigenous peoples. By partnering with local communities, TNC aims to strengthen their capacity to manage and protect their ancestral lands sustainably. Blue Raster's expertise in utilizing ArcGIS StoryMaps has allowed TNC's conservation efforts to be communicated effectively, enabling users to engage deeply with the stories being shared. By combining rich media, interactive maps, and engaging narratives, the StoryMaps create a powerful medium for storytelling. The StoryMaps developed by Blue Raster incorporate compelling graphics, audio soundscapes, maps developed and published in ArcGIS Online and high-resolution images, capturing the essence of the fisheries, landscapes, communities, and wildlife that TNC works tirelessly to protect. These visuals not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also serve as a means to evoke emotions and foster a sense of connection with the featured regions. Developed in English, the StoryMaps created are also available in African French, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese translations. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/TNC-clip-Spanish. mp4 These maps not only offer a geospatial perspective of TNC's work but also provide users with an opportunity to explore the geographical context and understand the intricate relationships between freshwater habitats and communities. Through the interactive maps, readers can visualize the conservation initiatives, the areas of focus, and the significance of indigenous and local community participation. By utilizing ArcGIS StoryMaps as a powerful storytelling tool, TNC can effectively communicate its vision for the future, emphasizing the importance of continued partnerships and collaborative efforts with indigenous people and local communities. The immersive nature of the StoryMaps helps stakeholders envision a future where freshwater ecosystems thrive, and IPLCs actively contribute to their protection. The collaboration between Blue Raster and The Nature Conservancy is a testament to the power of technology and partnerships in conservation efforts. Through the creation of immersive StoryMaps, TNC's work with freshwater communities and indigenous people in Africa and Latin America is brought to life. By amplifying these stories in local languages, Blue Raster and TNC empower communities to take an active role in preserving their natural heritage and build a future where people and nature thrive in harmony. Together, they are forging a path towards a more sustainable and equitable world. "The Freshwater Community-Led Conservation Program is excited about our story map, made in partnership with Blue Raster. We hope those who engage will learn about the important efforts of the local communities, partners and TNC staff in freshwater fisheries and biodiversity conservation and feel invited to participate. The story map platform both allowed us to tell the efforts of our program as a cohesive unit across our work in Latin America and Africa and allowed us to highlight the unique impacts specific to local communities and partners. "- Allison Aldous, Director of the Freshwater Community-Led Conservation Program - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, Conservation, Development, Economic Development, Forest, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: ArcGIS Pro, ArcPy, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals - Industries: Conservation, Education - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster partnered with the Biospheric Sciences Lab at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and MIT Media Lab to develop a desktop-based geospatial toolkit for calculating and reporting key indicators within Goal 15 of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. In 2015, United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a shared blueprint for global peace and prosperity now and into the future. Within the core of this agenda are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which call all countries to action in a global partnership. Goal 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals outlines a plan to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss As part of its initiatives in West Africa, the MIT Media Lab partnered with the Biospheric Sciences Lab at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Blue Raster to develop a desktop-based geospatial toolkit for calculating and reporting key indicators within Goal 15 of the SDGs. These key indicators are: Forest area as a proportion of total land area Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type. Coverage by protected areas of important sites for mountain biodiversity. Blue Raster developed these tools in a custom toolbox using ArcGIS Pro and the ArcGIS Python site package, ArcPy to calculate the key indicators for countries in the West African region namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Togo, Benin, Guinea, and Botswana. The tool leverages remotely sensed imagery and standardized datasets to inform and provide decision making support to West African stakeholders as well as stakeholders within the academic community supporting the UN's Sustainable Development agenda. Blue Raster is long time partner of the MIT Media Lab and had previously partnered with the MIT Media Lab and Green Keeper Africa to develop the Lake Nokoué Environmental Observatory application, an online mapping that provides the public with current and historic information about water quality and invasive species in Lake Nokoué. The online observatory and decision support tool utilizes satellite, aerial and ground data to map water quality readings, as well as the location of water hyacinth and a fish farming practice known as "acadja" over time. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Real Estate - Tags: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Real Estate - Industries: Commercial, Commercial Real Estate - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work HSF Affiliates is a global organization that operates some of the most recognized real estate brands in the world, including Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Real Living Real Estate, and Prudential Real Estate. As a leading provider of real estate services, HSF Affiliates requires the ability to manage and analyze vast amounts of data to better serve its clients and customers in the areas where they are located. Building a Roadmap to Success To achieve this goal, HSF Affiliates turned to Blue Raster. As an award-winning geospatial technology company that specializes in data analysis and data visualization, our team was tasked with finding a solution to improve existing technologies designed to visualize data, so moving forward, team members could better understand the market they're in. One critical task involved in this project was identifying required changes for importing files with existing scripts and determining, assessing, and resolving needed script modifications. Additionally, our team reviewed and updated the geographies used for zip codes, cities, and counties within the United States, as well as available county postal code data throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. Revolutionizing Data Analysis and Visualization for HSF Affiliates In doing so, we were able to help HSF Affiliates update and improve their processes for analyzing and visualizing data. This means that HSF Affiliates can now better manage and improve data reliability for their GIS team and real estate offices worldwide by determining whether available organizational unit polygons and points can replicate the same level of production as produced with the United States' data. They can also recognize the required script changes based on the organizational units' data quality. In addition to updates and improvements, we provided ad-hoc services at the request and direction of HSF Affiliates and their team to ensure that all needs were met. Mission Accomplished: Empowering Global Data Management and Reliability with Blue Raster Thanks to the expertise and customer service at Blue Raster, HSF Affiliates can now efficiently manage and improve data reliability for the various members of the GIS team and their real estate offices worldwide. Our team's extensive knowledge of the latest GIS technologies and the Esri ArcGIS platform, combined with our corporate culture of creativity, long-lasting relationships, and high technical standards, allowed us to deliver a cost-effective, successful project for HSF Affiliates. This is another great example of how teamwork and finding the right partners can help you achieve your goals. Could your team benefit from data management and visualization capabilities? Contact Blue Raster today and let us help you achieve your data-driven goals! Connect With Our Team > - Categories: Cemetery, Education, Esri, Field Mobility, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Public Gardens - Tags: American Public Garden Association, APGA, Arboretum, ArcGIS, Cemetery, Esri, GIS, Public Garden, Public Gardens - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Last week was the American Public Garden Associations' (APGA) Annual Conference in Forth Worth, Texas. Over 1,000 people in the community attended to learn from each other's success stories and best practices around garden management, public engagement, horticulture, plant curation, conservation, and education. Christopher Gabris, Blue Raster's Public Gardens Practice Lead, traveled to network with existing partners and share with other conference attendees how Blue Raster is using Esri's ArcGIS platform to modernize public garden GIS and mapping workflows. Conference highlights included a Southern Garden Charm dinner party and drone light show at the Dallas Arboretum, and celebrating the Modern West at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Blue Raster currently works with over a dozen public garden, arboreta, and cemetery clients. Our team designs and develops workflows for creating and updating plant collections from out in the field, syncing botanical data with popular repositories, building interactive web and mobile mapping applications for the public, and training public garden staff on maximizing the use of GIS software. We look forward to continued engagement with the American Public Garden Association community throughout the year and presenting our work at the 2024 conference in Boston! See how Blue Raster can help modernize your public garden and cemetery workflows today! Get Started > - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Conservation, Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Restoration, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Coastal Restoration, Nonprofit/NGO, Web AppBuilder - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work NC required Blue Raster’s support in meeting its main goals for the Coastal Restoration Opportunities project, which included delineating, mapping, and quantifying coastal restoration opportunities for five coastal habitats in the United States; Establishing natural historical and current habitat occurrences through research, subject matter expert surveys, and literature reviews; Creating interactive restoration opportunities maps. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit that works to conserve the vital bodies of water and land on our planet, and it is also a long-term partner of Blue Raster. From 2021 until 2023, Blue Raster once again collaborated with TNC to help the organization with a project that aims to restore critical coastal habitats. Determining Goals for TNC's Coastal Restoration Opportunities Project TNC required Blue Raster's support in meeting its main goals for the Coastal Restoration Opportunities project, which included: Delineating, mapping, and quantifying coastal restoration opportunities for five coastal habitats in the United States Establishing natural historical and current habitat occurrences through research, subject matter expert surveys, and literature reviews Creating interactive restoration opportunities maps A Mission Rooted in History Unlike some of the past projects for TNC, this one did not involve an application build-out. Instead, Blue Raster's Abigail Krump and Jen Kern worked closely with TNC staffer, Bryan DeAngelis, and ocean resiliency expert, Annick Cros, to find, analyze, document, and map valuable datasets for the project. The five main datasets, which are habitats targeted for restoration opportunities, include: Oyster beds Salt marshes Mangroves Seagrass beds Kelp In order to establish a historical baseline for the Coastal Restoration Opportunities project, Krump and Kern had to look at existing datasets from the government, satellite imagery, old scientific papers, and more. Inside the scientific papers, Krump and Kern often found hand-sketched maps or survey notes, which they then transformed into interactive restoration opportunities maps. Impacting the Future of Restoration The historic data collected by both teams has been published in various scientific journals and is available for scientists and coastal habitat experts to use for their own purposes, but the main goal is for it to be used to support and build cases for funding coastal restoration projects. And the influence of TNC's Coastal Restoration Opportunities project hasn't halted since Blue Raster completed the research, data analysis, and map creation to produce the historical benchmarking resource the nonprofit requested. In fact, the datasets are already being used to support the pending legislation of California Assembly Bill 1407, the Ocean Life Recovery Act. If passed, Assembly Bill 1407 would protect California's ocean ecosystems, including kelp, eelgrass, and native oysters, by launching essential restoration projects with the necessary backing from the state. Could your organization's data help change the world? Find out with research and data analysis support from Blue Raster. Connect With Our Team > - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Cloud Specialty, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, Cloud, Cloud Migration, Microsoft Azure, Nonprofit/NGO - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services - Types: Active Work In order to enhance the nonprofit’s efforts, Blue Raster needed to first streamline its GIS operations. To do so, our team reviewed Natural Lands’ existing GIS architecture, datasets, and services, and proposed a migration strategy to ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1. Since 1953, Natural Lands has dedicated time, energy, and funds to protecting open spaces and promoting biodiversity in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The nonprofit has worked tirelessly to preserve the two states' forests, wetlands, meadows, and farmlands so that future generations may appreciate and enjoy them for years to come. As a leading conservation organization that uses science-based approaches to protect some of the most valuable environmental areas, Natural Lands is no newcomer to using GIS to track acquired land, manage ecosystems, and engage communities in its conservation efforts. Due to the ever-evolving capabilities of GIS, Natural Lands knew it would benefit from a partner who could help navigate and streamline its GIS operations and upgrade them to a more powerful GIS platform. Blue Raster was the perfect match. Introducing ArcGIS Enterprise to Natural Lands In order to enhance the nonprofit's efforts, Blue Raster needed to first streamline its GIS operations. To do so, our team reviewed Natural Lands' existing GIS architecture, datasets, and services, and proposed a migration strategy to ArcGIS Enterprise 10. 9. 1. ArcGIS Enterprise was chosen for Natural Lands because of its: Advanced spatial analysis tools Streamlined data management capabilities Ability to easily manage and analyze data related to land acquisition, ecological assessments, and restoration projects Ability to communicate conservation work to the public, helping to raise awareness and build support for their efforts Kicking Off the Migration Process Phase one of Natural Lands' technology modernization began with our team establishing a Bastion host with ArcGIS Pro for Enterprise and Geodatabase Administration and proposing a strategy for backing up and exporting existing SQL Server databases and file geodatabases on the nonprofit's existing server. This ensured a smooth and seamless migration experience, with minimal disruption to Natural Lands' daily operations. Once the migration was finished, our senior DevOps engineer, Scott Geistmann, installed, configured, and administered ArcGIS Enterprise Server Deployment 10. 9. 1, along with ArcGIS Portal, federated ArcGIS Server in a Hosting Role with ArcGIS Portal, and ArcGIS Data Store. Our team also set up Azure SQL Database Server and installed ArcGIS Pro, while advising on initial portal settings and configurations and proposing Azure Machine specifications. With these server improvements, Natural Lands was able to: See an increase in performance for processors and storage capacity Easily use the latest versions of ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro Handle an increased workload and userbase Access better support options-such as remote monitoring and management-with fewer maintenance requirements Learn More About Our Cloud Solutions Expert Guidance, Easy User Experience Blue Raster's professional support didn't end with the successful migration to ArcGIS Enterprise. As a trusted GIS solutions provider, we delivered post-migration support and training to Natural Lands to guarantee everyone on the nonprofit's team felt comfortable and informed when it came to the new enhancements. The training covered a range of topics, which included: Managing the ArcGIS Enterprise Server Overseeing Azure Cloud services and assets Updating and publishing feature and image services Administering ArcGIS Portal accounts-including user roles and permissions With this new platform, Natural Lands can now access heightened GIS capabilities, making it easier for the nonprofit to manage their data and share it with the public efficiently and accurately. "We couldn't be more pleased with our ArcGIS Enterprise installation by Blue Raster. They guided us through the implementation process and provided top-notch support along the way," shares Megan Boatright, GIS program director, Natural Lands. "Blue Raster's attention to detail and commitment to meeting our needs ensured a successful outcome-plus, the ability to access our geospatial data and tools from anywhere has been a game-changer. " Be On the Cutting Edge of GIS Capabilities See how Blue Raster can help you surpass your competition with customized GIS solutions. Contact Our Team to Learn More > - Categories: ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Climate, Conservation, Environment, Greenhouse Gas, JavaScript API, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: ArcGIS JavaScript API, Climate, GHG, Greenhouse Gas - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is pleased to release the new build for the LEARN (Land Emissions and Removals Navigator) Tool. Built in partnership with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), the LEARN Tool allows for community inventorying of the effects of land use change on greenhouse gas emissions. This tool empowers policy makers, local governments, and community members to make informed decisions on environmental and climate policy. As the effects of a warming climate become more apparent, it's increasingly important to consider ways to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere. Forests play a key role in the climate crisis, as about a third of human emitted greenhouse gases are sequestered in trees and forests. Analyzing the impact these forests and tress have using land use and land cover change data is a great way for municipalities to get a read on the effects of greenhouse gas emissions in their own communities. Blue Raster is pleased to release the new build for the LEARN (Land Emissions and Removals Navigator) Tool. Built in partnership with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), the LEARN Tool allows for community inventorying of the effects of land use change on greenhouse gas emissions. This tool empowers policy makers, local governments, and community members to make informed decisions on environmental and climate policy. Blue Raster developed the LEARN Tool to address a significant gap in existing carbon accounting methods. Traditionally, previously analyses have focused on measuring their emissions from energy and transportation sectors, while the emissions and removals from land-use change and forestry have been overlooked. However, these land-based emissions and removals are responsible for a significant proportion of the carbon footprint, particularly in rural areas. The LEARN Tool simplifies the process of assessing a community's net greenhouse gas balance. Users can quickly select their area of interest by searching for a municipality name or uploading their own shapefile. With intuitive sliders, users can configure their desired land cover and tree canopy data and choose data for forest and land cover change between 2001 and 2019, as well as data for trees outside of forests for the selected time frame. The analysis is generated for the chosen location and time frame, and users can compare their results against other cities and municipalities. The tool provides emission factors, removal factors, and harvested wood products as view factors for the selected comparison area, with the option to download the results as a PDF or CSV file. The latest version of the LEARN Tool comes packed with new features that improve its functionality. Users now have access to 1m Tree Canopy Data within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, courtesy of the Chesapeake Bay Program and Chesapeake Conservancy, providing users with valuable insights into how trees and forests impact greenhouse gas inventories. The inventory period configuration screen has also been upgraded with new toggle widgets, offering users greater flexibility in selecting between 30m and 1m data in their analyses. These new features enhance the user experience and expand the tool's capabilities, making it even more valuable for communities looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Blue Raster is excited to roll out this tool in its final form to benefit communities across the country.   Software used: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Image Server, Esri JavaScript API - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Cloud, Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Cloud Specialty, ArcGIS Online, AWS, AWS CloudFront, Cloud, Habitat, Nonprofit/NGO, water - Industries: Conservation, Education, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is helping Clark Labs, an entity of Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, with critical enhancements to its coastal habitat web mapping application that tracks and maps mangroves, pond aquaculture, and coastal habitats from all around the globe. Blue Raster is helping Clark Labs, an entity of Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, with critical enhancements to its coastal habitat web mapping application that tracks and maps mangroves, pond aquaculture, and coastal habitats from all around the globe. Created in partnership with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in support of the Foundation's Oceans and Seafood Markets Initiative, the Brackish Pond Aquaculture and Coastal Wetlands interactive map will help to protect and conserve coastal habitats and marine life from overconsumption. Task 1: Enhancements and Infrastructure Maintenance The coastal habitat monitoring application was originally built using open-source technology; however, our expertise was requested to enhance the application to meet current industry standards using Esri technology. To start the process, we began with Amazon AWS Cloud and GeoServer infrastructure maintenance and enhancements. This task required stabilizing and improving the infrastructure for the coastal habitat web map application. To do so, our team completed the following requirements: Ensured the SSL certificate was set up and renewed automatically. Reviewed hosting security and software versions to confirm the site is secure. Migrated the download function to CloudFront for improved user experience. Clark Labs also wanted to simplify the aquaculture application, so our team implemented new services for improved data management, reduced cost, and better performance. This also included migration from GeoServer to ArcGIS Online to streamline management. Learn More About ArcGIS Enterprise and Cloud Capabilities Task 2: Data Updates After the infrastructure maintenance and application enhancements were made, the application was handed off to the backend team at Blue Raster. Data updates were established on an as-needed basis to the coastal habitat web map application, with Blue Raster providing guidance for updating Clark Labs' web map data content when a data update is available and ready for publishing. The application depends on Landsat imagery data to complete change detections for its interactive map, so it's crucial for tracking purposes that the conversion data is updated accurately. Task 3: Code Maintenance Our Blue Raster developers also played a role in the code maintenance for the coastal habitat web map. They were responsible for reviewing existing web applications and publishing practices code to determine what could be reused and enhanced for Clark Labs' application. Our developers revised existing software scripts where it was applicable, enacted performance improvements to the front-end user experience, and reviewed existing designs and flagged any updates that required alterations. What's Next for the Coastal Habitat Web Map Currently, the Blue Raster team is in the process of transferring the Brackish Pond Aquaculture and Coastal Wetlands web map from open-source technology to Esri technology, but the improved infrastructure, data updates, and current code maintenance will help us ensure that the web map application is functioning properly and providing users with a better-quality experience. Explore Clark Labs' Interactive Web Map for Brackish Pond Aquaculture and Coastal Wetlands > - Categories: Cloud, GIS - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Blue Raster named a pre-qualified vendor for the purpose of providing GIS, cloud, and IT support to the North Carolina Department of Information Technology Arlington, VA - April 21, 2023 - Blue Raster has been named a pre-qualified vendor for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) IT Specialty Services by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT). The contract is intended to develop a relationship between pre-qualified vendors and the state to provide information technology specialty services through subsequently issued Statements of Work for state agencies, community colleges, institutions, counties, municipalities, public schools, and other local government entities. Under this contract, Blue Raster has been approved to provide GIS, IT application development, cloud implementation, and cloud integration services. To achieve pre-qualification, Blue Raster had to undergo an extensive and competitive application process in which specialty projects completed by each candidate were compared against current and hopeful pre-qualified vendors. The list was chosen out of over 70 new applicants. "We are excited to expand our GIS and cloud capabilities to North Carolina via NCDIT," says Michael Lippman, co-founder of Blue Raster. "We look forward to supporting innovation and geospatial solutions for the state, building upon the work we already support in the state with the City of Wilmington. " As an approved vendor, Blue Raster looks forward to the opportunity to provide exceptional services to agencies across North Carolina under this contract. About Blue Raster Blue Raster develops award-winning, interactive web mapping applications that help its clients around the globe solve, clarify, and visualize many of the world's critical challenges. Established in 2002 in Arlington, Virginia, Blue Raster works with the largest global organizations and government agencies in the fields of conservation, health, government, global affairs, and education. Blue Raster partners with leading geospatial and information technology companies, including Esri, the world leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, and employs an experienced development and design team with expertise in web, graphic, and spatial technologies. To learn more, please visit blueraster. com. - Categories: State & Local - Tags: conference, presentation - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Blue Raster is excited to be exhibiting and presenting at the Pennsylvania GIS Conference (PA GIS) on April 10-12, 2023, in State College, PA. Blue Raster will be exhibiting and presenting at the Pennsylvania GIS Conference (PA GIS) on April 10-12, 2023 in State College, PA. The conference will bring together GIS professionals from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and beyond to share ideas, learn about new technologies, and network with colleagues. Blue Raster will be showcasing its latest geospatial products and services, including the newest Esri technology and offerings for configurable and custom web and mobile development. Visitors to the Blue Raster booth can learn about how the company helps organizations leverage GIS technology to make informed decisions to achieve their goals. "We're excited to be exhibiting at the PA GIS Conference," said Christopher Gabris, Blue Raster's GIS Team Lead and Senior Project Manager. "This is a great opportunity for us to connect with GIS professionals and learn about their specific needs and to showcase our latest products and services. We offer a wealth of solutuions, tailored for the needs of State, County and City/Township governments, including services for emergency management, health, parks and recreation, zoning and land use, and more. " Presenting at PA GIS Conference In addition to exhibiting, Blue Raster will also be speaking at the conference. The company's GIS experts will be sharing their knowledge and insights on the use of ArcGIS technology for Community Service, Citizens Science, and Public Engagement. The presentation will focus on how Chester County and Blue Raster collaborated to redesign and update ChescoViews, an online GIS application that provides read-only access to the County's Land Record information. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the company's experts and ask questions about their own GIS projects. Chesco Views - Incorporating Citizen Engagement Into Public GIS Viewer 2:30 pm on Tuesday, April 11, 2023   See the full schedule here. About Blue Raster Blue Raster is an Esri Gold Partner and leading provider of geospatial services. The company helps businesses and government agencies unlock the power of their geospatial data to make better decisions. Blue Raster specializes in creating custom web and mobile GIS applications, data analysis, and visualization for a wide range of clients, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and commercial enterprises. About the PA GIS Conference The Pennsylvania GIS Conference (PA GIS) is the premier GIS conference in the state. The conference brings together GIS professionals from across the state to share ideas, learn about new technologies, and network with colleagues. The conference features a variety of educational sessions, keynote addresses, and networking events. Let us know if you will be there! Contact us today to schedule a meeting Contact Us - Categories: Environment, Esri, GIS, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: Esri Conference, Esri Cornerstone Partner, Esri Partner Conference, Esri Partner Conference Award, SDG, Sustainability - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Commercial Real Estate, Conservation, Education, Energy & Utilities, Federal Government, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens, Public Safety, State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics, Uncategorized, Water - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Insight As a recipient of the Esri Sustainable Development Award, Blue Raster was commended for helping customers meet global sustainable development goals by understanding their needs, mapping their work, measuring impact, analyzing performance, and engaging stakeholders. On March 6, 2023, Blue Raster received two significant honors at the 2023 Esri Partner Conference (EPC) held in Palm Springs, California from March 4-6, 2023. Our company was recognized by Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, for both our accomplishments in applying GIS solutions to support sustainable development worldwide, and for reaching the milestone of 20 years of Esri Partner Network (EPN) participation. As a recipient of the Esri Sustainable Development Award, Blue Raster was commended for helping customers meet global sustainable development goals by understanding their needs, mapping their work, measuring impact, analyzing performance, and engaging stakeholders. We're proud of our long history of creating innovative GIS solutions that address some of the world's most pressing sustainability challenges. Among our most significant projects, our team has developed interactive applications and tools to map deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, manage and monitor water resources, and track progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. We currently work with leading nonprofit conservation organizations including The World Resources Institute, the Jane Goodall Institute, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, UNICEF, The Earth Genome, NatureServe, National Audubon Society, and The Stimson Center, among others. Esri is the global leader in location intelligence with a network of over 2,800 partners around the world. The award winners are organizations that have demonstrated innovative and creative ways to solve complex problems by using Esri's ArcGIS software and those that have done exceptional work in advancing GIS technology. Blue Raster was one of 27 Esri partners that received an achievement award at the conference. "Esri congratulates Blue Raster on their 2023 EPC award in recognition of their innovative work leveraging ArcGIS software," said Robert Laudati, Director of Global Partners and Alliances at Esri. "We are proud to partner with Blue Raster to foster the use of Esri technology in support of our mutual customers. " In addition, Blue Raster was officially named an Esri Cornerstone Partner for our long-term commitment to Esri and the GIS community. Cornerstone Partner recognition is given to organizations that have participated in the EPN for 20 years while demonstrating a consistent focus on helping customers succeed through the adoption of ArcGIS technology. "We are extremely proud to achieve Esri Cornerstone Partner status, as it has been a privilege to be a part of the EPN since our founding 20 years ago," says Michael Lippmann, principal/founder, Blue Raster. "We are also honored to receive the Esri Sustainable Development Award and be recognized for the positive environmental impact our applications have helped to make around the world. Our team remains incredibly passionate about innovating new and creative ways to apply ArcGIS technology and help our clients make a measurable and meaningful difference. " - Categories: Esri, Field Mobility, Mobile, News - Tags: AppStudio, mobile, SDK - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Mobile Application Development, Technological Insights - Types: Insight Esri has announced version 5.5 of their low and no-code mobile development framework, AppStudio, will be a Long-Term Support (LTS) release for the product. Version 5.5 of AppStudio will be its last major release with the product being retired in February of 2025. Esri has announced version 5. 5 of their low and no-code mobile development framework, AppStudio, will be a Long-Term Support (LTS) release for the product. Version 5. 5 of AppStudio will be its last major release with the product being retired in February of 2025. Blue Raster has developed and maintained AppStudio applications for clients such as the U. S. National Arboretum, Sheriff's Meadow Foundation, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and more. Migrate Your Legacy Platforms As the digital landscape shifts, the phasing out of AppStudio necessitates a seamless transition for your applications. Our seasoned team can expertly migrate your legacy systems to robust native iOS and Android platforms, utilizing cutting-edge languages like Swift and Kotlin. Ensure your mapping applications remain at the forefront of technological advancements, delivering unparalleled performance and user experience. Contact Blue Raster Transitioning from AppStudio While AppStudio will be fully supported for the next two years, it is important to become familiar with the ArcGIS mobile application roadmap for the development of new applications or the migration of existing applications to a new framework. Our team of designers and developers at Blue Raster are well versed in the suggested roadmap outlined by Esri for mobile application development-and we're ready to support your vision. If needed, we can also assist your organization with migrating existing applications using the recommended frameworks or transitioning to the most efficient technologies for your current or future mobile applications. Our expertise includes: Cross-platform ArcGIS Maps SDK for . NET (MAUI) Native ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Swift (Apple/iOS) Native ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Kotlin (Android) Mobile application pathways for development or migration Top-Tier Support for Your Mobile Application Needs Our team is ready to help you with your mobile application development and migration needs--contact us today to learn more! For more information about Version 5. 5 of AppStudio and the product's long-term future, visit the Esri ArcGIS Blog announcement. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Velocity, Emergency Management, Esri, GIS, State & Local - Industries: Public Safety, State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Web Application Development - Types: Insight It's no secret that data empowers educated decision-making; however, with our rapidly evolving data landscape, this cannot be a stagnant process. As the need for real-time data continues to rise, the options that allow us to access the most current information only get better. To offer this level of real-time data monitoring to ArcGIS Online users, Esri developed ArcGIS Velocity to integrate with IoT sensors, allowing users improved access to up-to-the-minute data. ArcGIS Velocity is Esri's cloud-based Saas Solution for near real-time data streaming and Big Data Analytics. Similar to how Geoevent for ArcGIS Enterprise allows the ingestion and visualization of data streams, Velocity takes advantage of Kubernetes in the cloud to offer streaming and analytics of massive-scale datasets-that would otherwise be too large for analysis without dedicated computing infrastructure. ArcGIS Velocity Brings Data Streaming and Big Data Analytics to Our Fingertips ArcGIS Velocity allows users to configure data feeds from cloud service providers such as Azure and AWS, web messaging formats like HTTP and RSS, or directly from Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) providers, such as Geotab. Once a data feed has been established, the stream can be integrated directly into ArcGIS Online anywhere there is support for Stream Services. Users can also use the established feed as a source in Velocity Analytics to enhance the feed with outside data sources or make on-the-fly calculations before being published as a Hosted Feature Service in ArcGIS Online. Enhancements include: Adding indicators from Esri's Living Atlas using spatial joins Summarizing values from multiple sources to create a composite score or average sensor reading over time Calculating motions statistics like compass bearing and movement speeds for AVL Velocity also allows for multiple feature layers to be published from the same source, making it possible to keep a historic archive of all data collected from a feed for long-term analysis while also separately publishing the most up-to-date data. Velocity's Big Data Analytics gives users the ability to analyze massive amounts of data without the need for their own on-premises or cloud infrastructure. Taking advantage of Kubernetes to allow for scalable processing, users have access to Velocity's cloud infrastructure to run large-scale analysis on data from sources such as: Data in their own existing feeds and historic feature services Hosted services published to the web Datasets hosted in cloud storage-like Azure Blob Storage and Amazon S3 Big Data Analytics in Velocity gives users the ability to process massive datasets, including multiple CSVs from S3 hosting millions of individual data records, and create a predictive model of things like forest loss, crime hotspots, or future crop yields based on previously collected data. Deploying ArcGIS Velocity for Blue Raster's Local Government Clients Blue Raster understands the value ArcGIS Velocity can bring to customers. Since 2020, we have been working with the City of Manassas Park in Northern Virginia to implement ArcGIS workflows and solutions citywide-supporting law enforcement, fire safety, zoning, public works, and more. Manassas Park needed the ability to visualize AVL in some of their public safety vehicles. We were able to configure two feeds as an early concept for the city-making them an early user and success story for ArcGIS Velocity. The first feed was processed from AVL units through Azure Event Hub to ArcGIS Velocity. The second feed was for the city Computer Aided Dispatch that is served by an HTTP service using Azure Function Apps to prepare the data for ArcGIS Velocity. The work for Manassas Park was even the focus of an Esri case study-published in the fall of 2022-highlighting the adoption of ArcGIS Velocity by a city government. This story has also been presented by Esri and Blue Raster at FedGIS 2023. As the need for real-time data monitoring expands, Blue Raster is excited to share the success of ArcGIS Velocity for Manassas Park as we explore ways to increase the use of Velocity for more of the Manassas Park fleet. ArcGIS Velocity offers a unique product for real-time data visualization and incorporation into many applications on the ArcGIS Platform, as well as seamless integration into existing Cloud GIS Infrastructure with the added benefit of access to Big Data Analytics. Real-Time Data Experts As an Esri Gold Business Partner in the State and Local Specialty, Blue Raster is the service provider you can trust with your real-time data needs. Contact Our Team to Learn More - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, Health, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Dashboard, ArcGIS Platform, dashboards, Health, Python, State and Local - Industries: Health, Public Safety, State & Local Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Saratoga County officials have been determined to find a way to address and combat the opioid epidemic in Upstate New York. On February 7, 2023, the Saratoga County Department of Health launched a tool called the Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard to help enhance the county’s opioid education, prevention, treatment, and response efforts. The near real-time resource consists of an easy-to-navigate dashboard that houses informative data for Saratoga County professionals in law enforcement, public health, and mental health, as well as community partners who focus on substance use support services. Saratoga County officials have been determined to find a way to address and combat the opioid epidemic in Upstate New York. On February 7, 2023, the Saratoga County Department of Health launched a tool called the Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard to help enhance the county's opioid education, prevention, treatment, and response efforts. The near real-time resource consists of an easy-to-navigate dashboard that houses informative data for Saratoga County professionals in law enforcement, public health, and mental health, as well as community partners who focus on substance use support services. From Vision to Reality: Building the Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard Blue Raster worked with epidemiologists from the Saratoga County Department of Health to design and configure the dashboard. Through a series of learning sessions, our team took Saratoga County's vision and visualization ideas and brought them to life. Built on the ArcGIS Platform, we utilized Python scripts to update the dashboard's key metrics for overdoses-shown through various graphs, charts, and a map by zip code. The dashboard also displays a series of charts and tables illustrating the epidemic over the years and through demographic breakdowns. The Powerful Impact of GIS At Blue Raster, we introduce federal, state, and local government clients, as well as global organizations, to the power of maps and GIS products as a way to respond to some of the largest health issues we face today. Saratoga County's Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard is now another resource for local officials across multiple departments to use to educate and prevent further opioid use, provide treatment, and respond to overdoses with real-time knowledge. Explore the Dashboard Read the Official Launch Press Release "The opioid epidemic has devastated communities throughout the U. S. and like national and state trends, heroin and fentanyl continue to be key drivers of overdose deaths in Saratoga County. This dashboard will provide critical information for the County to implement effective strategies and initiatives to mitigate the effects of the opioid epidemic in our communities and the Health and Human Services Committee remains focused on supporting our county departments in these efforts. "- Supervisor Phil Barrett (Clifton Park), Chair of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Health and Human Services Committee *Source: https://www. saratogacountyny. gov/latest-news/ - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Conservation, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Online, MapBuilder, Nonprofit/NGO, WordPress - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Our team assisted WRI with some updates to make MapBuilder more user-friendly for the general public to access and use. To do so, we created a WordPress site that provides a workflow to create a configuration file and offers step-by-step tutorials. At Blue Raster, we pride ourselves on our longstanding relationships with our clients. We've been a steadfast partner with the World Resources Institute (WRI)-a research organization that works to solve global challenges-for many years, and in 2016, we helped them launch MapBuilder, a configurable ArcGIS Online template, for their Global Forest Watch (GFW) program. The GFW program is an online platform that grants users access to valuable, real-time information about the status of forests all around the world. Making MapBuilder More User-Friendly In 2022, our team assisted WRI with some updates to make MapBuilder more user-friendly for the general public to access and use. To do so, we created a WordPress site that provides a workflow to create a configuration file and offers step-by-step tutorials on the following: How to set up an ArcGIS online account How to create your own map within the MapBuilder application How to share your map WRI asked the question: "What if the general public could use their own inputs with WRI's spatial data to create analytical, interactive maps that show forests, tree cover loss, land use, and more? " Blue Raster answered the call and now WRI's MapBuilder tool allows users to create custom maps that combine their unique metrics with the global organization's robust datasets and layers using ArcGIS Online. One of the most notable qualities of the application is that users can integrate it with both organizational and free ArcGIS Online accounts. Integrating Deforestation Alerts In addition to the public accessibility updates, WRI wanted to integrate deforestation alerts into MapBuilder, combining multiple deforestation calculations into one layer. With so many organizations now interested in forest conservation, MapBuilder gives any individual the ability to build their own maps and visualizations leveraging WRI's existing deforestation records. Users can access WRI's data and use the pre-designed ArcGIS Online template to input information and then output the results as a product to reference for research purposes. Now more people can make educated, well-researched decisions on environmental priorities such as impact, restoration, or conservation thanks to the easy-to-use MapBuilder application and the updates that Blue Raster made in 2022. We look forward to continuing our partnership with WRI and helping change people's lives and how they view and treat the world we live in. Create a Custom Map with MapBuilder Learn More About Blue Raster's Start with WRI - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Conservation, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: biodiversity, conservation, NatureServe, nonprofit, Nonprofit/NGO - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work With a goal to enhance and increase the efficiency of major conservation efforts and prevent species extinction across the ASEAN Region, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) partnered with NatureServe—a nonprofit that provides biodiversity data to a plethora of conservation organizations—to create an interactive, online biodiversity dashboard. The ASEAN Member States (AMS) is an organization made up of 10 Southeast Asian states-including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. With a goal to enhance and increase the efficiency of major conservation efforts and prevent species extinction across the ASEAN Region, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) partnered with NatureServe-a nonprofit that provides biodiversity data to a plethora of conservation organizations-to create an interactive, online biodiversity dashboard. This dashboard and map-centric tool would summarize and quantify the richness of ASEAN's biodiversity while visualizing trends and geographic variation in biodiversity indicators used across the globe. The idea was to create a key resource for ASEAN stakeholders while being an open-source information application that would allow this important data to be accessible and understandable to everyone. The Blueprint for Future Biodiversity Dashboards NatureServe also wanted to take this dashboard a step further, with the idea to use the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard as a pilot for future dashboards that would visualize biodiversity data worldwide using global datasets. To kickstart this project, they reached out to Blue Raster to help display ASEAN's biodiversity data in an informative, eye-catching, and interactive way with a set of dashboards and web applications. Users can explore species occurrence, as well as their assigned IUCN Red List status, across the ASEAN region. In this example, species occurrence of reptiles is shown. Additionally, users can view other data such as protected areas. In this example, Protected Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas are visualized on the map-notice the widespread distribution of these areas across the region! The Esri Technology that Made It Possible In order to make the data come alive -which derived from the AMS, the ACB, and various global data sources-our team harnessed the capabilities of two ArcGIS Online applications, ArcGIS Dashboards and ArcGIS Experience Builder. It was important that we found solutions that would meet all of NatureServe's criteria, and Esri's web app, ArcGIS Experience Builder, did just that. With Experience Builder coming out in late 2019 and Blue Raster kicking off our portion of the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard in July 2020, the dashboard was one of the first major projects our team worked on using Experience Builder. With an abundance of creative thinkers and an eagerness to push the limits of the web app, our team, led by Program Manager Phil Satlof, was able to customize more within the biodiversity dashboard using Experience Builder. Working with the Data NatureServe provided all of the data analysis, as well as their conservation expertise, while our responsibilities included the visualizations and determining how the data would be displayed on the web maps. Blue Raster GIS Analyst Sarah Aldama worked closely with NatureServe's GIS analysts and application developers to build out the first set of dashboards and web maps- based on NatureServe's vision and map metrics. One primary focus for NatureServe was to visualize and map indicator trends, which led members of our team to build out the shell for the Indicator Trends tab within the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard. Some of the layers include the Bioclimatic Ecosystem Resilience Index, Forest Cover and Loss, the Protected Area Connectedness Index, and Protected Area Coverage of Key Biodiversity Areas. In addition to the Indicator Trends tab, Blue Raster also assisted with the Biodiversity Data tab. This map shows the Biodiversity Habitat Index Annual Change rate from 2010 to 2015 at the country level. Users can also view the same data at the watershed level. Collaborating for the Sake of Conservation Working with NatureServe on this highly collaborative project from July until September 2020, our detailed work, valuable insight, and technical expertise helped the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard become one of the first web-based exploratory maps to view biodiversity data through this regional lens. With guidance from our team, NatureServe was able to learn how to use Experience Builder to increase the capabilities of the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard and create similar interactive, online platforms-like the Artic Biodiversity Dashboard. You can explore the ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard now at dashboard. aseanbiodiversity. org. To learn more about our dynamic web and mapping solutions, visit blueraster. com/who-we-are. - Categories: Agriculture, ArcGIS Enterprise, Environment, GIS, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Water - Tags: agriculture, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS JavaScript API, groundwater, water, Water Conservation - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work With data from the districts and complex, analytical logic provided by The Earth Genome and Sustainable Conservation, Blue Raster was able to help design and develop GRAT using ArcGIS Enterprise and the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. The application allows users from select California water districts to adjust water availability scenarios, recharge types, and specific crops used in the analysis. From replenishing and regulating the human body to nurturing and fueling our environments, water is a valuable commodity that we cannot live without. In areas where rainfall can be unreliable, or drought often occurs-such as the western United States-alternative methods must be used to supply water to impacted communities and their agricultural regions. With the frequency of droughts in California, groundwater pumping is a widely-used tactic to combat the scarcity of natural water placement, but in time the groundwater used must be recharged to avoid an imbalance. That's why the Groundwater Recharge Assessment Tool (GRAT) was developed in partnership with The Earth Genome and Sustainable Conservation. It's a valuable decision support tool that enables Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to identify and prioritize potential groundwater replenishment options to achieve sustainable groundwater supplies. This technical tool was originally created for the Madera and Tulare Irrigation Districts and the Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District to help model recharge scenarios across different fields using various recharge types. The goal was to help these districts understand where water is, how it can get to crop fields, and how it can be used to prepare for droughts-all while being more sustainable. Building Out the Application With data from the districts and complex, analytical logic provided by The Earth Genome and Sustainable Conservation, Blue Raster was able to help design and develop GRAT using ArcGIS Enterprise and the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. The application allows users from select California water districts to adjust water availability scenarios, recharge types, and specific crops used in the analysis. The application details site locations, fields' recharge suitability, and impacted crop types, and visually shows on the map sites where water is placed. A series of charts and graphs provide information on groundwater change, recharge by crop, unused water available for recharge, and costs associated with the proposed recharge. Blue Raster was responsible for preparing the data for use in the application and converting the analysis logic to an interactive mapping application. Our team formatted the datasets provided by the districts to create the crop layer, apply indices that rank and prioritize sites as well as determine suitability, and allow for different scenarios to be run against the GRAT logic. Looking Towards the Future of GRAT With GRAT being utilized by other GSAs in California, various water districts have expressed the need for more map-centric, data-visualized applications. In 2022, we helped launch the Turlock Subbasin GRAT for the East and West Turlock Subbasins. Similar in purpose and design to the original GRAT tool, the Turlock Subbasin GRAT also features enhancements related to proposed projects that could impact how water reaches fields and is placed and introduces new recharge types. With the concentrated efforts of The Earth Genome and Sustainable Conservation, and using the GRAT platform, additional water districts throughout Central California can implement more effective and environmental solutions for groundwater recharge. The Blue Raster team looks forward to partnering with both organizations to help ensure groundwater balance and effective management now and into the future. Interested in Learning More About GRAT? Contact us to learn more about this application or to discuss how interactive mapping technology can enhance your data. Contact Us - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Climate, Environment, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Online, conservation, Environment, National Audubon Society, Python - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Audubon has partnered with Blue Raster to create the Bird Migration Explorer- an immersive application that teaches users about the joy of migration. By mapping the over 450 bird species, and visualizing the conservation needs of high priority areas, the Bird Migration Explorer tells the stories of birds across the hemisphere. This application is designed to excite, engage and inform a variety of users from birders to conservationists to researchers. Blue Raster helped make this application a reality by configuring, publishing, and visualizing data. Introducing the National Audubon Society's Migratory Bird Project: Bird Migration Explorer Since 1905, the National Audubon Society has worked to protect birds and the places they depend on for survival through science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. With over 500 chapters across the United States, the National Audubon Society is known by many for its impeccable and expansive conservation work. With the launch of its Bird Migration Explorer platform in September 2022, Audubon and its partners hope to teach users-including birders, conservationists, researchers, and even the general public-about the joys, complexities, and unique connections of migration. Through a partnership with Blue Raster, the platform tells the stories of migratory birds across the hemisphere, features mapping of over 450 species' travels, and visualizes the conservation needs of high priority areas. Our team was able to help make this application a reality by configuring, publishing, and visualizing data from over 400 research studies. Exploring the Bird Migration Explorer's Maps Working with Postlight for all processing and publishing of datasets, and using Esri's GIS software, Blue Raster was able to utilize ArcGIS Online to work with all of the given data and design the intricate and interactive maps within the digital Bird Migration Explorer experience. When the Explorer first opens, it prompts users to select a bird species. This opens the Species Migration Map, which displays the movement and migration of the selected bird throughout the hemisphere each year using real tracking data. With the precision of the tracking data being an important element to each bird's journey, our team had to find a way to depict the accuracy of the technology used-such as GPS tagging or banding-to follow each species. Using purple dots for low precision and yellow dots for high precison, we were able to successfully illustrate the differences in tracking methods. The Species Connections Map shows where tagged birds have been re-encountered as they travel across the hemisphere using tracking, banding, automated radio telemetry, and genetics data. The Conservation Challenges Map combines migration data with conservation challenges data to show where, when, and how birds are exposed to issues such as climate change, urbanization, pollution, and more throughout the year. We used time enabled data layers for the threat locations and the weekly location of the birds to showcase the most threating areas to each species during migration. This feature helps users understand their impact on the lives of these birds and how they can improve their journeys. How We Helped Audubon's App Take Flight Blue Raster configured this data in a PostgreSQL enterprise geodatabase, calculated connections using spatial joins, and set up automation processes using Python to publish and manage updates to these datasets. This system was used across all species migration, species connections, and conservation challenges datasets to generate the incredible mapping for the Bird Migration Explorer. We also created a scripting process for writing and formatting citations using the Zotero API which are applied to each dataset on ArcGIS Online. Ready to experience the full annual migration for over 450 bird species? Check out Blue Raster's work for the Bird Migration Explorer now! Blue Raster Can Bring Your Story to Life Contact us to learn more about this application or to see how interactive mapping technology could work for you. Contact Our Team - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Cloud, Design, Esri, GIS, Infrastructure, Microsoft Azure - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty, ArcGIS Cloud Specialty, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Server, Architecture, AWS, Cloud, Cloud Migration, Esri, Esri Cloud Migration, GeoEvent Server, Image Server, infrastructure, Managed Services, Microsoft Azure, Migration, System Design - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services, Mobile Application Development, Software & Data Solutions, Technological Insights, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Insight Blue Raster is thrilled to be a member of the Esri ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty. This specialty designates Blue Raster as an expert in deploying and managing ArcGIS in cloud environments such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. The Cloud Specialty program is designed to help Esri connect customers with recognized Partners that can best provide ArcGIS cloud solutions. Partners that meet the criteria for this specialty must demonstrate a track record of delivering value to their customers in implementing, managing, and designing cloud infrastructure in the Esri ArcGIS environment. Blue Raster is thrilled to be a member of the Esri ArcGIS Cloud Services Specialty. This specialty designates Blue Raster as an expert in deploying and managing ArcGIS in cloud environments such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. The Cloud Specialty program is designed to help Esri connect customers with recognized Partners that can best provide ArcGIS cloud solutions. Partners that meet the criteria for this specialty must demonstrate a track record of delivering value to their customers in implementing, managing, and designing cloud infrastructure in the Esri ArcGIS environment. To attain this specialty, Esri assessed Blue Raster's expertise in the following areas of ArcGIS Cloud services: cloud deployments, system architecture and design, migrations, and managed services. Our deployments of ArcGIS Enterprise in the cloud include routine monitoring and maintenance to allow us to fine tune the system as needed, ensuring reliability and performance. Our system architecture and design experience encompasses single machine and multi machine architectures in both AWS and Azure that are customized to our clients' specifications. We support all types of migrations including on-premises to cloud provider migrations, ArcGIS Online to ArcGIS Enterprise, and integration with third party providers. Our portfolio of managed services includes the utilization of a wealth of Esri products and tools in the ArcGIS family such as ArcGIS Enterprise, Data Store, GIS Server, GeoAnalytics Server, GeoEvent Server, Notebooks, Image Server, Pro, Monitor, and Enterprise Geodatabases. Implementing these tools empowers us to provide a number of managed cloud services to our clients including design consultation, server construction, Esri software installation, infrastructure troubleshooting, distributed systems configuration, geographic redundancy configuration, OS patching, Esri security patching, routine Esri patch deployment, DevOps services, and user training services, among others. Blue Raster is primed and ready to meet our clients' needs in all areas of the Esri ArcGIS cloud. ArcGIS Cloud Solutions by Blue Raster With over 10 years of experience providing ArcGIS Cloud consulting services, Blue Raster is proud to be a trusted resource for a variety of cloud solutions, including: Cloud ArcGIS Enterprise implementation Data migration System architecture and design Enterprise migration Security We use our cloud expertise to assist a variety of clients with a range of projects. Our dedicated DevOps team supports our cloud projects from requirements gathering through completion. Keep checking our blog posts for our latest projects as we continually grow and evolve our cloud-based service offerings. Are you looking to expand your ArcGIS capabilities in the cloud? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help! - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Building Information Management, Education, Infrastructure - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Online, Haverford College, infrastructure - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Education - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Like most colleges, Haverford College has a dynamic campus life that requires significant management and planning to run smoothly. But recently, Haverford College decided to make this planning easier on themselves by using the power of GIS to their advantage. They were looking for a better solution for their campus planning, so they partnered with Blue Raster to create the Campus Placefinder. The Campus Placefinder is an application built for Haverford's facilities management team that provides an easy-to-use interface to access information about facilities on campus. The application allows users to interact with floor plans, and see details such as capacity and occupancy for every room on campus. The app also creates graphs that detail the area of rooms by building, department, or division. With drawing and printing capabilities, this application serves as a way for users to note changes to campus buildings as soon as they're needed, and easily create a printout to distribute. Blue Raster built this application to be user-friendly by using custom filters and a search bar so users can quickly find the space they need. Whether the user is looking for a certain building, department on campus, or primary occupant, Campus Placefinder will find the answer, and immediately take the user to the location on the map. With an admin login, a user can edit room information, so the facilities management department can keep all room information up to date. Because the data is hosted through ArcGIS Online, the changes are then immediately available to all other users. Through this application Blue Raster helped Haverford College improve their facilities data process which will serve the facilities management department as well as Haverford College's faculty, staff, and students. Contact Blue Raster today to learn how you can create GIS solutions to meet your needs! - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, Cloud, Conservation, Environment, Greenhouse Gas, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Restoration - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, Carbon, Environment, GHG, Greenhouse Gas, Python - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster partnered with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to create a robust Carbon Benefits Calculator. This tool estimates and visualizes the carbon impact of past and planned conservation efforts, restoration, and improved land management activities of NFWF. Most of our daily activities create greenhouse gas emissions which exacerbate climate change. Organizations like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) spearhead efforts to mitigate these negative impacts by funding initiatives that offset emissions and create a greener earth. Blue Raster partnered with NFWF to create a robust Carbon Benefits Calculator. This tool estimates and visualizes the carbon impact of past and planned conservation efforts, restoration, and improved land management activities of NFWF. NFWF wanted to innovate and optimize their existing in-house carbon calculator tool that was hosted in Excel. Blue Raster understands the need for a spatially explicit, robust tool that provides real-time calculations and eliminates hard-coded values to improve usability and usefulness. Additionally, this new tool enables NFWF to assess activities in various locations over different time series quickly and easily. Our team created a web application backed by geoprocessing services in Python scripts. The tool allows a user to upload a spatial polygon for an area of interest to calculate carbon benefits, expanding the previous functionality that only allowed analysis at the county level. These calculations are done with python logic and geoprocessing services that are uploaded to ArcGIS Enterprise. Converting the tool from a spreadsheet-based calculator to a real-time and streamlined web application allowed for faster, easier, and more comparable results. This tool uses various raster datasets including national land cover and carbon stocks to calculate the different properties and values such as climate, location, size, carbon stock, and land cover of the user submitted area of interest. Then, the tool automatically takes those values from the raster data and calculates the carbon benefits that would result from the selected project. NFWF can use this tool to estimate the carbon benefits of various projects and events such as invasive species clearing, crop and livestock use, thinning, fires, land transformations, over a 30-year period. Previously, Blue Raster built out the Where We Work web map for NFWF to help illustrate the extensive geographic reach of their mission and impact of their conservation programs. Also, we built a proposal reviewer application and aided in NFWF's ArcGIS Enterprise installation. We are excited to continue our collaborative efforts and work with a long-time partner by supporting NFWF with the Carbon Benefits Calculator and ongoing conservation efforts. Ready to find out more? We are excited to be a part of another non-profit's ongoing conservation and restoration efforts! Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization. Contact Us - Categories: Esri, User Conference - Tags: Esri UC, Esri User Conference, EsriUC - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Blue Raster attended the largest GIS event of the year: the annual  Esri User Conference in San Diego, CA. Our team came back buzzing about new releases, captivating presentations, and all things ArcGIS. We’re excited to share our experience and what we learned at the 42nd annual Esri User Conference! Our Esri UC Recap Last week Blue Raster attended the largest GIS event of the year: the annual Esri User Conference in San Diego, CA. The event gathered almost 15,000 in-person attendees from around the world and over 16,000 digital attendees! Our team came back buzzing about new releases, captivating presentations, and all things ArcGIS. We're excited to share our experience and what we learned at the 2022 Esri UC! With ideas flying and new technologies being unveiled, here is what's new and what our team is excited for: New field applications are coming out! Our GIS Analyst Abigail Krump is interested in how Quick Capture is building out in complexity and expanding what users can do to provide accurate data. Additionally, new Survey123 capabilities are exciting as a user can now annotate images that are taken, speeding up workflows and adding a level of detail in data capture. At the UC Plenary Session, the entire crowd erupted with excitement about ArcPro Catalog updates that enable you to see when an item was last modified. New ArcGIS Dashboard updates including being able to download your source data got us excited and our clients are ready to implement the new changes! Seeing the ArcGIS Online Imagery demo gave us many ideas for how some of our customers can create their own imagery analysis. New Microsoft Power Automate updates about ready to use flows and the 25 new ESRI templates got the wheels spinning for our team. Our GIS Analyst Andrew Patterson is excited for the new Field Map updates that enable complex computation utilizing Arcade within the app. New data is being published to the Living Atlas to symbolize by feature rather than by the entire layer, enabling a user to produce effective and visually appealing maps. We'd love to talk with you and share what we learned at this year's User Conference. Contact us today to set up a call! GIS - Mapping Common Ground This year's event kicked off with a Plenary session hosted by Jack Dangermond, Founder and CEO of Esri. We heard from a range of inspiring leaders, including Deanne Criswell from FEMA and Ronan Donovan from National Geographic. The reoccurring theme of the plenary was GIS-Mapping Common Ground, using it as a tool for helping solve challenges in important arenas like climate research, conservation, disaster management, and more. It was exciting seeing David Hayes's talk at the 2022 Esri UC about The National Climate Taskforce focus on climate and clean energy, with an emphasis on equity for disadvantaged communities. A prototype online portal built by Esri aims to provide a central hub of climate-related information for anyone to access. State and local governments can find policy maps, climate data, and links to funding sources to fight climate change. More Plenary Highlights The plenary showcased incredible work using ArcGIS Knowledge which enables users to visualize relational data in and outside of space using graph science. Andrew believes there are a lot of opportunities to use this incredible technology with many of our projects. Disaster response was another important highlight of the plenary, with Esri outlining all of the disaster response solutions and identifying their separate use cases. Our team got to sit down with the disaster response team to hear a summary of what is new and what's on the horizon with the disaster response program. We learned there is a new national and global level disaster response hub with curated data sets for disaster response deployment. Our work with the Jane Goodall Institute was showcased on the main screen! Blue Raster GIS Analyst Abigail Krump felt that her experience at the UC and plenary brought a lot of context to the purpose of the project as a whole. Abigail came home from San Diego with some serious ideas for how to continue improving the project. "Seeing it in the context of the community and on the ground work was really refreshing. Alice Macharia, head of African programs of JGI, thanked me for my work which was an incredible honor. " Abigail was honored and excited to have the opportunity to meet the Jane Goodall Team that she works with remotely. For her, it has been a lifelong dream to work with JGI. Abigail was impressed by how JGI presented a strong understanding of where conservation science in GIS is moving towards to better serve the communities they are working with. 2022 Esri UC Highlights Sustainable World Spotlight The Sustainable World Showcase is a hub for GIS users working to make strides to support the planet, people, prosperity, and peace. GIS applications under the Sustainable World umbrella included climate change, conservation, disaster response, education, global development, humanitarian, nonprofit, racial equity, and social justice. Blue Raster also sponsored the Sustainable World Community Social on Tuesday night. On Tuesday, Eric Ashcroft, Senior Project Manager, presented a lightning talk at the Sustainable World Spotlight Theater: Nonprofit Takeover to discuss Blue Raster Celebrating 20 Years of Supporting Non-Profits . Blue Raster gave a spotlight to three of our projects: Jane Goodall Institute Tacare Program, World Resource Institute L. E. A. R. N. Tool, and Stimson Mekong Dam Monitor. ArcGIS Velocity Session Our Manassas Park project was featured during the ArcGIS Velocity session. Suzanne Foss, Product Manager at Esri spoke with us one on one about our project which she featured in her presentation on Thursday. She highlighted how Blue Raster is using ArcGIS Velocity in our work. Andrew says it was rewarding to get the reassurance that our team's work was functional and serving a good purpose, as well as that we are on the right path to develop it further as Velocity develops. This session also demonstrated the capabilities of ArcGIS Velocity and Real Time that we are eager to explore and implement in our work, whether it is for real time data or something like social media data scraping. Elections Special Interest Group Michael Lippmann presented our work with the Georgia Secretary of State, Election Division on the development of... - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Disaster Response, Esri, Field Mobility, Infrastructure, Mobile, Public Safety, Survey123 - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, Esri, Experience Builder, infrastructure, mobile, Survey123 - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Commercial, Public Safety - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Following a catastrophic event, the assessment and removal of debris and clean-up efforts of those impacted can create a ripple effect of challenges that communities are forced to overcome. To aid in an efficient approach, crews need assistance quantifying the damages incurred and coordination of how best to begin to confront the disposal of debris. Blue Raster helps CDR Maguire use the Esri Debris Management Solution with a custom enhancement to support online and offline use. Following a catastrophic event, the assessment and removal of debris and clean-up efforts of those impacted can create a ripple effect of challenges that communities are forced to overcome. To aid in an efficient approach, crews need assistance quantifying the damages incurred and coordination of how best to begin to confront the disposal of debris. After a referral from ROK Tech, CDR Maguire GIS Manager Deepali Datre reached out to Blue Raster to begin work on deploying the Esri Debris Management Solution with a custom enhancement to support online and offline use. In this data collection phase of disaster response, Blue Raster and CDR Maguire: Customized and extended the Esri Emergency Debris Management Solution to work offline Configured complex and innovative Survey123 forms Authored and deployed custom Python and JavaScript scripts Recorded information including vehicles in operation, field monitors, type of debris accumulated, method of disposal, and total weight removed per truck load Calculated total weight removed using the truck's empty and full weight measurements obtained from the weight scales at the final dump location Isolated categorical information including truck certifications, loading tickets by address or parcel, and the amount and type of material removed from each designated site To manage and visualize the data for CDR Maguire, Blue Raster configured an ArcGIS Experience Builder Reviewer Tool. Utilizing this tool, field contractors can submit field survey forms to develop initial damage reports. The Experience Builder Dashboard provides real-time data to increase oversight and efficiency. These methods provide CDR Maguire with accurate data collection for FEMA reimbursement requirements. Throughout this project, the CDR Maguire team was knowledgeable and a collaborative partner to ensure that a workable solution was created. Example of ArcGIS Emergency Debris Management Solution, courtesy Esri While this solution was initially developed to assist in the removal of debris from the Boulder County Marshall Fire, this technology has already been employed to address a similar situation following a wildfire in Texas. The applications of this solution translate to a multitude of circumstances in which the efficiency of response can allow for a swift reaction to any type of natural or man-made catalyst.   - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Online, Infrastructure, Survey123 - Tags: ArcGIS Dashboard, ArcGIS Online, infrastructure, Survey123 - Industries: Transportation & Logistics - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is partnering with Transload Distribution Association of North America (TDANA) to develop an interactive ArcGIS Dashboard that elevates transloading as the preferred method for the efficient, 21st century distribution of products. Blue Raster is partnering with Transload Distribution Association of North America (TDANA) to develop an interactive ArcGIS Dashboard that elevates transloading as the preferred method for the efficient, 21st century distribution of products. With an increase in international trade and growth of e-commerce in recent years, transloading services have become an increasingly integral part of moving goods that arrive at a port and travel inland.  In its simplest form, intermodal shipping is the movement of freight by two or more transportation modes: truck, ship, rail, or aircraft. Many long-haul shipments of goods involve multiple shipping companies before the shipment reaches its ultimate destination, so developing a way to utilize preferred methods is a necessity. Blue Raster created a ArcGIS Dashboard that allows members to search by company name, facility state, commodity type, rail lines served, or equipment type needed for their transloading demands. This centralized resource allows transloaders within North America to locate and utilize a variety of service organizations to best meet their transloading needs efficiently. To increase member participation and feed data to the Dashboard, Blue Raster created an ArcGIS Survey123 form for seamless integration. New and existing members can update their facilities survey with their location, services, and contact information to provide up-to-date information for partners to access. The ease of updating the dashboard's information provides reliable and current information for its users. "Blue Raster delivers a design that intuitively leads shippers to our members - easy access all in one map! " - Carrie Foor, Executive Director of TDANA This dashboard embeds established transloading methods with innovative technology to create a well-organized resource for shipping partners to find members across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with the common goal of saving time and money utilizing the most efficient routes possible. TDANA plans to expand the dashboard and create ArcGIS StoryMaps in the coming months. - Categories: Esri, GIS, Media, News, User Conference - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Maps, Blue Raster, Esri, Esri Conference, Esri UC, Esri User Conference, EsriUC, presentation, Sustainable World Showcase - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Blue Raster is looking forward to getting back to San Diego to exhibit at the Esri User Conference in July. The User Conference (UC) is the biggest event in GIS and represents the nexus of innovation in mapping solutions. Blue Raster will be exhibiting the most exciting solutions and tools we’ve built. We look forward to showcasing the power and capabilities of the latest tools in GIS. Contact us now to schedule a meeting with us or stop by our booth near the Sustainable World Showcase! Back in San Diego at the Esri UC! Blue Raster is looking forward to getting back to San Diego to exhibit at the Esri User Conference taking place July 11-15. The User Conference (UC) is the biggest event in GIS and represents the nexus of innovation in mapping solutions. The UC promises the opportunity to hear inspiring stories on how GIS is making an impact, gain insight from industry experts, and speak with others who are making a difference in the field. This year's event will kick off with a Plenary session hosted by Jack Dangermond, Founder and CEO of Esri. In addition, we will hear from a range of inspiring leaders, including Deanne Criswell from FEMA and Ronan Donovan from National Geographic. Connect With Us at Esri UC 2022 As the use and capabilities of Esri-powered GIS products are ever advancing, the user conference is our opportunity to stay on top of new innovations and developments in order to best help our clients address their geospatial needs. This year, Blue Raster is bringing seven of our team members to the Golden State to share our work and get a peek at everything new in the world of GIS. The Expo at Esri UC The expo portion of the conference will offer the opportunity to preview the latest tech in geospatial analysis and get a look at the new and interesting success of other users across the field. Visit Blue Raster booth 2410 to learn more about our work with the latest ArcGIS patterns, trends, and solutions including ArcGIS Real Time, ArcGIS GeoEvent Server, ArcGIS Velocity, ArcGIS Hub, Experience Builder, Field Maps, Survey 123, ArcGIS Enterprise Cloud deployments, and more. Contact us now to schedule a meeting with us or stop by our booth near the Sustainable World Showcase! Expo Hours: Tuesday, July 12 from 9:00am - 6:00pm Wednesday, July 13 from 9:00am - 6:00pm Thursday, July 14 from 9:00am - 4:00pm Schedule a Meeting Sustainable World Spotlight The Sustainable World Showcase in the 2022 Esri UC Expo is a hub for GIS users working to make strides to support the planet, people, prosperity, and peace. GIS applications under the Sustainable World umbrella include climate change, conservation, disaster response, education, global development, humanitarian, nonprofit, racial equity, and social justice. To help you find your way to our booth and all of the GIS for Good sessions and events, check out the Esri Sustainable World focused agenda. Blue Raster will be presenting a lightning talk at the Nonprofit Community Takeover at the Sustainable World Showcase Spotlight Theater on Tuesday between 9am - 12pm. We'll also be sponsoring the Sustainable World Community Social on Tuesday night between 6pm - 8pm at the Hilton Bayfront's Sapphire Terrace. We can't wait to see you there! Will you be at Esri UC? Let us know if you plan on attending any of the Sustainable World or other industry events! Drop Us a Line Map Gallery Blue Raster is proud to display four posters designed by our team members in the Map Gallery. We're highlighting our work with The Henry Ford, Virginia Department of Transportation, New York Botanical Gardens, and The Stimson Center. Look for our entries in the Sails Pavilion and vote on your favorite! Map Gallery Hours: Monday, July 11 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm Tuesday, July 12 from 8:00am - 6:00pm Wednesday, July 13 from 8:00am - 6:00pm Thursday, July 14 from 8:00am - 1:30pm Want to meet up with us? Schedule a time now to visit us at our booth! Contact Us - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Enterprise, Cloud, Esri, Microsoft Azure - Tags: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Enterprise, AWS, Certification, Cloud, Microsoft Azure, System Design - Industries: Uncategorized - Types: Insight Blue Raster is proud to celebrate our own Scott Geistmann for achieving the Esri Enterprise System Design Professional (ESDP2201) Certification, marking him as one of fewer than 40 experts who has achieved the most recent Esri certification in ArcGIS Enterprise system design. ArcGIS Enterprise is a perfect fit for deployment to a cloud platform enabling mapping and visualization, analytics, and data management. It is the foundational tool in an organization's suite of Esri applications such as ArcGIS Pro and distributed collaborations with ArcGIS Online. Blue Raster assists its customers with Enterprise implementations in order to expand their spatial data analysis and data storage capabilities while unlocking new, more efficient workflows utilizing cloud native technologies. Having an Esri Enterprise System Design Professional on our team provides our clients with confidence and peace of mind. Blue Raster is proud to celebrate our own Scott Geistmann for achieving the Esri Enterprise System Design Professional (ESDP2201) Certification. He is one of fewer than 40 experts who achieved the most recent Esri certification in the ArcGIS Enterprise system design. The certification exam covers 4 primary skill areas - Physical Architecture, Solution Architecture, Deployment and Troubleshooting, and Architectural Concepts. In order to acquire this expert-level certification, Scott mastered the four core skill areas above as well System Design, ArcGIS Monitor, System Log Parser, and eGDB Health tools. Attaining this certification is no easy feat. We applaud Scott for his hard work in ascertaining the content of hundreds of training modules and building countless simulated test environments to apply key concepts in preparation of the certification exam. With the proliferation of cloud-based infrastructure over this most recent era of computing, Scott has taken the ball and ran with it. As Blue Raster's resident enterprise implementation and server architecture expert, Scott provides key expertise to our customers. Scott assists customers by evaluating their current systems, weighing considerations of which upgrades to make, and mapping how to best design each customer's system according to their unique needs. He has designed proprietary methodologies governing his approach to structuring and implementing customer systems in AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud which can be seen in the graphics below. This approach has proved invaluable in implementing more automated processes and standardization in customer systems. Being in the Esri ecosystem since ArcGIS version 9. 3, Scott has seen and experienced the full evolution of ArcGIS version 10 and is now looking forward to working with ArcGIS version 11 which is slated to release in 2022. Scott's certification as an Enterprise System Design Professional is part of Blue Raster's pursuit of Esri's ArcGIS Cloud Specialty Program. This program certifies service providers in system architecture design, managed services, and ArcGIS Enterprise solutions in order to guide customers in their implementations of Esri's Geospatial Cloud. Three Esri Cloud certifications are required under the scope of the Cloud Specialty Program - the Enterprise Geodata Management Professional, Enterprise Administration Professional, and Enterprise System Design Professional. Blue Raster team members, in addition to Scott, are currently working in preparation for these certifications by following individualized Esri training courses. We at Blue Raster look forward to joining this specialty and sharing our expertise and best practices with our customers. - Categories: ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Esri, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Dashboard, community, Experience Builder, Nonprofit/NGO - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The Innovation Atlas Score is calculated using socio-economic attributes, school attributes and validated research to provide insight into where students are least likely to innovate and why these students are least likely to innovate. The Henry Ford (THF) in Dearborn, Michigan, is a force for inspiring tomorrow's innovators. When Jarell Brown, Head of Analytics and Business Intelligence for The Henry Ford, created the methodology for the Innovation Atlas Score he knew he would need a robust, configurable, and attractive platform for visualization and presentation. After contacting Emily Swenson from Esri, Jarell reached out to Blue Raster and a relationship was formed. After gathering and processing data in ArcGIS Pro, Blue Raster advised THF to use Experience Builder for ArcGIS, combined with Dashboards for ArcGIS to build the Innovation Atlas Explorer. According to THF, "The new defining feature of the success in our communities is not only upward mobility, but upward innovation as well - the aspiration that all children to have a chance innovate, no matter their background will create a more equal tomorrow. " The Innovation Atlas Score is calculated using socio-economic attributes, school attributes and validated research to provide insight into where students are least likely to innovate and why these students are least likely to innovate. Blue Raster leveraged the flexibility and power of Experience Builder to create a "choose your own adventure" web mapping application to explore innovation potential across the U. S. Below, we list some features we configured in Experience Builder to enhance the user experience in the Innovation Atlas Explorer. 1. Informational splash window A Splash Window with a carousel template displays multiple informational slides on how to navigate the Innovation Atlas. This helps users get acquainted with the web map prior to exploring it. 2. Customized filters Customized filters allow the user to explore various levels of innovation potential across three geographic levels - state, county, and public-school districts. This helps users gain insight into the spatial patterns of innovation potential across the country. 3. Access multiple apps under a single "roof" The Innovation Atlas holds a set of nested ArcGIS Dashboards that are easily accessed through the Innovation Atlas menu bar. The Innovation Atlas features a variety of map layers to explore along with innovation data. These dashboards are embedded within the Experience Builder app in a page separate from the main web map. For The Henry Ford, it was important to feature all apps under a single web app URL. 4. Make room for valuable "non-map" information Incorporate information such as your organization's mission and background, data methodologies, and more. Experience Builder allows for flexible, customizable pages with different media types, such as: text, images and infographics, embedded videos, and more. Pages can be created and hidden for future use, allowing content to be displayed or hidden as needed through the lifecycle of the Experience app. Contact us today to learn about The Innovation Atlas project and how we can help your organization tell your story! - Categories: Esri - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, Esri Conference, Esri Dev Summit, Esri Developer Summit - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, Mobile Application Development, Technological Insights, Web Application Development - Types: Insight The Esri DevSummit is Blue Raster’s chance to get one-on-one time with Esri experts as we brainstorm together and reflect on the latest technologies and enhancements available in the Esri suite of tools. Additionally, it gives us the opportunity to work one-on-one with Esri experts to dive deep into the software and develop a variety of solutions that we can bring back to deliver to our clients. The Blue Raster team returned energized and empowered from the Esri Partner Conference and Developer Summit in Palm Springs, California. The Esri EPC and Esri DevSummit are conferences where we collaborate with others in the geospatial community on the latest approaches to web mapping and GIS. Also, we get a sneak peek at what's coming in 2022 and beyond. Esri Partner Conference The Esri Partner Conference is a great opportunity to meet with Esri teams and other Esri partners to share insights and solutions. We even got to meet with Esri's President and Founder Jack Dangermond. Esri DevSummit Day 1 of the DevSummit kicked off with an inspiring Plenary session welcome message from Jack Dangermond. In addition, Esri engineers and thought leaders shared exciting new advancements and features in the ArcGIS Platform. Throughout the week, our team attended sessions and demos on a wide variety of topics like ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS API for Python, ArcGIS Velocity, and many more. One of our team members, Emma Paz, had the opportunity to present at Esri DevSummit this year. Emma's presentation "Take Flight on the Magic of Spatial SQL Functions" highlighted the benefits of migrating spatial analysis workflows to SQL and drew a standing-room-only crowd. Esri DevSummit is Blue Raster's chance to get time with Esri experts. We brainstorm together and reflect on the latest technologies and enhancements available in the Esri suite of tools. Additionally, it gives us the opportunity to work one-on-one with Esri experts to dive deep into the software and develop solutions that we can deliver to our clients. Teambuilding Best of all, some of our team got to meet in-person for the first time in 2 years. On the Monday of DevSummit week, our team engaged in a wonderful day of teambuilding and bonding at the top of Mount San Jacinto State Park 8,500 feet above Palm Springs. They enjoyed the views of Palm Springs from the Aerial Tramway, the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world. We look forward to seeing everyone at the next conference! - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, Conservation, Design, Development, Esri, GIS, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Public Gardens - Tags: APGA, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Enterprise, Asset Bank, BG-Base, Esri, Field Maps, infrastructure, mobile, New York Botanical Garden, New York City, NYBG, Plant Mapping, Plant Tracker, PlantTracker, Public Gardens, Python, Web Application, Workforce for ArcGIS - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Looking to upgrade their public mapping presence and expand internal use of GIS, NYBG and Blue Raster partnered to develop PlantTracker. Replacing a previous tool, PlantTracker is the online catalog of NYBG's living collections used to find plants, navigate the grounds, get plant information, view photographs, and take curated tours. Established in 1891 and covering 250 acres in the Bronx, New York Botanical Garden is the largest urban public garden in the United States. With the beauty of the collections, landscapes, and gardens it's no wonder why over one million people visit the garden annually. Looking to upgrade their public mapping presence and expand internal use of GIS, NYBG and Blue Raster partnered to develop PlantTracker. Replacing a previous tool, PlantTracker is the online catalog of NYBG's living collections used to find plants, navigate the grounds, get plant information, view photographs, and take curated tours. PlantTracker aides the public onsite and from home and also daily workflows of NYBG staff and the institutions educational programs rely on the tool. Funded through an IMLS Grant, PlantTracker replaces the legacy Garden Navigator application and provides an enhanced user experience with a map-centric and mobile-first design. Blue Raster first deigned a GIS architecture environment and installed and configured ArcGIS Enterprise. Next, Blue Raster had to create many spatial datasets for use in GIS by converting existing CAD files and tables. This included working with exports of plants managed through BG-Base, totaling over 143,000 living and historical records. The GIS Team at Blue Raster improved the spatial accuracy of almost 700 location codes used for mapping and outlining the main garden locations. Plant photo workflows were also upgraded by integrating with the Asset Bank API. In addition to PlantTracker, GIS upgrades allowed the opportunity to integrate Esri mobile workflows for staff. Configuration with ArcGIS Field Maps and Workforce for ArcGIS expands plant mapping workflows, allowing workers to update existing location, condition and measurement data in the field. Blue Raster works closely with BG-Base to sync both systems through a series of Python scripts that run nightly and as often as every five minutes. This means NYBG can continue to use BG-Base as the system-of-record for their collections, but take full advantage of GIS for mapping applications and field workflows. NYBG has embraced GIS in a big way. In short time, a lot has been done to improve public and staff workflows around mapping. Explore NYBG PlantTracker to see for yourself! Learn more about Blue Raster's work with public gardens, cemeteries, and arboretums. Contact us today! - Categories: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Esri, Field Mobility, GIS, Infrastructure, Operations Dashboard, State & Local, Transportation - Tags: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Blue Raster, dashboards, Directional Signing Program, DOT, Esri, Field Maps, Highway, IDSP, infrastructure, Integrated Directional Signing Program, Road, Signs, StoryMaps, Survey123, Transportation, VAIDSP, VDOT, Virginia Department of Transportation, Workforce for ArcGIS - Industries: State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work In Virginia, Blue Raster partnered with Directional Signing Program (DSP) to put in place Esri workflows that help ensure you can trust highway signs. Using ArcGIS Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Workforce, and Dashboards, the signing program at VDOT has never been more interactive and in real-time. The Integrated Directional Signing Program (IDSP) includes over 16,000 signs across the State. While driving on the highway you likely find yourself looking at signs lining the road to determine your next meal, gas stop, or a place to stay. You probably do not consider that there is a directional signing program that manages the accuracy of these signs, but you trust the information and services they provide. In Virginia, Blue Raster partnered with Directional Signing Program (DSP) to put in place Esri workflows that help ensure you can trust these signs. Using ArcGIS Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Workforce, and Dashboards, the signing program at VDOT has never been more interactive and in real-time. The Integrated Directional Signing Program (IDSP) includes over 16,000 signs across the State and is comprised of: Logo Guide Signs - Blue highway signs with gas, food and lodging company logos Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs - Blue highways signs with directional information, no company logos Supplemental Guide Signs - Cultural, recreational, education and historic guide signs General Motorist Service Signs - Generic symbols representing Gas, Food, Lodging, Hospitals and Camping Historic Markers - Signs depicting historic information about places, people or events Blue Raster's workflows for field GIS allow DSP and other VDOT contractors to inventory and update the status of every sign in the IDSP. The initial inventory of all 16,000 signs was completed in just 5 weeks with the help of Field Maps and offline capabilities. Since then, routine inspections for condition and retroreflectivity, construction inspections, or maintenance work orders for signs has been managed in GIS with Esri's field applications. Data from the field crews feed a series of dashboards configured to show key metrics and status to VDOT in real-time. Beyond just VDOT, the IDSP is made up of the customers on the signs and the public. Through hosted web maps and Survey123 forms, there is now the ability for both customers and the public to view an interactive map of all the signs in the IDSP (with current image), provide general feedback on the program, and report sign issues or knockdowns. Integrating ArcGIS into the IDSP allows for significant improvements to data collection, understanding of assets, efficiency, reporting and tracking goals. Continued work with DSP and VDOT includes developing StoryMaps around the Historic Marker Program, leveraging Business Analyst to attract new customers and understand interchange saturation and vacancies, and better use of imagery including 360 degree capture. All of this work makes the IDSP better, and provides a better experience to drivers in Virginia. - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS for Server, Conservation, Environment, Forest, Infrastructure, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, SDG, Supply Management, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: Amazon S3, Amazon Web Services, ArcServer, AWS, GFW, GFW Pro, Spark Engine, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster developed Global Forest Watch Pro, a decision support tool that empowers companies to monitor their supply chains for responsible environmental practices. Blue Raster developed Global Forest Watch Pro, a decision support tool that empowers companies to monitor their supply chains for responsible environmental practices. Companies can upload all of their of sourcing areas, farms, and supply sheds for analysis and view interactive maps and diagnostics displaying occurrences of deforestation, alerts for forest fires, land cover types. The site now serves nearly 1,000 users across approximately 350 organizational accounts. Current users are spread across every continent in the world. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/gfwpro_blogvid_dashboard_edited_2. mp4 To support the growing use, Blue Raster recently implemented several updates. The analysis back-end is modernized to make it more scalable and provides more power for processing data faster. The team also moved to a Spark engine and incorporated an AWS Step workflow to allow for higher data processing capacity and improved functionality for the tool. - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Hub, Climate, Economic Development, Environment, Federal, Infrastructure, Mobile, Water - Tags: advocacy, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Climate, community, Economy, Environment, infrastructure, Non-Profit, Sustainability, WordPress - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster developed the Mekong Dam Monitor to provide unprecedented transparency of the flow of water and conditions of dams and reservoirs along the Mekong River. Using satellite data as well as weather and water gauge data, the monitor provides visibility into what is happening upstream, giving a comprehensive near-real time view of the current state of the Mekong basin along with historic conditions. This allows people all along the river and those advocating for more equitable and sustainable use of the river to understand and plan for changes in the levels of the river. The Mekong River runs through six countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, and Vietnam. It provides a livelihood and natural resources for over 60 million people. New upstream dams in China are changing the waterflow, creating a huge impact on the countries and people that depend on the river. Using the Mekong Dam Monitor as a tool, the Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia Program and Eyes on Earth, Inc committed to working with countries to gain more visibility into the flow of the river and better plan for water availability. Blue Raster developed the Mekong Dam Monitor to provide unprecedented transparency of the flow of water and conditions of dams and reservoirs along the Mekong River. Using satellite data as well as weather and water gauge data, the monitor provides visibility into what is happening upstream, giving a comprehensive near-real time view of the current state of the Mekong basin along with historic conditions. This allows people all along the river and those advocating for more equitable and sustainable use of the river to understand and plan for changes in the levels of the river. In late 2021, Blue Raster integrated WordPress into the application, making it easier for the project administrators to make updates to the site themselves. The site also received an update to the UI, making it more mobile friendly to support growing field use. Finally, the team also coordinated making the site available in six local languages, increasing the access to this valuable data on water levels and projected water flow. Blue Raster is proud to continue to support this project, providing real time visibility and reporting on impacts of up river decisions on the various communities that rely on the Mekong. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Environment, Health, Infrastructure, Operations Dashboard, Public Safety - Tags: ArcGIS Dashboard, Climate, COVID-19, Environmental Modeling, Operations Dashboard, Public Health, Public Policy, Socio-economic Modeling - Industries: Conservation, Education - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Insight We are proud to work in partnership with the Space Enabled Research Group at the MIT Media Lab and East Carolina University in developing a decision support tool that can inform public policy in response to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vida Decision Support System is a customized online tool designed for use by public sector officials at the city and regional level who are making policies regarding public health, the economy, or environmental management. The Vida Decision Support System helps city and regional leaders understand the relationships between important societal factors. The tool is built on a framework that uses a series of models: Environment Socio-Economic Vulnerability Public Policy and Decision-Making Technology Design Vida is based on an integrated Data Visualization and Modeling Framework created by the Space Enabled research group at MIT that combines multiple data sources and creates simulations of the current or potential future states of a city or region. This tool is being developed in partnership with several government entities including Angola, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, and Mexico. The tool was developed using ArcGIS Dashboards. The "Analysis" tab includes an embedded data comparison tool developed in JavaScript. Beyond COVID, this tool can be applied to any number of disruptions including drought and extreme weather events, as well as helping to meet sustainable development goals. - Categories: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Economic Development, Environment, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: Africa, ArcGIS for Server, Environment, Non-Profit, Satellite Imagery, Sustainability - Industries: Conservation, Education, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Green Keeper Africa created a transformation path that takes harvested hyacinths and converts them into an absorptive product that can soak up oil spills. The water hyacinth is an invasive aquatic plant found in Lake Nokoué in the southern area of Benin. This plant grows rapidly, forming thick layers on the water, shading out other plants. As it decays, it depletes oxygen levels, impacting the fish and other aquatic life in the lake. In addition to the ecological impacts, the hyacinth also has economic impacts, clogging up transportation routes. The hyacinth fiber has a high-performance absorption power for all types of liquids, from dyes to crude oil and heavy fuel oil. Green Keeper Africa created a transformation path that takes harvested hyacinths and converts them into an absorptive product that can soak up oil spills. Building an Economic Engine In order to produce the absorption solutions, Green Keeper Africa works with local communities to collect and prepare the hyacinth for production. The company needed more visibility into the growth patterns to be able to set pricing each season and direct harvesters to the most abundant areas. Blue Raster developed an application that uses an algorithm to detect water hyacinth in satellite imagery. The application also gathers data from water sensors currently being prototyped by MIT as well as other ground data and water quality readings. Green Keeper uses this view of real time and historic data to fairly set prices and plan for harvest areas they need to support. Beyond Hyacinth Tracking This application can help promote additional sustainable and profitable uses of Lake Nokoué. Acadja is a fishing method where dense masses of branches are set in an area to attract fish in large numbers for harvesting. The Blue Raster application can use footage from drones to map the placement of the Acadjas, overlaying that information with other data to track environmental impacts and/or present alternate locations or methods that may result in more fish with less environmental impact. Contact us to learn more about how Blue Raster can customize applications for you! - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Conservation, Environment, Forest, GIS, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: ArcGIS Online, conservation, Environment, Forest, GIS, High Resolution Imagery, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is proud to have developed and supported an audit area tool for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This solution pulls data so that auditors can examine historic and current tree cover before going on site to complete their inspections. Blue Raster recently integrated high resolution satellite imagery from Planet and Sentinel into the audit area tool. Blue Raster is proud to have developed and supported an audit area tool for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This solution pulls data so that auditors can examine historic and current tree cover before going on site to complete their inspections. Now it's available with high resolution imagery! Blue Raster recently integrated high resolution satellite imagery from Planet and Sentinel into the audit area tool. This new imagery, made available by Norway’s International Climate & Forests Initiative, provides 3-meter resolution as compared to the pre-existing 10-meter resolution type used in the tool. This new level of detail in images provides an even clearer picture of forestry practices and realities. In addition to the new imagery, the team also updated and reorganized the layer panel to make the maps more user friendly. New tools that measure elevation changes were also added. Learn more about this project here. - Categories: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Culture, Design, Operations Dashboard - Tags: AAPI, AAUC, advocacy, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Dashboard, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Asian American Unity Coalition, community, diversity, election, Esri, nonprofit - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is proud to help launch the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Pilot Hub as a place for the AAPI community to connect, coordinate, and collaborate. The Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) is an organization that provides a framework for over 70 different Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations to work together to connect, coordinate, and collaborate. To help empower and connect its members, AAUC set out to create a single ArcGIS Hub Site to share critical information and events, provide networking opportunities for AAPI organizations and individuals, and tell the story of the community's diverse culture and heritage. Blue Raster worked with AAUC to design, set-up, and deploy the AAPI ArcGIS Hub pilot prototype to bring together data about organization locations, resources, events, and initiatives. The resulting Asian American Pacific Islander Hub includes Blue Raster designed maps and data functionality in an easily consumable fashion. Visualizations include a map showing the locations of AAPI organizations nationwide. Users can click on any organization's pin on the map to get details and a link to that group's website. Another map shows the AAPI population by voting district to illustrate the ethnic make up of areas to aid in political advocacy activities. The Hub also includes other features like stories of community heritage that are offered in both native and English languages. The AAPI Community Hub is a powerful tool for AAUC and the AAPI community to share, connect, coordinate, collaborate, contribute and empower the community. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Recording-2021-11-16-at-4. 16. 53-PM-compress. mp4   - Categories: ArcGIS Notebooks, ArcGIS Online, Health, Operations Dashboard, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Notebooks, COVID-19, Python, Survey123 - Industries: Health, Public Safety, State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team worked with the Department of Health to automate their daily data publishing process through ArcGIS Notebooks. Notebooks are an efficient, modern environment that combine code, on-the-fly visualizations and maps, as well as data tools. In the notebook editor, you can write, document, and run Python code in one place. Saratoga County is one of the fastest growing counties in upstate New York. The Department of Public Health has a robust COVID-19 dashboard that keeps businesses, policy makers, schools, and the general population informed of the rate of cases and hospitalizations. Using a New York State Department of Health emergency funding Coronavirus Response grant, the county partnered with Blue Raster for support with automating workflows and deploying ArcGIS Enterprise. The Blue Raster team worked with the Department of Health to automate their daily data publishing process through ArcGIS Notebooks. Notebooks are an efficient, modern environment that combine code, on-the-fly visualizations and maps, as well as data tools. In the notebook editor, you can write, document, and run Python code in one place. This helped with automating workflows reduced the time spent each day updating the dashboard. Blue Raster is also supporting the installation and configuration of a base deployment of ArcGIS Enterprise to support the expanding use of ArcGIS. We're here to serve any state and local organization looking to better utilize their data. Contact us today to learn more about the Esri State and Local Specialty Program! - Categories: Infrastructure, Mobile, Operations Dashboard, State & Local - Tags: dashboards, Field GIS, Field Mobility, infrastructure, mobile, Operations Dashboard, Survey123 - Industries: State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster built the Work Locations Tool to meet the specific needs of Lovin Contracting. The Work Locations Tool replaced manual processes that saw field teams taking paper maps and lists to work sites and then delivering paper forms back to the office as records of their work. Lovin Contracting is responsible for maintaining the landscaping around many of Georgia's state routes and interstate highways. As part of their contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), they needed a digital reporting system for required auditing of their work. Additionally, the system needed to be easy to use for three distinct user groups - employees in the field doing the maintenance, managers at the Lovin Contracting office overseeing the teams, and the GDOT employees that manage the landscape and maintenance contract. Blue Raster built the Work Locations Tool to meet the specific needs of this multi-stakeholder process. The Work Locations Tool replaced manual processes that saw field teams taking paper maps and lists to work sites and then delivering paper forms back to the office as records of their work. The first step in developing the solution was to digitize all of the location information from paper and formatting it to make it GIS friendly. Once the data was in the right format, the next step was to visualize the data on a web map. Work Location Tool Field Application Teams in the field use the ArcGIS Field Maps app as well as the Survey123 for ArcGIS on mobile devices. Within these applications they can record where they are with location information auto-populated and fill out the necessary information about the type of work they are completing. In addition, they can record where in the cycle of maintenance they are, and can even upload before and after photos to show progress. All of this information is uploaded to systems back at the office. Home Office Dashboard Management dashboards allow for the Lovin team to see the status of all of their areas of responsibility. They can filter information by location as well as cycle of work. They can view total miles completed in a certain time period. In creating maps, Blue Raster could not default to using mile marker data as Lovin defines areas of responsibility differently. Thanks to Esri Model Builder, the display of the maps match how the work was reported and assigned. As they collect more data, this information helps Lovin better allocate teams and equipment to increase efficiency. Department of Transportation Audit View The driving force for this project was the DOT's need to be able to quickly audit work to ensure compliance with the contract and confirm proper payment. With the system, GDOT officials can log in to see the status of contracted work. The GDOT is granted access to only the data they need for their audits. Cultivating the Digital Landscape This move to online reporting is a huge culture shift for the Lovin team. As the Work Locations Tool goes live, Blue Raster is working with all user groups to train them on the new technology and workflow to ensure they immediately see the efficiency benefits of moving reporting online. - Categories: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Economic Development, Finance - Tags: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS StoryMaps, dashboards - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Following up on the previous versions of the Draper Innovation Index (DII), Blue Raster is proud to announce the launch of the Draper Innovation Index Global 2. 0. According the the Draper Hero Institute (DHI) the ArcGIS Hub site "will be the first index of its kind to be updated monthly to reflect the most current state of the ever-evolving state of economic opportunities, economic freedom for innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors around the globe. " A collaboration between DHI and Blue Raster, the Draper Innovation Index consists of ArcGIS Dashboards, StoryMaps and Hub. What is new in this Draper Hero Institute update: The DII Global's Government Quality category now incorporates the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index, which evaluates nations based on five indicator categories: electoral processes and pluralism, government functioning, political participation, political culture and civil liberties. First published in 2006, the Democracy Index draws on survey questions and expert analysis and is updated quarterly. It classifies nations into four categories: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, and authoritarian regimes. The DII's new Country Sentiment Index, a proprietary DII algorithm, incorporates three main components: S&P Dow Jones' Global Equity Indices, which measures changes in equity markets, in a specific country or region; Currency fluctuations in relation to the price of Bitcoin; The World Uncertainty Index (WUI), created by International Monetary Fund and Stanford University economists in 2018 as "the first effort to construct a panel index of uncertainty for a large set of developed and developing countries. " "These additions enable the DII Global to better accomplish its core mission, providing a global look at which countries and regions have the freest economies and the best, most supportive environments for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment," said DHI Founder Tim Draper. "This knowledge is more important now than ever, as the competition for employers, skilled workforce, and capital has only become fiercer since governments now need to compete globally for innovators. " Make sure to revisit the DII Global each month to see how rankings continue to shift based on the most current data. - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Online, Community, Development, Emergency Management, GIS, Infrastructure, Operations Dashboard, Public Safety, State & Local - Tags: Experience Builder, infrastructure - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work We helped Manassas Park centralize their data to help them make critical decisions about public safety, recreation, and economic investment. Learn how we modernized their use of data with Esri ArcGIS solutions. Small City + Big Data = Time to Modernize IT Manassas Park is an independent jurisdiction in Northern Virginia, approximately 30 miles southwest of Washington, DC. The city borders Prince William County and the City of Manassas. It is primarily residential in nature within close proximity to interstate and railway transportation into the heart of the Greater Metropolitan Washington DC area. modernize IT The city had an aging, homegrown solution for their GIS data and wanted to modernize the system so that it would meet the current and future needs of City operations including tax assessment, public works, emergency response, parks and recreation, and zoning to name a few. Being a small city with an even smaller staff, the system needed to be easy to use and maintain for a team that did not include GIS professionals. Creating a Town Square for Data Blue Raster implemented Esri tools, including ArcGIS Online, Experience Builder, and ArcGIS Dashboards, to aggregate all data into a single cloud-enabled solution. Doing so meant users across city operations had access to data that could inform them of their planning and day-to-day operations. Economic Dashboards show tax assessment growth over time as well as show revenue generated from meals tax and business licensees by neighborhood. The parks department now has a single view into their multiple data sources. They can now access and view membership for the city-run waterpark, visitor numbers for that waterpark, and community center reservations in a single application. The police can now overlay data from multiple ticketing systems (parking, civil disturbance, and traffic) to get a holistic view of where violations are happening. Fire and rescue can now see 911 data to get a sense of any patterns in where and when calls come in.   First Step Toward Cloud The city manager is using this GIS project as a pilot to show what can be done when the City utilizes the power of cloud technology. Pointing to the success of these applications, he hopes to gain buy in and funding for modernizing other areas of the City's IT infrastructure to a cloud-based system. Read the Esri case study about the use of ArcGIS Velocity in Manassas Park: Law Enforcement in Manassas Park, Virginia, Tracks Vehicles and Calls for Service with Real-Time Data Solution Ready to find out more? Contact us to learn how we can help you modernize your data and IT infrastructure to help make critical decisions about public safety, recreation, economic investments, and more. Read about we helped other state, county, and city organizations with their efforts to modernize IT. Contact - Categories: Esri, State & Local - Tags: community, conservation, Economic development, emergency response, Esri, Health, Public Safety, State and Local, Transportation - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Technological Insights, Web Application Development - Types: Insight Blue Raster is proud to be a Partner in the Esri State and Local Specialty. The State & Local Government Specialty program is designed to help Esri customers identify providers with special expertise and substantial experience in working with local and state governments. Partner companies must demonstrate a track record of delivering value to these organizations. Blue Raster is proud to be a Partner in the Esri State and Local Specialty program. The State & Local Government Specialty program is designed to help Esri customers identify providers with ArcGIS expertise and substantial experience in working with local, state, county, and city governments. Partner companies must demonstrate a track record of delivering value to these organizations. State and Local Experience Blue Raster supports the development of platforms and applications that help state and local organizations manage, use, and disseminate geospatial data and analysis to for better decision making regarding policy, budgets, planning, and more. Using the full Esri platform, we provide a full range of services setting up ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Hub site, and Operations Dashboards to optimizing Field GIS tools like Field Maps, Survey 123, ArcGIS Workforce, and ArcGIS Collector. Our state and local support has spanned the nation from coast to coast including small towns, to major metropolitan areas. Our solutions, leveraging all aspects of the ArcGIS platform have supported: Emergency Response Fire Services Law Enforcement Fish & Wildlife Planning & Development Transportation COVID Response   Blue Raster solutions and services are available to state and local agencies via the GSA schedule as well as a number of state contracts including Virginia's eProcurement Portal (eVA ID #VS000009118), Maryland CATS+, and Pennsylvania Disaster Emergency Suppliers. "We're proud to have our state and local experience and expertise recognized with our place in the specialty program," said Michael Lippmann Principal/Founder of Blue Raster. "We're looking forward to expanding out work with communities to ensure data is being used and understood in ways that can make a direct impact on how citizens live, work, and play. " We're here to serve any state and local organization looking to better utilize their dataContact us today to learn more about the Esri State and Local Specialty Program! - Categories: ArcGIS Enterprise, Health, JavaScript API - Tags: ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS JavaScript API, Community Health, Esri, Health, Health Indicators, HealthGIS, Public Health - Industries: Health - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) aims to strengthen family physicians and the communities they care for through prevention and public health initiatives. As part of this effort, their research arm, HealthLandscape, develops geospatial data visualization to help the community find insights to improve health care. Modern Solutions for Addressing Today's Public Health Challenges The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) aims to strengthen family physicians and the communities they care for through prevention and public health initiatives. As part of this effort, their innovation arm, HealthLandscape, develops geospatial data visualization to help the community find insights to improve health care. Zeroing in on Community Health Demographics Blue Raster has been working with the organization for over a decade, creating and modernizing GIS solutions. Recently, the team moved the Community Data Portal from Flash to Java Script. Using this portal, health providers and public health officials can filter the data most important to their communities and their area of practice. The configurable tool enables users to explore demographic, education, income, and health disparities and can be configured for any geographic area. The tool can ingest datasets from sources like the U. S. Census Bureau, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid... the possibilities are endless. Users can create side-by-side maps between indicators (for example, diabetes and poverty) to visualize potential relationships. Additionally, users can overlay infrastructure data such as interstate networks or locations of health facilities and start to visualize patterns between the two. Graphs and charts are available to see the numbers behind the data and reports can be automatically run off the filters. The solution uses Esri ArcGIS API for JavaScript, Node, React, and ArcGIS Enterprise and Portal for ArcGIS. Meeting the Demands of High Risk Populations Similarly, Blue Raster developed the Local Needs Assessment application that helps identify high-risk areas based on social determinants of health ("cold spots") and poor health outcomes ("hot spots"). Identifying and mapping these high-risk areas allows for targeted approaches. The solution allows users to explore relationships between these two and identify outliers by creating scatter plots. In addition, users can customize this solution to examine childhood health, geographic population health, mental health and more public health indicators. Health organizations are developing innovative ways to harness the data integration and spatial visualization power of GIS. GIS plays a critical role in determining where and when to intervene, improving the quality of care, increasing accessibility of service, finding more cost-effective delivery modes, and preserving patient confidentiality while satisfying the needs of the research community for data accessibility. Contact us today to learn more! - Categories: Community, Conservation, Disaster Response, Economic Development, Esri, GIS, Health, Human Rights, Nonprofit/NGO, Public Gardens, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: Esri, nonprofit - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens, Uncategorized - Services: Technological Insights - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is a proud member of the Esri Nonprofit Specialty. Partners in the Nonprofit Specialty are recognized for their alignment with and their knowledge and expertise of Esri’s Nonprofit Organization Program. Esri Nonprofit Specialty Blue Raster is a proud member of the Esri Nonprofit Specialty. Partners receive this Nonprofit Specialty designation for their alignment with and their knowledge and expertise of Esri's Nonprofit Organization Program. Additionally, we demonstrate experience with projects in many nonprofit industries: conservation, humanitarian, disaster response, food security, community development, racial equity and social justice, health research, and more. The Esri Nonprofit Program provides nonprofit organizations low cost licenses and access to a Esri's vast offerings of location intelligence tools and training. We are proud to support a wide variety of nonprofit clients in using these location intelligence tools to help inform decisions and shape programs that meet the needs of their constituents. Receiving the Esri Nonprofit Specialty designation is an exciting next step in furthering our mission to help nonprofit and NGO clients achieve their goals. Nonprofit Experience Blue Raster has deep expertise developing platforms for managing and disseminating geospatial data and analysis to support conservation efforts with the Esri ArcGIS platform. Since our founding in 2002, we've had the honor of working with over 70 nonprofits and NGOs. For example, we work with leading nonprofit conservation organizations including the World Resources Institute, the Jane Goodall Institute, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, NatureServe, National Audubon Society, Stimson Center, and more. Blue Raster continues its commitment to bringing the latest in geospatial technologies to leading conservation, global development, humanitarian & disaster response, social justice, and health research & advocacy organizations. Are you a nonprofit looking to better utilize your data? Contact us today to learn more about the Esri Nonprofit Organization Program! Contact Us Nonprofit Specialty - Categories: Health - Tags: ArcGIS, Business Intelligence, COVID, dashboards, Emergency Management, Esri, Health, HealthGIS, HIMSS, Wildlife - Industries: Health - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster Program Manager Phil Satlof presented at the HIMSS 2021 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Phil’s presentation, "From Data Entry to Dashboard Display- How to create real-time business intelligence using the ArcGIS Platform" took place in the Esri Demo Theater. GIS continues to be used in public health research and planning. The types of companies and organizations adopting Health GIS span the health care spectrum: from public health departments and public health policy and research organizations to hospitals, medical centers, and health insurance organizations. To demonstrate our work in the field of Health GIS, Blue Raster Program Manager Phil Satlof presented at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, aka HIMSS, 2021 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Phil’s presentation, "From Data Entry to Dashboard Display- How to create real-time business intelligence using the ArcGIS Platform" took place in the Esri Demo Theater. His presentation highlighted a number of Health GIS projects that enabled organizations to move seamlessly from data collection into immediate analysis and decision-making. Phil showed how Blue Raster was able to jump start configurable and extendable ArcGIS Platform applications in a number of applications including: The Jane Goodall Institute Decision Support System Calaveras County California COVID-19 Dashboard Town of Chapel Hill NC Emergency Operations Dashboards State of Maryland COVID 19 Hub CDC/PEPFAR TRACE For more information on these applications and our ability to streamline data to action, Contact Us. HIMSS Conference 2021 Spatial data and GIS technology can underscore coverage gaps in the populations we hope to reach, the opportunities to improve workflows, and the ability to plan for and mitigate against unforeseen events. Applied Health GIS leads to improved health outcomes, increased accessibility to health care, and healthier communities. Globally, there is a renewed appreciation for the critical role that public health preparedness professionals play in keeping our communities safe. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the awareness of public health emergency response into our living rooms. Now, people better understand how the health of a community impacts the economy, transportation networks, education, community design and infrastructure. The crisis’ scope and complexity demonstrated that public health preparedness is a vital function. It requires careful planning and coordination, with Health GIS playing a leading role. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Conservation, Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, conservation, education, Esri, Global Water, Ocean, Smithsonian Institution, Story Map, Whales - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Types: Active Work The Smithsonian engaged with Blue Raster to create a StoryMap that illustrates research and its impact in an engaging and conversational way that would connect with students. Utilizing ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS StoryMaps the Blue Raster team built the “Make Way for Whales” StoryMap that shows how shifting shipping lanes increased the safety of whales. The Smithsonian Institution's Ocean Initiative supports the Smithsonian's mission to increase the public's understanding and stewardship of the Ocean. Researchers have been working to track the migratory patterns of whales to better understand patterns and find ways to protect them. One of the biggest threats to migratory whales are collisions with ships. In the early 2000s, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) first began shifting shipping lanes to protect right whales in the Bay of Funday and Boston Harbor. Tracking Whales Over the last decade, researcher Hector Guzman has pioneered a satellite-positioning system to follow and track other migratory whale species in Panama, Costa Rica, and more recently Chile so that similar measures could be taken in ports in in central and South America. His work and the resulting policy changes in shipping routes has reduced the probability of whale-ship collisions in Panama by 95%. The Ocean Initiative wanted to highlight this work as part of its educational offerings to K-12 students. Dr. Guzman's work provided a positive story about how scientific research can inform and change policy for the betterment of nature. Make Way for the StoryMap The Smithsonian engaged with Blue Raster to create an ArcGIS Story Map that illustrates the research and its impact in an engaging and conversational way that would connect with students. Utilizing ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS StoryMaps, the Blue Raster team built the "Make Way for Whales" StoryMap that shows how shifting shipping lanes increased the safety of whales. Additionally, the StoryMap includes: Background from research papers that explains the danger shipping poses to whales and the trends impacting whale populations Description of how whales are tagged and tracked Details on the geographies of the coastlines studied Interactive maps that show the overlay of GPS whale locations and ship traffic Custom illustrations depicting Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) being used that avoid the migratory patterns of whales Blue Raster used research data (compiled in spreadsheets) to build the maps and other custom graphics on the page. The resulting story shows how trade can continue to happen while being responsive to the needs of wildlife. It is an encouraging message that they hope will inspire future scientists, researchers, and environmentalists. - Categories: Conservation, Environment, Forest, GIS, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Forest Stewardship Council combines imagery and data, including the Esri Living Atlas, to aid in pre-audit evaluations to streamline and standardize their auditing workflows. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an association committed to promoting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. Using 10 guiding principles, FSC is the gold standard for certifying responsible forestry practices. Many of the principles and criteria measured by FSC are assessed by satellite imagery. However, much of the work was still happening with pen and paper on printed maps. FSC wanted to combine this imagery with other data to aid in pre-audit evaluations to streamline and standardize the work that has to be done in the field. This would provide auditors with preparation and additional context for what they see in person. Using the Blue Raster developed solution, auditors can select an their Audit Area from FSC's dataset of certified forest boundaries, upload a boundary file they have received, or draw a polygon directly on the map. The auditor also begins a digital workflow that details what aspects of the forest are being examined, what data will be used, and what reports and statistics need to be created. Annual tree cover loss data from the University of Maryland is automatically pulled and overlaid on the image, allowing auditors to toggle between time periods to see if the change is in line with FSC principles. Users can also perform a basic change detection by selecting before and after images, calculating a vegetation index on both, and comparing the results to identify areas with loss or gain in vegetation. Reports are automatically populated for viewing on a dashboard or for printing. The use of the solution expanded when the COVID pandemic limited travel and allowed auditors to continue evaluating areas remotely, creating temporary reports until they could physically get to the location. FSC is looking at ways to expand the functionality beyond auditor preparation. This system could be used to document chain of custody and detect fraud in the audit system by confirming that the harvested amount reported could have been harvested from a single location, ensuring that totals are not being laundered. This GIS Portal is another great tool that helps the forest industry meet our current needs for forest products without compromising the health of the world's forests for future generations. Read about the FSC Dashboards - Categories: Economic Development, Infrastructure, Mobile, State & Local, Transportation - Tags: infrastructure - Industries: State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Engineering firm Fehr & Peers worked with the city of Sacramento to prioritize and develop plans. They turned to trusted partner, Blue Raster, to develop a portal that could capture all of the needed input in a user-friendly way. The team developed a one page interface that asked citizen to rank potential projects in terms of their importance. The mobile-first design ensured people would be able to access the site on their preferred device. Transportation officials can view the collected input in dashboards for a quick view of the community’s priorities. The city of Sacramento, CA was going into a planning period for how to spend transportation budget to improve how citizens got around the city. Sacramento spans more than 100 square miles and is made up of more than: 1,800 miles of streets 250 miles of bike lanes 78 miles of shared use paths 43,000 streetlights Not wanting to make decisions in a vacuum, the city looked to crowdsource input from citizens to inform their investments. Crowdsourcing Portal Engineering firm Fehr & Peers worked with the city to prioritize and develop plans. They turned to trusted partner, Blue Raster, to develop a portal that could capture all of the needed input in a user-friendly way. The team developed a one page interface that asked citizen to rank potential projects in terms of their importance. The mobile-first design ensured people would be able to access the site on their preferred device. The site sets up the question like a game - If you had $42 million/year to invest in transportation, where would you spend it? Survey participants are presented with six categories of improvements: Air Quality and Health Connections to Places Equity Maintenance Safety Technology Citizens then drag a slider next to each category to show what percentage of money they would allot to each area. As they make their choices, the page shows how much money they have left to spend and summarizes the outcomes their choices prioritize. Transportation officials can view the collected input in dashboards for a quick view of the community's priorities. They can sort responses based on various demographics or other criteria to help inform specific investments. Plans based on this input will be developed and presented to the community. - Categories: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Conservation, Environment, Forest, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS StoryMaps, conservation, trees - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Trillion Trees is a joint venture between three of the world's largest conservation organizations - BirdLife International, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and WWF - to end deforestation and restore tree cover. The organization aims to protect and restore forests to achieve one trillion trees by 2050, for the benefit of people, nature, and a stable climate. Trillion Trees is a joint venture between three of the world's largest conservation organizations - BirdLife International, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and WWF - to end deforestation and restore tree cover. The organization aims to protect and restore forests to achieve one trillion trees by 2050, for the benefit of people, nature, and a stable climate. To do so, they: Implement work on the ground to protect and restore forests, Influence global policy and private sector practices, and Inspire us all to value, protect and restore forests. Key to these efforts is telling the story of where their work has made a difference and where the need is the greatest. Being able to do so in an interactive and compelling way can lead to more support both financially and politically. Trillion Trees looked to Blue Raster to tell their story via an ArcGIS StoryMap. Using data sets from a variety of research, the Trillion Trees story map shows how nearly 59 million hectares of forests - an area larger than mainland France- has regrown since 2000. This research informs forest restoration plans worldwide, giving a picture of the areas where focusing restoration efforts could be most beneficial. Trillion Trees StoryMap With the StoryMap application, Trillion Trees was able to outline the story they needed to tell, select the data to use, develop content to provide context to the data, and create graphics. Much of this work is automated in the platform, allowing non-developers to build an incredibly interactive page that reads like an in-depth magazine article in a mainstream media source. https://www. blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Tillion-trees-StoryMap. mp4 The Trillion Trees story map includes: An overview of the challenge A definition of regeneration The impact of discovered regeneration An interactive map showing viewers the areas of high regeneration along with descriptions of why/how that regeneration happened. In depth analysis of two areas' regeneration The content provided shows the impact policy changes regarding forestation, environmental protection, and agricultural regulation can have on tree growth. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Conservation, Environment, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: birds, conservation - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The Northern Great Plains Joint Venture (NGPJV) aims to support and implement protection, enhancement, and restoration of prairie grassland, shrub-steppe, wetland, and riparian ecosystems. With an emphasis on sustaining and increasing populations of migratory and resident birds, their work spreads across North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. The Northern Great Plains Joint Venture (NGPJV) aims to support and implement protection, enhancement, and restoration of prairie grassland, shrub-steppe, wetland, and riparian ecosystems. With an emphasis on sustaining and increasing populations of migratory and resident birds, their work spreads across North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. Ensuring the conservation of lands critical to the native bird populations requires collaboration with ranchers, land owners, local government, and state government. NGPJV had a lot of data, but it was stored in non-spatial directories and documents, making it difficult to get a full view of situations and adequately prioritize efforts that would make the biggest impacts. Local land managers, landowners, and conservation practitioners needed a better way to view the data to agree on paths forward. Conservation Guidance Web Tool Blue Raster helped NGPJV "get on the map," moving existing data into ArcGIS Online that allowed for it to be presented in a more consumable fashion. Blue Raster built the Conservation Guidance Web Tool to: Identify areas where conservation activity will have most impact Get an understanding of where federal programs are happening Identify gaps where people are not participating in programs Provide an easy view for landowners to see what activities are available to them One use case is looking at Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a federal program incentivizing conservation efforts on private land, expiration data. The map provides a quick view of where expirations are happening allowing staff to reach out to particular areas to inform and educate communities on the benefits of renewing. Another use is mapping which counties are the most important to protected bird species to gain a better understanding of where they are currently living and where they are under threat. Users can add or remove layers from the map to investigate areas of interest. NGPJV staff use the Web Tool as a resource when talking to people as it is for more interactive and real time than traditional power point presentations. They can answer questions on the fly by selecting new ways to view the data. This web tool, hosted by Ducks Unlimited, is designed to help managers better understand various conservation considerations where they work. Understanding why a given tract of land is important makes for more informed decisions when it comes to conservation design and implementation. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Economic Development, Esri, Finance, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Economic development, Finance - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Built using ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Dashboards, and ArcGIS StoryMaps, the Draper Innovation Index US includes three major scenarios: Balanced, Tech Innovation Environment and Regulatory and Tax Environment. These scenarios weight six sub-indices, providing a look at state performance in a variety of categories. Following the launch of the Draper Innovation Index (read about it here) in March, Blue Raster is excited to announce the launch of the US focused Draper Innovation Index U. S. (DII U. S. ) available at index. draperhero. org. Built using ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Dashboards, and ArcGIS StoryMaps, the DII US includes three major scenarios: Balanced, Tech Innovation Environment and Regulatory and Tax Environment. These scenarios weight six sub-indices, providing a look at state performance in a variety of categories. Continuing the partnership that launched the global Draper Innovation Index, the Draper Hero Institute, Blue Raster and Esri collaborated on the project. "The ability to drill-down and understand the Draper Innovation Index at a more granular sub-national level is essential to understanding which states could be a good environment for innovation and economic investment," said Salim Sawaya, Lead for location intelligence technology provider Esri's Nonprofit & Global Organizations Team. "Esri and our partner Blue Raster continue to support the Draper Hero Institute find and use authoritative datasets for their US states index so that investors and innovators can leverage the power of location intelligence through GIS to identify the states that hold the most potential or promise. " About Draper Hero Institute Founded by legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist and entrepreneur Timothy C. Draper, Draper Hero Institute (DHI) provides applicable and modern resources for future entrepreneurs globally and ensures inclusiveness and opportunities for all. - Categories: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Design, Economic Development, Esri, Finance, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Design, Economic development - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The Draper Innovation Index (DII) was initiated by Draper Hero Institute as an index consisting of a series of data indicators on the state of entrepreneurial activity, environment, and drivers - nationally and globally. Draper Hero Institute, Esri and Blue Raster team up to launch the Draper Innovation Index Founded by legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist and entrepreneur Timothy C. Draper, Draper Hero Institute (DHI) provides applicable and modern resources for future entrepreneurs globally and ensures inclusiveness and opportunities for all. A key example of one of those modern resources is the recently launched Draper Innovation Index. The Draper Innovation Index is a Hub for ArcGIS site that contains several ArcGIS Dashboards and a StoryMap that displays key success factors, metrics, and indicators that support the performance of local startups and facilitate the creation of new jobs and economic prosperity, such as employment creation, VC funding, startup culture, tax regulations, and IP creation. Additionally, it provides innovation data from an entrepreneurial/VC perspective as opposed to others that exist from an academic point of view. When Esri looked for a partner to take over the project after they had built the initial Hub, Dashboards and StoryMaps collection of tools called the Draper Innovation Index - they tapped longtime collaborators and Esri Gold Partner Blue Raster on the shoulder. The Draper Innovation Index (DII) was initiated by Draper Hero Institute as an index consisting of a series of data indicators on the state of entrepreneurial activity, environment, and drivers - nationally and globally. Under the leadership of Program Manager Phil Satlof ; GIS Analyst Mary Bracho and Visual Designer Manny Fleurival adapted and enhanced the Hub and tools and participated in the global launch event on March 25th, which was covered by the Wall Street Journal.   "With our goals to create a global index to foster the development of innovative technology and economic growth, Blue Raster and their team seamlessly achieved our vision. They transformed the complex data metrics and analysis into a user-friendly, visually aesthetic interactive tool. With the successful launch of our global index, we are excited to share this leading-edge tool with the world. " -- Vivian Lufkin Executive Director, Draper Hero Institute” We are now preparing for the launch of the USA Index on May 27th! Check index. draperhero. org for more news. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Community, Conservation, Environment, Esri, Forest, Greenhouse Gas, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals, Women in Science - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, conservation, Deforestation, Esri, global - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work For over 60 years, Dr. Jane Goodall has inspired and motivated millions of people around the globe to live in greater harmony with nature and to take action on behalf of the planet we share. To celebrate her 87th birthday, Dr. Goodall is asking you to pledge to make a difference via the Jane's Green Hope campaign, For over 60 years, Dr. Jane Goodall has inspired and motivated millions of people around the globe to live in greater harmony with nature and to take action on behalf of the planet we share. To celebrate her 87th birthday, Dr. Goodall is asking you to pledge to make a difference via the Jane's Green Hope campaign, Jane's Green Hope Pledge In the fight against biodiversity loss and the Climate Crisis, restoration, regeneration, and protection of global forests are some of our greatest hopes. Join Jane and thousands of people from around the world in taking action to create a greener future for all by making a pledge to the Jane's Green Hope (#JanesGreenHope) campaign. Jane and the Jane Goodall Institute's efforts to protect and restore forests are part of the Trillion Trees initiative. It emphasizes the potential of forests to improve wellbeing and livelihoods for local and indigenous communities, combat climate change, and protect global biodiversity. Every individual can make a difference. To support this goal, the Jane Goodall Institute asked longtime partner Blue Raster (read about past efforts here) to develop a pledge action response form and dashboard using Esri's Survey123 , ArcGIS Online Web Maps and ArcGIS Dashboards. At the end of the campaign, the map will be presented to Dr. Goodall so she can see the global reach of the campaign. YOUR efforts will be on that map if you take the pledge and follow it up with action! Join the Jane's Green Hope campaign today! Jane Goodall and the Blue Raster Team Action Response Form developed by Blue Raster TAKE ACTION FOR FORESTS & GREENING YOUR COMMUNITY Pledge to plant, protect, and/or restore native trees and forests, and engage in greening your community. Visit Jane’s Green Hope on the web and take action for the world today! https://janegoodall. org/make-a-difference/janes-green-hope/ - Categories: Esri, Federal - Tags: conference, Esri Conference, Esri FedGIS, Federal, Federal Small Business Program - Industries: Federal Government, Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight FedGIS 2021 provided two thought-provoking days of powerful stories about how GIS is making a difference in the world. See demonstrations of the latest technology and capabilities that ArcGIS offers. The Esri Federal GIS Conference (FedGIS) is the largest gathering of GIS users in the government sector. With over 6,000 attendees from over 100 countries, this year it brought together geospatial users in government, non-governmental organizations, nonprofit, military, and related professions to discuss and explore the latest GIS innovations. Blue Raster hosted a virtual exhibit at FedGIS 2021 and attended technical workshops and sessions. We were excited to see some of our work featured in the Plenary session as well as our entry in the Map Gallery. You can watch the Plenary Sessions and other recordings from FedGIS 2021 on the Esri Events YouTube Channel. - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, GIS, State & Local - Tags: conference, Experience Builder - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Due to the Pandemic, the annual North Carolina GIS Conference was held virtually this year, from Feb 16-19, instead of the usual location of Winston-Salem. Blue Raster Program Manager Phil Satlof attended sessions, staffed the virtual "booth" and presented on the topic of Configurable apps like ArcGIS Dashboards, Extendable and Custom-Configurable applications. Hey Ya'll ! Due to the Pandemic, the annual North Carolina GIS Conference was held virtually this year, from Feb 16-19, instead of the usual location of Winston-Salem. Blue Raster Program Manager Phil Satlof attended sessions, staffed the virtual "booth" and presented on the topic of Configurable apps like ArcGIS Dashboards, Extendable and Custom-Configurable applications. A highlight of the conference for Blue Raster was when Chase Barnard and Dave Almond of the Town of Chapel Hill GIS Team presented "Paradise by the Operations Dashboard" which details the collaborative partnership forged between Blue Raster and the Town to refine ArcGIS Dashboards, Experience Builder Apps and create a custom workflow to pipe Computer Aided Dispatch data from the Orange County, NC 911 system into the Town ArcGIS Online account for use in a situational awareness dashboard. Check back soon for more updates to this exciting workflow!     - Categories: ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Climate, Environment, Forest, Greenhouse Gas, JavaScript API, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: GHG, Greenhouse Gas - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work As communities around the United States seek to mitigate the impact of climate change by reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the importance of land use to the GHG balance has become more apparent. About one third of human caused GHG emissions each year are sequestered in forests and trees but most communities do not include forests and trees in their inventories. To help fill this gap, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) developed the Land Emissions and Removals Navigator (LEARN) tool. As communities around the United States seek to mitigate the impact of climate change by reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the importance of land use to the GHG balance has become more apparent. About one third of human caused GHG emissions each year are sequestered in forests and trees but most communities do not include forests and trees in their inventories. To help fill this gap, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) developed the Land Emissions and Removals Navigator (LEARN) tool. The LEARN tool provides an intuitive step-by-step workflow for communities to assess their net GHG balance based on land-use and land-cover changes. Once users have selected or uploaded their municipal boundaries and inventory period, the tool calculates land cover change using National Land Cover Database (NLCD) data. Users can then explore a change image to quickly see where areas are being converted to and from forests. As the characteristics of the forests within the municipality impacts the amount of carbon emitted or removed, the change image is then compared to a carbon stock map developed from US Forest Service data based on the age and type of forest. NLCD tree canopy data is also used to identify addition or removal of trees-outside of forests to ensure a comprehensive assessment. Forest disturbance data for insects, fires, and other disturbances are also incorporated into the GHG balance. Finally, users can input the value of GHG removals from Harvested Wood Products (HWP) within the inventory period as HWP continue to sequester carbon. Once the user has gone through the four simple steps to complete the audit, they are presented with an easy-to-understand table showing their community’s Net GHG Balance and the source of the emissions and removals. A PDF report and CSV data are also available to provide detailed analysis of the land-use and land-cover change with charts and graphs as well as the carbon factors for emissions and removals used. The LEARN Tool was developed using the Esri JavaScript API and ArcGIS Image Server to provide the analysis. - Categories: ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, ArcGIS Online, Conservation, Economic Development, Environment, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals, Water - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Image Server, ArcGIS Online, Environment, infrastructure, Water Conservation - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work From its headwaters on the Tibetan Plateau, the Mekong River runs through six countries, China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia before reaching the ocean. Over 60 million people live in the Mekong watershed and rely on its natural resources and fish and agricultural products produced here are shipped throughout the world. However, recent evidence indicates that the operation of new upstream dams constructed in China are changing the natural flow cycle of the river, affecting downstream communities. In spring 2020 a U. S. State Department-supported study by independent researchers at Eyes on Earth published a study showing that the upstream dams restricted enormous quantities of water in 2019, while downstream areas were experiencing an unprecedented drought. The newly launched Mekong Dam Monitor builds on that research to provide unprecedented transparency of the flow of water and conditions of dams and reservoirs along the Mekong River. The application was developed through a partnership between the Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia Program and Eyes on Earth, Inc with funding from the Mekong-US Partnership, and the Chino Cienega Foundation. The Monitor includes multiple tools and indicators in a single platform, giving a comprehensive near-real time view of the current state of the Mekong basin along with historic conditions. Users can explore detailed information about dozens of dams and Impact Areas, including viewing satellite imagery, weekly reservoir level (meters above sea level), and inundated area, all estimated from remotely sensed data in the Virtual Gauges page. One tab over, the Lancang Cascade visualization shows the weekly state of water retention and power generation in each of China’s 11 upstream dam cascade. Just two dams in the cascade, Xiaowan and Nuozhadu can collectively hold nearly as much water as the Chesapeake Bay. The Natural Flow Model visualizations leverage analysis by Eyes on Earth that predict the expected water in the Mekong River based on temperature and precipitation data derived from satellite imagery. These values are compared to actual flow rates measured at two locations by the Mekong Water Commission. The expected and measured flow rates diverge starting in 2012 with extreme differences in 2019 and 2020 when very little of the expected water from the rainy season passed the downstream gauges. Additional data on climate anomalies, such as precipitation, snow cover, and temperature allow users to compare current and historic maps from 1992 to the present. Finally, the Basin Wide Dams and Connectivity page builds on the success of the Stimson Center’s Mekong Infrastructure Tracker Dashboard and provides comprehensive information about hydropower development in the region. This includes information about dam developers, financers, energy generation, and more. The Mekong Dam Monitor was developed using the Esri JavaScript API and leverages data hosted in ArcGIS Online as well as ArcGIS Image Server. Nearly all data shown in the Monitor is available for download for transparency. With this tool, stakeholders and policy makers will have a greater ability to anticipate environmental and social impacts of dam operations, adopt evidence-based policies for managing the Mekong River, and participate in transboundary river governance. - Categories: Federal, Public Gardens - Tags: Arboretum, Arboretum Botanical Explorer, ArcGIS - Industries: Federal Government, Public Gardens - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work To coincide with the retirement of Adobe Flash Player and to keep relevant in modern browsers for years to come, the U.S. National Arboretum took the opportunity to make enhancements to its Arboretum Botanical Explorer application, a web-mapping application powered by ArcGIS. In 2012, the U. S. National Arboretum (USNA) launched its Arboretum Botanical Explorer (ABE), giving both first-time visitors and advanced researchers a unique opportunity to explore its massive collections from anywhere in the world. This explorer replaced the Arboretum’s legacy system with a web-mapping application powered by ArcGIS, allowing users to search the collections and get information on specific plant records. To coincide with the retirement of Adobe Flash Player and to keep relevant in modern browsers for years to come, USNA took the opportunity to make enhancements to the app. The application was redeveloped in JavaScript from its original Apache Flex framework. Special considerations ensure that the new ABE retained all features present in its first iteration, while creating a fresh new design. Visitors and researchers will still be able to use the application to search plants by common and scientific name, see where mapped plants are located, turn on Collection and Garden areas, and view visitor amenities such as parking and restroom locations in preparation for their trip. Users may also choose to take a guided tour of the application to better understand all the capabilities offered. Part of the ABE redesign increased emphasis on the Arboretum’s photo collections. Visitors to the site are now greeted with a photo gallery. Selecting a photo will zoom the map to the plant location and show a wealth of information about the origin. Expanding the available search options was another goal of the ABE redesign. In addition to the photo gallery, users of the application have more advanced choices in how to explore the collections. Experienced researchers and enthusiasts alike may use the new Structured Search to query the database by collector name, garden/bed location, and even life cycle traits. Searching on multiple attributes of a plant or species helps users narrow down the large collection. For users just looking to explore, updated map symbology and the Browse Plants Search help to quickly find the results of all records in a species. And of course, once visitors are onsite they can download the USNA Mobile App from the app stores and explore the specimens, active exhibits, and tours with ease. To view the U. S. National Arboretum’s new Botanical Explorer, visit https://usna. usda. gov/abe/ - Categories: GIS - Tags: GIS Day - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight On November 18th, we celebrated GIS Day 2020 by hosting GIS students from Washington-Liberty High School for the first-ever virtual celebration. For the ninth year, Blue Raster hosted the class led by teacher, Ryan Miller, providing students with a greater understanding of the work GIS professionals do in the world today. Virtual GIS Day Celebration at Blue Raster On November 18th, we celebrated GIS Day 2020 by hosting GIS students from Washington-Liberty High School. For the ninth year, Blue Raster hosted the class led by teacher Ryan Miller, providing students with a greater understanding of the work GIS professionals do in the world today. Unlike previous years, this year was the first-ever virtual celebration. The Blue Raster team shared some of the most recent real-world GIS success stories through a round of lighting talk presentation on recent and ongoing projects. From a distance, we were able to connect through the power of GIS technologies such as Collector for ArcGIS and ArcGIS Dashboards designed for a tree foliage field activity. GIS Day Stars Additionally, this year we experienced the unique opportunity of hosting and being part of GIS Day with WJLA ABC7’s Outside the Classroom. Ryan Miller broadcast live from the Blue Raster Jungle and the Blue Raster team shared how we leverage on the power of storytelling using GIS data. The show was streamed live on both WJLA and Facebook. You can watch the Facebook recording here. Read more about some of Blue Raster’s past GIS Day activities here. - Categories: Federal, Health - Tags: DHS Mobile, DHS Program, Federal, Health, USAID - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster worked with The DHS Program to re-design and launch its website. The modernized look and simplified layout make it easier than ever for users to access what they need: country-specific data, powerful tools and resources, survey reports, and more. Having access to global population and health data is critical to understanding and addressing public health issues. The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program collects and disseminates nationally representative and accurate data on population, health, and nutrition data across more than 90 countries. This year, Blue Raster worked with The DHS Program to re-design and launch its website. The modernized look and simplified layout make it easier than ever for users to access what they need: country-specific data, powerful tools and resources, survey reports, and more. The DHS Program's website is also mobile-friendly, meaning you can access it anytime and anywhere on your mobile device. A new, clean look offers a feel-good navigation. 1. Explore by Country search Search for your country of interest immediately after opening the website. Navigate to country-specific reports and statistics through this panel. 2. Featured Tool panel DHS provides powerful tools to explore and download data. This panel gives you the chance to explore tools you may not have known about before. 3. Tools & Resources panel View and access the complete collection of tools and resources that help make the most use of country data. This handy panel displays all of the available items. Additionally, it allows you to sort by type in order to view featured items or sort by analysis and learning tools. 4. Publications panel View the most recent publications or search based on a country, topic, or survey. The DHS Program is known worldwide for its rigorous collection, analysis, and publishing of their data through these reports. 5. DHS Topics panel Another way to access data and reports is through the DHS topics menu. Select topics like Malaria, Maternal Mortality, Gender, and much more.   Sunita Kishor, Director of The DHS Program had this to say “ ... . congratulations to our amazing website team for the public launch of the ‘new’ DHS website... . Thank you for making us all so proud. ” Learn more about our work with The DHS Program and STATcompiler. In addition to leveraging Esri technologies for web mapping solutions, Blue Raster leverages our in-house design team to enhance user experiences through design-driven solutions. Read about the design work we have done for ocean conservation. - Categories: Conservation, Design, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals, UI - Tags: conservation, Design, Oceans, UI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work In collaboration with The Pew Charitable Trusts, Blue Raster assisted in the design of the SubsidyExplorer tool’s interface and workflow to create a web application tool that is easier to understand, navigate, and execute. SubsidyExplorer is a first-of-its-kind interactive toolkit that allows users to explore potential biological and economic impacts of fisheries subsidy reform scenarios. The SubsidyExplorer Tool According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 60% of the world’s fish stocks are being exploited at unsustainable levels, posing a risk for future stock collapses. This would harm food security, marine ecosystems, and fishing economies across the world. Much of these practices are enabled by harmful fisheries subsidies that incentivize fisheries to prioritize profits over sustainable measures. About Fisheries Subsidies Fisheries subsidies can be beneficial and aimed towards activities like sustainable management, research on fish populations, and helping fishers survive a lean season. However, other fisheries subsidies can be potentially harmful, because they may contribute to the overexploitation of fish stocks. These subsidies, paid to help offset the costs of vessel fuel, upgrades, renovations, and other expenses, enable fleets to fish farther from shore and longer than they otherwise would. Comparative charting and mapping provide key insights into global and regional fishing subsidy trends. In response to these issues, Pew Charitable Trusts, with help from the Environmental Market Solutions Lab (emLab), developed the SubsidyExplorer tool. This powerful application lets policymakers and leaders simulate legislative goals and feasibility for fishing policy reform. In collaboration with Pew, Blue Raster assisted in the design of the tool’s interface and workflow to create a web application tool that is easier to understand, navigate, and execute. The Tool gives users concise yet informative information in each of the sections. About the Tool The tool allows users to explore subsidy reform scenarios with pre-populated policy proposals or custom-made proposals. Clear and concise queues guide the user through a step-by-step workflow to select factors and parameters for their desired legislative goals and outcomes. Side panels also display workflow progress, remaining steps, and chosen parameters in the workflow. Additionally, the SubsidyExplorer tool generates comparative charting mapping visuals to provide the reader with a deeper understanding of their specified policy reform scenarios, which they can print and share with others. The SubsidyExplorer tool is the latest example of how Blue Raster leverages design to improve web application effectiveness and enhance user experiences. As a result, Pew can provide a powerful tool for policymakers and decisionmakers around the globe to plan, propose, and enact urgent ocean policy issues. Now that’s a big catch! - Categories: Power BI - Tags: How To, Microsoft Power BI, Power BI - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Active Work Power BI enables anyone to connect to data and turn it into insights. It was built with the “citizen developer” in mind, meaning that users don’t need to have previous BI experience or know any complicated code. Making the shift from Excel to Power BI to display meaningful and actionable data is more simple than you might expect. Get started with your first Power BI report today! Power BI enables anyone to connect to data and turn it into insights. It was built with the “citizen developer” in mind, meaning that users don’t need to have previous BI experience or know any complicated code. Making the shift from Excel to Power BI to display meaningful and actionable data is more simple than you might expect. Get started with your first Power BI report today! Build Your Own Report If you’re ready to get started, I recommend that you take a look at our October webinar, where we walk you through building your first report. You can access the source files here to follow along step-by-step, and if you get lost or want to see how we’ve done something, you can take a look at the sample Power BI desktop file. Just this month, the Power BI team has made it easier for us to get started with the tool! In this post, I will walk you through how to build your first Power BI report using the sample data that comes included in the Power BI desktop tool! You can read Microsoft’s full update blog that includes other new features here. 1. Open Power BI Desktop (must be the October 2020 version*) If you are wondering what version of Power BI you are working with, simply click on the Help tab of the ribbon and select About. You’ll get a popup that shows you what version you are working on. Another easy way to tell is that the October version looks very different from previous versions, in that what you see on the screen is not just a blank canvas! You should see some nice new guidance text and images to help you get started! 2. Select Try a sample dataset and Load data from the popup window From here you will get a popup window that shows you the contents of the sample data file. This Excel file has one sheet (Sheet 1) containing one table (financials). 3. Select financials by checking the box next to the content, which will show you a preview of the data Click on Load to add the data in the financials table to the Power BI data model. Note that once you become more comfortable with Power BI, you will want to select the Transform Data button, which will open up the Power Query editor and allow you to make transformations to the data. Today, we’re going to work with the data as it appears in the source. 4. Select a field from the fields pane to add data to your canvas. You must ensure that a tick mark appears next to the field. After you have added a field, you can use the Visualizations pane to change the type of visualization you want to display. You are now on your way to building Power BI reports. With just a few clicks of a button you can present data to decision makers! For more information on how to use Power BI, browse our curated list of Power BI resources. Ready to find out more? Contact us today for a free consultation! Email *Power BI Desktop is updated with new features monthly. If you are using Power BI Desktop that you downloaded from the Microsoft Store, your tool will automatically update. Read this helpful blog post for more information. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Conservation, Development, Economic Development, Environment, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Transportation, Water - Tags: ArcGIS JavaScript API, ArcGIS Online, Asia, Economic development, infrastructure, Survey123, water - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The latest release of The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker includes data on Industrial Spaces. In addition to major transportation hubs, such as railway stations, airports, and seaports, these include special economic zones, cross border economic zones, and industrial zones. These areas, with special tax treatment and other regulations, are a key centers of economic activity and international investment. The Mekong Policy Project aims to address the regional environmental and social impacts along the Mekong River to improve food security, stability and cross-country relations. Launched earlier this year, The Stimson Center's Mekong Infrastructure Tracker offers unprecedented transparency into the financing and development of roads, rails, waterways, and power generation projects in the Mekong region. Funded by USAID and supported by The Asia Foundation, the tool allows users to search and filter for projects by type, operational status, funders, and more. Mekong Infrastructure Tracker Updates Now, with the latest release, the Tracker includes data on Industrial Spaces. In addition to major transportation hubs, such as railway stations, airports, and seaports, these include special economic zones, cross border economic zones, and industrial zones. These areas, with special tax treatment and other regulations, are key centers of economic activity and international investment. "The Tracker's new industrial spaces dataset provides for the first time a visualization of 700+ completed and planned industrial zones, special economic zones, airports, train stations, and seaports in the Mekong region. We think the private sector, government stakeholders, and NGOs will find particular interest in viewing this data. When viewing the data on the Project Impact Screener, the connectivity of the region really come forward because these industrial spaces can be framed together with a comprehensive set of transportation routes and power generation assets. " - Brian Eyler, Senior Fellow and Director at The Stimson Center Leveraging ArcGIS Online and the ESRI JavaScript API, The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker builds on existing data to present a comprehensive source of information on energy, transportation, and water infrastructure in the Mekong countries. Additionally, there is an ArcGIS Survey123 link that allows users to submit more project data or provide updates to existing data. The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker platform is the premier resource for researchers to track, monitor, and quantify the development of energy, transportation, and water infrastructure assets and the social, economic, and ecological changes they bring to South East Asia. - Categories: Cemetery, Esri, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Public Gardens - Tags: Cemetery, Field GIS, Field Mobility, infrastructure, Public Garden, Public Gardens - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster collaborated with Mount Auburn Cemetery, The Alliance for Public Gardens GIS (APGG), and BG-BASE to develop an automated link from BG-BASE to Esri software. This process involved moving plant record data to a SQL Server Enterprise Geodatabase loaded with the Alliance for Public Gardens GIS data-model. In the United States, garden cemeteries as we know them today emerged out of the growing need to separate burial grounds from city life. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts (approx. 4 miles from Boston), and founded in 1831, Mount Auburn Cemetery became the first of these "rural cemeteries". It serves as both a burial ground and a horticultural display garden spanning 175-acres, making it the nation's first garden cemetery. Improving Garden Cemetery Workflows Like many other public gardens that host large amounts of plant collections, Mount Auburn relies on a sophisticated botanical garden database application called BG-BASE. When it comes to GIS-based mapping, plant information stored in BG-BASE cannot be easily fed into web-based maps. Blue Raster collaborated with Mount Auburn, The Alliance for Public Gardens GIS (APGG), and BG-BASE to develop an automated link from BG-BASE to Esri software. This process involved moving plant record data to a SQL Server Enterprise Geodatabase loaded with the Alliance for Public Gardens GIS data-model. Existing plant records, attribute or location updates, and new additions can be pushed from BG-BASE to Esri database. As a result, plant information displays in GIS-based mapping applications and is accessible for internal horticulture and facility management teams. This brings Mount Auburn Cemetery to the forefront of the public garden community with its continued moderization of horticulture management via GIS. Flora Mount Auburn Application In addition to automating internal workflows, Blue Raster developed Mount Auburn's first interactive web mapping application, Flora Mount Auburn. The app showcases plant collections, staff-curated tours, and amenities across the cemetery. Showcased on a custom-made basemap, users can virtually navigate the grounds while exploring and interacting with the surrounding flora. We leveraged ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Portal and the ArcGIS JavaScript API. The Explore feature allows you to take thematic tours that expose the user to a variety of plants and landscapes across the 175 acres. Tour themes cover topics like environmental stewardship and sustainability, African American heritage, and famous botanists and horticulturalists at Mount Auburn. In the app, the tour walking distance, time, and total points of interest are displayed before starting. When the tour begins, the app navigates along the delineated tour path of the curated tour. In addition to tours, the map offers visitors a 360-degree experience to view plants or monuments. Using Cemetery360 technology, Flora Mount Auburn allows users to drop a pin and immerse themselves in the area of interest, outdoors and indoors! The Search Plants feature allows you to look-up plants in the garden cemetery and see where they are located across the grounds. Plants can be searched by their Common, Scientific or Family Name, Habit, Garden Location, or unique Accession and Qualifier. A plant Search List is generated as you look for plants, which can be exported to a table with details of every plant that exists in the searched plant collection. Whether you're a botanist or a novice plant enthusiast, the app makes it easy to search, locate, and learn more about your plants of interest. Blue Raster's Garden Experience Blue Raster is experienced with plant data and workflows in gardens and cemeteries. We leverage Esri Field GIS applications for plant and monument maintenance workflows, drones for high resolution imagery, mobile applications for visitors, and continually stay up to date with the American Public Gardens Association. Blue Raster continues to serve public gardens in their mission to be inclusive for all and indispensable to the community. Learn more about how gardens are modernizing their operations by combining their horticulture management with GIS: https://www. blueraster. com/gardens/ Ready to find out more? Get in touch with us today! Contact Us - Categories: Power BI - Tags: ArcGISMaps for Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Power BI, Power BI - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Technological Insights - Types: Insight Power BI is a comprehensive, self-service business intelligence platform built for the citizen developer, meaning that anyone can develop Power BI reports without being an expert in development and code. There is a robust community surrounding the Microsoft product with a number of comprehensive training opportunities to address the needs of users. Welcome to the community! Power BI Resources Power BI is a comprehensive, self-service business intelligence platform. Built for the citizen developer, anyone can develop Microsoft Power BI reports without being an expert in development and code. There is a robust community surrounding the Microsoft product with a number of comprehensive training opportunities to address the needs of users. Welcome to the community! There are several introductory trainings that are essential to understanding Power BI. Below are some of our favorite Power BI Resources. Introduction to Data Modeling for Power BI This is an introductory course about data modeling, which is a required skill to get the best out of Power BI, Power Pivot for Excel, and Analysis Services. It is aimed at users that do not have a background knowledge in data modeling for analytical systems and reporting. Introducing DAX DAX is the native language of Power BI, Power Pivot for Excel, and SSAS Tabular models in Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services. The training is aimed at users of Power BI, Power Pivot for Excel, and at Analysis Services developers that want to move the first steps with DAX. The goal is to teach the DAX language using Power BI for all the examples. Microsoft Power BI Guided Learning The Microsoft guided learning is excellent and contains videos, text, and sample files to work with. If you are new to Power BI, start here. There are 6 modules in the “Getting Started with Power BI” learning path. Each module takes around 60 minutes   Esri ArcGIS Maps for Power BI Documentation The Esri documentation contains a clear, self-guided tutorial that walks developers through everything from data preparation to navigating the map you just built. The documentation will take about 60 minutes to work through. Topic-Specific Videos Microsoft Power BI The Microsoft Power BI YouTube channel has excellent high-quality videos on specific Power BI topics for all levels, from beginning to advanced. The “Getting Started with Power BI” playlist is the recommended place to start for new users Guy in a Cube Two Power BI employees have built a vast library of Power BI resources on their YouTube channel. This list has topic-specific videos ranging from a couple of minutes to twenty minutes. The way they deliver material is entertaining and easy to understand. Curbal This YouTube channel posts videos three times weekly on Power Query, Power BI, and DAX. This site is also fairly topic-specific, so it is helpful if users know what they are looking for when navigating through the site. The New to Power BI playlist is a recommended place to start. PowerPivotPro This YouTube channel takes a slightly different approach to Power BI and really focuses on the ins and outs of Power Query (M) and Power BI (DAX). This organization also has an easily searchable blog/site that is both easy to read and use. Check for upcoming webinars Contact Our Power BI Professionals to Get Started Today! Shannon Lindsay Ms. Lindsay is a Microsoft Certified data and analytics professional serves as Blue Raster’s Power BI Lead. Phil Satlof Mr. Satlof manages IT projects and all aspects of web application and GIS development at Blue Raster. Learn more about Blue Raster's Power BI work via our blog posts, Power BI and ArcGIS Maps for Power BI pages. Join our mailing list below and receive a downloadable copy of the Power BI resource guide. - Categories: GIS - Tags: Interns - Industries: Uncategorized - Types: Insight Beth, Victoria and Luke, this year’s GIS interns, spent the summer working from their homes developing GIS products and solutions on a wide variety of projects. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked remotely along with the rest of Blue Raster, jumping right in, and contributing to the team. Another Blue Raster summer internship wrapped up this month. Beth, Victoria and Luke, this year’s GIS interns, spent the summer working from their homes developing GIS products and solutions on a wide variety of projects. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked remotely along with the rest of Blue Raster, jumping right in, and contributing to the team. From left: Beth Wiberg, Victoria Dombrowik, Luke Watson-Sharer On our first day, we immediately got our feet wet. Beth and Victoria began developing COVID-19 dashboards with Esri’s ArcGIS Dashboards while Luke utilized his Spanish in an ArcGIS StoryMap for the Meridian Institute. These initial projects were challenging for a new intern, but they prepared us to tackle more difficult projects and work more closely with clients. Over the course of the summer, we worked with a variety of clients: from private companies like Esri and Microsoft to NGOs and government agencies like The World Bank, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the Jane Goodall Institute. We contributed towards building and learning new GIS workflows to create the best possible products for our clients. When asking Beth about her favorite project from this year, she said that “working on the World Bank Gender Based Violence app was my favorite project because it was one I got to see come to fruition. It was cool to see my contribution help move the project forward and work on an application that addresses a significant world-wide issue. ” Interns at the Esri UC The Esri User Conference was one of the most rewarding experiences of our internship. The Plenary sessions, along with other sessions about new software and new geospatial tools, were available for us to view and participate in throughout the week. These sessions provided us the opportunity to learn about the recent trends within the industry, including many of the new products bring developed by Esri. Part of being an intern is learning, and at Blue Raster we were very fortunate to see a new side of the GIS field through both the UC and hands-on, web based Esri application work experience. Many of the web applications became staples in everyday work and helped us improve our data visualization and mapping skills. “Watching the Plenary sessions as a GIS team was a great experience, one I would not have had in the pre-coronavirus world. Seeing the roll-out of new features and products to incorporate into my own projects and ideas one day was an invaluable experience. ” Luke Watson-Sharer Lessons Learned From getting exposure to a wide variety of projects and clients to working closely in product development, we gained some key takeaways throughout this summer internship. Beth’s biggest takeaway pertains to the nature of remote internships, which she believed to be an invaluable experience. “It is possible to have a completely fulfilling virtual internship. Everyone was very accommodating and helpful with the unexpected situation we were in. ” Our ability to collaborate virtually gave us the flexibility to work together to bring out the best in each other and we worked very closely together. As Victoria pointed out, we felt very close despite being remote. “Although this summer did not turn out how I expected, I never felt far away from the rest of the GIS team. I enjoyed the collaborative environment and that everyone I worked with had a different skill set. ” Who knew Virtual Bingo would be so much fun? ! As the summer concludes, we all look forward to taking our skills and experiences from this internship into our future schoolwork and careers. Following this internship, Beth will finish up her bachelor’s degree at the Ohio State University in the fall. Luke will return to Clark University as a senior studying GIS and will begin his honors thesis this fall. Victoria will be returning to Yale University for her senior year, where she hopes to learn more about GIS development by enrolling in programming courses. We hope to keep in touch with our coworkers at Blue Raster and are excited to see what the futures holds. - Categories: User Conference - Tags: conference, Esri Conference, Esri UC, Esri User Conference - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Blue Raster attended the largest GIS event of the year: the annual Esri User Conference. Because of the current pandemic, the event went virtual this year and allowed GIS users around the world easy access to the three-day, livestreamed event. Over 86,000 people from 180 countries registered to take part. Last week Blue Raster attended the largest GIS event of the year: the annual Esri User Conference. Because of the current pandemic, the event went virtual this year and allowed GIS users around the world easy access to the three-day, livestreamed event. Over 86,000 people from 180 countries registered to take part. Blue Raster at the UC Despite the different format for this year's conference, the Blue Raster team exhibited in the virtual expo and participated in many of the sessions. The expo provided a space to connect with other GIS professionals and users via video conferencing and chat. https://www. blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/booth-vid. mp4 Day one kicked off with the first of three plenary sessions spread out throughout the week. Esri founder Jack Dangermond started off the livestream acknowledging the state of the world noting that, although the attendees could not be there in person, we are all connecting in a different way. Much of the plenary focused on how people have utilized GIS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many user applications appeared on screen, including Blue Raster's StoryMap with the Red Cross. The UC is a Learning Experience Most of the Blue Raster team attended workshops, Special Interest Group, and technical sessions and walked away with new skills and knowledge about the latest features from Esri. Some of the features we are most excited about are: GeoCards: These dynamic, informational cards are one of the new features for ArcGIS Experience Builder. GeoCards dynamically show individual feature statistics against a color or thematic background and can link out to other data sources, StoryMaps, or Dashboards for users to explore the data more! Other new Experience Builder enhancements include Bookmarks, which can be used to configure a step-by-step display of locations in a web map, similar to a tour. In addition, there are new visual animations to set effects such as Zoom or Fade-in on widgets when they appear in view. ArcGIS Field Maps: This new app combines capabilities of five ArcGIS field applications, Collector, Explorer, Navigator, Tracker, and Workforce into one easy to use and convenient mapping application. It saves space and time for the mobile workforce.   You can watch the three plenary sessions via YouTube. View thought-provoking and powerful stories about how GIS is making a difference in the world. See demonstrations of the latest technology and capabilities ArcGIS offers. Registered attendees will have access to the on-demand conference content until September 1, 2020. Select conference content will be available to a broader audience through at least December 31, 2020. Did we meet at the UC? Schedule a meeting with the Blue Raster team! Contact Us - Categories: Conservation, Environment, Forest, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Deforestation, Esri, Forest, Global Forest Watch, World Resources Institute - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Featured in the new Esri Press book, GIS for Science II, “Tracking Global Forest Loss” explores the study and the use of advanced geospatial tools like Esri's Emerging Hot Spot tool to analyze and monitor forest loss throughout Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. Deforestation impacts the environment in many ways. Habitat loss, desertification, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change are just some of the negative effects. In an effort to understand trends in deforestion, Blue Raster collaborated with the World Resources Institute and Esri to publish a study about using spatial statistics to identify Emerging Hot Spots of forest loss. We are excited to announce that this work is part of a new publication. Featured in the new Esri Press book, GIS for Science, “Tracking Global Forest Loss” explores the study and the use of advanced geospatial tools to analyze and monitor forest loss throughout Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. GIS for Science: Applying Mapping and Spatial Analytics, Volume 2 will officially be released in October 2020, but the pre-release volume is available digitally at this year’s Esri User Conference. Using Esri’s Emerging Hot Spot Analysis, Blue Raster helped develop a workflow for mapping changes of deforestation through time and visualizing the impact of environmental policy across the world. The Emerging Hot Spot Analysis tool detects trends in data by analyzing new, intensifying, diminishing, and sporadic hot and cold spots. When analyzing for deforestation trends, Blue Raster worked to identify continual trends for hot spots of tree cover loss and cold spots of diminishing loss. As the threat to our environment grows, scientists are working with cutting-edge GIS technology to help decision makers, technical experts and the broader public better understand trends in deforestation and improve future forest monitoring. With the ability to quantify deforestation loss over time, governments and other interest groups can create more effective policy over time. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Health, Power BI - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Data Visualization, DHIS2, Microsoft Power BI, Power BI - Industries: Education, Federal Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work DHIS2 is used in over 60 countries by Ministries of Health to monitor both aggregate and patient-level data. Blue Raster has had the opportunity to create enhanced visualizations of data collected and stored in DHIS2 using Power BI and ArcGIS Online. What is DHIS2? DHIS2, the District Health Information Software, is an open-source platform for data collection, analysis and reporting of healthy system data. Ministries of Health in over 60 countries use DHIS2 to monitor both aggregate and patient-level data. Blue Raster has had the opportunity to create enhanced visualizations of data collected and stored in DHIS2 using Power BI and ArcGIS Online. What is enhanced visualization? While the DHIS2 platform has inbuilt data visualization capabilities, Blue Raster found opportunities to optimize the presentation of data for decision making in the form of interactive dashboards using Power BI and geospatial analysis using ArcGIS Online. We determined that Power BI and ArcGIS Online were the right tools for the job, and we created an automated workflow to extract data directly from DHIS2 for processing and display in other tools. We put this workflow to use in our work on the TRACE project in Lesotho. These visualizations are helping to guide decision makers and contribute to the global fight to reach HIV epidemic control. Why use those additional technologies? Using Power BI and ArcGIS Online adds analytic value and the opportunity to customize the look and feel of DHIS2 visualizations. Advantages of Power BI: Additional data processing/cleaning prior to visualization Cross-filter and cross-highlight between different visualizations Drill up and down in geographic hierarchies Copy and paste specific visuals and export data from visuals Advantages of ArcGIS Online: Explore connections between data using customizable interactive maps Develop professional-looking web applications to visualize data using out of the box configurable tools Perform statistical and geospatial analysis using your data sets and sources from ESRI's Living Atlas (library of curated datasets) How can I get started with my DHIS2 data? Blue Raster can help you take full advantage of your DHIS2 data. Our expertise in human-centered design coupled with our technical expertise in Power BI and Esri's ArcGIS tools can help you make the best decisions at the right time using your data. Contact us today to get started. - Categories: Esri, User Conference - Tags: conference, Esri UC, Esri User Conference - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The 2020 Esri UC is a completely virtual event designed to give users and students an interactive, online experience with Esri and the GIS community. Participate in sessions and view presentations that offer geospatial solutions, browse the online Map Gallery, watch the Plenary Session, and much more. The Esri User Conference (Esri UC) is virtual this year! ArcGIS users, Esri staff, and special guests will share their powerful stories on how GIS is making a difference in the world. See demonstrations of the latest technology and capabilities in ArcGIS that will empower you to take your work to the next level. Esri UC 2020 is lining up to be the world's biggest GIS event of the year! View the detailed agenda here. Esri UC is July 13 - 16, 2020 Joined by Jack Dangermond, this year's plenary guests are Dr. Vicki Phillips, Executive Vice President and Chief Education Officer, National Geographic Society, and Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, UN SDG Advocate, and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. They will share their vision on how the monitoring and analysis of data will help us achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals. Esri UC 2020 Expo Blue Raster will be virtually exhibiting this year. Attendees can visit us online via chat and set up live Zoom meetings. More information will be provided once the conference beings. Our virtual "booth" will be staffed during all of the conference expo hours, and we want to talk with you! We can't wait to tell you about our latest GIS capabilities and projects. Expo Hours: Monday, July 13th from 3:05pm - 6:45pm ET Tuesday, July 14th from 10:30am-12:40pm ET and 2:10pm-6:45pm ET Wednesday, July 15th from 10:30am-12:40pm ET and 2:10-6:45pm ET Map Gallery Look for our 3 entries in the Virtual Map Gallery: Full conference access to the Esri UC is available if you are current on your maintenance plan or subscription, including users with ArcGIS for Personal Use licenses, distributors and partners. Register here. Plenary Session access is complimentary for everyone. Connect With US Set up a time to virtually meet with us at the UC! Email - Categories: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Conservation, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map, Sustainable Development Goals, Women in Science - Tags: ArcGIS StoryMaps, conservation, Jane Goodall, Jane Goodall Institute, Story Map, Web AppBuilder - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dr. Jane Goodall's research on wild chimpanzees, Blue Raster teamed up with the Jane Goodall Institute to launch a new interactive story map. Powered by Esri's ArcGIS StoryMaps, DISCOVERY, INNOVATION & HOPE allows viewers to explore six decades of discovery in Gombe, Tanzania, and highlights Dr. Goodall's role as a scientific trailblazer. DISCOVERY, INNOVATION & HOPE On July 14th, 1960, a young Jane Goodall would arrive in Gombe, Tanzania to begin her study of wild chimpanzees. Six decades later, the same Dr. Goodall is a forerunner in the field of animal behavior, an innovator in community-led conservation, and a scientist whose work will continue to influence future generations of researchers. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dr. Goodall's pioneering research, Blue Raster partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute to create a new, interactive story map using Esri's ArcGIS StoryMaps technology. This new story map, titled DISCOVERY, INNOVATION & HOPE, builds on the previously published ENGAGE – LISTEN – UNDERSTAND – ACT, with a greater focus on how Jane’s work changed the world of conservation. DISCOVERY, INNOVATION & HOPE utilizes the sidecar feature within ArcGIS StoryMaps to demonstrate how the Jane Goodall Institute’s research area has expanded over the past 60 years. Viewers can travel from the Gombe Stream Game Reserve of 1960 to the over six million hectares of land the Institute now works with today by simply scrolling through the maps. Jane Goodall's Influence A reoccurring theme throughout the Story Map is Jane’s dedication to mentorship. The knowledge and impact of Gombe researchers extends across the globe with over 300 scientific articles produced at the Jane Goodall Institute. An interactive map of affiliated researchers allows readers of the Story Map to learn a little more about the people who continue to study animal behavior in Tanzania. Images courtesy of Vanne Goodall, Nick Riley Photography, Shawn Sweeney, Lilian Pintea, and the Jane Goodall Institute. The importance of spatial analysis in conservation efforts is also highlighted. Gombe has three distinct communities of chimpanzees: Mitumba, Kasekela, and Kalande. Using long-term data, researchers were able to estimate range maps for the groups, which then informed decisions on habitat restoration. Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS brings these range maps to life by showing chimpanzee community movement from 1973 to 2016. Story map readers can interact with the app to learn about how deforestation and an increase in human settlements have affected each of the chimpanzee groups. Restoration of vital great ape habitats is jointly achieved through natural resource management and local involvement in land-use planning. Connecting spatial information with conservation efforts fosters a more sustainable environments for both humans and chimpanzees. View the new story map here. For more information about our work with the Jane Goodall Institute, read our blog posts here. - Categories: Power BI, Training - Tags: Data Visualization, Power BI, Training - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Data visualization provides a powerful way to communicate data-driven findings, motivate analyses, and aid in decision-making. As organizations further prioritize the need to develop data-driven solutions into workspaces, it becomes important to develop skills and workflows through professional development. Using our industry expertise, Blue Raster developed a comprehensive, live virtual data visualization training package to meet the needs of our client, IBTCI. Data visualization provides a powerful way to communicate data-driven findings, motivate analyses, and aid in decision-making. As organizations further prioritize the need to develop data-driven solutions into workspaces, it becomes important to develop skills and workflows through professional development. International Business and Technical Consultants Inc. (IBTCI), an international development consulting company, needed a program to deliver data visualization training to some of its Monitoring & Evaluation professionals around the world. Using our industry expertise, Blue Raster developed a comprehensive, live virtual data visualization training package to meet the needs of IBTCI. The IBTCI Monitoring and Evaluation professionals each averaged 10+ years working with data in the fields of global health, education, land management, and other international development fields. Conducted via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, Blue Raster prioritized collaboration and inquiry, which built a gregarious and interactive training for the 20 participants located throughout Kenya, Malawi, and the United States. Particpants from Kenya, Malawi, and the US created a virtual community Data Visualization Training Program Broken into three 2-hour sessions, we developed a structured and comprehensive approach to virtual data visualization training. Blue Raster Power BI Developer Shannon Lindsay guided participants through discussions and demonstrations on how to visually optimize data for storytelling and decision making. Session 1 In the first session, participants reviewed and discussed the building blocks of high-impact data visualization. How do you visualize and analyze data so you can extract insights and actionable information? Shannon introduced examples of catering data visualizations to your audience, how to best use your visuals, and developing dashboards. Session 2 The second session focused on integrating dashboards with Microsoft Excel and Power BI. Power BI allows users to develop a single hub that tracks and manages assets for an organization or project. Additionally, the participants discussed integrating multiple datasets from different sources in order to make captivating and detailed dashboards. Session 3 The third session provided a chance for the participants to make their own dashboards in Power BI or another program of their choice. Each participant shared their work and received feedback and tips. Additionally, the class discussed using some basic location data in both Microsoft Excel and Power BI. By the end of the training, participants learned to improve upon their current data visualizations and to consider other applications like Power BI for future projects. Positive feedback from participants concluded that the data visualization training provided necessary and useful skills in data design and visualization techniques for future projects. As organizations further prioritize the need to develop data-driven solutions into workspaces, it becomes important to develop skills and workflows towards becoming a data-driven organization through professional development programs. Blue Raster can assist organizations by developing customized fully interactive virtual trainings to build solutions and further the goals of your organization. Ready to find out more? Learn more about our training capabilities! Learn More & Contact Us - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Conservation, Development, Environment, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Transportation, Water - Tags: ArcGIS JavaScript API, ArcGIS Online, Development, Environment, infrastructure, JavaScript API, Transportation, water - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker web app provides the user with data transparency to analyze the type and scale of different infrastructure projects in the region in relation to socioeconomic and environmental factors. Home to more than 300 million people and some of the most endangered wildlife on the planet, the Greater Mekong region in Southeast Asia is the second most naturally diverse place in the world, second only to the Amazon. This region is also home to the Mekong River which not only sustains much of the wildlife in the area, but also the people. The majority of the population in this region is dependent on the river and its surrounding wetlands to support their way of life. In turn this also means that this population and the vast biodiversity in the region are extremely vulnerable to the economic and environmental outcomes of growing infrastructure. As one of the nation’s leading think tanks dedicated to building solutions to promote international security, prosperity, and justice, the Stimson Center is working to address the environmental and social impacts along the Mekong river to improve food security, stability and cross-country relations. To help analyze these issues, Blue Raster collaborated with the Stimson Center to create The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker, an interactive Web App to explore the infrastructure boom and its impacts in the Mekong region. With funding provided by USAID, the Mekong Infrastructure Tracker was developed with support from the USAID Mekong Safeguards activity led by The Asia Foundation. The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker web app leverages ArcGIS Online and the ESRI JavaScript API and provides users with data transparency to analyze the type and scale of different infrastructure projects in the region in relation to socioeconomic and environmental factors. The tracker contains two dashboards, one showing power generation projects and the other showing road, rail, and waterway infrastructure projects. The data in the tracker visualizes projects by type in combination with data showing threatened species, earthquakes over the last twenty years, armed conflict, ethnicity, watersheds and tributaries that can all be turned on and off depending on user preference. Additionally, users can filter the projects by a variety of statuses: year of completion, project size, sponsoring country, project type, country, or watershed. From these filters, the tracker produces a series of charts and graphs to better visualize some of the statistics surrounding these projects which can then be downloaded based on user needs. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Charts. mp4 The Mekong Infrastructure Tracker allows for transparency of the infrastructural impact on this region, both protecting the diverse and endangered wildlife as well as the livelihoods of millions of people. Explore this new tool today! - Categories: ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Disaster Response, Emergency Management, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Disaster Response, Emergency Management, Experience Builder, story - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Safety - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work While a large portion of the country and world is doing its part to stay indoors during the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, organizations like the American Red Cross continue to provide disaster relief. What do these efforts look like during times of COVID-19? To highlight these efforts, Blue Raster collaborated with the Red Cross to publish a new story map: How the Red Cross is Helping During COVID-19. While a large portion of the country and world is doing its part to stay indoors during the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, organizations like the American Red Cross continue to provide disaster relief. What do these efforts look like during times of COVID-19? To highlight these efforts, Blue Raster collaborated with the Red Cross to publish a new story map: How the Red Cross is Helping During COVID-19. The goal of the story map is to showcase how the Red Cross has shifted its operations while continuing to fulfill their lifesaving work to alleviate suffering despite the pandemic. Additionally, since the coronavirus disease impacts different regions in different ways, the story map highlights what COVID-19 relief missions look like across the country. Just as important, it provides the reader with resources for how to help. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Red-Cross-StoryMap-snippet. mp4 Red Cross StoryMap Details To portray the significance of the Red Cross’s efforts, Blue Raster leveraged ArcGIS StoryMaps platform. We were excited to configure the new Navigation bar. This allows the read to skip the scrolling and jump to a section of interest. The new floating panel layout for the Sidecar allows the featured photos to tell more than a thousand words. In addition, the Express Map helps highlight the geographic breadth of the Red Cross’s COVID-19 response. Thanks to the photos provided by the Red Cross, the story map provides an intimate look into the interactions between the Red Cross relief teams and those being assisted during a time of strict distancing. View the full Red Cross StoryMap here: How the Red Cross is Helping People During COVID-19 In times of COVID-19, Blue Raster prioritizes helping organizations like the Red Cross tell their story in a meaningful and impactful way. Learn about COVID-10 Response efforts using ArcGIS. We are ready to assist your organization with the rapid setup of ArcGIS platforms that best suit your needs, such as Operations Dashboards, ArcGIS Hub, and Experience Builder, and more. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist your organization. - Categories: Power BI - Tags: Microsoft Power BI, Power BI, Training - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Implementing a new platform can be challenging and multi-faceted, and Blue Raster’s experience has helped us pinpoint keys to success in the development, deployment, and maintenance of tailored Power BI solutions. Get Started with Power BI today! Implementing a new platform can be challenging and multi-faceted, and Blue Raster’s experience has helped us pinpoint keys to success in the development, deployment, and maintenance of tailored Power BI solutions. We’ll help you focus on the process and the people needed to implement a new platform (change is hard! ), and we’ve got the technical chops and training skills to ensure that this becomes a sustainable, self-service solution. We want to help you get started with Power BI today! 3 Steps for Getting Started 1) Think about what you are trying to solve: Are your business processes creating bottlenecks? Do you see areas with room for improvement in terms of efficiency? How are you measuring the relative success/failure of business processes? Are there areas of your business you would like to track more closely? Do you need up-to-date data at your fingertips about a process/product/topic area? 2) Think about your data: That’s a big ask – but think about the questions you want to answer and then try to think about whether you have existing data that can answer those questions. Now think about where the data resides and in what format – Is your data in Excel? SharePoint? SQL server? MySQL? DHIS2? 3) Put it all together. Does the data you identified in step 2 answer any of the problems/questions identified in step 1? If you do not have the data to answer your questions, are you able to start collecting it? Business intelligence is about the generation of actionable insights – and having a clear understanding of the problems you are facing and the data you have to help you solve those problems will help you on your way! What can Blue Raster do for you? The Blue Raster team will help you think through the questions above (which are harder than they may appear) and will guide you through our tested deployment process. Regardless of which deployment type and strategy your organization takes on, the process remains the same. Note that the process documented below is intended to help organizations get started with Power BI, but that BI implementation is not linear. The process of feedback and learning is continuous, and any report developer will tell you that reports are never done! 1. Requirements Gathering 2. Determine Architecture and Licensing 3. Training 4. Establish Content Organization and Governance Strategy 5. Set Adoption Targets 6. Build and Deploy 1. Requirements Gathering Prior to the implementation of Power BI, Blue Raster will guide your team through key questions that will help inform deployment, architecture, and licensing decisions. Key questions to ask when planning your deployment: Where is source data stored? Who are your report developers, end-users/consumers, and system admins? How do end-users want to consume this data? How frequently will data be updated (in the source)? What is the existing IT infrastructure? Are there security standards requiring data to remain on premises? What is the complexity of the solution? (model size/complexity, query complexity, row level security needs) 2. Determine Architecture and Licensing Determining architecture and licensing is critical to getting started with Power BI. There are a few different options to choose from, depending on your budget, your needs, and how you want to deploy the software. Blue Raster will guide you through the different licensing options keeping your needs and your bottom line in mind. 3. Training Training is an essential component of a strong deployment strategy. Users of all types and levels need both introductory and ongoing training opportunities. Training content differs based upon the type of Power BI user; end-users/consumers vs. developers vs. administrators. Blue Raster’s introductory training focuses on: End-users/consumers: shaping research questions, communicating with developers, navigating around Power BI in the service Developers: report development, collaboration, and sharing in the service (or report server) Administrators: management and set up of users, shared workspaces and apps, determination of shared storage for desktop files, reporting standards 4. Establish Content Organization and Governance Strategy The establishment of core workspaces for collaboration and sharing is essential prior to building any Power BI reports. Blue Raster will guide administrators and developers through discussions on how content will be stored and distributed. This critical step will ensure that deployment is well managed and organized, and that more complex issues are considered (such as access and row-level security). 5. Set Adoption Targets Setting adoption targets helps Power BI administrators set a measurable goal and helps monitor the success of deployment. Adoption targets and the monitoring of usage metrics help IT/Informatics staff understand if reports are helping end-users make decisions. There are several issues that may influence adoption, and Blue Raster will help you lay out a monitoring plan to get to the bottom of why reports are (or are not) a hit within your organization. The goal of any Power BI deployment is that decision makers have the data they need when they need it, and user adoption is a good start to understanding if you are reaching that goal. 6. Build and Deploy The final step in the process is to have developers build, deploy, and maintain Power BI reports for consumption by end-users. Blue Raster will help your team establish a process for updating and maintaining reports, as well as responding to user needs. Contact us today to get started with Power BI! - Categories: ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Conservation, Environment, JavaScript API, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Image Server, ArcGIS JavaScript API, Ecosystem Health - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work To understand and address issues faced in the Great Plains, Blue Raster has partnered with the World Wildlife fund to bring the annual Plowprint Report online. Since 2016, the Plowprint Report has analyzed grassland loss across the Great Plains. Temperate grassland ecosystems, like the Great Plains of North America, are home to a wide variety of plants and animals and provide key ecosystem services, such as soil stabilization, carbon sequestration and water filtration. These lands are under increasing threat of loss due to the expansion of agriculture for food and fuel production and urban development. In the Great Plains, only half of all intact grassland remains, much of it on poor and marginal quality soils. Conversion of grassland to crops in areas of marginal soil is particularly hazardous to ecosystems due to the greater use of fertilizers required to make these lands productive and a higher risk of erosion. To understand and address these issues faced in the Great Plains, Blue Raster is working with the World Wildlife Fund to bring the annual Plowprint Report online. Since 2016, the Plowprint Report analyzes grassland loss across the Great Plains. Published annually, the report provides a broad overview of trends within large study regions of particular conservation interest, such as the Missouri River Basin (MORB). Since 2016, the Plowprint Report has published annual findings on grassland loss across the U. S. Great Plains. “Being able to share the Plowprint Report as an interactive web map is an exciting opportunity to increase awareness about grassland loss across the Great Plains. The Great Plains covers such a large area that it is easy to become disconnected from the landscape beyond where one regularly interacts, and having maps like this with great visual displays at your finger tips allows us to easily see what is happening not just in your community, but across the county, state, region, and beyond. ” – Patrick Lendrum, Science Lead at World Wildlife Fund Plowprint Report Details The report leverages the USDA’s Cropland Data Layer (CDL), the Canadian Annual Crop Inventory (ACI), the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), US Census TIGER 2019, and Canada Road Network 2018 data to identify areas of “Intact” (grassland) and “Plowprint” (grassland converted to cropland) land by composition and ownership. These areas are visualized in the new interactive Plowprint web map application. To quantify grassland loss, users can select state or county boundaries, draw, or upload their own areas-of-interest (AOI) for on-the-fly analysis. The tool generates a report with a collection of charts that help the user understand their AOI’s grassland characteristics and trends. By leveraging the ArcGIS Image Server, the Plowprint app allows the user to run an on-the-fly analysis of grassland loss for their chosen area of interest (AOI). Outputs can be downloaded as a PDF or CSV. Above, the PDF document provides compelling visuals for understanding trends in the data. The tool leverages ArcGIS Image Server to quickly analyze the user’s AOI to deliver a report of trends in land use conversion and composition. Users can select data going back to 2009, providing a detailed view of historical patterns. Once the analysis is run for the selected area, users have the option to download the results as a PDF document and CSV file. With its ability to quantify grassland loss on-the-fly and generate powerful visuals along the way, this application will provide policy makers, companies, and landowners valuable decision making information about habitat conversion within areas under their control. With Great Plains comes great responsibility to monitor these vital ecosystems – Plowprint enables this action. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, GIS, Health, Operations Dashboard, State & Local - Tags: ArcGIS Online, COVID-19, Disaster Response, Emergency Management, Operations Dashboard - Industries: Education, Federal Government, Health, State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Insight Blue Raster created an interactive COVID Response dashboard to present crucial data in an easy to understand and consumable format. Over the past few weeks Blue Raster has been working to assist State and Federal Government agencies in the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Providing a means to present accurate, up to date data to the public is essential to the success of mitigation efforts across the country. Blue Raster has been actively working to create Esri Operations Dashboards to do exactly that. Virginia COVID-19 Social Distancing Dashboard With Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS Online, Blue Raster created an interactive COVID response dashboard using Johns Hopkins University’s county level COVID-19 case data and Unacast’s Social Distancing Index to present crucial data in an easy to understand and consumable format. By using this data in a map-centric dashboard format with relevant figures, it allows for decision makers to view and understand the current situation and guide informed decision making. Johns Hopkins COVID-19 dashboard has been used globally to track the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak since it was first recognized in early January. In the past weeks, the University has been able to release more granular county level data for the United States to improve tracking of the virus. The JHU county level data updates often with the latest case reporting from across the country. Unacast’s Social Distancing Index, now available as a dataset in the Living Atlas and as a standalone map viewer application hosted by Esri, aggregates the average travel distance of residents in a county and their average visitation to non-essential locations. Additionally, it assigns each county in the US a letter grade to represent how well its residents are adhering to the CDC Social Distancing Guidelines. Customizable Dashboard Template The decision to use publicly available data allowed for the rapid turnaround of personalized dashboards for the state of Nevada and Virginia based off of the same core datasets available in the Esri Living Atlas. Key information from these datasets are then presented in an easy to understand operations dashboard to summarize the current situation of a state. This has also allowed Blue Raster to create a template based off of these dashboards. We can quickly configure and deploy this template for an organization's internal and external use. As a result, State and Local agencies can also use these dashboards as a collaboration tool to aid in decision making. Ready to find out more? Contact us today to get started on your own COVID response dashboard. Contact Us - Categories: Conservation, Esri - Tags: EPC, Esri Partner Conference, Esri Partner Conference Award - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight The Esri Partner Conference is a yearly meeting of Esri's global partners and distributors who are reshaping the world through the application of geospatial technology and location intelligence. The EPC is a chance to share solutions and offerings and expand your network. It's also a great time to collaborate with other partners and problem-solve using the Esri Geospatial Cloud. This event leads up to the Esri Developer Summit, which was held virtually this year due to the Coronavirus spread. Blue Raster’s Storytelling recognized at Esri Partner Conference After the EPC Plenary session, Esri honored select partners for their outstanding application of GIS software. The award winners are companies from the global Esri Partner Network that have demonstrated innovative and creative ways to solve the most complex business problems by using Esri's geospatial analytics tools. Esri President Jack Dangermond and Director of Global Business Development Jeff Peters presented Blue Raster with the "Storytelling Award" for telling stories that resonate using ArcGIS StoryMaps. Blue Raster enables customers to tell their unique stories through interactive mapping technology for both mobile and web platforms, including leading global organizations; government, conservation, health, and global affairs agencies; and educational institutions. During the Esri Partner Conference Plenary, we were excited to see some of our work featured up on the big screen. The Plenary also provided insights into product updates and the future of Esri technology. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Education, Esri, Federal, Health, Story Map - Tags: Esri, Esri Conference, Esri FedGIS, Federal, Federal Small Business Program, Microsoft Power BI, Partner Program, Power BI, PowerBI, presentation, storymap, University Student Program - Industries: Federal Government, Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team recently attended the 2020 Esri Federal GIS (FedGIS) Conference in Washington, DC. The conference brought together GIS professionals from across government agencies to share their knowledge and explore new ways of leveraging GIS in their work. The Blue Raster team recently attended the 2020 Esri Federal GIS (FedGIS) Conference in Washington, DC. The conference brought together over 5,000 GIS professionals from across government agencies to share their knowledge and explore new ways of leveraging GIS in their work. Over the course of three days, Esri staff and industry specialists held presentations and workshops on best practices for location intelligence and their experiences working within the geospatial data community. Blue Raster's work with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) was highlighted in the FedGIS plenary presentation by Jack Dangermond, and our project with the Department of Education was featured on a Map Gallery wall. Esri FedGIS Preconference Events On Monday, Blue Raster had the opportunity to participate in two Esri FedGIS preconference programs: The Partner Program brought together startups, emerging businesses, the Esri Partner Network, and alliance partners to understand how to effectively work with Esri software in partnership with Esri to drive success. The University Student Program included sessions, workshops, and a career fair event for students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs with interest and experience in GIS and other related fields. Our team co-presented with the Esri StoryMaps team on Storytelling using GIS, helping to showcase our work with the new StoryMaps for ArcGIS and present the features that StoryMaps has to offer. New this year was the Esri FedGIS Career Fair for the University students. Blue Raster hosted a table for the career fair portion of the student program, where we had the chance to meet some great students on the cutting edge of GIS technologies, and discuss some of our career opportunities. Presentations Our team also had the opportunity to see some of the wonderful work that others are doing in the geospatial community, as well as present some of our own work. Blue Raster team member Christina Nordling discussed How Agencies are using StoryMaps to Share Information. Shannon Lindsay and Phil Satlof shared their work with Integrating Microsoft Power BI and ArcGIS for the TRACE Program. Interested In Working With Us? Reach out to see how we can help you harness GIS technologies, mapping solutions, and data analysis to tackle the challenges you face. Contact Us - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, Economic Development, Finance, JavaScript API - Tags: Avenu Insights & Analytics, Clearview Analytics, Economic Development Insights, EDI Tool, GeoEnrichment, Tax Revenu - Industries: Commercial, State & Local Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Avenu Insights, a company focused on improving and maintaining revenue streams for state and local governments, and Blue Raster have just released the first iteration of the Clearview Analytics Economic Development Insights (EDI) tool. The Economic Development tool provides key insights to cities and counties to attract new business, plan future investments, and understand the competitive landscape. The tool is completely interactive and allows users to enter, analyze, and export data for their unique area of interest. Economic Insights The new tool uses Avenu Insight's Property Tax and Commercial Sales Tax in combination with ArcGIS GeoEnrichment and Analysis capabilities for site-level analysis of tax revenue. Some of the features of this tool include: Integration with key Demographic and Economic indicators from the ArcGIS GeoEnrichment API to assess market suitability Drive-Time Analysis capabilities from ArcGIS Online to set market areas of interest Up-to-date Property and Sales Tax Revenue data on a quarterly reporting basis, broken down by NAICS code at the individual property level Providing cities and counties this analysis tool is critical in supporting the economic growth and future success within that landscape. With this tool, businesses and Governments can answer a variety of questions they might have: "What is the current composition a specific area by business sector? " or "How much growth has retain seen in the central business district in the past few years? "   For a limited time, Avenu is offering a Free Trial of the Clearview EDI tool for your jurisdiction. Don't miss this opportunity to be a pioneer for this tool and provide feedback for future iterations. Blue Raster worked closely with Avenu Insights to build out this tool through design, development, deployment using the latest Esri Enterprise 10. 7. 1, the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, and Esri's Geoenrichment API. In addition, our team worked with Avenu Insights to configure and maintain their ArcGIS Enterprise Server. Our team is excited to continue GIS analysis and capabilities which support healthy economies. Want to learn more about GIS for Economic Insight? Contact us today! Send us a message - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Desktop, Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Pro, AWS, AWS AppStream, AWS WorkSpace, Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Virtualize - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, GIS Managed Services - Types: Insight Blue Raster helps clients achieve rapid, cost-effective cloud solutions for server and application hosting. Our team is now taking this concept a step further to completely Virtualize your ArcGIS Environment. As an Amazon Web Service and Microsoft Azure partner, our team strives to understand the latest ways to use GIS systems more efficiently. Coupled with ArcGIS Pro, an application which handles licensing completely in the cloud, our team has been able to provide full GIS work spaces for several organizations. Our team works with a variety of cloud hosting options including AWS WorkSpaces, AWS AppStream, and Azure Virtual Desktops, each of these options providing a variety of benefits: Removes Operating System requirements Eliminates the need for high performance hardware Offers scalable solutions for organizations with many software users Utilizes the ArcGIS Pro Parallel Processing capabilities, allowing multiple CPU, cores, or processes to work on a large job at the same time Provides more cost efficient solutions for long running, highly intensive workflows Blue Raster is working with the Natural Resource Defense Council and the Demographic and Healthy Surveys Program to build all encompassing cloud environments. The pilot cloud environment hooks into existing systems and caters to the needs of the organization. For example, the addition of Amazon FSx and Attached Storage to easily share files from a local, network, or virtual desktop drive. Our team can also integrate these work spaces with previously existing Active Directory and Single Sign On (SSO) technologies for large-scale, organizational access. Ben Mayala, the Senior GIS Coordinator at the Demographic and Health Surveys Program, has been using his Amazon Web Service WorkSpace to run complex, statistic and spatial analysis which was not only taking days to complete, but completely using up machine resources while doing so. "So far the WorkSpace is really good. It's loading the Geospatial Covariates super fast, data extractions are super fast, and I've already gotten through over half my work" Ready to find out more? Contact us today to learn about ways we can make the cloud work for you. Contact Us - Categories: Community, Esri, User Conference - Tags: conference, Esri, Esri Conference - Industries: Federal Government, State & Local Government, Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The two-day Esri Mid-Atlantic User Group Conference brought together over 400 Esri users and GIS professions from around the region seeking to advance their organizations and workflows with the latest GIS technology offerings. Blue Raster was a proud sponsor of the Esri Mid-Atlantic User Group Conference in Philadelphia, PA. In addition to showcasing our work and connecting with Esri users, members of the Blue Raster GIS Team attended technical sessions and workshops. The two-day event brought together over 400 Esri users and GIS professions from around the region seeking to advance their organizations and workflows with the latest GIS technology offerings. The Plenary featured presentations by Esri’s cartographer and user experience designer, John Nelson, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and technology presentations by Esri staff. This year’s conference theme was titled “GIS - The Intelligent Nervous System,” a reference to the intricate communication system in the human body responsible for detecting, transmitting, and communicating vital information across complex network of nerves. Esri's cartographer and user experience designer, John Nelson, led the plenary session. 5 Takeways from the Esri Mid-Atlantic Conference The Esri Mid-Atlantic conference helped provide answers to these questions: What is new? What has been improved and updated? What can we anticipate in the future? 1. GIS technologies are constantly advancing. As an industry leader in GIS software, Esri’s applications and tools are constantly evolving to suit the needs of an increasingly diverse range of customers. From education to AEC (architecture, engineering and construction), Esri is at the forefront of product development for an increasing number of GIS users. It is important for Blue Raster to attend Esri’s conferences to ensure we remain informed about the latest developments in the field. As a result, this allows us to build capacity in our team and our clients when it comes to GIS workflows. 2. Building connections face-to-face improves our understanding of what GIS users need. Throughout the conference, we had the opportunity to meet and speak with GIS users from around the region. These face-to-face interactions allowed us to gain a more nuanced understanding of how organizations are using GIS to address problems at a variety of scales. This only reinforces the importance of stepping away from our desks and attending these conferences. The importance of face-to-face discussions in a constantly evolving industry is just as important as the work we do from our computers. 3. For local and state governments, GIS happens at the smallest scales. From water utilities to curbside maintenance, city governments are eager to leverage GIS workflows to track and manage their assets and workforce. Unique to this scale is the need for precision and accuracy. As a result, government GIS users must have a deep and intimate understanding of their cities. Esri products cater to these needs through a large selection of highly customizable field and web applications. 4. For small municipalities and city governments, Emergency Management Preparedness and Mitigation is happening right now. Adjusting and preparing for a changing global climate can often seem like an overwhelming task, but for local governments and municipalities being prepared to face this change is happening right now. Furthermore, small municipalities are keenly aware of the specific risks and needs of their communities and are eager to leverage whatever technology is available to manage assets and personal in times of crisis. This desire to be ready and up to date on the newest uses of GIS for Emergency Management was evident in the high attendance of all three Emergency Management focused session of the conference. 5. GIS technology isn’t just for the GIS industry. Throughout the two day Esri Mid-Atlantic Conference the Blue Raster team had the chance to talk to attendees, other sponsors, and Esri professionals. An overarching theme was that GIS is involved in countless sectors of business and professional industries, from architects to civil engineers and city planners, GIS professionals, non-profit community development groups, educators and students, and local and county government employees. We are excited to see how The Science of Where continues to expand. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Federal, Health, HIV, Power BI - Tags: Africa, ArcGIS Online, ArcGISMaps for Microsoft Power BI, Federal, Health, HIV, Microsoft Power BI, Power BI, Training - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster and ICAP are working on the TRACE initiative (Tracking with Recency Assays to Control the Epidemic), establishing HIV recent infection surveillance systems in routine HIV services to detect, characterize, monitor, and intervene on recent infection among newly diagnosed people living with HIV (PLHIV). We are supporting in-country implementation of Power BI and ArcGIS to provide real-time data about recent infections and to deliver this data quickly to decision makers. Implementing a business intelligence platform requires users to think critically about the business questions they want their data to inform and the underlying data systems that will feed their data visualizations. Blue Raster has had the unique opportunity to work with ICAP (of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health), the University of California San Francisco, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and Ministries of Health around the globe to put their data to work to end the HIV epidemic. Ending the HIV Epidemic with Data There has been significant progress over the past decade in the global health response to HIV, and the end of the HIV pandemic is within reach. Global health programs and Ministries of Health need high-quality, real time data in order to target the right interventions to the right populations at the right time, and we’re using Power BI and Esri ArcGIS Online to achieve these goals. TRACE Initiative Blue Raster and ICAP are working on the TRACE initiative (Tracking with Recency Assays to Control the Epidemic), establishing HIV recent infection surveillance systems in routine HIV services to detect, characterize, monitor, and intervene on recent infection among newly diagnosed people living with HIV (PLHIV). We are supporting the implementation of Power BI and ArcGIS to provide real-time data about recent infections and to deliver this data quickly to decision makers. Power BI & ArcGIS Online Power BI is a business analytics solution that lets users visualize data and share insights for real-time decision making. ArcGIS Online is a cloud-based mapping and analysis solution that we’re using to make maps and perform rich geospatial analysis Over the past few months, Blue Raster has been in the field with the ICAP team to: Introduce Power BI and ArcGIS online as a data visualization platform. Illustrate the analytic capabilities of the tools to the Ministries of Health and national Public Health entities Blue Raster and ICAP walked through different implementation options with country teams, considering existing data systems and analytic tools. In addition, it was critical that HIV data get to the decision makers in a timely and usable format. In Rwanda:   Held meetings with local implementing partners and the Ministry of Health and decided on Power BI and ArcGIS online licensing and deployment Bheki Magagula of ICAP Maps out the Rwanda Data Flow In Eswatini:   We facilitated discussions in which the Ministry of Health team and the ICAP team came to a deployment decision quickly. The teams were able to spend time working in Power BI and shaping the data in the back end of the system. Mpumelelo Ndlangamanga of ICAP works with Blue Raster on Visuals in Power BI In Ethiopia: Held a week-long training providing tailored content to data consumers, developers, and administrators (with participants from Ethiopia Public Health Institute, ICAP, and CDC) Data consumers worked in Power BI and walked through decision making exercises using sample data. Developers and admins walked through Power BI as a whole, from ingesting data to publishing/sharing reports to monitoring usage and incorporating end-user feedback. Power BI Developers from Ethiopia Public Health Institute, CDC, and ICAP These introductory workshops and trainings are just the beginning of our work with ICAP and country teams. Stay tuned to the blog for details on how this data is being used and how the trainings are adding value to the daily work of those on the front lines of ending the HIV epidemic. Moving forward, ICAP and Blue Raster will have the opportunity to work with other countries in Sub Saharan Africa. For more information about the TRACE initiative and the countries we work in, please see https://trace-recency. org/ or visit our blog post. - Categories: Community, GIS - Tags: Collector for ArcGIS, Esri, GIS Day, Operations Dashboard, Washington-Lee High School, Washington-Liberty High School - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight For the 8th GIS Day in a row, we helped local high school students learn about geography and GIS applications that are making a difference in our society. We braved the cold and invited the students to use their GIS skills with a fun Collector for ArcGIS challenge. GIS Day is a day dedicated to showing, teaching, and inspiring others. For the eighth year in a row, Blue Raster hosted students from Washington-Liberty High School and demonstrated real world applications of GIS. Led by teacher Ryan Miller, the students have the chance to learn about geospatial technologies through a program called Geospatial Semester. The Blue Raster team shared real-world GIS success stories through a round of lightning talk presentations on recent and ongoing projects. Despite the cold November weather, we ventured outside and collected temperature data from around the Arlington area. Then, the students collaborated on an Esri Operations dashboard to visualize the data. GIS Day Dashboards We wrapped up our day with a pizza lunch and ice cream from the Penn State creamery. We look forward to next year and a new group of students!       Read more about Blue Raster's past GIS Day activities here. - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Community, Conservation, Environment, Media, News, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: 100 Days in Appalachia, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS StoryMaps, BELT Magazine, conservation, culture, Environmental Health News, Eye on Ohio, Good River, Lenfest Institute, Louisville Public Media, Ohio, Ohio River Watershed, PublicSource, Stories of the Ohio, Story Map, The Allegheny Front, The National Geographic Society, watershed - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster partnered with The National Geographic Society, Lenfest Institute, and seven nonprofit newsrooms on a project entitled, Good River: Stories of the Ohio. Image is courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory, using Landsat data from the U. S. Geological Survey. The satellite image captured March 2018 flooding at the confluence of the Ohio and Wabash rivers. Blue Raster partnered with The National Geographic Society, Lenfest Institute, and seven nonprofit newsrooms on a project entitled, Good River: Stories of the Ohio. The Ohio River runs 981 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, Illinois, where it joins the Mississippi. It provides drinking water for five million people, and is also a thoroughfare of business, supporting jobs and communities. But it is also commonly cited as the most polluted river in the United States. For this project, PublicSource and six other participating newsrooms are producing a series of stories about the environment, economy and culture of the Ohio River watershed. Good River Newsroom Partners To give readers a sense of how big the Ohio River watershed is, Blue Raster created a series of map graphics for the site's landing page. The maps touch-upon topics including population concentration and impaired waterways. To create the maps, our team used data from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and leveraged ArcGIS Pro to style the map graphics. In the series, journalists share the beauty of the Ohio River and threats facing the region. To take readers on an interactive tour of the Ohio River, Blue Raster produced a StoryMap called Highlights of the Ohio for the project launch. The StoryMap features points of interest along the river and the watershed region. The Good River News Partners will be publishing multiple stories from November 2019 through January 2020. To follow along with the project and share stories or questions, text OHIO to 412-528-6575. Additionally, you can follow #OhioRiverStories on social media. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/wide-tablet. mp4 Good River: Stories of the Ohio is a series about the environment, economy, and culture of the Ohio River watershed, produced by seven nonprofit newsrooms. To see more, please visit ohiowatershed. org. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/good-outro. mp4 To learn more about StoryMaps, you can start here. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Federal, Story Map - Tags: Alcohol, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS StoryMaps, Digitize, Esri, Esri R&D, Federal, Geography of Wine, story, Story Map, StoryMaps Challenge, TTB, United States Department of the Treasury, Vineyard, Viticultural, Wine, Winery - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Insight View the winning StoryMap from Esri's Federal StoryMap challenge. It explores how Blue Raster mapped America's wine regions and how the Geography of Wine is Delivering Location Intelligence to the American Wine Industry. .   Last week, Blue Raster attended and presented at the Esri Federal Business Partner StoryMaps Challenge and Open House at the Esri R&D office in Arlington, Virginia. Two of our team members, Rachel Stock and Andrew Patterson, visited the R&D center for the day long competition. Our StoryMap about mapping America's wine regions was selected as the winner. This provided our team a chance to present about the making of the StoryMap at the Esri Open House. Behind-the-scenes look at producing the StoryMap: The Geography of Wine focuses on Blue Raster's work digitizing over 270 American Viticulture Areas (AVAs) for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). In addition to this work, we made the maps explorable to the public through the AVA Map Explorer application. The app allows users to view current and proposed AVAs, as well as submit proposals for brand-new AVAs. Blue Raster’s story map about our TTB work highlights the importance of AVAs and features some of the most geographically unique AVAs from around the country. Additionally, it points out that, with GIS, we can provide location intelligence to the American Wine Industry. View the winning StoryMap about mapping America’s wine regions, and learn more about our TTB work and creation of the AVA Map Explorer. - Categories: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Community, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Arlington, History, Story Map, storymap - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster celebrates the 100th anniversary of Arlington County with a vivid StoryMap highlighting the county's numerous historical landmarks. Up until the end of the American Civil War, both present-day Arlington County and Alexandria County were included under the Alexandria County name. Then, in 1870, Virginia's re-written Constitution called for the state’s many incorporated cities to become independent from their respective counties. Thus, Alexandria City separated from the County of Alexandria, which was renamed to “Arlington County” to avoid confusion. Blue Raster partnered with the Arlington Historical Society to create a StoryMap celebrating Arlington County's centennial anniversary. This StoryMap highlights 115 points of historical significance throughout the county, as curated by the Arlington Historical Society. The map displays a diverse range of feature types, including bridges, farmhouses, mansions, schools, and more. Each location also features a high-quality picture, modern-day address, and informative site description. Arlington County Centennial StoryMap This StoryMap also features a custom basemap, created from scratch by Blue Raster’s GIS and design teams. This basemap gives viewers a better view of what Arlington County looked like in 1920, including historic street and community names. In addition to a view of the past, this basemap also contains elements of the present. Zooming in activates a layer showing current-day building footprints that can help the viewer relate present locations to historical points of interest. Since our inception in 2002, Blue Raster has been headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia. We always love working with local businesses and organizations, and we look forward to celebrating the county’s centennial anniversary with this StoryMap. Let Blue Raster create your organization’s next StoryMap. Contact us today to get started! - Categories: GIS - Tags: Training - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Recently, a nationally recognized professional services firm approached us with a need for customized training on the fundamentals of web and desktop GIS. The Blue Raster team developed a customized agenda and led a 3 day training at our Arlington office focusing on the ArcGIS Platform and its capabilities. The goal of the training was to teach the basics of GIS workflows in both ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. The training began with a two-day session on Desktop and Web GIS, data mining and data curation, and Esri Story Maps. The goal after the first two days was to create a story map focused on areas of highest vulnerability within a country, and areas that could use infrastructure investment. Training Fundamentals GIS Core concepts An in-depth introduction to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro Finding and loading data into ArcGIS Pro Symbology and Data visualization Data prep, cleaning, and management Basic GIS Operations such as queries, filtering, configuring popups, and field calculations ArcGIS Pro to ArcGIS Online Integration ArcGIS Online Groups, item sharing, and publishing permissions And of course, ArcGIS StoryMaps.   After the initial two day training, the group presented their ArcGIS StoryMap to their larger team in order to gain insight and feedback on what more they would like to see. Also, before returning to the Blue Raster office for the third day of training, they gathered questions and ideas from their team about what other functions and capabilities the Esri ArcGIS platform could offer. This second round allowed for the group to ask these and any other questions from working on their own time, as well as practice any workflows they wanted to master. The Blue Raster team focused the final day of training on additional Esri tools and offerings including WebApp Builder, Operations Dashboard, and ArcGIS Solutions and the ArcGIS Solutions Deployment tool. The afternoon was used for lab and hands on practice training. The training group also used the final hour of the day to invite the rest of their team to the Blue Raster office to present a full 1 hour demo of what they learned over the course of the training, showing their team how to source data, load it into ArcGIS Online, and then analyze and visualize the data to show trends. - Categories: Agriculture, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, Esri, Federal, GIS - Tags: Alcohol, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, CFR, Esri, GIS, TTB, United States Department of the Treasury, Vineyard, Viticultural, Web Application, Wine, Winery - Industries: Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Have you ever wondered where your wine comes from? Did you know that there are hundreds of distinct wine regions in the United States? Since 2017, Blue Raster has been working with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to map over 270 of America’s Viticultural Areas (AVA) in GIS. We then developed the American Viticultural Area Explorer, a web mapping application to view, compare and download AVA boundaries. Have you ever wondered where your wine comes from? Did you know that there are hundreds of distinct wine regions in the United States? Since 2017, Blue Raster has been working with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to map over 270 of America’s Viticultural Areas (AVA) in GIS. Blue Raster then developed the AVA Map Explorer, a web mapping application to view, compare and download AVA boundaries. Viticultural areas are designated grape-growing regions with distinguishable geographic features with boundaries defined by TTB. TTB is part of the U. S. Treasury and overseas regulation and tax collection on the sales of alcohol and tobacco. A map library with thousands of marked-up USGS topographic maps to written boundary instructions called the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 27 CFR Part 9 is the official record and only way to view an AVA. Example of CFR entry. Working with SJ Technologies, the team started the conversion from paper to GIS by creating points for each CFR description in a Viticultural Area. Then, using industry-accepted national datasets including U. S. Census administrative boundaries and roads, and USGS contours and the National Hydrography Dataset, the connected CFR points form viticultural boundaries. Larger viticultural areas may be drawn on over forty separate paper maps in the maps library. In digital format the number of paper maps is no longer an issue. The new approach allowed for the team to provide an extremely detailed product to TTB that was easily consumable. The ability to zoom in on complex areas or view an entire viticultural area on one screen had previously been impossible. AVAs boundaries can be extremely detailed, but might not seem so when viewing at the full extent. Zoom in to see just how detailed the AVA boundaries are. Boundaries follow hydrographic and contour lines. AVA Map Explorer With over 270 AVAs mapped, Blue Raster developed the AVA Map Explorer. This easy to use application helps TTB staff with wine labeling, vineyards petitioning for inclusion in an existing or proposed AVA, and the public to learn more about where their wine comes from. Additionally, users can search AVAs by name, address, State and County filters, or simply by panning around and exploring. Because many AVAs have overlapping boundaries, the ability to compare AVAs was critical. Contained within a popup is information about overlapping AVAs, effective dates, and geographic extent. From the popup users can also link to the CFR, which is still the official record, view the public docket of petitions and rulings, and download the shapefile of the AVA. More than just Napa and Sonoma counties in California, wine growing regions exist all across the United States. Zoom in to see just how detailed the AVA boundaries are. Popups show how AVA's contain and overlapp with others. In places with heavy overlap, it’s possible to add AVA's to a list to compare boundaries. Learn more about wine in your area with the American Viticultural Area Map Explorer. Cheers! - Categories: Cemetery, Education, Esri, GIS, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Mobile, Nonprofit/NGO, Public Gardens - Tags: Arboretum, ArcGIS JavaScript API, Architecture, Art, Cemetery, Green-Wood, GreenWood, History, infrastructure, LandMark, Memorials, New York City, Public Garden, Wildlife - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Green-Wood Cemetery honors the dead and celebrates so much life. The Green-Wood app is a free mobile application that allows users to discover the history, nature and wildlife at this National Historical Landmark. Since its founding in 1838, Green-Wood Cemetery is home to over 560,000 decedents. One of America’s first rural cemeteries, the 478 acre cemetery is also a National Historical Landmark, a Level III accredited Arboretum, and an attraction to over 500,000 visitors each year. While death is all around at Green-Wood, so too is the celebration of life. Green-Wood is a new mobile application that lets visitors explore the natural heritage, trees and wildlife on the grounds. Blue Raster developed the Green-Wood mobile app using React Native. This allowed for rapid development of both iOS and Android platforms. We created the map portion of the app by using Esri's ArcGIS API for JavaScript. This fun-to-use and informative application allows users to view profiles of landmark monuments and structures, learn about the diverse plant and animal species that live on the grounds, and discover stories of the famous and infamous people buried there. Additionally, the map allows users position themselves on the grounds and find an area of interest. Filter the map points by popular categories and link out to the expanded profiles. Blue Raster has also been working with Green-Wood on internal workflows for management of plant maintenance and monument restoration by using Esri's Collector and Workforce for ArcGIS. Additionally, we are using drones to study the impact of invasive plant species in an urban environment. Now the Green-Wood app is a chance for the public to see all the aspects of Green-Wood that make it such a special place. https://www. blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Greenwood_App-v3. mp4 - Categories: Development, Power BI - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Maps, ArcGISMaps for Microsoft Power BI, Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, Microsoft, Microsoft Power BI, Power BI, PowerBI - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Insight ArcGIS Maps for Microsoft Power BI allows businesses to harness the true potential of asset location in order to improve their revenue and productivity. What is Microsoft Power BI? Power BI is an award-winning business intelligence tool created by Microsoft as a single hub for tracking and managing many diverse assets within a given organization. The Power BI platform consists of widget-based analytical tiles from both Microsoft and their various partners. These tiles allow for a simple, professional, and customizable visualization of otherwise unmanageable amounts of business data. The straightforward user interface and intelligent feature construction means that dashboard setup and asset management is now faster and easier than ever before. Let Blue Raster create and optimize custom maps in Microsoft Power BI to give you more control over your data than ever before. ArcGIS Maps Integration ArcGIS Maps within Microsoft Power BI contains many map-building elements that are similar to those found in other Esri products, such as ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. The configuration tab is highly user-friendly, featuring "drag & drop" field population and automatic detection of spatial data types. ArcGIS Maps for Power BI accepts both point and polygon data types. It can recognize fields that contain standard administrative boundaries (such as zip codes, counties, states, etc). Automated geocoding of point locations and polygon centroid calculation help to reduce the time and effort of spatial data management. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/blogpost_vid1. mp4 ArcGIS Maps for Microsoft Power BI provides basemaps and reference layers that are crucial to understanding the spatial context of business data. There are numerous basemaps to choose from to ensure a visualization that complements the symbology of spatially referenced assets. Changing the color schemes of data is also easy to do, with many hand-picked combinations and editable classification settings. Meanwhile, reference layers containing verified spatial data such as Median Household Income or Biodiversity Hotspots are great for showing the underlying geographic or demographic characteristics at any scale. Simple infographics cards display summaries of multiple key factors based on the extent of the map viewer. The functionality of ArcGIS Maps for Microsoft Power BI also extends to light spatial analysis in the form identifying geographic patterns and relationships. Heat maps and clustering functions allow for the aggregation of data into overarching groups and regions, while location pins and drive time analysis help to evaluate smaller localities around individual assets. The maps editor even features support for temporal animation with a field that transfers time data into a dynamic map sequence. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/blogpost_vid2. mp4 Understanding the Geography of Business Large companies with numerous clients, facilities, and/or assets often receive vast amounts of spatial data that go completely unused. ArcGIS Maps for Microsoft Power BI allows companies to harness the true potential of asset location in order to improve their business revenue and productivity. This program takes data connection and shared business management to the next level. Any interaction or data selection within the ArcGIS Maps tile reflects in corresponding changes to data visualizations across all other analytical tiles. Collaboration is also easier than ever before, as Power BI allows users to share everything from individual figures to entire dashboards with just a few clicks. Blue Raster's Power BI Capabilities Blue Raster is currently developing a Power BI dashboard and map application to visualize, analyze and track data and information for an important health project. The Tracking with Recency Assays to Control the Epidemic (TRACE) project is a new initiative that will contribute to the global fight to reach HIV epidemic control. Because the dashboard application needs to be accessible and usable by many users in many scenarios, the Blue Raster and TRACE teams decided on the ideal combination of Microsoft Power BI and Esri ArcGIS Online. We are excited to grow our Power BI team and enhance our clients' business intelligence with the power of location data using ArcGIS Maps for Power BI. Let Blue Raster kickstart your organization's spatially integrated business dashboard. Contact us today! - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, Climate, Conservation, Environment, Esri, Forest, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, SDG, Supply Management, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: Climate, conservation, Deforestation, Fires, GFW, GFW Fires, Global Forest Watch, World Resources Institute - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Global Forest Watch Fires (GFW Fires) is an online platform for monitoring and responding to forest and land fires using near real-time data. New features and tools make it easier to respond to fires, increase enforcement against illegal fires, and coordinate relationships between government agencies. Thousands of fires are burning in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil - the most intense blazes for almost a decade. Global Forest Watch Fires (GFW Fires), an online platform for monitoring and responding to forest and land fires, provides a near real-time view into the current fire activity. Additionally, users can view fire reports and compare historical data on regions all over the world. New Updates to GFW Fires Blue Raster recently worked to add new features and capabilties to the Global Forest Watch Fires application. Want to see details for a specific area on the map? Draw or upload a shapefile to calculate fire counts and subscribe to alerts. Users can select specific areas and see the calculated numbers of VIIRS and MODIS Alerts in the past 24 hours. Next, users can click on the drawn or uploaded shapes on the map to subscribe to alerts for that area. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/gfwfires-1. mp4 Global Forest Watch Fire Reports provide robust insight into fire history, cumulative fires to date, and a statistical analysis by administrative boundaries within a country or around the world. New to GFW Fires, users can now view charts of unusual fire activity. The report compares fires from the current week to the same week in the previous 16 years. In addition, new charts analyze fire activity in Palm Oil Concessions and Wood Fiber Areas. Fire alerts in the Amazonas region of Brazil. In addition to the basemap imagery, Global Forest Watch Fires now provides an option for Sentinal Imagery. The latest satellite imagery is available from Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8. Sentinel-2, operated by the European Space Agency, has global coverage in 10-meter resolution, and can obtain updated imagery every 10 days. Explore Global Forest Watch Fires By using the latest geospatial technology, Global Forest Watch Fires allows anyone to access near real-time information about where and how forests are changing around the world. Users can monitor fire activity, sign up to receive alerts, or share their own stories on GFW's blog. Explore this interactive map today. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Community, Development, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Online, Smart Communities, Workforce Development - Industries: Education, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs, State & Local Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Using these customized maps from the American Institutes for Research (AIR), teams can better contextualize their workforce development initiatives and refine their understanding of resources and socioeconomic distribution across their region. We recently worked with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to produce a national-level work-based learning map. Built using ArcGIS Online and the Esri JavaScript API, the map can be custom-tailored to specific state or local agency leadership teams. Using these customized maps, teams can better contextualize their workforce development initiatives and refine their understanding of resources and socioeconomic distribution across their region. Nearly five decades of research has demonstrated that the places where individuals live and learn have a dramatic impact on their opportunities and life outcomes. These place effects-the advantages and disadvantages that one inherits by simply living in a particular location-have a particularly strong impact on one's access to high-quality education, workforce training, and employment, which are the key ingredients to upward economic mobility. It is vital that leaders in state and local education agencies are mindful of place effects as they help districts and schools to develop work-based learning (WBL) systems across diverse contexts. Through this application, AIR can more easily identify areas of improved workplace development and analyze the factors that lead to this outcome. This could include factors such as education opportunities, health benefits, or a variety of social factors. How do I use it? Users are able to activate different layers that fall under categories such as Education, Health, and Social Factors. By looking across states and the country as a whole, we are able to understand which communities are at a disadvantage when it comes to these factors. As we explained earlier, these factors are vital to spark upward economic mobility. When viewing these different layers, we can have a higher understanding of where these lacking communities are located, and where resources need to be more readily available. Here is a demo of the application in action. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/AIR_iPAD-2. mp4 You can view and use the application here. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Environment, Esri, GIS, Natural Hazards - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Solutions, ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management, disaster, Disaster Response, Emergency Management, Emergency Management Operations Gallery, Esri, Operations Gallery, Preparedness - Industries: Health, Public Safety - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Earlier this month, the Blue Raster team attended a workshop on ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management at Esri’s Redlands Campus. Both man-made hazards and natural disasters significantly impact populations across the globe. Advanced preparation is becoming more critical than ever, especially within the government entities that manage crisis response and emergency management. To answer this demand, Esri has organized a new category of out-of-the-box toolsets designed to mitigate the risk of hazards and delegate resources in the wake of disasters. ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management encompasses a range of products that help emergency management officials to manage response resources and visualize events as they occur across time and space. Earlier this month, the Blue Raster team attended a workshop on this program set at Esri’s Redlands Campus in Southern California. This event focused heavily on the Emergency Management Operations Gallery group, which features seven applications with seven unique maps and 33 total feature layers. Our team gained significant experience with each of the applications, from configuration to deployment. We were particularly impressed by the cross-component integration and real-time feature updates. Once properly configured, this toolset features an extremely user-friendly interface with numerous options for customization of outputs and data visualization. Furthermore, one-click data inputs and feature updates result in fast and efficient communication of changing conditions. Blue Raster is excited to add ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management to our continuously growing line of GIS professional services. We look forward to being able to contribute to emergency management preparedness and disaster response efforts. - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS Urban, Community, Development, Economic Development, Esri, GIS, Land Use, Real Estate, Women in Science - Tags: 3D, ArcGIS Urban, Blue Raster Accelerate, City Planning, Esri, Real Estate, Urban Development - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Insight Blue Raster Project Manager Megan Gottfried studies to become expert at Deploying ArcGIS Urban Solutions for cities, counties, and more after full day of training. Blue Raster Project Manager Megan Gottfried took her ArcGIS Urban skills to the next level at Esri’s "Deploying ArcGIS Urban" training. The training, held in San Diego just before Esri’s annual User Conference, included other Esri business partners, distributors, and advanced level users from around the world. ArcGIS Urban is gaining significant attention in the GIS and City Planning & Development industries. The platform is a complete solution allowing municipal planning departments and development-focused NGOs to improve urban planning practices and decision-making on a city-wide scale. Users can use ArcGIS Urban to create 3D renderings of city landscapes, proposed buildings, and compare proposed site projects across key stakeholders. ArcGIS Urban case study Megan Gottfried used San Francisco as a study area for development and used ArcGIS Urban technology to assist the city’s urban planners with the growing issue of overcrowding. Key program features such as theoretical population and employment projections helped officials to understand the regional severity of the problem and work to find innovative solutions, while 3D building renderings with zoning and building setback details gave realistic building city scapes for user exploration. "Today's advanced GIS software can now model cities in 3D and integrate the full planning workflow, thereby dramatically enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. " - Scott Edmondson, Senior Strategic Sustainability Planner for the City of San Francisco Other highlights of the training session included a product demo and an overview of the ArcGIS Urban system. in addition, Megan Gottfried was able to learn both the back-end and front-end ArcGIS Urban platform and provide clients with tips and best practices for deployment. Megan tested the many features of the ArcGIS Urban program and created sample projects & planning files for the San Francisco area. The event concluded with a Q&A session where Megan and her colleagues were able to ask questions about the program and troubleshoot some of their problems. Learn More Blue Raster is excited to begin offering ArcGIS Urban solutions for our clients. Are you interested in harnessing the power of informed planning for your business or municipality? Contact us today! - Categories: Esri, User Conference - Tags: ArcGIS Indoors, Esri, Esri Conference, Esri UC 2019, Esri User Conference, EsriUC, Fish Taco Night, Jane Goodall Institute, San Diego, Sustainable World Showcase - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The Esri User Conference is the biggest GIS event of the year. From July 8-12, the San Diego Convention Center was once again filled with record breaking numbers of geolocation enthusiasts. Blue Raster had an amazing time. Read about our Esri UC experience here. Esri UC: The SuperBowl of the Geospatial Industry The Esri User Conference is the biggest GIS event of the year. This year, the San Diego Convention Center was once again filled with a record-breaking number of geolocation enthusiasts; over 17,000 attendees. The Blue Raster team was excited to participate and showcase our latest work, meet new friends and learn from other GIS professionals. Blue Raster Team at Esri UC 2019 With ideas flying and new technologies being unveiled, we walked away excited for what is to come: Esri ArcGIS Hub – It was amazing to see all the ways cities and organizations are partnering with residents, non-profits, business, and universities through ArcGIS Hub. The Hub work that the City of Zwolle, Netherlands, and the District of Columbia government are doing was super inspiring! ArcGIS Urban – This is the ultimate city planning tool. It takes into account setbacks, zoning regulations and overrides, and provides capabilities to compare large-scale 3D projects across multiple parcels and development projects. ArcGIS Indoors – ArcGIS Indoors is enabling organizations to provide the ultimate workplace experience for employees through workplace maps and location data to better manage workplace operations. We are proud to announce our new ArcGIS Indoors specialty from Esri. ArcGIS Enterprise 10. 7. 1 – This new version of ArcGIS Enterprise has reduced server memory requirements have by 95%. This means that the same hardware should be able to do MUCH more now. The conference kicked off with the Opening Plenary featuring Dr. Jane Goodall and an exciting new StoryMap, ENGAGE – LISTEN – UNDERSTAND – ACT, that the Jane Goodall Institute and Blue Raster teamed up to create. Built with the brand new StoryMaps for ArcGIS template, this story map outlines concerns over chimpanzee populations and the environment, the steps in the process of 'Tacare' approach toward conservation, and success stories with this conservation approach. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the Jane Goodall Institute and meet Jane and her team at the UC conference this year. We hope to see Jane in DC when she visits in September. Jane Goodall and the Blue Raster Team Danny Cassiday at Esri UC 2019 On Monday, one of our GIS Analysts, Danny Cassiday, brought his knowledge to sunny California to present a lightning talk "My Life as a (Version) Control Freak: Versioning ArcGIS Online Items with Python" sharing his experiences and thoughts on applications of Python in versioning ArcGIS Online items. On Tuesday, Blue Raster was proud to sponsor and attend the Sustainable World Social, a networking event focusing on the applications of GIS in the context of conservation and sustainability. Following the social, we headed over to our annual Fish Taco Night at the South Beach Bar & Grille. Blue Raster Taco Night Blue Raster Team at Taco Night We enjoyed seeing all those who stopped by our booth this year, from professionals in conservation and forest management to real estate development and utility support. We were able to demo some of our latest applications and invited attendees to visit our Map Gallery Posters. The Gallery featured our work with Forest Stewardship Council providing an interactive outlet through ArcGIS Operations Dashboards to explore where FSC Certified Forests and Certificates currently are located for verification and accountability purposes as well as our partnership with The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program, USAID, UNICEF, and the Nature Conservancy utilizing ArcGIS StoryMaps to track the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals. We also had the opportunity to display a poster covering the drone missions we flew with The Green-Wood Cemetery using Esri’s Drone2Map and ArcGIS Online Web Scenes to provide high-quality imagery that will identify invasive grass for measurement and monitoring in partnership with Cornell University. Forest Products without Compromise map Measuring Success map Improving Drone Missions with Lidar Support map Wednesday evening was family night, allowing us to engage with the entire GIS community and interact with enthusiasts, young and old. Our Blue Raster temporary tattoos were a hit with the kiddos! Between our booth on the expo floor, the many sessions and socials, family night, and our legendary fish taco night, we had so many wonderful moments. Check out some of our favorites: Family Night at Esri UC 2019 Christina passing out candy at Family Night. Some of our favorite moments from the UC this year Blue Raster booth for Esri UC 2019 Our Blue Raster women in GIS Esri UC 2019 Interested in working with us? Reach out to see how we can help you harness GIS technologies, mapping solutions, and data analysis to tackle the challenges you face. Contact Us - Categories: ArcGIS StoryMaps, Conservation, Esri, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: ArcGIS StoryMaps, conservation, Esri, Esri UC 2019, Esri User Conference, Jane Goodall, Jane Goodall Institute, Story Map - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Timed to coincide with Dr. Jane Goodall’s plenary speech at the 2019 Esri User Conference in San Diego, Blue Raster, Esri and The Jane Goodall Institute teamed up on an exciting new Story Map. ENGAGE - LISTEN - UNDERSTAND - ACT Timed to coincide with Dr. Jane Goodall’s plenary speech at the 2019 Esri User Conference in San Diego, California, Blue Raster, Esri and the Jane Goodall Institute teamed up on an exciting new Story Map. ENGAGE – LISTEN – UNDERSTAND – ACT, built with the brand new ArcGIS StoryMaps template, tells the story behind the ‘Tacare’ approach toward conservation. The story map outlines concerns over chimpanzee populations and the environment, the steps in the process of Tacare, and success stories with this conservation approach. Beginning with an overview of how Jane Goodall first became involved with conservation through her work with chimpanzees, the story unfolds as Jane noticed that much of the forests in Western Tanzania, home to her beloved chimpanzees, had become barren hillsides after years of farming and other human related activities in the area. She realized that the only way to conserve chimpanzees and their habitat was to work directly with local people and communities. The story map we created titled, Engage - Listen - Understand - Act, explains this holistic approach and some of the successes the area has already seen through the work of Tacare. Blue Raster is honored to have had the opportunity to help create the first dedicated web presence that details the Jane Goodall Institute's Tacare conservation approach and is especially thrilled to have been able to use the latest version of the next-gen StoryMaps builder. An all-star team, including master storyteller Allen Carroll from Esri and Lilian Pintea, VP of Conservation Science at the Jane Goodall Institute, worked in collaboration with Blue Raster to produce ENGAGE – LISTEN – UNDERSTAND – ACT. The new Story Map builder helps the reader flow seamlessly through the story of Tacare; the application intersperses captivating photos taken on the ground in Tanzania and interactive mapping elements that display chimpanzee ranges across Western Tanzania and the African continent. Success with Tacare can be seen in "before" and "after" aerial imagery, which helps readers to visualize the reforestation occurring in the area. Not only does this story map detail the incredible conservation efforts led by the Jane Goodall Institute but it also serves as a call-to-action for other conservation efforts and organizations around the world. Conservation is in the hands of local people - by understanding the needs of local communities, we are then able to help create a sustainable future for our world. This story map will be displayed at the Esri UC Conference. If you're attending, make sure to check out Blue Raster's booth! Click here to check out the story map! For more info about our work with the Jane Goodall Institute, read our blog post about our dashboard project in Tanzania. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Esri, Health, HIV, Power BI - Tags: ArcGIS Online, CDC, Health, HIV, Operations Dashboard, Power BI - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The Tracking with Recency Assays to Control the Epidemic (TRACE) project –is a new effort which will contribute to the global fight to reach HIV epidemic control. The Tracking with Recency Assays to Control the Epidemic (TRACE) project is a new initiative that will contribute to the global fight to reach HIV epidemic control. With funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TRACE is being implemented with technical assistance from ICAP at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Blue Raster is developing a dashboard and map application to visualize, analyze and track the recent infections and identify hot spots where action may be directed. The dashboard application needs to be accessible and usable by many users in many scenarios. After assessing multiple options, the Blue Raster and TRACE teams decided on the ideal combination of Microsoft Power BI and Esri ArcGIS Online. In the first year of the project, ICAP will support the roll-out of rapid recency testing in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Through TRACE, new medical and technological innovations are combining in a powerful way: Medical: TRACE is supporting select countries to begin implementing the use of Rapid Tests for Recent Infection (RTRI) which are capable of distinguishing between recent and long-term infections. The test can be completed in 20 minutes during a routine exam Technological: Powerful, accessible and easy-to-use Business Intelligence platforms are in easy reach of public health organizations. The explosion in online GIS and mapping capabilities brings the ability to analyze and visualize data by geospatial attributes to the screens of more people than ever before.   Blue Raster is honored to support all efforts to reach HIV epidemic control through our work on projects like TRACE and the ICAP’s Population-based HIV Assessment (PHIA) project. Today’s availability of extensible, easy-to-use and cost-effective online tools will equip future generations with accurate and complete information about burden and distribution of disease. Furthermore, this will guide decision making to ensure that resources are efficiently allocated.   Learn more about Blue Raster's Power BI capabilities. - Categories: Agriculture, Cemetery, Conservation, Drone, Forest, GIS, Infrastructure, Land Use, Mobile, Parks, Public Gardens - Tags: APGA, Cemetery, Field GIS, Field Mobility, Green-Wood, infrastructure, mobile, Mount Auburn, Public Gardens, US National Arboretum, Washington DC - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Insight Blue Raster was proud to showcase our Public Gardens and Cemetery solutions at the 2019 American Public Gardens Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Last month, over 1,000 public horticulture enthusiasts attended the American Public Gardens Association annual conference in Washington, DC. Blue Raster was proud to be a conference sponsor and presenter at the GIS for Public Gardens: Enterprise Configurations workshop. Christopher Gabris, Blue Raster's Project Manager for Public Gardens, was pleased to show our recent work in the community including: The U. S. National Arboretum Botanical Explorer and Mobile Application Field Mobility workflows for Plant Maintenance and Monument Restoration at Green-Wood Cemetery Capturing Drone Imagery for Turfgrass Analysis at Green-Wood Cemetery   The conference included a walking tour of the Smithsonian and U. S. Botanical Gardens on the National Mall. Also, it featured an evening at U. S. National Arboretum with a Tour and Reception. Blue Raster is continuing to serve public gardens in their mission to be inclusive for all and indispensable to the community. You can learn more about our capabilities and ongoing projects at public gardens page. Ready to find out more? Contact Us - Categories: ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, Community, Open Data, Parks - Tags: 10 Minute Walk, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Hub Accelerate, ArcGIS Online, City of Lynnwood, Esri - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster recently worked with the City of Lynnwood, Washington to support their Connect Lynnwood ArcGIS Hub launch. Blue Raster recently worked with the City of Lynnwood, Washington to support their Connect Lynnwood ArcGIS Hub launch. Our team assisted in the design and creation of the Connect Lynnwood Hub Site and their 10 Minute Walk (10MW) Initiative. Part of the Esri Geospatial Cloud, ArcGIS Hub provides a two-way engagement platform to connect government and citizens. The Pew Research Center found that "65 percent of Americans search online for information about their government. Yet, less than 10 percent report finding what they need. " Through ArcGIS Hub, local officials like those at the City of Lynnwood are able to easily publish data and story maps to allow their citizens to get more involved with their community. Connect Lynnwood Splash Page Using an ArcGIS Hub Site, our team designed a custom splash page to serve as a home-base for Connect Lynnwood. The page features Lynnwood initiatives, events, open data, and other information about the city. An open data search allows community members to enter keywords or phrases to get content results instantly. The splash page also includes multiple featured maps covering a variety of topics including general history, major projects and more! The page also features Lynnwood's Initiatives, such as the 10 Minute Walk Campaign. Lastly, an events calendar enables Lynnwood to create, manage, and share events to inform community members of upcoming opportunities for involvement. When clicking on an event, users can RSVP and also easily share the event with other community members via Facebook or Twitter. The Lynnwood event manager can also stay connected with RSVP'ed attendees by sending updates and sharing information that might interest them. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Lynnwood-splashpage-v1. mp4 Initiative Page The City of Lynnwood launched their 10 Minute Walk Campaign as their first ArcGIS Hub Initiative. On the Initiative page, community members can learn about the campaign and sign up to become "park walk champions. " As park walk champions, community members record their walks around the city's numerous parks, and complete surveys that will be used by the City of Lynnwood to assess park and green-space accessibility. By leveraging ArcGIS Hub, the city is able to easily and effectively two-way engage with its citizens. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Lynnwood-10MW-Initiative-v2. mp4 Check out the City of Lynnwood's ArcGIS Hub here! Then, learn more about Blue Raster's ArcGIS Hub Accelerate offerings! - Categories: Esri, User Conference - Tags: ArcGIS Indoors, ArcGIS Urban, Drone, Esri, Esri Conference, Esri UC, Esri UC 2019, Esri User Conference, Forest Stewardship Council, FSC, Jane Goodall, Jane Goodall Institute, JGI, Operations Dashboard, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals, User Conference 2019 - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Blue Raster is excited to announce our return to the Esri User Conference, which will be held July 8-12, 2019 at the San Diego Convention Center. Visit our booth near the Sustainable World Community, see one of our presentations, or attend our events! Blue Raster is thrilled to announce our return to the Esri User Conference in July at the San Diego Convention Center. Members of our team will be making the trip out to sunny Southern California next month to present our work and to gain insights from other leaders in the geospatial industry. We look forward to hearing from keynote speakers Jane Goodall and E. O. Wilson, two of the world’s foremost conservation activists. We are excited to be collaborating with the Esri StoryMaps team and the Jane Goodall Institute on a Story Map that will be featured at Esri UC. Exciting Technology at Esri UC We are excited to announce that we are now a partner in the ArcGIS Indoors Specialty. Blue Raster is recognized for our expertise with indoor mapping and location analytics, and the implementation of solutions or services using ArcGIS Indoors. This rising IPS (Indoor Positioning System) based software will be at the center of several demos and training sessions at this year’s Esri UC. Blue Raster Project Manager Megan Gottfried will be attending ArcGIS Urban pre-UC training on July 7th to learn more about this revolution in GIS for urban planning. We are looking forward to talking with colleagues and clients about these new initiatives. Make sure to visit our booth to see some of our application demos and videos. We are also excited to announce that we are an official ArcGIS Marketplace Provider and have three new offerings in the ArcGIS Marketplace: ArcGIS Online Accelerate ArcGIS Hub Accelerate Story Maps Visit us at Esri UC to learn more about how Blue Raster can help you successfully set up, implement, and launch the latest Esri software tools. Where to See Us at Esri UC We look forward to engaging with other members of the GIS community, and we want to meet with you! Stop by our booth in the Expo Hall near the Sustainable World Community or contact us at info@blueraster. com to set up a meeting. Lightning Talk: My Life as a (Version) Control Freak: Versioning ArcGIS Online Items with Python Monday, July 8th – 5:00 to 6:30pm PT in Ballroom 20-D Blue Raster GIS Analyst Daniel Cassiday will share his experiences and thoughts on applications of Python in versioning ArcGIS Online items. This event is a single, five-minute presentation taking place as part of a larger series of lightning talks. Danny will be sticking around after the event to answer any individual questions. Visit us in the Map Gallery, where we will have three posters featured. Hang out with us during Map Gallery Opening and Evening Reception, Monday, July 8th – 4:00 to 7:00pm PT in the Sails Pavilion Measuring Success: Tracking the Progress of the Sustainable Development Goals Forest Products Without Compromise: Forest Stewardship Council Dashboards Finding Ideal Drone-Pilot Locations using Line-of-Sight Analysis with Publicly Available LiDAR Data Sustainable World Social Tuesday, July 9th – 6:00 to 8:00pm PT Hilton San Diego Bayfront Sapphire Terrace Blue Raster is a proud sponsor of this networking event, which focuses on the applications of GIS in the context of conservation and sustainability. There will be light refreshments and great opportunities to collaborate with other people and organizations that are looking to make a difference. Schedule a Meeting With Us Interested in meeting with our team? Contact us now to schedule a time to meet with us during the Esri User Conference. We can't wait to see you! Contact Us - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS for Server, Conservation, Environment, Forest, Infrastructure, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, SDG, Supply Management, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: Amazon S3, Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS for Server, ArcServer, conservation, Deforestation, GFW, global, Global Forest Watch, Responsible Sourcing, SDG, Supply Chain, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work GFW Pro was designed with leading companies and financial institutions to translate geospatial data into actionable insights. It gives users a way to quickly and accurately monitor deforestation around the world. Blue Raster is proud to announce the launch of Global Forest Watch Pro beta, a decision support tool that empowers companies to monitor their supply chains for deforestation and fires with a focus on preserving the most sensitive landscape types. Companies can upload all of their of sourcing areas, farms, and supply sheds for analysis and view interactive maps and diagnostics displaying occurrences of deforestation, alerts for forest fires, land cover types. Each organization is provided a secure location to manage user access to their areas of interest to ensure that the right people are able to interact with the right data at the right time. Analyzing Areas of Interest The public launch builds on the features available during the preview period and dramatically increases the speed of analysis of the user's areas of interest (AOI). Upon upload, the AOIs enter the analysis workflow which leverages AWS Lambda to calculate area-of-intersection with a variety of land-use and land-cover datasets. These intersecting areas are analyzed for tree-cover-loss since 2000, providing a detailed and nuanced view of conditions on the ground. With the latest iteration, Blue Raster leveraged AWS Dynamo DB to improve processing speeds by 700%, allowing GFW Pro to analyze hundreds of thousands of locations per day. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/gfwpro_blogvid_dashboard_edited_2. mp4 Improved Features The latest update also provides users with an improved ability to manage locations within their account including:- Sharing functionality to manage access to AOIs within an organization and send data to users outside the organization in the case of supply chains that include several companies- Allowing users to re-analyze their AOIs at a click of a button if underlying data re updated- The ability to upload locations in more geographic projections Detailed Views GFW Pro provides an unprecedented ability to view detailed environmental diagnostics of any Area of Interest (AOI) in a supply chain. The Forest Change Diagnostic presents a detailed breakdown of all deforestation since the year 2000 by a variety of global and regional specific land-use and land-cover types, such as WDPA Protected Areas, Peat, and Primary Forest. All data are displayed in intuitive interactive charts and are available for download. As Palm Oil Production is a major driver of deforestation, the Commodity Risk Diagnostic allows users to compare deforestation and fires within mills' supply sheds and empowers them to move palm sourcing away from the riskiest mills.   On the GFW Pro map, users have the option to view their data in the form of immersive, full-screen maps which highlight the geographic extent of surrounding environmental conditions. Additionally, users can sort this data by toggling numerous interactive layers, which are conveniently organized by categories such as forest change, land cover, land use, conservation, and more. It is also possible to monitor the conditions of distinct governmental units (such as states and provinces) or unique user-defined areas (through the polygon-drawing tool). GFW Summit & Beyond We are extremely proud of our work with Global Forest Watch and we look forward to attending the GFW Summit in this week in Washington, DC. We hope that this program advances supply chain management in the context of a changing natural environment, and that our users are better able to comprehend the human footprint of production across the world’s forests. Please check back soon for ongoing improvements to this application, as well as the release of other new and innovative mapping solutions. - Categories: Conservation, Environment, Forest, Nonprofit/NGO, Supply Management, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: ArcGIS, Forest, global, Operations Dashboard, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The FSC Dashboards, created by the Forest Stewardship Council and Blue Raster, provide an interactive outlet to explore where FSC Certified Forests and Certificates currently are. Forest Stewardship Council's mission is to promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests. Their vision is that we can meet our current needs for forest products without compromising the health of the world’s forests for future generations The FSC Dashboards, created by the Forest Stewardship Council and Blue Raster, provide an interactive outlet to explore where FSC Certified Forests and Certificates are currently located. Sharing these ArcGIS Operations Dashboards gives viewers a look into the breadth of FSC's impact and explores physical boundaries of managed forests on top of satellite imagery. This can be analyzed against authoritative global forest extent and change data for verification and accountability purposes. Before a forest owner or manager can certify their forest, they must meet the ten FSC principles for responsible forest management. These rules apply to all forest types and are in place to ensure environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable forest management. The FSC 10 principles are below. The 10 rules for responsible forest management PRINCIPLE 1: The Organization shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations and nationally-ratified international treaties, conventions and agreements. PRINCIPLE 2: The Organization shall maintain or enhance the social and economic well-being of workers. PRINCIPLE 3: The Organization shall identify and uphold Indigenous Peoples’ legal and customary rights of ownership, use and management of land, territories and resources affected by management activities. PRINCIPLE 4: The Organization shall contribute to maintaining or enhancing the social and economic well-being of local communities. PRINCIPLE 5: The Organization shall efficiently manage the range of multiple products and services of the Management Unit to maintain or enhance long term economic viability and the range of environmental and social benefits. PRINCIPLE 6: The Organization shall maintain, conserve and/or restore ecosystem services and environmental values of the Management Unit, and shall avoid, repair or mitigate negative environmental impacts. PRINCIPLE 7: The Organization shall have a management plan consistent with its policies and objectives and proportionate to scale, intensity and risks of its management activities. The management plan shall be implemented and kept up to date based on monitoring information in order to promote adaptive management. The associated planning and procedural documentation shall be sufficient to guide staff, inform affected stakeholders and interested stakeholders and to justify management decisions. PRINCIPLE 8: The Organization shall demonstrate that, progress towards achieving the management objectives, the impacts of management activities and the condition of the Management Unit, are monitored and evaluated proportionate to the scale, intensity and risk of management activities, in order to implement adaptive management. PRINCIPLE 9: The Organization shall maintain and/or enhance the High Conservation Values in the Management Unit through applying the precautionary approach. PRINCIPLE 10: Management activities conducted by or for The Organization for the Management Unit shall be selected and implemented consistent with The Organization’s economic, environmental and social policies and objectives and in compliance with the Principles and Criteria collectively.   - Categories: Environment, GIS - Tags: Environment, GIS, global, Pollution - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight At Blue Raster, we take pride in our projects that promote the conservation and well-being of our planet. Many of our clients are working to solve some of today’s biggest conservation and environmental issues. World Environment Day is June 5th and this year's theme is Beat Air Pollution. Air pollution comes from various sources, such as large-scale agriculture, burning of fossil fuels for household heating, emissions from cars and trucks, coal-burning power plants, etc. The United Nations is calling for people to join the Mask Challenge and pledge to take action in support of the environment. Participants of this challenge will be taking various measures to reduce pollution, such as using public transportation or riding a bike to work, composting organic food items and recycling non-organic trash. At Blue Raster, we take pride in our projects that promote the conservation and well-being of our environment and planet. Many of our clients are working to solve some of today’s biggest conservation and environmental issues. Using the power of GIS, we can analyze, manage, and visualize data in order to target areas where conservation practices are needed to promote a healthier environment. Planting Healthy Air We partnered with The Nature Conservancy on an investigation into the effects of planting trees in urban areas. To visualize the data, we helped create the "Planting Healthy Air” story map. It details the project’s motivation, visualizes its geographic data and geospatial analysis, and describes a simple plan for cities to reduce pollution and temperature by planting trees. UNICEF Blue Raster teamed up with UNICEF on multiple projects to analyze the hazards of air pollution around the world. With Blue Raster’s help, UNICEF identifies the children who are most vulnerable to the dangers of air pollution and promotes a greater understanding of this issue among governments, communities, and families. Additionally, ongoing geospatial analysis can help us pinpoint sources of pollution and create plans for reducing pollution in the future. Critical Loads Mapper The Critical Loads Mapper, built for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), helps better understand local and regional vulnerability to atmospheric pollution. This interactive web application analyzes atmospheric deposition from Nitrogen and Sulfur. Despite abundance in atmosphere and aquatic ecosystems, an excess of Nitrogen can cause significant environmental and health issues, leading to economic impacts across communities. With over 500 display options, the Critical Loads Mapper makes it easy for researchers, policy makers, and public officials to access this data and make informed decisions. To read more about our work on environment issues, visit this filtered list of projects and blog posts. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Esri, SDG, Story Map, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: ArcGIS Online, DHS Program, Esri, Esri R&D, nonprofit, presentation, SDG, Story Map, Sustainable Development Goals, The Nature Conservancy, UNICEF - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Insight Blue Raster recently had the opportunity to create and present a StoryMap using the new ArcGIS StoryMaps (currently in Beta) for Esri’s The Magic of Maps: How to Engage and Inspire Your Community event. Blue Raster recently had the opportunity to create and present a StoryMap using the new ArcGIS StoryMaps (currently in Beta) for Esri’s "The Magic of Maps: How to Engage and Inspire Your Community" event. At this event, we were able to introduce our own thoughts on the new platform, as well as give advice on how organizations are able to utilize these tools successfully. The StoryMap itself, titled Measuring Success, goes into detail on how some of Blue Raster’s nonprofit partners are tracking progress of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It addresses five of the seventeen SDGs and encompasses the work of The Demographic and Health Surveys Program, UNICEF, and The Nature Conservancy. The Magic of Maps The presentation focused heavily on how organizations can be successful in the creation and utilization of their StoryMaps, including knowing the target audience, recognizing the potential of a successful StoryMap, and creating a concise and engaging design. Additionally we were able to showcase the features included in the new beta version of ArcGIS StoryMaps. With the new, modern platform users are able to pick and choose distinct elements to piece together, rather than having to select a set template. Uniform text and font size options also help to eliminate the complexity of styles and reduce design workload. Dynamic media types such as maps, videos, and images can be seamlessly integrated into a number of StoryMap features to further engage the audience. Most importantly, the new builder has a simplistic user interface that allows anyone regardless of prior experience (or lack thereof) to produce a professional-caliber StoryMap. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-05-22_13-44-34. mp4 Special thanks to the members of the Blue Raster team who collaborated to create and present this StoryMap: Project Manager Christina Phang, UI/UX Designer Rachel Stock, GIS Intern Kelly Motzko, and GIS Intern Joe Nadonley. You can view the slides and listen to the presentation here. - Categories: Conservation, Esri, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: Esri Conference, global, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals, UNITAR, United Nations - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Uncategorized, Water - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The GIS for a Sustainable World conference in Geneva, Switzerland is an opportunity to develop long-term and collaborative relationships with global organizations interested in corporate sustainability and the sustainable development goals (SDG’s). The GIS for a Sustainable World conference in Geneva, Switzerland is an opportunity to develop long-term and collaborative relationships with global organizations interested in corporate sustainability and the sustainable development goals (SDGs). As a proud a sponsor of this Esri and UNOSAT event, we had the chance to share some of our GIS work that is making an impact on global sustainability efforts. This year's conference theme focused on applying GIS to people, planet, prosperity, and peace, and how intelligent maps and apps can accelerate efforts to implement the SDGs. Sustainable Business Panel Session The Sustainable Business panel session provided an opportunity for participants to hear from experts in specific thematic areas and discuss issues pertaining to their use of GIS. During this session, Michael Lippmann presented our work with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) funded India Water Tool. This tool helps users understand their water risks and plan interventions for water management in India. Other presenters in the panel included Tijs Lips from Bunge, Adam Romo from ISEAL Alliance, and Michael Marus from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Interactive Breakout Sessions In addition to hearing about sustainability challenges and successes from the many global organizations in attendance, Blue Raster Program Manager Phil Satlof had the opportunity to participate in a World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored Map-a-Thon. The “Map-A-Thon for Good” event gave participants a chance to learn important workflows for data validation, all while creating an open data set to share with the humanitarian community and beyond. We also participated in the interactive field GIS mobile data collection exercise. In this session, attendees got hands-on experience using the latest in Esri field mobility software. The Exploration Team collected data from around the conference venue, then viewed it on the Operations Dashboard. Additionally, the Blue Raster team visited with clients at the World Health Organization (WHO) and enjoyed the sites around Geneva. Before heading home, the team visited Chamonix and Mont Blanc, the highest summit in the Alps. To read more about the conference, visit the information page. - Categories: 3D, Agriculture, Cemetery, Drone, Environment, Esri, GIS, Infrastructure, Parks, Public Gardens - Tags: Cemetery, Cornell, Drone, Green-Wood, infrastructure, Turf, Turfgrass - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work In a new initiative with Green-Wood Cemetery, Cornell University, and turfgrass experts, Blue Raster is using drones to confront climate change in urban landscapes. Last month, Blue Raster's drone capabilities took flight. In a new initiative with Green-Wood Cemetery, Cornell University, and a group of turfgrass experts from across the United States, Blue Raster is using drones to help advance the science for confronting climate change in an urban landscape. The issue at hand is the rapid spread of warm-season invasive grass species that impacts the aesthetics of the cemetery. This results in adaptive preventative maintenance practices and high costs to keep the cemetery looking beautiful. The group is studying alternatives and strategies that put Green-Wood on the cutting edge of urban climate change mitigation. This research is also applicable to any urban parks, public gardens, cemeteries and golf courses. "Turf Guy" Dr. Frank Rossi of the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University and Christopher Gabris from Blue Raster looking at high resolution drone imagery captured the day before To study the spread of invasive grass throughout the year, Blue Raster flew a series of drone missions over the sprawling 478 acre cemetery. When additional missions fly for comparison, the data capture will provide high quality imagery that will identify invasive grass for measurement and monitoring throughout the year. Visit our Facebook album for more of the amazing aerial pictures. Using Esri's Drone2Map and ArcGIS Online Web Scenes, Blue Raster was also able to deliver some 3D products, including the iconic gateway entrance and some large mausoleums. Stay tuned for updates on the project, the analysis, and the results of this very exciting turfgrass study! - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Education, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, education, LearningCurved, Story Map, Strong Workforce Program, TalentED, Workforce Development - Industries: Education, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The TalentED Story Map platform brings students, counselors, and local business together to explore the student journey from education to the workforce. The TalentED Story Map brings community college students to the forefront of job opportunity and workforce development. In California, Blue Raster, the Community Coast College District (CCCD) and LearningCurved presented a hands-on workshop exploring the use of geographic maps as a tool to transform career exploration. Additionally, the team presented ways to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Mapping for story telling, decision making, and collaboration. The workshop brought together over 35 attendees from local community colleges and industries, each with unique experience working directly with students and the platform. Attendees explored topics such as: Maps for Smart Decision Making Effective Use of Story Maps TalentED Demonstration User Feedback & Panel Discussion The TalentED platform provides interactive career exploration by focusing on key concepts which are important to students. Priority Industry Sectors introduce nine growing industries in Southern California, for example Biotechnology and Advanced Transportation. Dig into each Industry Sector to learn more about occupations and wages. In addition, students can explore companies that have careers in those industries and hear testimonials from professionals who followed a similar path. Community Feedback The TalentED Development Team worked vigorously to get student feedback and understand ways to improve the platform. For example, the Development team conducted a Pilot Program Survey, where 595 Students and Staff from nine different colleges were invited to get a first look at TalentED. Participants had the opportunity to provide an evaluation of the platform and reflect on their experience navigating the platform. Further, the participants helped us understand if they thought the platform was effective in career exploration and if it was something they would share with their peers. As a result, the TalentED team can hone in ways to make a more effective platform for the students. The positive feedback from the users was tremendous and several respondents spoke directly about their experience at the workshop. Watch the feedback given by users through personal testimonials below. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Conservation, Development, Environment, Forest, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Restoration - Tags: ArcGIS Online, biodiversity, conservation, global, Global Forest Watch, MapBuilder, WCS, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The Blue Raster team worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society to customize unique workflows to connect their API with a custom Global Forest Watch MapBuilder platform. At the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), staff are using the Global Forest Watch MapBuilder platform to show their global impact. WCS works to conserve the world's largest wild places in 16 priority regions. Their new MapBuilder platform is a powerful mapping tool for analyzing data in priority conservation areas. WCS' platform combines the use of remote sensing and GIS to visualize and monitor top priority regions for conservation. Through a combination of interactive mapping, data visualizations, and analytical reports, the platform provides staff with access to information on the current state of WCS protected areas around the world. The platform incorporates a breadth of data on priority landscapes and sea- and coastal- scapes (known as "scapes"). In addition, it visualizes key project areas where WCS is working to have a conservation impact on species. By centralizing this data all on one platform, users can visualize overlap and patterns. For example, staff can overlay forest fragmentation, infrastructure development, and conservation areas to quickly see if wildlife movement is blocked between and within protected areas. This is especially important in Africa, where species like elephants, giraffes, and zebras travel long distances between wet and dry seasons to survive. In addition to the data on the platform, the site also contains powerful analytics powered by MapBuilder's custom functionality. Through a unique workflow built by our two teams, WCS can connect their API with the Global Forest Watch API to return time-series statistics within the application. This enables users to run specialized analyses to answer questions such as: Which protected areas have experienced the greatest forest disturbance in recent years? How have species population trends changed over time? Where are the last unbroken swaths of intact forest? Visualizing Results WCS can also visualize their impact. For example, thanks to conservation efforts, Nouabalé Ndoki National Park is free from logging and contains no roads within its borders. The park covers more than 4,000 square kilometers of contiguous rainforest and is a stronghold for iconic species including forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, and chimpanzees. WCS' platform is built with the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Enterprise, the Global Forest Watch API, and Google Earth Engine. Check out the WCS MapBuilder platform today! - Categories: Esri - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Hub, conference, DevSummit, EPC, Esri, Esri Dev Summit, Esri Developer Summit, Esri Partner Conference, Python, Typescript - Industries: Transportation & Logistics - Services: Conferences & Webinars, Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team had an action-packed week at the Esri Partner Conference (EPC) and Developers Summit in Palm Springs, California. Every year, we look forward to DevSummit as it offers our team the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from other developers about the latest technologies and enhancements available in the ArcGIS platform. DevSummit also allows us to explore the software and solutions that we can apply to our products and projects. The Blue Raster team had an action-packed week at the Esri Partner Conference (EPC) and Developer Summit in Palm Springs, California. Every year, we look forward to DevSummit as it offers our team the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from other developers about the latest technologies and enhancements available in the ArcGIS platform. DevSummit also allows us to explore the software and solutions that we can apply to our products and projects. On Thursday, one of our team members, Christian Howard, brought his knowledge to sunny California to present on "Geek Perspectives: Lessons from Developing with Scene Layers in 2019. " Throughout the week, the team attended numerous technical sessions from Esri software experts and fellow developers from the user community. Here are a few of the technologies that our team is excited about: • ArcGIS Arcade: There were a few demonstrations that showed how to dynamically update map layers, popups, and symbology on the fly using Arcade's straightforward, JavaScript-like expressions. It was also interesting seeing a scripting language that can manage geometric and feature data types! • Virtual Reality: Early in its development, this tool will allow users to visualize spatial data inserted into the real world using a mobile device. • Hosted Python Notebooks: Allows GIS analysts and data scientists to directly share and execute Python scripts from Portal for ArcGIS. Python script integration has become a crucial part of processing and organizing of spatial data. • Machine Learning and Deep Learning: These tools will allow analysts to quickly and accurately explore data patterns and locate objects in remotely sensed imagery. • 3D from 2D: We continue to see various sessions dedicated to 3D, including the ability to visualize scientific data using z values from attributes. Our team closed out the conference week by participating as the Raster’s Nine in the dodgeball tournament followed by the Esri party that evening. The team also enjoyed a wonderful day of team bonding by the pool with a Blue Raster picnic full of food and fun. Catch more of our favorite moments from the week below. See you next year at DevSummit 2020! We are hiring! Visit https://blueraster. jobs/ today and join our team. - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Indoors, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Development, Esri, Infrastructure, Real Estate - Tags: 3D, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Indoors, ArcGIS Pro, BIM, CAD, Esri, GeoEvent Server, Indoor Mapping, Real Estate, Routable Indoor Networks, Training - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Insight Our team had the opportunity to work with ArcGIS Indoors at a hands-on workshop by Esri in Redlands, CA. ArcGIS Indoors provides 3D maps, data, and location information for indoor spaces. In July 2018, Esri announced a new product called ArcGIS Indoors. Expected to be available for widespread use this year, ArcGIS Indoors provides 3D maps, data, and location information for indoor spaces. With indoor maps, building operators can more efficiently coordinate resources with their facilities and explore their data to operate more competitively. How does it work? ArcGIS Indoors places people and objects inside buildings such as corporate facilities, event venues, education campuses, and more. The indoor mapping system uses a building’s floor plans, indoor sensor networks, and other data streams to build a comprehensive map of any indoor space. It is designed to work seamlessly with other parts of the ArcGIS platform, Powered by ArcGIS Enterprise and Portal, ArcGIS Indoors can be accessed and used for visualization and analysis with other Esri applications. Workshop to Explore the Indoors Project Manager Christina Phang and GIS Analyst Danny Cassiday had the opportunity to work with ArcGIS Indoors at a hands-on workshop by Esri in Redlands, CA. They learned about converting BIM and CAD into ArcGIS Indoors Information Models and extracting site plans from Aerial imagery to create complete site scale maps. In addition, they completed a technical deep dive into creating and generating routable indoor networks, as well as publishing web and mobile apps. The rest of the team are excited to see what Christina and Danny have learned! Get Started Today! Let us help you deploy ArcGIS Indoors. Our team can assist with curating and preparing data for ArcGIS Indoors, authoring maps and scenes for ArcGIS Indoors Web and Mobile Apps, and configuration and deployment of Indoors Apps. We also provide custom solutions to extend ArcGIS Indoors, integrate it with third party systems, and customize the UI/UX (branding, colors, icons, images). Learn more about how ArcGIS Indoors services and solutions can work for you. - Categories: Conservation, Infrastructure, Water - Tags: conservation, global, India, infrastructure, Supply Chain, water, WBCSD - Industries: Commercial, Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is excited to continue to support and advance the India Water Tool. The tool helps companies and supply chains better understand water availability, quality and stress to make informed decisions. Blue Raster is pleased to have partnered again with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) on the third version of the India Water Tool. As much of India faces high to extremely high water stress, it is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. The India Water Tool helps users understand their water risks and plan interventions for water management in India. With over 20 datasets and risk indicators from the Government of India and other institutions, the tool helps companies understand water risks for their operations and supply chains. For investors, the tool can help with site selection and investment for new locations. Additionally, users have the ability to input or upload facility-level information and view: Maps of water availability, quality and stress Charts and graphs of current and historic water availability and quality Summary reports of water data for their locations India Water Tool India Water Tool Design The Blue Raster design team completely updated the visual identity of the tool, including the color schemes, fonts and icons. Blue Raster’s developers then implemented the design in collaboration with other WBCSD partners. Check out and explore the India Water Tool 3. 0 today. "The tool is an important step towards water management in India. The nationwide analysis it provides allows for a good understanding of local water situations and helps build comprehensive corporate water management strategies and stewardship approaches. The country needs action at the scale of a movement to help it manage the water stress situation. Bringing granular data on an open access and easy to use platform is an important step in driving such coordinated action. Blue Raster has done a commendable job in making this national tool a great looking and easy to use platform". – Deepa Maggo, Manager - Water at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development - Categories: Esri, Federal - Tags: Esri, Esri Conference, Esri FedGIS, Federal, Federal Small Business Program - Industries: Federal Government, State & Local Government, Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team took part in the annual Esri FedGIS conference in Washington, DC. The conference is an opportunity for government professionals to discuss best practices, participate in hands-on workshops, and connect with subject matter experts from across the country. The Blue Raster team took part in the annual Esri FedGIS conference in Washington, DC. The conference is an opportunity for government professionals to discuss best practices, participate in hands-on workshops, and connect with subject matter experts from across the country. The conference also features thought leaders from several organizations giving presentations on their uses of location intelligence. We had the opportunity to meet and talk with Esri staff and attendees. In addition, our team members attended sessions and met with colleagues and clients. 2019 Partner of the Year Award Blue Raster is proud and excited to be recognized as the 2019 Partner of the Year. This award is presented as part of the Esri Federal Small Business Specialty (FSBS) program. It recognizes small-business partners who have demonstrated their "commitment to helping federal institutions become more effective and resilient through location intelligence". The award presentation at FedGIS featured our work with the NASA Transboundary Water Management Data Explorer. This project visualizes hydrologic data including international coverage for precipitation, atmospheric flow, soil moisture, population, and land cover. We look forward to continuing to connect with US Federal Government customers and other small business and providing new and creative Esri solutions. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Community, Development, Education, Media, News, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Climate, education, Esri, Health, Network, New America, Story Map - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster recently collaborated with New America on a story map highlighting city and community connectedness across the US. The story map looks at 25 different community focused networks working to help cities and counties solve a wide-range of challenges including climate change, criminal justice, and homelessness. Blue Raster recently collaborated with New America on a story map highlighting city and community connectedness across the US. The story map looks at 25 different community focused networks working to help cities and counties solve a wide-range of challenges including climate change, criminal justice, and homelessness. The story map was developed in conjunction with a larger publication by New America focusing on the contribution that community networking makes to renewal and revival. To better understand the factors that contribute to a city’s overall connectivity, New America asked our team to enrich their data with indicators such as population, Tapestry Segmentation, and MSA to determine if there were patterns and trends among the most networked communities. Population turned out to be one of the biggest contributing factors to a city's overall connection. Top 10 Most Connected Metro Areas (2018) To visualize connectivity of both cities and communities simultaneously, the Blue Raster team used a combination of heat map cartography in addition to point and polygon data to show where overlaps occur between cities, communities, counties, and states. Our team also built customized pop-ups through ArcGIS Online. Using SQL Query syntax we were able to make pop-ups that are customized to each network depending on the type of data in that network, whether it be cities, communities, counties, or any combination of geographies. . Check out the story map, and see how well connected your own community is by reading New America's full report! - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, Cloud, Education, JavaScript API - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, EDGE, education, K-12, NCES, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work MapED identifies conditions of school-age children in school districts across the United States for a holistic understanding of the success of students. MapED is a primary source of geographic education and demographic data for students across the U. S. . The latest MapED launch brings exceptional updates to this platform both technically with the introduction of several new maps and visually in the redesign. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates (EDGE), Sanametrix, and Blue Raster all brought unique expertise to ensure that any student, parent, or education professional has access to compelling and up-to-date maps and data. ACS-ED Maps The ACS-ED Maps application is the latest exploratory tool to identify conditions of school-age children in school districts across the United States. Users can explore indicators such as poverty, health insurance coverage, and race to better understand the connections between students, school districts and their surroundings. “The Census Bureau creates the ACS-ED custom tabulation for the NCES EDGE program to help measure social and economic conditions of school-age kids in local school districts. Those conditions can vary considerably across different parts of the U. S. and even within the same metropolitan area, so the goal of the ACS-ED Maps tool is to help people visualize school district socioeconomic conditions in their geographic context so they can better understand how location affects education. ” - Doug Geverdt, Administrative Data Division, NCES ACS-ED Map is updated annually with the latest data available from the U. S. Census Bureau. Browse indicators by total population or get more refined data for school-age children by narrowing the search to all children, children enrolled in any type of schooling, or children enrolled in public school. ACS-ED maps support side-by-side comparison of indicators by allowing users to create two views within the same browser. Additionally, users can share out their map on Facebook, Email or Twitter. The application utilizes ArcGIS Server and the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. Locale Lookup The Locale Lookup application identifies the types of communities where schools are located. Explore Public Schools and School Districts from the Common Core of Data (CCD), Private Schools from the Private School Survey (PSS), and Post-Secondary Schools from the Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) in relation to their Locale classification, from rural to city landscapes. The application utilizes ArcGIS Server and the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Esri - Tags: Analytics, ArcGIS Online, Esri, Health and Human Services, Living Atlas of the World, Local Government, Policy Maps, Smart Communities, State Government - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Technological Insights, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work We worked with Esri to design their new Policy Maps site. Make sure to explore this free resource where you can view and share policy maps related to topics such as the opioid epidemic, housing, and poverty. As one of the largest collections of spatial data in the world, the Living Atlas website by Esri houses a tremendous amount of content. Over the past few years, Esri has increased their focus on incorporating maps for data-driven policy. But with over 7,000 datasets on the site, their policy map content was getting lost in the shuffle. When Esri came to Blue Raster, they wanted to broaden the reach of their policy content through a focused website. User Research Esri tasked our design team to ensure the new website within the Living Atlas helped users break through these questions: "If our state or community makes a policy change, where are the areas we would make the change first? " 2. "We want to use maps and analysis to inform our decisions, but where do we start? " 3. "Is there information about the community already? What webmaps, applications, and story maps already exist? User Experience Our team reviewed more than 200 policy maps within the Living Atlas to inform the website's layout and user interface. After defining the hierarchy and topics of interest, we designed a workflow that tapped into existing Esri code logic to use `category` tags to bucket the maps. This enabled rapid development, where the project went from design to deployment within two weeks. The end result was a site that allows users to explore maps on topics like "Social Equity and Health," and then save and share their map collection with peers. For example, check out this collection of policy maps for Baltimore, Maryland. Connecting users to resources explaining how to get started with using maps for policy making was also important. We worked with Esri to identify the types of resources that would maximize a user's experience. The result was a sub-page on the site containing in-depth trainings, actionable tips, and inspiring stories to equip users to tackle today's community challenges. Explore this free, Policy Mapping resource today! - Categories: Conservation, Education, Environment, Esri, GIS, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: biodiversity, GIS, global, Habitat, Habitat Loss, TNC, Urban Century, Web Map - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The Nature Conservancy's recent report is a global assessment of human urban growth impact on natural habitat and biodiversity This month, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) released "Nature in the Urban Century", a report on the rising threat that urban growth and the proximity of people to wildlife will have on habitat loss. Dubbed the “urban century,” the report details the challenges of managing urban growth. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be 2. 4 billion more people in cities than today. That is an urban growth rate “equivalent to building a city with the population of London every seven weeks”! Urbanization is a leading factor in habitat loss, but better planning and focus on sustainable development can allow for more integration of habitats into cities. With urban growth and the expansion of cities, protected lands are becoming increasingly close to human development. The study estimates that by 2030, forty percent of protected areas will be within 50 kilometers of a city. These protected areas provide critical carbon storage that can help mitigate climate change. Blue Raster developed two mapping application for the report. The first shows the impact of urban growth on habitat, protected areas and carbon at the country level. The tabs along the map and the country popups show users how many square kilometers of habitat is lost to urban growth, the current percent and 2030 projected percent increase of protected areas that are adjacent to urban areas, and the carbon loss from expanding cities. The second map looks at the relationship of urban growth trends and specific protected areas of urban-threatened species. The density of urban-caused habitat loss projected out to 2030 is viewed with existing urban areas, and highlights places where managing protected areas and urban biodiversity near cities is most important. The Nature in the Urban Century report states that while there’s still time to protect critical habitat even as cities grow, it will take concerted planning. Left unchecked, over the next two decades urban growth will threaten more than 290,000 km2 of habitat, an area larger than New Zealand. It’s up to local cities, national governments and international institutions to work together to look at the benefits generated by biodiversity and set specific goals for urban conservation efforts. Click here to view the full report - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS for Server, Building Information Management, Development, District of Columbia, Economic Development, Esri, GIS, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Land Use, Real Estate - Tags: 3D, ArcGIS for Server, DCOZ, Development, infrastructure, Real Estate, Washington D.C., Zoning - Industries: Commercial Real Estate, State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The new 3D Zoning Map is an innovative public tool from DCOZ for citizens, developers, and agencies to collaborate and understand the zoning regulations in the nations Capitol. The Washington, DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ) provides assistance and oversight for the District of Columbia Zoning Commission (ZC) and Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). DCOZ reviews and accepts applications and enforces zoning criteria. With the help of Blue Raster, robust mapping and GIS tools provide citizens with general understanding and transparency around these criteria, rules and regulations. In 2016, Blue Raster and DCOZ collaborated to create the DC Zoning Map of 2016 and the Historical Zoning Mapping Application. New in 2018, we are excited to announce the next application in the series, the 3D Zoning Map. This new interactive map uses the latest geospatial and 3D technology to provide both residents and developers a tool to navigate and plan the District's landscape. To assist developers with visualizing what their project will look like against the current landscape, the 3D Zoning Map allows users to delete current buildings, upload new projects, and perform Before & After and Light Study analyses. Using Esri's ArcGIS API for Javascript, data from DCOZ and the DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) is added to a Web Scene. Additionally, users have the ability to view zoning information from the Zoning Handbook and link to their address in the official Zoning Map. The 3D Zoning Map is an innovative public tool from DCOZ for citizens, developers, and agencies to collaborate and understand the zoning regulations in the nations Capitol. “Our goal at DCOZ is to always be working towards greater transparency and to be increasing the amount of relevant information we can provide in interesting ways. It is our hope that the 3D Zoning Map will further demystify zoning and land use permitting in the District of Columbia and increase resident’s ability to participate in the process. We are excited to continue our partnership with Blue Raster through the release of the 3D Zoning Map. ” Matthew Holden, Zoning Data Coordinator, Office of Zoning | District of Columbia Government - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS for Server, Conservation, Environment, Infrastructure, Nonprofit/NGO, Supply Management, Sustainable Development Goals - Tags: Amazon S3, Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS for Server, ArcServer, conservation, Deforestation, global, Responsible Sourcing, SDG, Supply Chain, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Hundreds of companies around the world have signed on to the United Nations (UC) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land and pledged to work towards zero deforestation by 2020. However, meeting these commitments requires the ability monitor deforestation throughout their supply chains. Global Forest Watch Pro provides each organization a unique, secure environment to monitor and analyze these supply chains, and also helps these organizations demonstrate compliance with commitments and policies. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Intro-Video-1. 1. mp4 The application builds on the success of past GFW initiatives and leverages the comprehensive list of authoritative datasets curated by the World Resources institute. Data are served to the application from a variety of locations, such as ArcGIS Server, Amazon S3, and Carto DB. Users can upload lists of over 1,000 custom Areas of Interest (AOIs), which are quickly analyzed for deforestation on sensitive areas and by regional landcover types. The application’s two diagnostics provide detailed historic deforestation measurements as well as industry specific risk scores. In addition, an alert dashboard provides real time monitoring capabilities and displays the latest GLAD Deforestation and VIIRS Fire alerts. GFW Pro leverages AWS Lambda to provide the intensive computational resources needed to quickly analyze these large custom lists while keeping costs as low as possible. Using the latest serverless technology, the application is quickly able to spin up as much compute power as needed to analyze each list, and then shut them down just as quickly. This allows the application to scale horizontally and processes thousands of user uploaded locations a day. We are excited to see the impact GFW Pro will have on monitoring environmental impacts and global supply chains. - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS Online, Community, Esri, GIS, Mobile, Nonprofit/NGO, Women in Science - Tags: 3D, Esri, Globe, LOOK UP, Sky Tapestry, Skyfie - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work On October 18, Look Up to the sky and record an image, video/audio, or text message about what inspires you! Ever wonder what people in far off places are seeing at the same time you’re looking up at the sky? On October 18, sky-watchers across the globe can take part in a 24-hour phenomenon by using Look Up’s new app, Skyfie, and share their experiences as they look up at our shared sky. Working with the Dorothy Jemison Foundation, Blue Raster helped develop the Sky Tapestry 3D Globe for the October 18th Look Up event. Dr. Jemison, spearheading the Look Up event, is a physician, engineer, educator and entrepreneur, and was the first woman of color in the world to go into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. She was a NASA astronaut for six years before founding her own technology company and is now the current principal of the 100 Year Starship organization. The app captures expressions of what individuals see and feel and allows participants to see the sky from a different perspective. Images, audio/video, and text about the sky taken in the mobile app will populate the Sky Tapestry globe in near-real time. The Sky Tapestry is built on Esri's latest 3D Globe technology. Skyfies from the mobile app populate a Google Firebase database. Blue Raster developed a Node. js script to push records from Skyfie to an ArcGIS Online feature layer, which display on the Globe. “I believe the impact of looking up at the sky can be as profound as seeing the Earth from space orbit. Especially when it’s a shared, worldwide experience! ” - Dr. Mae Jemison Download the app for iOS or Android and take part in Look Up! Follow the #LookUpTogether, #Skyfie and #lookuponesky tags on social media for news and updates about this global event. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Economic Development, Finance, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Asia, China, Esri, Finance, global, Investment management, Matthews Asia, Story Map - Industries: Commercial - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Recently, Matthews Asia collaborated with Blue Raster to launch "China: Then and Now", a new story map spotlighting China's economic transformation. Recently, Matthews Asia collaborated with Blue Raster to launch "China: Then and Now", a new story map spotlighting China's economic transformation. The story map explores China's demographics, rapid adoption of mobile technology, and innovations in health care. The story map begins with a historical overview of Ancient Chinese innovations, and then transitions into exploring today's Modern China. It concludes with a look at how modern investors are incorporating investment opportunities in China to create globally diversified portfolios. The making of the story map To ensure the story map would be easy to navigate, easy to share, and easy to engage with, our team leveraged Esri's Cascade story map template. To start, we created a color scheme and story board that reinforced the juxtaposition between Ancient and Modern China. To create a consistent storytelling narrative, we placed all graphics relating to Ancient China on the left side of the story map, and tinted them with warm shades reminiscent of Ancient Chinese traditions (Chinese lanterns, calligraphy, and architecture). We chose a palette of deep reds, warm yellows, and tans, and wove in pulp & paper-textures to continue the authentic feeling. To ensure the maps also felt authentic, our team customized a vector basemap to recreate the look of antique maps from that era. For Modern China, we placed visuals on the right side of the story map, and tinted them cool, neon tones that reinforced a futuristic, innovative feeling of today's China. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Community, Education, Esri, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, Biotechnology, CCCD, Coast Community College District, Community Colleges, Construction, Development, education, Energy, Esri, Industry, Story Map, Strong Workforce Program, Utilities, Workforce Development - Industries: Education - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Community colleges deeply impact students' lives and add value as an engine of economic mobility. They are particularly important for students often left on the sidelines of higher education — foster youth, veterans, incarcerated adults, and low-income or first-generation students. Driven by the need for new tools that demonstrate how community colleges can positively affect students' lives, the Coast Community College District (CCCD) and Blue Raster partnered to publish a series of story maps preparing tomorrow's workforce for the new economy. The TalentED Story Maps, built on the ArcGIS Online Cascade template, are a bold regional approach for engaging employers and educators in creating clear roadmaps for student success. Through TalentED, students can visualize regional workforce needs and available educational opportunities. Counselors can also help others plan out a career path that reflects personal and financial goals. Alongside the central TalentEd Story Map, industry-level Story Maps give students access to information on careers, colleges, and living costs, all targeted to their specific location. Within each industry-level Story Map, users can watch short videos on the wide range of jobs associated with each industry. They can also view all companies in Orange County that are involved in a specific industry, and find a community college where they can continue their studies for a job in that field. Further interactive display options allow users to also tailor their experience to their needs, placing themselves on the path to a great career. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Record-12_TalentED. mp4 As Stephanie Feger, Project Director of Coast Community College District said: "This resource will be invaluable to the colleges and students in our region. We value Blue Raster’s partnership in design, development, documentation and support. We truly appreciate Blue Raster’s expertise and collaborative approach. " Check out the TalentED Story Maps today! - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS Pro, Environment, Esri, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: 3D, ArcGIS Pro, Blue Raster, Esri, MIT Media Lab, MIT Media Lab Space Enabled Research Group, Real Estate - Industries: Uncategorized - Types: Insight Our summer interns are headed back to school for their fall semester. You can read about some of the projects that they worked on in our Intern Wrap-Up blog post written by Andrew Patterson, now a Senior at Penn State University. As a summer intern at Blue Raster, I was given the opportunity to contribute to a multitude of projects. I was able to explore customizations of basemaps and manipulation of satellite data, work hands-on with 3D buildings in ArcGIS Pro, and contribute to a variety of other GIS work. The internship provided a great learning experience. One such project, in conjunction with MIT Media Lab’s Space Enabled Research Group, aimed to track the growth and spread of aquatic surface vegetation. Focused on the Lake Nokoue region of Benin in West Africa, the goal of the collaborative project was to create a method of identifying the growth of water hyacinth in the lake and its tributary rivers for remediation purposes. I, along with several interns at Space Enabled, used Google Earth Engine (GEE), which provides immense processing power using Google’s server infrastructure, to access and manipulate several satellite data sources such as Landsat8 and Sentinel2. With additional support from the Blue Raster team, we were able to create a script for GEE’s Python API that scanned for changes in reflectance in Landsat8 and Sentinel2 and helps to track growth trends of the water hyacinth for future ground truthing trips by the MIT Media Lab Space Enabled team. We are exploring the use of Esri ArcGIS ImageServer for analysis for future work in this space. Throughout the summer internship, I also had the opportunity to work extensively with 3D data in ArcGIS Pro. In our work supporting a global Commercial Real Estate firm, we innovated with 3D to deliver a new suite of tools. Using a special data package created by Esri for City/Local Government GIS, I was able to create stacking plans of building floors to be implemented as a 3D layer along with full 3D models of the corresponding buildings in an ArcGIS Online Webscene. During the summer internship, I learned a tremendous amount about ArcGIS Pro and 3D data. The opportunity to learn the functionalities and intricacies of ArcGIS Pro, particularly in a real-world setting, is not something offered through my university coursework. Working interactively with Blue Raster to troubleshoot and solve 3D issues in a quick paced environment provided valuable insight. Overall, my time as an Intern at Blue Raster and the lessons I have taken away have helped to further my understanding of what a possible career in GIS has to offer. I feel that the projects I was able to contribute to will have a genuine impact. Having the opportunity to assist in their creation was an experience that will last a lifetime. I am excited to continue supporting Blue Raster as I return to Penn State. - Categories: Community, Esri - Tags: Esri, Esri Conference, Esri UC, Esri User Conference - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Every summer in San Diego, the Esri User Conference (UC) is a hub of collaboration, new ideas, and cutting-edge technology available to GIS professionals across virtually every sector. The Blue Raster team was excited to participate in the largest conference to-date; over 18,000 attendees, and showcase our latest work, meet new friends and learn from others in the GIS community. Some of the standout ideas that left us excited about what's coming up: ArcGIS Urban - During the always-inspiring Plenary Session, we were thrilled to see Boston Redevelopment innovating and leading with expansion into the latest 3D GIS Capabilities. We have previously worked with them on the City of Boston Zoning Viewer ArcGIS Indoors - indoor location mapping can expand the way we use 3D mapping by taking our visualizations inside Spatial Analytics - continuing to expand the science of where and the capabilities we deliver to our customers; Irving Forestry gave an inspiring demonstration on how they use GIS to transform their forest product supply chain from seedling to shelf. We look forward to continued advancements in sustainable resource management and our ongoing research on Emerging Hot Spots. Societal GIS - We are continuously in awe of the expansion of the GIS community and what this means for all aspects of life including sustainability and human rights. We loved having all the visitors at our booth this year, from professionals in conservation and forest management to real estate development and utility support. We were able to demo some of our latest applications, and invited attendees to visit our Map Gallery Poster featuring our work with The Green-Wood Cemetery. This specific collaboration led to the creation of a mobile data collection and task management system utilizing Collector for ArcGIS and Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS, that has completely replaced the paper collection system used previously. Between our booth on the expo floor, the many sessions and socials, and our legendary fish taco night, check out the photos of some favorite moments: Special Recognition The Blue Raster team also wants to give a special shout out to Sandro Ansari who worked with the help of Stephen Ansari to create an orthomosaic basemap of the Patternson Grove Campmeeting grounds and cottages. After flying the grounds with a DJI Phanton IV Drove, Sandro created the basemap using ArcGIS to digitize cottages and features. Sandro won first place for this map in the Student Map category. Way to go Sandro! Full Size Poster - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, District of Columbia, Education, GIS, Open Data - Tags: DC, education, inequality, maret school, Open Data - Industries: Education, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster developed and delivered basic and intermediate GIS instruction for Maret School's Mapping Inequality in DC class. Using GIS to map inequality is a powerful tool for understanding how inequity and place are inherently connected. Recently, the Maret School and Blue Raster partnered to give students the skills and resources necessary to map historical inequality in DC to deliver valuable resources for the DC community and beyond. Blue Raster developed and delivered basic and intermediate GIS instruction for Maret's Mapping Inequality in DC class. Using Blue Raster's instructions through ArcMap and ArcGIS Online, students learned to: Create, style and update maps. Add Census demographic layers and features to maps. Visually analyze historical patterns in data. Create compelling static maps, as well as interactive Story Maps to illustrate and explore inequality. Students explored issues such as redlining, health systems, access to public transportation, and other issues relating to inequality. Students worked in teams to create research questions and then blend demographic data with a digital mapping program to draw conclusions about patterns of inequity in DC. Students learned to take advantage of available resources, including open data and census portals, in order to produce insightful analysis. Blue Raster understands that equity and place are inherently connected. We believe that every aspect of a class – researching, learning, analyzing, and communicating – benefits from ArcGIS and spatial thinking. - Categories: Agriculture, Cemetery, GIS, Mobile, Parks, Public Gardens - Tags: APGA, Arboretum, Cemetery, Field GIS, Field Mobility, GIS, mobile, Public Gardens - Industries: Public Gardens - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Active Work Blue Raster works with multiple public gardens and arboreta to develop web and mobile applications. These apps help to interactively map robust plant collections for the public, and provide workflows for internal facility and maintenance teams to work more efficiently. This June, Blue Raster was a presenter at the American Public Gardens Association’s annual conference. Presenting alongside the Alliance for Public Gardens GIS, the presentation focused on Enterprise Configurations and GIS solutions for public gardens. Blue Raster was proud to present our recent work with the U. S. National Arboretum and the development of their mobile application, as well as automated field mobility workflows for plant maintenance and monument restoration tasks at Green-Wood Cemetery. Hosted at the Disneyland Hotel in Southern California, the conference was a great opportunity to see how public gardens across the world are uniquely attracting visitors, storing their plant data and historic records, and collaborating with each other. A special behind-the-scenes tour with Disneyland arborists and a trip to The Getty Museum in Los Angeles were just some of the amazing events during the week. Is your garden interested in mapping your plant collections? Do you want to take your visitor experience to the next level with a mobile application? Blue Raster is experienced with plant data and workflows. Each project is custom-designed to fit your specific needs. Learn more about our workflows how we can help you. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Education, GIS, Open Data - Tags: EDGE, education, Geodata, NCES, Open Data, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The new release of the Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates (EDGE) Geodata site gives the public access to authoritative, up-to-date geographic education data for the entire U.S. Geography plays a vital role in our schools: both inside and outside the classroom. The new release of the Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates (EDGE) Geodata site gives the public access to authoritative, up-to-date geographic education data for the entire U. S. Using this data effectively helps to answer some of the most difficult questions that face our school systems today: How far are high schools to the nearest community college? How many low-income households are contained within a school district? How do students in rural schools compare in math and science to urban schools? https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/EDGE-Geodata-Blog. mp4 Blue Raster and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) EDGE Program believe that releasing this spatial data in an open, easy to use format is essential in making data-driven decisions on school funding, student poverty, and teacher supply and more. The EDGE Geodata site contains a variety of data sorted into four Data Categories: K-12 Schools Survey data from the Common Core of Data (CCD) for over 100,000 schools across the United States and over 18,000 School District Office Locations updated annually, as well as School Attendance Boundaries for every elementary, middle, and high school across the United States collected bi-annually. Postsecondary Schools Over 7,000 Postsecondary School Locations across the United States collected by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) annually. This dataset includes Certification, Associate's, Bachelor's and Graduate programs. School Districts Developed by NCES EDGE Program, School District Boundary Composite files to provide public education for residents, released annually. Locale Boundaries Developed by NCES EDGE Program, a geographic locale framework that classifies all U. S. territory into twelve vategories ranging from Large Cities to Remote Rural areas. Each dataset can be downloaded as full dataset, or filtered and then downloaded as a Spreadsheet, KML, or Shapefile, for use in GIS and non-GIS formats. Within the ArcGIS Open Data Platform, each dataset is available for further data drill-down in the API Explorer. Users can create custom Queries within the fields or apply spatial filters, and get outputs in JSON format. All data items are hosted in the robust, cloud-based ArcGIS Online platform, and hosted in a custom configured Open Data site. - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, Community, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Desktop, Arlington, Arlington Democrats - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Volunteer organization is the backbone of local political parties, and these volunteers is are increasingly supported by accessible mapping. Recently, Blue Raster worked with the Arlington County Democratic Committee to update their door-to-door newsletter delivery route maps. These maps direct a group of nearly 500 volunteers from door to door, providing them with vital geographic and demographic information. Displaying 443 routes across 52 voter precincts, the success of the maps depends on being both descriptive and easily accessible. Have you ever wondered how local political parties organize their army of door-to-door volunteers? Increasingly, these efforts depend on effective and accessible mapping. Recently, Blue Raster worked with the Arlington County Democratic Committee to update their door-to-door newsletter delivery route maps. These maps direct a group of nearly 500 volunteers from door to door, providing them with vital geographic and demographic information. Displaying 443 routes across 52 voter precincts, the success of the maps depends on being both descriptive and easily accessible. Left to Right: Old Format and New Format The Blue Raster team processed the data in ArcGIS Desktop to remove unnecessary information and create a streamlined process for updating the maps with annual data. The streamlined process provides clear instructions for updating and troubleshooting data, in a format that can be followed by ArcGIS Desktop users of any experience level. From start to finish, users can manage their maps internally regardless of previous knowledge or expertise. The ArcMap document leverages data driven pages to quickly and easily generate over 400 map routes from a single map document (. mxd). “It was such a pleasure working with Blue Raster! Carter, Olivia, Christina and the rest of the team helped us to streamline our datasets and bring real efficiency to the Messenger Maps production process. As a volunteer organization, having the professionalism of the Blue Raster team behind us moved us leaps and bounds ahead in creating maps that will truly empower our volunteers to help get out the vote. The Arlington Democrats’ Messenger Maps team is extremely grateful to Blue Raster - thank you! ” — Alison Denton, Arlington County Democrats' Messenger Maps Team Blue Raster also optimized the print layout of the maps, reducing printing time and costs without sacrificing content and presentation. The updated maps provide a comprehensive and flexible structure for creating and producing accessible mapping.   - Categories: Agriculture, ArcGIS Online, Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: GAIN, Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition, malnutrition - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Driven by the vision of a world without malnutrition, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Blue Raster worked to release the latest version of the Malnutrition Mapping Project (MalMap). This interactive mapping application provides mapping and analysis tools for multiple stressors of malnutrition. From start to finish, users can explore factors that enable malnutrition such as poverty levels and population density, access to basic water, and development outcomes such as percentages of deaths due to diabetes and rates of low birth weight. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GAIN. mp4 The expansion of this project includes the addition of 33 new indicators, and a comprehensive update to the existing 40 indicators. Not only can you display and compare these indicators worldwide, but users can analyze these variables to see which countries are exceeding set thresholds for each indicator. The analysis allows users to also focus in on which countries are exceeding a set threshold for all the indicators, with no limit on the number of indicators that can be cross compared. This allows stakeholders to drill down into the data like never before and focus on directing aid and funding where there is most need. All of the data in this application is hosted on ArcGIS Online, a scalable cloud-based platform that allows for future expansion of the maps. The framework for the application was upgraded to the latest React providing a clean, easy-to-navigate interface. - Categories: Conservation, Development, Esri, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, SDG - Tags: Esri, Sustainable Development Goals, UNITAR - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Types: Insight GIS for a Sustainable World GIS takes us all over the world, and most recently it took Blue Raster to the GIS for a Sustainable World conference in Geneva, Switzerland. We were honored to sponsor this international gathering of professionals, hosted by Esri and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR-UNOSAT). This conference was an interactive, engaging community of sharing experiences applying GIS and intelligent mapping for people, the planet, prosperity, and peace. Blue Raster has delivered GIS and the science of where for over fifteen years, making an impact on global sustainability. During the Plenary, we had the opportunity to share one story in particular — our work with the Jane Goodall Institute bringing community-based conservation tactics into Tanzania. Working with the Jane Goodall's team has shown the importance of collaborating with professionals who have similar goals and unique expertise and experiences. The GIS for a Sustainable World conference was an opportunity to develop many long-term relationships and planted the seeds for collaboration across the globe. Blue Raster's projects and customers are at the crossroads United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. Three examples are highlighted in Measuring Success: Sustainable Development Goals, a storymap for the Demographic and Health Surveys Program that shares 3 key measurements of progress towards the UN's goals. To read more about the conference, visit the information page. - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS Online, Development, District of Columbia, Economic Development, Esri, Infrastructure, Open Data - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online, business, City Planning, DC, EconDev, Economic development, Esri, Grow Your Local Economy, Initiative, JavaScript API, Open Data, Site Builder - Industries: State & Local Government, Uncategorized - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Software & Data Solutions, Technological Insights, UX | UI Design - Types: Insight Last year, Esri announced a new product in their platform– ArcGIS Hub. ArcGIS Hub supports collaboration between governments, businesses, citizens and their communities to accomplish data-driven Initiatives. Recently, Blue Raster assisted Esri in the creation of the Grow Your Local Economy Initiative. This Initiative provides a suite of tools and applications you can use to show business owners, developers, and entrepreneurs why your city is the ideal place to attract top industry talent and grow their business. You can then show and monitor the progress your community is making towards growing your local economy. The Grow Your Local Economy Initiative consists of four main tools: Business Development Website - Features the economic development initiative. Users can embed the Economic Development Explorer & Storymap to fuel interest in their area Economic Development Explorer - This premium interactive application gives potential businesses and developers an easy way to explore aspects of the area. Why Locate to Your Community Story Map - This configurable story map template highlights why your city is the ideal place to attract top talent. Survey capabilities - Gain input from current or potential business owners, developers, and entrepreneurs. Get inspired by this example of Washington D. C. 's initiative below, and learn more about Blue Raster's ArcGIS Hub work and support packages. - Categories: Esri, Federal - Tags: Esri Conference, Esri FedGIS, Federal - Industries: Federal Government - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Come visit Blue Raster at the 2018 Esri Federal GIS Conference in Washington, D. C. ! We will be a on hand to discuss new project ideas and answer all your GIS Questions. Stop by our Booth #816 near the Esri Sustainable Development Neighborhood during EXPO Hours: Tuesday, March 20 from 12:30pm - 6:30pm Wednesday, March 21 from 10:30am - 5:15pm We are proud to announce this year our recognition as the 2018 Esri Partner winner in Engaging Communities. Our work with the Jane Goodall Institute, World Bank, and the World Resources Institute are just some of our standout applications using Esri technology that encourage community participation driving real world change. - Categories: Esri - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Hub, conference, DevSummit, EPC, Esri, Esri Dev Summit, Esri Developer Summit, Esri Partner Conference, Python, Typescript - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team had a great week at the Esri Partner Conference (EPC) and Developers Summit in Palm Springs, California. The DevSummit is always one of our favorite times of the year. We get to connect with other developers and like minds to talk about the latest technologies and enhancements available in the ArcGIS platform. The Blue Raster team had a great week at the Esri Partner Conference (EPC) and Developers Summit in Palm Springs, California. The DevSummit is always one of our favorite times of the year. We get to connect with other developers and like minds to talk about the latest technologies and enhancements available in the ArcGIS platform. At the EPC Plenary on Monday, Jack Dangermond presented Blue Raster with the Engaging Communities award. We also got to see our hard work on two ArcGIS Hub applications up on the big stage! On Wednesday, two of our team members, Lucas Cotner and Adnan Bilwani, joined forces to present on "Geek Perspectives: Lessons from Hybrid Mobile GIS. " And throughout the conference, the team enjoyed attending technical sessions from Esri software experts and fellow developers from the user community. Here are a few of the technologies our team is excited about: Typescript with ArcGIS API- not only does this make it easier for multiple people to work on code, but it also makes it easier to refactor, easier to test, and can help prevent technical debt 3D- we saw some inspiring sessions all about the various techniques available for styling 3D scenes, and buildings and integrated mesh scene layers now load up to 50 percent faster! JavaScript - it was great to see and hear about the latest tips and tricks for utilizing the ArcGIS API for JavaScript Our team wrapped up the week in Palm Springs with the Esri party and Dodgeball tournament. Catch more of our favorite moments from the week below! See you next year at DevSummit 2019! - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Community, Environment, Esri, GIS, Land Use, News, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map, Water - Tags: #Protectourcoast, Coast, Drilling, Environment, Esri, Offshore, SELC, Story Map - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work In January 2018, the White House proposed opening nearly all U. S. waters to offshore drilling. On the East Coast, governors are speaking out with concerns about the risks offshore drilling would pose to the coastal environment, economy, tourism, and quality of life. Out of 22 U. S. coastal states, 15 governors stated opposition to drilling. Additionally, over 140 local communities along the Atlantic Coast have passed resolutions opposing offshore drilling, seismic testing, or both. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) launched a public messaging campaign to elevate the voices of local communities opposed to offshore drilling when the previous administration released its proposed drilling plan in 2015, and has continued these efforts in light of the current administration’s plan to reopen the possibility of drilling in the Atlantic. Working in six states throughout the Southeast, SELC has over 70 attorneys and nine offices dedicated to clean water, healthy air, mountains and forests, and coastal protection. A nonprofit organization, they work at all levels of government and with all three branches to strengthen laws, hold government accountable and stop environmental abusers. For the #ProtectOurCoast campaign, SELC worked with Blue Raster to develop a Story Map outlining the major concerns of offshore drilling in their region. SELC was interested in creating an interactive story-telling tool to better inform communities about the threats of offshore drilling and to drive public comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The Story Map highlights state and local opposition, incompatibility with existing military training areas, impacts of drilling infrastructure, and threats to coastal economies. SELC also draws attention to the region’s abundance of natural resources, including habitat for species like the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, dozens of National Wildlife Refuges, National Seashores, state protected areas and ecologically important marine areas, where a single oil spill would devastate the healthy waters and clean beaches that are critical to wildlife and coastal communities. Learn more about the risks of Offshore Drilling at the campaign page and Story Map! “Working with Blue Raster has allowed SELC to provide users with the ability to learn the core concerns of opening the Atlantic coast to offshore drilling, and the power to interact with the data on their own terms. The assemblage of marine and coastal ecological data, compatibility of military operations, industrial footprints, and community opposition created a set of stories, difficult to communicate through print maps alone. Blue Raster helped SELC transform an ArcGIS Desktop workflow into a multi-faceted geospatial tool with Web App Builder, Story Map Templates and ArcGIS Online. The result-an interactive, engaging experience for users to explore the impacts of the proposed drilling plan by showing what’s at stake for communities, environmental resources, economies, and quality of life along our coast, and how these factors overlap and interplay. ” - Jovian Sackett, Senior Geospatial Analyst, Southern Environmental Law Center - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Community, Conservation, Environment, Forest, GIS, Nonprofit/NGO, Sustainable Development Goals, Women in Science - Tags: ArcGIS Online, global, Jane Goodall, JGI, Tanzania, Wildlife - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Working from the inside out, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) has notoriously worked for decades to protect the lives of Chimpanzees and other extraordinary wildlife throughout Africa. Blue Raster was elated to get the opportunity to work with JGI to create the Western Tanzania Forest Monitoring Dashboard, connecting communities and data to manage forests and habitats in Tanzania. "There's no way we can even attempt to save these precious Gombe chimpanzees unless we could improve the lives of the people living around that last little oasis of forest. " -Jane Goodall Wildlife throughout Africa are depleting due to loss of habitats, illegal poaching, disease, and illegal pet trade, but the Chimpanzees have been hit with some of the most dramatic losses in the last hundred years. Since 1994, the Jane Goodall Institute has focused on Community Centered Conservation, encouraging villages to participate in land use planning. The Forest Monitoring Dashboard was designed to use information collected by locals, evaluate if the monitoring efforts were effective and provide alerts immediately for action. To create this application, Blue Raster worked with the Open Data Kit (ODK), which JGI has been using since 2010 for on-the-ground GPS Data collection. Locations of Sawmills, Wildlife Traps, and bullet cartridges are just some of things that monitors are looking for to alert Village Government and Park Chiefs of illegal activity. Using ArcGIS Online, we began to create data services for use in the Dashboard. From the GPS Points came Patrol Paths, and from Patrol Paths came Village Participation. Within the Dashboard, each village can see how their monitoring effort relates to the surrounding communities, as well as determine the variety of threats and wildlife encountered, and explore images taken from each location. After the completion of the Dashboard, Blue Raster traveled to Kigoma, Tanzania to present with Dr. Jane Goodall to the Regional Commissioners from Kigoma and Katavi regions. We worked with them one-on-one to understand the technology, how it could benefit them, and ways which it could be improved. This trip was one of the farthest from home, and one of the most rewarding. We then had to ask ourselves, what's next for protecting these animals? Can we use Survey 123 for seamless integration with the Esri GIS Suite? What about the use of Drones to detect forest threats? Our work continues. - Categories: Federal, Health - Tags: global - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is a long term partner of USAID funded The DHS Program – since 2009 we have collaborated on and created such tools as STATcompiler, Spatial Data Repository, The DHS Program Mobile app, The DHS Program API and the central communications hub: DHSProgram. com. The DHS Program API already powers the STATcompiler, Mobile App and SDR- and now you can visualize the indicator data that the API provides on DHSProgram. com as well. New Topics pages have been created to help interested users narrow their focus and uncover relevant indicators: Family Planning Gender Malaria Nutrition The topics pages showcase the latest relevant survey data and were built using HTML5 and JavaScript. Each page is essentially a mini application that calls to The DHS Program API to automatically update when new surveys are released so that the freshest data is served and visualized. , Some Topics pages, such as Gender, allow users to easily compare certain indicators side by side in a table- new functionality specific to the Topics pages. Handy links to contextual information are provided in the page sidebars. More topics pages are on the way... see this post by The DHS Program and you can help decide what comes next! “Data visualization has always been a key part of communicating DHS data to our audiences. We started with STATcompiler, a tool allowing users to create custom tables based on thousands of health indicators across over 90 countries and compare trends across time. Now, with the continuing support from Blue Raster, we’re pleased to see we have expanded our data visualization practices to our topic pages. With their guidance, we’ve developed a simplified version of STATcompiler as a mini-tool easing our users into the world of data visualization of DHS data. ” Sarah Kim, Digital Media Specialist, The DHS Program - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Online, Environment, Land Trust, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Parks - Tags: ArcGIS Online, AWS, conservation, Land Trust - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Since 1982, the Land Trust Alliance has supported conservation by providing its over 1,000 member land trusts with education programs, legal insurance, and a voice in Washington speaking for conservationists. With the Find a Land Trust Map, the Alliance gives individuals around the country a means of identifying local organizations working on conservation. The Land Trust Alliance set out to update the map with a modern, intuitive user interface while maintaining the previous map’s search and filter functionality. Blue Raster’s design team worked through several rounds of design and conducted user testing to ensure that users would be able to quickly find land trusts in their area. By including key information about protection priorities, acres under protection, and Accreditation status, the map makes it easy to find the right land trust. Members can update the status and information associated with each Land Trust easily. Blue Raster used the latest technology to grab user submissions daily by running a, automated Lambda script hosted on Amazon Web Services and publishing updates to the data hosted on ArcGIS Online. - Categories: Environment, Esri, Federal, GIS, Open Data - Tags: global - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Blue Raster Senior Project Manager, Phil Satlof, presented as an invited guest for the International Map Industry Association (IMIA) DC meetup. From the IMIA website, the mission of the organization is defined: “The International Map Industry Association is a global organization that represents the world of maps. IMIA brings together leaders from across the spectrum of mapping and location-oriented businesses to connect, share and learn. ” Rosslyn based Esri DC R+D Center hosted the event, featuring presenters from the US Government, private industry and non-profit sectors. Blue Raster and others shared the latest ideas around Open Data and Cool Apps . Alongside presenters from the US Census Bureau, US Forest Service and NOAA, Phil used the opportunity to highlight several long term Blue Raster projects and their data sources: The DHS Program funded by USAID. The open data source is The DHS Program API - also built by Blue Raster Other presenters focused on the challenges of maintaining open data and how the Census can focus resources on low response areas. Look for Blue Raster at upcoming IMIA meetups in the near future! View the Presentation - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, Climate, Environment, Forest, JavaScript API, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Community lands, conservation, global, LandMark, MapBuilder, Tree Cover - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is pleased to work with the World Resources Institute (WRI) on a recent initiative to release new datasets and tools on LandMark- an online, global platform providing maps on Indigenous and Community Lands. The new analysis features and data focus on measuring the impacts Indigenous Peoples have on climate change mitigation and adaptation. LandMark Tree Cover Loss Analysis According to a recent study, Indigenous Peoples and local communities manage at least 24% (54,546 MtC) of the total carbon stored above ground in the world’s tropical forests, a sum greater than 250 times the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by global air travel in 2015. Additionally, Indigenous Lands that are legally recognized experience rates of deforestation that are two to three times lower than non-tenure secure lands, according to Peter Veit, director of WRI’s Land and Resource Rights Initiative. “The new data and analysis features on LandMark take the platform to a new level by not just showing the presence and legal situation of indigenous and community lands, but also their specific contributions to protecting the environment and the threats that they face from outside pressures such as deforestation, concessions, infrastructure development, and more. " Katie Reytar, a research associate with WRI’s forest program. Now, anyone can calculate the amount of tree cover loss in specific Indigenous and Community Lands on-the-fly, and learn more information including land cover composition and tree cover density. Additional datasets on the site include: Intact Forest Landscape and Soil Organic Carbon Pressures, including Mining and Oil Palm concessions, and Major dams Land Cover & Change, including annual Tree cover loss and gain all available on a global scale at 30m x 30m resolution To build the updated site, Blue Raster harnessed the power of ArcGIS Online, an entirely web-based mapping platform that allows organizational access to datasets. By leveraging ArcGIS Online, WRI can add, remove, or edit maps in a matter of minutes and publish their changes instantaneously. Blue Raster also leveraged WRI's Global Forest Watch MapBuilder application template to overhaul the design of the map. The map features an improved user-friendly navigation and analysis pane. The MapBuilder template allows anyone with an ArcGIS Online account to turn custom maps into interactive web applications. As part of the project, additional functionality was imported into the MapBuilder core, all of which is formally written in the documentation for anyone to add their own customizations to the template. See LandMark's new tools and datasets at www. landmarkmap. org. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Landmark-Video. mp4 - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, Education, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: American Institutes for Research, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Spatial Data Repository, Story Map, Texas State Education Agency, Training - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Last week, we traveled to Austin, TX to give a hands-on GIS training for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the American Institutes for Research (AIR). The idea behind the training was to deepen the staff's proficiency using ArcGIS Pro/Desktop and ArcGIS Online. Here’s an inside look at the three-day training at AIR's Austin office. Day one, we focused entirely on: Building up the TEA team's skills with ArcGIS Desktop, and Addressing some of their current needs at the agency. Day one started well with an assessment that asked each team member to demonstrate their current proficiency with ArcGIS Desktop. This ensured each person had all of the basics down before we moved onto advanced analytics. We spent the remainder of the day diving into toolboxes including editing, data management, and spatial analytics. Day two welcomed AIR staff to the training. We split into advanced and intermediate groups and marched through a cycle of modules on increasingly sophisticated GIS operations. Everyone used common data sets from TEA's current work in Texas and had an a-la-carte data menu to choose from as they went deeper. Each individual was asked to explore one of four questions: What is the impact of teacher tenure on student and school performance? Does a representative race/ethnic teaching population relate to student performance? What is the nature of the relationship between educator prep programs and the schools/districts they serve? Which rural districts are well-positioned to launch a grow-your-own teacher program? We closed the day by migrating everyone's maps out of ArcGIS Pro and into ArcGIS Online. The advanced group digging into modules on grouping analysis, point density, similarity, regressions and more. The last day kicked off with presentations on building web apps and story maps. Each person then spent the afternoon creating an app that told the story of insights they discovered from their previous day of mapping. We wrapped up the training with a gallery walk of the team's amazing creations with colleagues from TEA and AIR. Interested in starting a training? Tell us a little about yourself and your project. - Categories: Climate, Environment, Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: airquality, Climate, global, The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, urbanization - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster collaborated with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to help produce Danger in the Air: How air pollution can affect brain development in young children. Leveraging the analysis pioneered during a recent study with UNICEF regarding air pollution, Blue Raster and UNICEF used satellite imagery of outdoor air pollution in combination with global demographic data to determine that 17 million babies under the age of 1 breathe toxic air, with the majority living in South Asia. The report also highlights why young children are the most vulnerable to the impact of air pollution. Air pollution is a critical health issue to people all over the world. Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution due to their physiology: their lungs are still developing, and exposure to harmful air during this critical period can be especially detrimental, causing life-threatening diseases. A growing number of studies are even pointing to the impacts of air pollution on a cognitive development. They note that breathing in particulate air pollution can damage brain tissue and undermine cognitive development – with lifelong implications and setbacks. UNICEF has made its mission protecting and empowering children around the world. With Blue Raster’s help, UNICEF identified the youngest children who are most vulnerable to the dangers of air pollution, and promotes a greater understanding of this issue among governments, communities, and families. Further geospatial analysis can help us identify trends, pinpoint sources of pollution, and create plans for reducing pollution in the future. “Not only do pollutants harm babies’ developing lungs – they can permanently damage their developing brains – and, thus, their futures. Protecting children from air pollution not only benefits children. It is also benefits their societies – realized in reduced health care costs, increased productivity and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone. ” Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director - Categories: Federal, Health, HIV, Public Safety - Tags: global, HIV, PHIA - Industries: Federal Government, Health, Public Safety - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work On World AIDS Day 2017, the PHIA Project announced the release of new survey data from five countries, bringing the total number of countries with released survey data up to 7. In 2016 Blue Raster developed and the launched the PHIA Project communications site. More information can be found here. Blue Raster works closely with the PHIA Project survey and communications teams to determine the best methods to display the data for the report audience. Find the reports and other information at the PHIA site: http://phia. icap. columbia. edu/ As in previous PHIA reports, Blue Raster created the maps, charts and graphs that tell the story of these important HIV surveys. Maps are created in ArcGIS Pro while the charts and graphs are created in R and finished in graphic design editing suites. In 2018 Blue Raster will develop the PHIA Data dissemination site to provide access to online visualizations and data downloads. The PHIA Project is led by ICAP at Columbia University - in partnership with US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The project receives funding from PEPFAR- the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, Health, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Public Safety - Tags: global, Malaria, UN, WHO - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is proud to announce the debut of the Malaria Threats Map application, a collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at tracking biological challenges to malaria control and elimination. Recent trends are emerging that necessitate a need for authorities to adapt plans for control and elimination of Malaria and counter the growing threat. The application is the sole source for linked spatial and analytical data about these three trends: Vector Insecticide Resistance -resistance of malaria mosquitoes to insecticides Parasite Gene Deletions-Gene deletions among some malaria parasites cause false negative diagnostic test results Parasite Drug Resistance- Resistance of malaria parasites to artemisinin, core compound of the best available antimalarial medicines – threatens antimalarial drug efficacy The application offers a story-map like feeling by introducing data through curated narratives and is available in English, French and Spanish. Using technologies such as ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS API for JavaScript, React, Redux, and HTML5 the application displays detailed information to users and allows them to filter for thousands of historic outcomes. Phase I of the application was completed in 2017 with plans for a Phase II in 2018. Read more about the application on the WHO site. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, District of Columbia, Education, Environment, Story Map - Tags: Compost, D.C., DCPS, Department of General Services, DGS, Public Schools, Recycle, Story Map, Washington, Waste - Industries: Education, Non-Profit & NGOs, State & Local Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Have you ever wondered where plastic comes from, how plastic bottles are made, or where it goes when recycled? The students of Washington, DC public schools are learning the answers. To celebrate America Recycles Day (November 15th), the Department of General Services (DGS) in Washington, D. C. is launching a brand new series of Story Maps focusing on some of the most commonly found items in a school cafeteria. The Story of Waste looks at how everyday items are produced, transported, consumed and recycled. The stories help teach students the global supply chain of products, where waste from their cafeteria goes, and what it becomes. Did you know that over 8 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans each year? The stories also share statistics on waste to help students understand the importance and impact of recycling right. Narratives showing the recycle, waste and compost paths of a banana peel, plastic bag, and plastic bottle are complete. DGS and Blue Raster are working on additional stories for paper and incorrectly disposed plastic bottles, coming soon. DGS is working with over 100 public schools on programs for recycling and composting. In 2010 the city enacted the DC Healthy Schools Act which aims to improve health and wellness of students. Each year, schools are recognized for meeting the requirements of the program and an application was built to highlight Honor Roll schools on a map. Check out these great stories today! - Categories: 3D, ArcGIS for Server, Building Information Management, Development, District of Columbia, Esri, Infrastructure, Land Use, Real Estate - Tags: 3D, ArcGIS for Server, DCOZ, Development, infrastructure, React JS, Real Estate, Washington D.C., Zoning - Industries: Commercial Real Estate, State & Local Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Wouldn't it be great to be able to digitally knock down a few buildings, upload your own architectural wonder and see how it will fit into the landscape? Building the future of zoning in DC is no easy feat. Blue Raster is currently working with the D. C. Office of Zoning to introduce 3D into a Zoning Map, coming soon. What can you expect to see? How about something like this: You like shadows? Maybe see how they change over the day? How about building heights? They fall inside the building height standards? Coming soon, in partnership with our friends at the DC Office of Zoning - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Economic Development, Esri, JavaScript API, Open Data, Transportation - Tags: American Public Transportation Association, APTA, Industry Footprint, Public Transportation - Industries: Transportation & Logistics - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work We are very proud to announce that we are in our fourth year of supporting the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Industry Footprint. We are very proud to announce that we are in our fourth year of supporting the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Industry Footprint. The APTA Industry Footprint is a public transportation industry map application that supports APTA’s mission of strengthening and improving public transportation through information sharing. Public transportation provides personal mobility, reduces traffic congestion, reduces our carbon footprint, and provides economic growth opportunities. APTA promotes public transportation and advocates for continued support and funding from state and federal legislators. This application displays APTA member locations around the nation, the breadth and depth of public transportation services offered, as well as key facts and statistics, all offered at the state and congressional district levels. APTA also uses this tool to conduct “Washington Fly-Ins” with business members who meet with members of Congress and key congressional staff to explain why proposed cuts would threaten economic development, productivity and job growth across the country. What’s new this year? We have added functionality and updated data feeds just in time for the 2017 APTA Expo and Annual Meeting which was held in Atlanta, Georgia from October 8 -11. The Expo attracted 12,000+ attendees exploring how innovation and technology accelerates every mode of public transportation. Updates to the application include: Rail and Bus Manufacturer lists are now available for each Congressional member and State Upper and Lower Chamber Legislators Updated public rail lines, Amtrak lines, and bus transit buffers across the country using the TransitFeeds API A seamless transition from the Sunlight Foundation to the ProPublica Data Store’s Congress API We encourage you to go APTA’s Industry Footprint to check out the public transportation available in your area and see active APTA members and Bus and Rail Manufacturers within your congressional and state districts. - Categories: Economic Development, Health, Infrastructure, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Online, AzRIP, global, World Bank - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Uncategorized - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work With over 2,000 projects benefiting 3. 5 million people, the Azerbaijan Rural Invest Project (AzRIP) launched by the World Bank has been extremely successful in advancing the lives of everyday people by improving infrastructure in rural areas. Since its launch in 2005, the World Bank has assisted in a variety of projects including improving road conditions, health clinics and schools, and access to clean water. With so many projects across the 56 Rayons of Azerbaijan, Blue Raster was eager to help them create a map that had two goals: provide the Azerbaijani citizens a window into AzRIP's activities within the community and help investment teams make more focused, data-driven decisions. A Commitment to Success The World Bank has a commitment to success: each project works towards eradicating extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. The development of this web application is crucial to increase the community engagement of those benefiting from the investments, and we need to know what works when it comes to impacting everyday lives. The application allows users to easily search by the type of investment project, with symbology that immediately translates the spread of certain types of investment projects and how these exist within communities and across borders. Also important was the ability to search by Rayon, year, and number of beneficiaries, to help understand the progression of these projects over time. The Right Product Because the projects are continuously evolving, Blue Raster worked with the World Bank to find a GIS solution providing organizational access to and ongoing management of the map. The Map is built utilizing ArcGIS Online, a complete, cloud-based mapping program that delivers these institutional requirements. ArcGIS API for JavaScript provides the web framework for robust data visualization and data editing. Throughout the development and launch of the application, Blue Raster assisted with international launch events attended by top government officials and stakeholders. We love to meet the people who can use the application in their everyday lives and show them the power of mapping. - Categories: Agriculture, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, ArcGIS Online, Esri, Infrastructure, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: agriculture, Earth Genome, farmers, GRAT, groundwater, infrastructure, on-farm recharge, recharge, water - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Through a prioritized use of dedicate recharge basins, fallow field recharge, and on-farm recharge sites, it may be possible to balance the water budget and reverse the damage of years of over-pumping. Drought has been a significant concern throughout much of the western U. S. , threatening the livelihood of farmers and communities across several states. When years of drought stretch on, groundwater pumping often becomes the most viable option for the agriculture sector, leading to a negative water-balance and increasingly sparse water availability. Local water authorities are scrambling to recharge the groundwater supplies for their districts’ agricultural needs. Fortunately, a new tool for their arsenal is now available - the Groundwater Recharge Assessment Tool (GRAT), developed in partnership with The Earth Genome and Sustainable Conservation. Through a prioritized use of dedicated recharge basins, fallow field recharge, and on-farm recharge sites, it may be possible to balance the water budget and reverse the damage caused by years of over-pumping. On-farm recharge is a relatively new approach and requires an understanding of what crops are being grown, and how flood-year waters could be applied during select weeks of the year when high-flow water is available. Currently much of that water runs off the landscape and eventually into the ocean, but on-farm recharge may provide the key to capturing that water by recharging underlying aquifers. To calculate the best use of on-farm recharge and the impact on the water budget, GRAT allows irrigation districts to run an unlimited number of wet-year scenarios, ranking of field types based on soil and crop characteristics, and detailed cost calculations. Setting detailed criteria requirements helps to optimize the selection of sites based on an irrigation district's individual needs. Weighted indexes are calculated dynamically using a number of geophysical variables linked to each criteria. GRAT allows the automated selection of sites up to a target recharge volume or cost ceiling, and then the manual removal or selection of additional sites based on local expert knowledge. Advanced, dynamic charting gives real-time updates of groundwater balance and estimated costs based on selected sites. Once the balance has been reached, the option to save the plan can be used to share results with decision makers throughout the district. GRAT was co-created in collaboration with Madera Irrigation District and Tulare Irrigation District. It is also now being rolled out to other interested Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) in California, to support their Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) reporting requirements. - Categories: Esri, Health, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: global, Health, Polio, WHO, World Health Organization - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work World Polio Day is today, October 24, 2017. It is a global effort to eliminate the last 0. 1% of polio cases, and today we celebrate the progress over the past year. Blue Raster participates in the fight by supporting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Polio Eradication Initiative. We maintain WHO’s Polio Now interactive web map of polio cases and disease surveillance indicators. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the last three countries in the world that still have cases of wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission. The remaining cases are caused by circulating vaccine-derived polio (cVDPV2). This type of polio originates from the attenuated polio virus administered as an oral vaccine that has survived, mutated, and gets transmitted from person to person in under immunized populations. This map captures the cases of WPV and cVDPV and also displays the surveillance efforts in each country. To learn more about the successes of Global Polio Eradication Initiative over the past year and how you can support this effort, please visit their website at www. polioeradication. org. - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, Environment, Esri, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: Economic Productivity, Ecosystem Health, The Nature Conservancy, TNC, water, Water Conservation, Water Governance, Water Quality, Water Quantity - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster worked closely with the Texas Nature Conservancy to augment the Explorer this year with a new Ecosystem Health indicator compiled in collaboration with Fishes of Texas as well as newly released 2014 and 2015 water use from the Texas Water Development Board. More than a third of the native fish species are at risk in the Rio Grande basin. With rising concerns about water resources, the Texas Water Explorer is delivering data and analysis critical for sustainable management of resources like the Rio Grande. The Explorer is the The Nature Conservancy in Texas' (TNC TX) definitive source for exploring water health, use, governance, and quality in Texas. Blue Raster worked closely with TNC TX to augment the Explorer this year with a new Ecosystem Health indicator summarizing native fish species diversity and conservation, compiled in collaboration with the Fishes of Texas Project, as well as newly released 2014 and 2015 water use data from the Texas Water Development Board. Rio Grande Basin has highest percentage of native fish species in conservation need In addition to the data enhancements, we've added a fresh new look for the static content particularly catering to users on mobile devices. We have increased the "scannability" of the wealth of summary information on the website. Scannability was coined in the UI/UX world as the ability to draw in a reader's attention on a page as they skim over it. Our aim with the new design is easy readability from your phone for the more content-heavy pages. "The Texas Water Explorer has been a very useful tool for The Nature Conservancy in communicating important Texas water issues to a variety of audiences, and we’re excited to enhance its content and usability even more. " - Ryan Smith, Freshwater Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy in Texas Visit the Texas Water Explorer to see how data and analysis come together to make a positive impact on statewide water resources. Redesigned Aquifer Summary Page - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Environment, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Open Data - Tags: ArcGIS Online, CKAN, conservation, GFW, Global Forest Watch, Open Data, Open Data Portal, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is excited to announce the release of the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Open Data Portal. Built with the open source platform CKAN, the Portal provides a centralized, searchable catalog of all data provided by WRI. Historically, WRI projects published data online to the WRI website. But their site contained data from only a fraction of their projects and none of their international offices. The new data portal provides for the first time a full catalog of WRI datasets, including those not previously publicly available or searchable. Internally, the Portal is also providing a more streamlined process for uploading and hosting data, so that it is simpler for WRI staff to get data online and properly documented. As part of the project, Blue Raster built a custom workflow to pull existing WRI datasets from ArcGIS Online into the Portal, including items from Global Forest Watch's (GFW) Open Data site. Through a harvesting process, the Portal fetches and imports records along with each item's metadata and tags. This enables WRI projects using ArcGIS Online to continue their existing workflows for publishing and managing data. Any changes made to data items in ArcGIS Online are automatically reflected in the Portal, allowing for easy data and documentation management. Because enabling users to more easily find and download WRI. org content was also a key goal of the project, Blue Raster designed the Portal with a powerful search and discovery engine. The data portal supports dataset keyword searches, accompanied by tagging to allow further categorization, and the ability to discover related datasets and content. Check out WRI's Open Data Portal, and see how it is helping turn WRI's data from information into action. - Categories: Agriculture, Cemetery, Esri, Infrastructure, Mobile, Nonprofit/NGO, Parks, Public Gardens - Tags: Automate, Cemetery, Collector for ArcGIS, Esri, Field GIS, Field Mobility, GIS, Green-Wood, infrastructure, mobile, Monument, Operations Dashboard, Plants, Python, REST API, Restoration, Script, Workforce for ArcGIS - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work At Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, staff are now using field GIS applications such as Collector and Workforce for ArcGIS to streamline work order assignments and management for plant collections and monument restoration. At Green-Wood Cemetery, staff are working to phase out paper forms for Field GIS applications. Using Collector and Workforce for ArcGIS, Green-Wood is streamlining work order assignment and management for plant collections and monument restoration. Located in Brooklyn, New York, Green-Wood is one of the first rural cemeteries in America. Founded in 1838, the site is a National Historic Landmark and an accredited arboretum that attracts over 500,000 visitors annually. Green-Wood is also massive, spanning 478 acres and containing over 560,000 “permanent residents” and well over 7,000 trees. It is essential to keep Green-Wood looking spectacular for visitors, but managing the volume of work orders over so much space can be challenging. With help from Alliance for Public Gardens GIS (APGG) and Blue Raster, Green-Wood is swapping paper forms for Field GIS mobile applications to create, assign and manage work orders. Using the latest Esri technology, including ArcGIS Enterprise 10. 5. 1 and Portal for ArcGIS, the team imported and configured plant center and monument locations into the Parks and Gardens Information Model and hosting it in the Cloud. Using Collector for ArcGIS, Green-Wood staff can now create work orders in the field on a mobile device. Blue Raster configured a python script using the Esri REST API to push data from Collector to Workforce for ArcGIS every 15 minutes. A dispatcher can then assign tasks to field crews, using the mobile version of Workforce for ArcGIS to manage their assignments. Finally, Blue Raster configured a real-time operations view for both plant maintenance and monument restoration using Esri’s Operations Dashboard. These dashboards will allow for management to quickly see key metrics, including the total number work orders, and work orders by team or type. "In streamlining our work order system, Blue Raster provided a game-changing landscape management platform for both our horticulture and restoration departments. With the Operations Dashboard, we now have the data to measure performance and the real-time analytics that provide insight into best management practices at our historic site. Working with the Blue Raster team was a terrific experience: they were responsive, engaged, and committed—all you could ask for in a collaborator. " - Joseph Charap, Director of Horticulture and Curator, Green-Wood - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Esri, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Natural Hazards, Nonprofit/NGO, Public Safety, Tsunami, Water - Tags: ASCE, hazard, infrastructure, tsunami, water - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Public Safety, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work To provide the authoritative distribution of tsunami design information, Blue Raster and the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE have created the Tsunami Design Geodatabase application, New design provisions for tsunami loads and effects have been developed by the ASCE 7 Tsunami Loads and Effects Subcommittee (TLESC), and are included in the just-released 2016 edition of the internationally recognized loading standard ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE/SEI 7-16). This resource and accompanying data was developed over a 34-month period by a subcommittee of almost 30 members, along with the contributions and review of numerous other state, national, and international stakeholders. To provide the authoritative distribution of this tsunami design information, Blue Raster and the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE have created the ASCE Tsunami Design Geodatabase application. The ASCE Tsunami Design Geodatabase application provides insight into the first national, consensus-based standard for tsunami resilience for use in the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. Structural engineers are already being asked to incorporate tsunami-resilient designs in various critical building and facility structures in the five western states, The profession and the affected communities now have a comprehensive consensus on loading and design standards for buildings and other structures. The new tsunami design zone maps define the coastal zones where structures of specified risk would be designed for tsunami resistance. Easy access to this data through the ASCE Tsunami Design Geodatabase application is imperative for the resiliency of our coastal infrastructure. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Economic Development, Esri, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Cascade Story Map, conservation, Economic development, Esri Education GIS Conference, Story Map, UC - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team is very excited to share the details of our experience at the 2017 Esri UC and Education Conference in San Diego! We had lots of fun using the Story Map Cascade template to document our trip. Check out our Esri 2017 UC Story Map for a closer look at our adventures. The Blue Raster team is very excited to share the details of our experience at the 2017 Esri UC and Education Conference in San Diego! Highlights: We had lots of fun using the Story Map Cascade template to document our trip. Check out our Esri 2017 UC Story Map for a closer look at our adventures. - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, Baltimore, Culture, Esri, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Baltimore, bnia, culture, geoloom - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster and the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA) are proud to continue their working partnership with the launch of GEOLOOM co>map, an intricately designed application tasked with weaving together the cultural fabric of Baltimore. The co in GEOLOOM co>map stands for community, collaboration, and cohesion in Baltimore. GEOLOOM provides targeted search ability across multiple sectors by geography and/or keyword and is powered by hundreds of data sets that are aggregated and maintained by BNIA-JFI. Welcome The application maintains dynamic links to the data in ArcGIS Online, and updates based on new data sets or data categories. This flexibility will reduce versioning issues, and decrease application maintenance costs during the planned quarterly data updates. Each data point or community indicator provides valuable insight into where the artistic cultural of Baltimore is already shining through, and where encouragement is needed. Partnerships between BNIA and multiple foundations and organizations has ensured that the best, most relevant data is being provided, and a smooth mobile experience keeps the information accessible to all. Experience GEOLOOM for yourself, and see all the cultural richness Baltimore has to offer! - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Esri, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Natural Hazards, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ASCE, hazard, infrastructure, loads, water - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Transportation & Logistics - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) are pleased to announce the launch of the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool. This tool is designed to provide users with environmental loading limit information for infrastructure based on location and risk category. Blue Raster and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) are pleased to announce the launch of the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool, to accompany the just-released 2016 edition of the internationally recognized loading standard ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE/SEI 7-16). This tool is designed to provide users with environmental loading limit information for infrastructure based on location and risk category. For example, how much ice thickness must a school be able to safely carry in Minnesota? To what level of tsunami inundation will a hospital need to be elevated in California? To find out, the new ASCE 7 Hazard Tool provides a single destination for quickly retrieving your choice of hazard data, including: basic wind speed seismic accelerations flood zone and base flood elevation ground snow load rain load tsunami-load risk ice thickness A full downloadable PDF report of all variables selected is also available for incorporation into site studies or building construction documents. The fully functional site will be available to paid subscribers only (following the initial Beta period), however, wind and tsunami data will be available to all to show site functionality and utility. Make the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool the first stop for new infrastructure construction in America, and help keep us safe from environmental hazards. - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, ArcGIS Online, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, DigitalGlobe, Fires, GFW, Global Forest Watch, JavaScript API, MODIS, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work GFW Fires can now be used to explore fire events for every country around the world over the last five years, using two sensor products: VIIRS and MODIS. Fire history, cumulative fires to date, and a statistical analysis by administrative boundaries allow great insight into fire events within a country. Produced in partnership with the World Resources Institute, the recently updated Global Forest Watch Fires (GFW Fires) is an online platform for monitoring and responding to forest and land fires using near-real-time information. GFW Fires empowers people to better respond to harmful fires before they burn out of control, holding accountable those who may have burned forests illegally. With the most recent release of GFW Fires, users can explore fire events for every country around the world over the last five years — using two sensor products: VIIRS and MODIS. Fire history, cumulative fires to date, and a statistical analysis by administrative boundaries allow great insight into fire events within a country or around the world. Be sure to check out your country of interest at GFW Fires, and see how technology is harnessed to address a major global concern. - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, District of Columbia, Esri, Forest, JavaScript API, Water - Tags: arborist, canopy, DC trees, DDOT, urban, urban forestry, Washington DC, watering - Industries: Conservation, State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) worked together to create and launch a mobile-friendly Tree Watering Application. Blue Raster and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) worked together to create and launch a mobile-friendly DC Tree Watering Application. Keeping trees green in our city is a full time job for contractors, but their efforts can be significantly augmented by community involvement and the public's willingness to water trees during the hot, dry summer months. The first two years of a planted tree's life are critical, and every watering event increases the survival rate of the trees. The application is powered by spatial data services hosted by the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) ArcGIS Server, and a webmap in ArcGIS Online that can be easily updated or customized by DDOT in the future. A story map is also included that gives further information about each of the tree types in DC. Watering events or reports that trees need help are recorded by the application and used by DDOT to determine which trees may need additional attention. The option to upload a photo of people caring for their trees will let the community show DDOT how much they appreciate their urban canopy as well as people's willingness to help keep our trees happy and healthy for generations to come. Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the new DC Tree Watering Application during her recent Ward 6 community walk. “We are committed to embracing smart technology across city government, and with the launch of the new DC Tree Watering App we are encouraging all District residents to help support our urban forestry,” said Mayor Bowser. “Watering is the easiest and most affordable way for residents to help, and this app will allow us to coordinate our efforts. ” Check out the DC Tree Watering Application, find your house, and see if there's a tree in need outside that could use your help! - Categories: Education, Environment - Tags: ArcGIS Online, conservation, D3, Deforestation, earth sciences, education, Highcharts, Leaflet, physical sciences, Planet3, Responsive Design, STEAM, STEM, The National Geographic Society - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster worked with Planet3 on their digital learning platform that combines game design, storytelling, and data sets to bring science to life for students. The platform consists of game-based simulations and case studies that enable students to explore connections between the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) subjects. Blue Raster worked with Planet3 on their digital learning platform that combines game design, storytelling, and data sets to bring science to life for students. The platform consists of game-based simulations and case studies that enable students to explore connections between the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) subjects. Planet3 launched its first pilot program with school districts in Nevada during the 2016-17 school year. Planet3 was founded by former National Geographic Society President Tim Kelly, and scientist and National Geographic Explorer Albert Lin. Their mission is "to empower the next generation to solve the complex challenges facing our planet by taking science education to a new frontier. " To accomplish this goal, their team is transforming science education by presenting the earth as a living laboratory. In Fall 2017, Planet3 will launch a complete interactive middle school science curriculum nationwide. The curriculum is composed of Missions that cover the core ideas of the life, earth, and physical sciences. Each Mission’s modular components include rich media, data visualizations, interactive 3D adventures, case studies, and embedded assessments. Our team partnered with Planet3 to build out mapping modules for the platform. The modules teach students how to analyze complex data and cover a range of topics including geology, ecosystems, climate and global climate change, and weather. See some of the modules in action in the video below. "The Blue Raster team has been critical to the design and planning of our data command center. It has been great to work with another team that is passionate about sharing Earth’s data stories,” said Albert Lin, who also has extensive experience in bringing GIS data to life. “In this age of information, empowering all citizens, especially young people, to leverage tools to better understand the frontiers of science and our impact on the planet is critical for our collective future. " To create the modules, our team leveraged the latest technology including D3. js, Reveal. js, Highcharts. js, ArcGIS Online, Esri basemaps, and Leaflet. The modules utilize data from NASA, NOAA, and other research organizations. Be sure to check out a sneak peek of the platform at Planet3's Exploration Learning page! - Categories: Environment, Federal, Mobile - Tags: Android, AppStudio, Arboretum Botanical Explorer, Esri, Gardens, iPhone, mobile, Public Gardens, US National Arboretum, USDA - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Public Gardens - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster developed and launched a new mobile application for The United States National Arboretum, giving scientists and visitors a unique experience and new way of exploring the research grounds. The National Arboretum is a division of USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the main in-house research arm of USDA. This mobile app for Apple and Android builds off of the online Botanical Explorer tool (ABE) released in 2012. One of Washington, D. C's hidden treasures, the National Arboretum receives over 500,000 visitors annually. Covering over 440 acres and 9. 5 miles of roads, this public garden is a living museum and center for major botanical research and public education. Built using Esri’s AppStudio for ArcGIS, the application is available for free download in the iTunes and Google Play stores. The mobile app allows users to locate themselves on the grounds, easily find information about ongoing exhibits, as well as locate visitor services such as parking, restrooms and water fountains. Roam the grounds freely or take advantage of many pre-defined tours sized just right for the time you have, complete with individual stops, photos and descriptions. For those looking to dig even deeper, individual plants records are displayed on the map and searchable by Name or Accession Number, and extensive scientific data are included for much of the collection. Whether an avid explorer, a researcher or a first-time visitor, this interactive mobile application goes beyond the paper map to offer a unique experience for all users to investigate and learn more about the Arboretum than ever before. - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, Environment, Forest, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS, cambodia, ecosystem, global, openpyxl, server, USAID, watershed, westool, winrock - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work By combining advanced science with intuitive maps and tools, the WESTool offers valuable information at the local, regional and national scale to support decision-makers and land managers who wish to understand and balance the value of remaining forests with development goals. Blue Raster is proud to announce a partnership with Winrock International that has resulted in a completely redesigned Watershed Ecosystem Services Tool (WESTool), allowing users to explore the interaction of ecosystem services, land uses and socioeconomic factors across Cambodia’s landscapes. By combining advanced science with intuitive maps and tools, the WESTool offers valuable information at the local, regional and national scale to support decision makers and land managers who wish to understand and balance the value of remaining forests with development goals. The WESTool estimates land use change, carbon stocks, greenhouse gas emissions, sediment and nutrient loss, changes in river water quality, impacts on biodiversity, population, access to market, and general agricultural production data at the national and local levels in Cambodia. This provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the the impacts of land use change on forest ecosystem services, people and the economy in Cambodia. The tool provides for a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of land management decisions by offering information on both the historical impacts of land use change and the current value of ecosystem services. As part of this project, Blue Raster redesigned an existing application using modern JavaScript and HTML frameworks, integrated openpyxl to create a custom summary analysis excel file based on user-specified areas, and optimized existing web services using Esri's ArcGIS for Server to achieve a fast and responsive web experience. "As the lead developer of the WESTool for Winrock I’m incredibly grateful to have partnered with Blue Raster on the development of the WESTool. It is rare to have a team of developers that both have the technical chops to get the job done and the creative vison to take your idea and make them a reality. Thanks BR! " - Michael Netzer, Program Officer, Winrock Be sure to check out the interactive mapping application today! - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, Nonprofit/NGO, Open Data - Tags: ArcGIS, CLF, filtering, food, maryland, server - Industries: Health - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Designed to promote research about the complex inter-relationships among diet, food production, environment, and human health in Maryland using GIS and spatial data analysis Blue Raster is proud to launch a completely redesigned Maryland Food System Map in partnership with Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future (CLF). This new interactive mapping application enables users to visualize and download data on food and public health in Maryland, providing visibility into topics including agricultural production, food insecurity and locally-sourced food options. Users can explore the map to better understand geographic patterns and trends in their community, create their own map, or download data for their own research and planning. As part of this project, Blue Raster redesigned an existing application using modern JavaScript and HTML frameworks, upgraded the CLF data server, and optimized existing web services using Esri's ArcGIS for Server to achieve a fast and responsive web experience. The new Maryland Food System Map is mobile, tablet, and user-friendly, and includes more than 175 data indicators that can be accessed and visualized with ease. Data are collected from a variety of sources, such as government databases, community organizations, and primary data collection and compilation. All data available on the site leverages the Center's Esri Open Data Platform, where researchers and policy-makers throughout the state can search, view, and download data. The application also has a number of new functions, including data filtering capabilities, and measure, search, and sharing tools. For example, users can build a map, zoom to a point of interest, and share the map they created through a unique URL. The map sharing tool enables users to post their maps on social media, or embed them on a website or blog. “Maps can be powerful tools for generating insights into how food production, equity, access, and health are connected. We think that the new Maryland Food System Map will be a useful resource for anyone interested in learning more about local food systems—from community members, to students, food businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government officials. We are very excited that the new features will make it easier for people to explore and share information about our local food system, and we’re looking forward to seeing how these tools can help map the way to a healthier Maryland. ”” - Caitlin Fisher, CLF Program Officer and manager of the Maryland Food System Map project Be sure to check out the interactive mapping application today! - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, Environment, Human Rights, JavaScript API, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS JavaScript API, AWS CloudFront, global, Highcharts, land rights, land tenure, Land Use, LandMark, Responsive Design, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is proud to announce a major update to the LandMark interactive global mapping platform of community and indigenous lands. The original LandMark platform provided unprecedented information about the location of indigenous and community owned lands and the strength of legal protections available to these communities. The latest release builds upon that success by adding new functionality, upgrading back end processes to keep pace with latest technologies, and refreshing the design for an even better user experience. Working closely with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and a 13-member Steering Group, Blue Raster incorporated additional analysis capabilities, redesigned the map layout, added Python scripting to increase processing speeds, and integrated Amazon CloudFront to accelerate application performance. "We are very pleased to continue working with Blue Raster from the inception of LandMark in 2014 through this latest development phase. Their support has been instrumental in helping us towards our goal of becoming the go-to site for information on indigenous and community land rights globally. " — Katie Reytar, Senior Research Associate, WRI The map's new legend and navigation pane provide an intuitive and user-friendly way to explore indigenous & community land maps, country statistics, and legal security for these lands. The updated print function enables users to customize map views and export to a pdf, jpg, or png. Users can also generate location-specific reports by uploading shapefiles or drawing a polygon on the map. These reports include statistics on documentation, identity, and legal recognition of indigenous and community lands. Analysis is performed on the fly and the results can be exported for further study. The ArcGIS JavaScript API, Highcharts, React JS, Python, and ES6 power the reports and mapping application. Be sure to visit the updated LandMark site today! - Categories: Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: eMammal, Shiny, Smithsonian Institution, Soundburst - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Remote monitoring devices are evolving into an essential tool for biodiversity monitoring. In conjunction with Blue Raster, scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute created Soundburst, an acoustic application to rapidly process and identify species calls in sound files produced by remote sensors. Through Soundburst, you can pair acoustic recorders with eMammal cameras to monitor birds, frogs, and bats along with land-dwelling mammals. The application was created using R and RShiny, with functions from R packages Seewave, Tuner, and Monitor. The app allows users to rename sound files, clip sound files to create files of a shorter duration, and generate spectrograms. Users can also annotate spectrograms with species identifications, and generate a csv of metadata and identifications. Finally, users can choose to load their files to an Amazon Web Services cloud account. - Categories: 3D, BIM, Building Information Management, Education, Esri, Infrastructure, JavaScript API, Restoration - Tags: 3D, ArcGIS API for JavaScript, BIM, Building Information Managament, History, Mount Vernon, Preservation, Restoration - Industries: Architecture, Engineering & Construction - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster created a prototype online 3D GIS portal to view the available spatial, structural, and historical information associated with a historic building information model (HBIM) created by Quinn Evans Architects. George Washington's Mount Vernon home is a well-loved national treasure, meticulously studied by researchers, restored by preservationists, and visited by a million guests every year. It is the best-documented historic site in the nation, with a trove of information available about everything from the original builders and craftsmen of the house to the individual trees that lived on the grounds in George Washington's day. Blue Raster shares this information to Mount Vernon's patrons and stakeholders through an easy and intuitive website, in a partnership with the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (MVLA) and Quinn Evans Architects. Blue Raster developed a prototype online 3D GIS portal for viewing the available spatial, structural, and background information associated with a historic building information model (HBIM) created by Quinn Evans Architects. This includes location information and 3-D modeling and will include details and documents associated with individual elements of the buildings and landscape once the content management system is complete. The tool will make the extensive historical documentation of the estate accessible to scholars, educators, and the public while improving its conservation and maintenance. The web application leverages Esri's ArcGIS API for JavaScript 4. 0 and makes use of its WebScene class, allowing the user to virtually explore the estate while investigating documents and historical artifacts. Blue Raster also designed a custom user interface for the application, aligned with the Mount Vernon style guide. Users will now be able to view Mount Vernon and learn about its history in ways never possible before. Be sure to take a look at this new 3D web application today, and explore the Mt Vernon property, inside and out! - Categories: Climate, Environment, Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Climate, global, hygiene, sanitation, The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, urbanization, water - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster collaborated with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to help produce Thirsting for a Future: Water and children in a changing climate. In a targeted study of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene using current climate and projected climate conditions, Blue Raster and UNICEF determined that by 2040, nearly 600 million children are projected to be living in areas of extremely high water stress. The report also highlights that increasing droughts and floods threaten quality and quantity of water. As UNICEF puts it best: "No one suffers more from a change in climate than a child. Their small bodies are vulnerable to the changes in the air they breathe, the water they drink and the food they eat. For many children, a change in climate is felt through a change in water. In times of drought or flood, in areas where the sea level has risen or ice and snow have unseasonably melted, children are at risk, as the quality and quantity of water available to them is under threat. When disasters strike, they destroy or disrupt the water and sanitation services that children rely on. " "Blue Raster has (once again! ) done an incredible job helping to conduct the analysis for this report. Their professionalism and technical sophistication continues to exceed expectations. In the face of incredible challenges now and in the decades to come, Blue Raster has helped us make the case for protecting children’s access to safe water and sanitation. " — Nicholas Rees, Policy Analysis Specialist, UNICEF New York With Blue Raster’s help, UNICEF identified the children who are most vulnerable to the dangers of flooding and water stress. Geospatial analysis using ArcGIS Desktop helped to inform plans to mitigate current and future risk to children. - Categories: Esri - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, DevSummit, Esri, Esri Dev Summit, Esri Developer Summit, Python - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team of GIS and developer superheroes had an inspiring week at the Esri Developers Summit in Palm Springs, California. The DevSummit is where we collaborate with developers and mapping experts from all over the world... TheThe Blue Raster team of GIS and developer superheroes had an inspiring week at the Esri Developers Summit in Palm Springs, California. The DevSummit is where we collaborate with developers and mapping experts from all over the world and learn about the latest ArcGIS platform capabilities, explore enhancements to advanced analysis of big data, and discover the most creative graphics and visualizations that bring data to life. Additionally, it gives us the opportunity to work one-on-one with Esri experts to dive deep into the software and brainstorm a variety of solutions best fit for our products. Standout technological upgrades from our experts: ArcGIS Enterprise - the next evolution of ArcGIS Server which includes a variety of compentents designed to work together as a dedicated web GIS infrastructure, including the support of Server and Enterprise architectures in AWS CloudFormation Python - from the new ArcGIS Python API to publishing Geoprocessing tools, the integration of Python scripting is becoming a vital component to the processing and organization of spatial data JavaScript - the latest tips and tricks for utilizing the ArcGIS API for JavaScript to handle big data, 3D visualizations, and more. One of our lead developers, Lucas Cotner, believes that the DevSummit is fundamental in learning the latest technology and interacting with the GIS Community: "The energy and expertise brought to Palm Springs never ceases to amaze me. There is a constant transfer of knowledge from the Esri staff to all the other attendees, each experts in their own ways. Our team is excited about exploring new solutions, as well as contributing and participating with things we have learned in the past year. " Several of our team members had the opportunity to present at DevSummit and bring some knowledge to the table. Eric Ashcroft presented during Esri’s Small Business Lightning Talks about “Best Practices in Agile Development and Program Management. ” Christine Movius gave an awesome presentation about “How to Supercharge Your ArcGIS App’s Speed Using AWS CloudFront and Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). ” Lucas Cotner and Christina Phang amazed the crowd with their presentation on our work with Global Forest Watch’s Map Builder, and how to create configurable map atlases using ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Online. And of course, the team had a lot of fun in Palm Springs and throughout the DevSummit participating in the infamous dodgeball tournament with two teams participating this year, Kitten Mittens and Paw Patrol. We also had a wonderful day of team bonding at the top of Mount San Jacinto State Park, 8,500 feet above Palm Springs with beatiful hiking and snowball fights. Thank you to all our friends who came to our Blue Raster social at Oscar’s Café & Bar. We can’t wait for next year’s DevSummit! - Categories: Esri, Federal - Tags: Esri, Federal, FSBS - Industries: Federal Government - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Blue Raster is excited to be recognized as the first ever Partner of the Year as part of the Esri Federal Small Business Specialty (FSBS) program. Each of the members has a unique opportunity to connect with the US Federal Government customers and other small business looking for the newest and most creative Esri solutions. To learn more about our products and federal customers, visit us at the 2017 Esri Fed GIS Conference on February 13-14 at our booth near the small business pavilion, or catch one of our presentations at the Federal Conference: "The Potential of Drones to support Forest and Chimpanzee Conservation", Phil Satlof and Lillian Pintea from The Jane Goodall Institute, Esri's Drone Zone, Hall B, Feb 13th at 2:20pm and Feb 14th at 2:00pm "Applying Spatial Analysis Techniques to Make Better Decisions", Kevin McMaster and Brett Rose from Esri, Feb. 14th, Room 145 A, 8:30am "Small Business Partners Fostering Next Generation GIS", Amy Ramsdell , Feb. 14th, EXPO Hall Workshop 2, 12:15pm "Analysis and Geoprocessing in ArcGIS Pro", Chris Gabris, Feb. 14th, Room 146, 4:00pm Blue Raster has launched several Federal projects in the past year which are featured at the conference, including: Critical Loads Mapper, built for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), helps better understand local and regional vulnerability to atmospheric pollution. The College Map, a collaboration with Sanametrix, and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), is a search tool to geographically narrow down colleges and filter by major. state, school size, and other common search parameters. STATcompiler and the DHS Program Mobile App now available in French, part of a longstanding partnership with USAID to disseminate demographic and health survey data for over 90 countries. If you can't make the Federal Conference, the entire Blue Raster team will be participating in the 2017 Esri Developer Summit March 7-10. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Environment, Esri, Land Use, Mobile - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Collector, Esri, Field GIS, Field Mobility, global, mobile, Survey123, Web AppBuilder - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Mobile Application Development - Types: Active Work In 2016, The Proforest Initiative asked Blue Raster for help implementing their vision for an easy-to-use mobile-data-collection application coupled with an online dashboard for analysis and display. Funded by the Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund, the project empowers Small-Holder palm oil farmers to collect and share information about their land with the ultimate goal of establishing tenancy and becoming RSPO certified. A field trial in Honduras was scheduled for summer, 2016. Decision making: After evaluating several possible solutions, Blue Raster and Proforest concluded that Esri Collector for ArcGIS and Survey 123 for mobile data collection along with Web APPBuilder for ArcGIS Online for display and analysis was the best fit for the pilot project. Blue Raster helped create the mobile surveys by building forms in Spanish and adding GIS data including basemaps and imagery to be used in the field trial and dashboard. Proforest staff stopped by Blue Raster headquarters in Arlington, VA on their way to the field for in depth training and final review of the process before use. The Proforest Initiative team continued on to Honduras to train Small-Holder farmers and associated staff in how to download, install and use the applications. Success on the Ground: The farmers were enthusiastic about their ability to locate their plots on the maps. Where up-to-date satellite imagery was available, the technical team and farmers used it to pinpoint farm boundaries on the app (in the field) and to discuss issues around their lands. Associated staff and related groups immediately saw the possibilities of using the system to understand and manage deforestation and other sustainability risks. The next step for 2017 is to scale up the technology and make the tools more widely available to smallholders around the world. field collected and basemap data displayed on ArcGIS Online Web AppBuilder dashboard - Categories: Amazon Web Services, Forest, Media, News, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Pro, big data, conservation, global, IOP Publishing, publication. emerging hot spots, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is proud to have worked with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Esri Big Data Team to co-author the study, Using Spatial Statistics to Identify Emerging Hot Spots of Forest Loss. Published in Environmental Research Letters, the study lays out the data-analysis workflow Blue Raster developed to identify trends in tree-cover loss in Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 2000 and 2014. Using Esri's emerging hot spot analysis and big data analysis techniques, Blue Raster identified persistent, accelerating, and new hot spots of tree-cover loss, as well as cold spots of diminishing loss. New forest policies such as logging moratoria and incentives were linked with reduced forest clearing, whereas timber harvesting, road-building, and agricultural land clearing were associated with hot spots. Techniques identified in the study will help decision makers, technical experts and the broader public better understand trends in deforestation and improve forest monitoring going forward. While the article focuses on Brazil, Indonesia, and the DRC, the methodology can be scaled for larger or smaller regions, as well as for different windows in time. Accompanying the paper, Blue Raster produced maps of intensifying, sporadic, and new hot spots of deforestation for each area of interest. The visuals indicate a broad range of trends including: Shifting spatiotemporal patterns of loss in Brazil, with forest loss significantly diminishing within the Amazonian states of Mato Grosso and Rondônia and intensifying within the cerrado biome; New and statistically significant hot spots of forest loss in 2013 and 2014 in West Kalimanta, Indonesia; and The emergence of vast areas of DRC as significant new hot spots of forest loss, with intensified loss radiating out from city centers such as Beni and Kisangani. The release of the article coincides with the World Economic Forum, an event where 20 of the world’s largest commodity producers, traders, manufacturers, consultants, and retailers launched a new partnership with research institutions and banks to monitor deforestation and manage sustainability from farm to customer. The partnership, led by WRI's Global Forest Watch team, will focus on building an online global decision-support tool that builds on the GFW Commodities platform to increase transparency and traceability across supply chains. Read the full publication by WRI, Blue Raster, and Esri online at IOP Science. - Categories: Environment, Forest, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: biodiversity, Climate, Drupal, global, species - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Types: Active Work Every year, billions of dollars are invested in conservation actions across the world. The Biodiversity Indicators Dashboard displays trends in biodiversity, ecosystem services, threats, and conservation actions to help gauge how successful conservation efforts are and how pressures on biodiversity are changing. The Biodiversity Indicators Dashboard is a collaborative effort between Blue Raster and NatureServe technical, scientific and design teams. Users can get a snapshot of various indicators for dozens of countries including: Protected Lands Endemic Species Threatened Species Habitat Diversity CO2 Emissions The dashboard leverages Drupal, HTML5, Esri Leaflet and D3 to bring users an informative mix of data and visualizations. In 2016, Blue Raster was a proud sponsor of the Society for Conservation GIS (SCGIS) annual meeting- pictured here are Blue Raster's Phil Satlof and Dr. Healy Hamilton, Chief Scientist at NatureServe and President of SCGIS. - Categories: Health, HIV - Tags: AIDS, CDC, CKAN, Columbia University, global, Health, HIV, UNAIDS, United Nations, WordPress - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is pleased to announce the debut of the Population HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) Project website. The PHIA Project, led by ICAP at Columbia University in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), collects HIV information in sub-Saharan African countries through interviews and in-home HIV testing. In 2014, UNAIDS set treatment goals for 2020: 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. Blue Raster supports these goals through: building the WordPress powered PHIA website creating charts, maps and graphs for PHIA Factsheets launching the PHIA Data site in the coming months (a CKAN based dataset visualization and download tool) Zimbabwe 90-90-90 chart , created by Blue Raster "We’re glad to have the PHIA website up and running thanks to Blue Raster. We look forward to expanding this resource for HIV data as our project continues. " -Lory Frenkel, Communications Officer, PHIA Project - Categories: ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Climate, Environment, Federal, Health, Water - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Climate, Critical Loads, Knockout, Nitrogen, Pollution, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster launches the Critical Loads Mapper for the Environmental Protection Agency, the latest tool in a collection of EPA's Global-Change-Explorer platform. This interactive web application analyzes atmospheric deposition from Nitrogen and Sulfur. Despite abundance in atmosphere and aquatic ecosystems, an excess of Nitrogen can cause significant environmental and health issues, leading to economic impacts across communities. Sulfur, when compounded to form various Sulfur Oxides, can cause health and respiratory problems, damage foliage, and create haze. Working with EPA, Blue Raster created a consolidated source of information, allowing the study of these elements within our ecosystem across a variety of models and timelines. EPA's Critical Loads Mapper incorporates a collection of four different respected scientific research efforts, including the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), the Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAQ), Total Deposition Science Committee (TDEP), and the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Each group of deposition estimates offers information on a variety of time spans, with some as early as 1851. Concentrations of these pollutants are predicted in deposition models which can help us better understand ecosystems at risk for exceedance of Nitrogen and Sulfur pollution. In the application, you can overlay Federal lands and Wilderness areas from the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the US Forest Service. In our next release, users will be able to generate Deposition and Exceedance Profiles specific to each area. With over 500 display options, the Critical Loads Mapper makes it easier for researchers, policy makers, and public officials to access this data, and create styled maps that can be saved, exported, or printed directly from the browser. The Critical Loads Mapper is optimized to run at high performance, and leverages the ArcGIS Image Server for raster visualization and analysis. In addition, the application is built using Knockout, a JavaScript library that renders JSON (data) objects into html, for a simpler and more dynamic user interface experience. HTML5 Canvas, an html element, is the backbone for all of the on-the-fly printing capabilities. Each component of the application works to support the immense data being supplied while providing a user interface and user experience that is easily navigable and reliable. - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, Development, Federal, JavaScript API - Tags: Africa, API, DHS Mobile, DHS Program, Federal, Francophone, French, global, USAID - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: Mobile Application Development - Types: Active Work The DHS Program STATcompiler and Mobile App — now available in French! Following the successful launches of the updated STATcompiler and DHS Program Mobile applications, Blue Raster extends the reach of the two platforms into the Francophone world. The Blue-Raster-built Indicator Data API delivers thousands of French-language indicator definitions seamlessly to both STATcompiler and Mobile App users. The applications recognize the language settings of the device and load the appropriate language and numeric formats, while a new User Interface allows for toggling between English and French. The applications feature maps built on Esri ArcGIS Server and customized with the Esri JavaScript API for ArcGIS- which allows for easy addition of French-language labels. Visit STATcompiler. com or the app store of your choice to today. Merci! - Categories: Education, Federal - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS for Server, Common Core of Data, education, National Center for Education Statistics, Public School, ReactJS - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Mobile Application Development, UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster, Sanametrix, and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) announce the release the School & District Navigator. Working with the Common Core of Data (CCD), a program that annually collects data about all public schools and districts, the most up-to-date information and maps are now available via the new mapping tool. The School & District Navigator displays a comprehensive selection of public schools and school districts across America, even specialized types such as public charter and special-education schools. Each school and district in the map comes with useful details and characteristics such as enrolled students, student/teacher ratio, grade span, and free and reduced lunch eligible enrolled students. Search parameters can be customized through the use of filters, which have been selected for the most common indicators. Narrowed results can be shared through Facebook or Twitter, or downloaded in an excel spreadsheet. The map application enhances the capabilities of the existing CCD tools, Search for Public Schools and Search for Public School Districts, which enable the public to find essential information about public schools and districts, but lack geographic visualization. The School & District Navigator integrates with the original school search and district search engines by providing a link to each school or district's profile within the search result details. The ArcGIS API for JavaScript connects with ArcGIS for Server for access to institutional data and is developed using contemporary JavaScript, ES6, and ReactJS, making dynamic and interactive user interfaces seamless. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Education, Media, News - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, Collector for ArcGIS, education, Esri, GIS Day, Operations Dashboard, Students, Washington-Lee High School - Industries: Education - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight On November 16th, we celebrated GIS Day by inviting GIS students from Washington-Lee High School to visit Blue Raster. Led by teacher, Ryan Miller, Washington-Lee offers several technology classes linked to James Madison University. For the fifth year, Blue Raster has hosted the class, giving students insight into the connection between what they learn in the classroom and the work GIS professionals do in the world today. The Blue Raster team shared real-world GIS success stories through a round of lightning talk presentations on ongoing projects and then invited the students to use their GIS skills with a fun Collector for ArcGIS challenge. After collecting and mapping data on transportation in their county, students saw the application of GIS in a new meaningful way. “It’s such a tremendous asset to be able to link my high school GIS students with the professionals at Blue Raster. Blue Raster’s willingness to dedicate time, effort and resources, into a GIS day collaboration, benefits my students as they get to observe incredible GIS work and potential career opportunities. The students and I are so grateful to Mike, Stephen and to the entire Blue Raster team. ” — Ryan Miller, Teacher @APSVirginia and Meteorologist @ABC7NEWS We wrapped up the day with viewing their data collection in the Operations Dashboard and enjoying some pizza and desserts. - Categories: Environment, Forest, Story Map - Industries: Education - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Penn State Graduates Stephen Ansari (Earth Science, 1998) and Chris Gabris (Geography, 2009) are proud to share a Blue Raster Story about GIS helping reduce illegal fires in Indonesia and aiding the world's commitment to sustainable and responsible supply chains for consumer goods. This video will weave together the perils of illegal fires, the growing demand for palm oil and global deforestation with a GIS success story about using remote sensing, high-resolution imagery, satellites that can detect fires, text-message alert systems and presidential decision rooms. The world is watching and change is happening. View the Penn State GIS Day presentation at: ArcG. IS/2fksZxK Information on Penn State's GIS Day can be found at: sites. psu. edu/gisday See GFW Fires in action at: fires. globalforestwatch. org/ Enjoy this Background Video about the project: - Categories: Environment, Forest, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, conservation, global, Habitat, JavaScript API, Palm Oil, Responsive Design, species, The Zoological Society of London, WRI, ZSL - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has devoted its efforts to wildlife conservation in Britain and around the world for over 180 years. At the upcoming Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT14), ZSL will present a new release of their Sustainable Palm Oil Transparency Toolkit (SPOTT), a project they began two years ago with help from Blue Raster. https://blueraster. com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ZSL_SPOTT_2. mp4 The toolkit provides a set of practical tools and information that help stakeholders in the palm oil supply chain monitor and manage the environmental and social risks of palm oil production. An interactive map, created by Blue Raster, allows users to overlay palm oil concessions with relevant environmental data. The upgraded version of this map features new data sets, including: RSPO certified and FoodReg palm oil mills (WRI) GLAD tree cover loss Intact forest landscapes Peat lands BirdLife Endemic Areas Orangutan habitat Tiger habitat The map is capable of location search by address, coordinates or decimal degrees and layer search by concession type. It has a responsive design for use on mobile and tablet devices and has been updated with the latest Esri JavaScript, version 4. 1. Check out the application here to explore the palm oil industry and learn more about its environmental impacts. “We have worked closely with Blue Raster since 2014 to develop the SPOTT map, bringing together the most relevant data from Global Forest Watch and other platforms, and linking them directly to our corporate transparency assessments... Next year, we are expanding SPOTT to assess companies with operations in other commodities, starting with timber, pulp and paper, so the next phase of development will see even more data and functionality added to the SPOTT map from GFW and elsewhere. ” - Alexis Hatto, Engagement Manager for ZSL’s Business and Biodiversity Programme - Categories: Climate, Environment, Health, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: airquality, ArcGIS Online, Cascade, Climate, Climate Change, climatechange, Story Map, storymap, The Nature Conservancy, urbanization - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work By 2050, the majority of humanity will live in cities, towns, and other urban areas. Among the most pressing of global urban environmental challenges is air quality. In cities, the most damaging air pollutant is particulate matter (PM), but another pressing problem cities face is heat: the air is simply so hot in summer that human health is impacted. At the same time, with climate change, increasing temperatures around the world are exacerbating excess heat produced by cities and causing dangerous heat waves. To address this concern for the future, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) investigated the effect of planting trees in urban areas. The science is clear that tree leaves play a part in removing particulate matter from the atmosphere along with many other air pollutants. Also, the shade provided by urban trees along with the transpiration of water during photosynthesis can help reduce air temperatures, while also reducing electricity needed for residential cooling. From an economic perspective, TNC found planting trees produces a significant return on investment when planted strategically in certain areas of a city. To determine precisely where and how much trees can help, The Nature Conservancy collected geospatial information on forest and land cover, PM2. 5 pollutant concentration, and population density for 245 cities and used relationships established in the literature to estimate the scope of current and future street trees needed to make urban air healthier. The resultant report, titled “Planting Healthy Air,” advises cities on where trees offer the highest return on investment for improving public health by addressing particulate matter and excess heat. To help visualize this data and share this story, TNC came to Blue Raster for help creating an interactive story map built on the latest Esri technology. The Planting Healthy Air story map details the project's motivation, visualizes its geographic data and geospatial analysis, and describes a simple plan for cities to reduce pollution and temperature by planting trees. The viewer can select a section of interest or scroll through all of them, exploring and interacting with maps. Viewers can see neighborhood-level analysis in any of the 245 cities included in the report or read in-depth remarks about one of 15 focus cities. Built on ArcGIS Online, the Planting Healthy Air story map uses Cascade, a new template designed for immersive storytelling. The story map's interactive format allows viewers to explore the data and analysis on their own terms and get personalized information about the places that matter to them. "Thanks to Blue Raster for all their hard work. We’re really excited about this new resource for sharing our science! " - Misty Edgecomb, Director of Communications, Global Cities, The Nature Conservancy Read more on this exciting project at: https://global. nature. org/content/healthyair - Categories: Climate, Environment, Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: airquality, Climate, global, The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, urbanization - Industries: Conservation, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster collaborated with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to help produce Clear the Air for Children: The impact of air pollution on children. In the first analysis of its kind, Blue Raster and UNICEF used satellite imagery of outdoor air pollution in combination with global demographic data to determine that 300 million children currently live in areas with toxic levels of pollution, and 2 billion live in areas where pollution levels exceed international standards. The report also highlights that many of the poorest children were especially at risk because they have little or no access to resources for treatment and protection. Air pollution is a critical health issue to people all over the world. Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution due to their physiology: their lungs are still developing, and exposure to harmful air during this critical period can be especially detrimental, causing life-threatening diseases. A growing number of studies are even pointing to the impacts of air pollution on a cognitive development. UNICEF has made its mission protecting and empowering children around the world. With Blue Raster’s help, UNICEF identifies the children who are most vulnerable to the dangers of air pollution and promotes a greater understanding of this issue among governments, communities, and families. Further geospatial analysis through ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Online can help us pinpoint sources of pollution and create plans for reducing pollution in the future. "With thanks to Blue Raster, we were able to do in-depth analysis to determine how many children live in areas with high levels of air pollution. Blue Raster brought professionalism and very strong technical expertise to the project, helping us to do groundbreaking work that we hope will serve as a strong base for action on air pollution – this is not just a major threat to the environment, it is also a major threat to children's health. " - Nicholas Rees, Policy Analysis Specialist, UNICEF New York - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, Development, Land Use, Open Data, Public Safety, Transportation - Tags: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, Open States API, Public Transportation, State Legislature, Transit, TransitFeeds, User Interface - Industries: State & Local Government, Transportation & Logistics - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Following the successful launch of American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) Industry Footprint, Blue Raster has delivered Version 2. The web application provides users with a comprehensive understanding of the role of public transportation in their communities and throughout the United States. Given that public transportation provides essential mobility to people throughout the country, reduces congestion in crowded cities, and improves air quality, APTA hopes to encourage people to opt for it more often and fight for continued support and funding from state and federal legislators. The latest version of Industry Footprint includes helpful new features: Addition of bus and rail manufacturers to the map Addition of state legislative upper and lower chambers to the map Updated user interface Now everyone can view APTA's Transportation Industry Footprint to get key facts and statistics about where public transportation is available and how it's being used in their state legislative and congressional district boundaries. Blue Raster built upon the first version of the tool by integrating the Sunlight Foundation's Open States API for up-to-date details on state legislators and state legislative districts. The transit information is obtained from TransitFeeds, which offers an extensive archive of standardized transit lines and schedules. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Environment, Forest, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Restoration - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Online, conservation, Deforestation, global, Restoration, World Resources Institute - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Environmental restoration is becoming a top priority for many countries around the world, but it can be difficult to synthesize the numerous sources of information available to make decisions about where this restoration should happen. With the new GFW Map Builder template, anyone can create an online map application visualizing and analyzing their data alongside local, regional, or global land use data to identify future restoration priorities. Blue Raster created Map Builder, a configurable ArcGIS Online template, for the World Resource Institute's Global Forest Watch (GFW) program. The template allows users to overlay their own datasets, such as endangered species habitats, commercial concessions, or national protected areas, with GFW land cover and land cover change data in order to pinpoint the best locations to focus restoration efforts. The template provides built-in metadata and analysis tabs, which viewers can use to learn more about specific features in the map and generate reports with a variety of analyses on any feature. Many users are already taking advantage of Map Builder's impressive capabilities to create their own customized map applications. For example, Kenya's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources recently completed a national restoration opportunity assessment informed by their Tree-based Landscape Restoration Potential Atlas created using the Map Builder template. The atlas overlays rivers, land use, and population density with areas marked as having potential for restoration. Check out blog posts by Thomas Maschler and Asa Strong from World Resources Institute about customizing GFW and open data and GIS for more information and examples. Built with ArcGIS API for JavaScript, Map Builder leverages ArcGIS Online templates as well as the ArcGIS for Server Image Extension for analysis. It features lightweight code with a fully mobile and responsive design, making it accessible even in countries with low bandwidth. "Mapbuilder allows users to combine GFW’s geospatial analysis features with data that is important to their local cause and environment. With this highly-customizable tool users can now build web applications to monitor forests in their own backyard. Park rangers can track where forests were cut down as recently as a week ago, auditors can calculate countries’ carbon emissions from forest conversion and companies can find and address points in their supply chains that contribute to deforestation. WRI uses Mapbuilder as a platform for Forest and Restoration Atlases. These applications are published and updated together with partnering national government agencies. The tight integration with ArcGIS online allows our country teams to manage their sites independently and reduces the amount of necessary training and follow up support. " -Thomas Maschler, GIS Manager for GFW Africa, World Resources Institute - Categories: Environment, Hydraulic Fracturing, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS JavaScript API, Ceres, Drought, Drought Management, Esri Leaflet, Fracking, GIS, Shale Energy, Water Risk, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work In 2014 Blue Raster created a series of maps for Ceres highlighting drought intensity and groundwater depletion as a result of increased hydraulic fracking in shale basins across the United States. Ceres has now produced the Competition for Water in US Shale Energy Development application showcasing the effects and statistics of fracking on both a National level and by water basin. Using information for 109,665 well locations from FracFocus (via IHS) between January 2011 and January 2016, Blue Raster aggregated the total gallons of water usage for 21 basins, and determined the top five operators, states, and counties. Additionally, using data from the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas from the World Resources Institute (WRI), the percent of wells in areas of high and extremely high water stress is reported. These metrics provide insight into the delicate balance and consequences of water use from fracking against the total water available. The Competition for Water in US Shale Energy Development application was developed with Esri Leaflet and the ArcGIS JavaScript API. See the spatial patterns of hydraulic fracking and explore the data today. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Federal, Media, Story Map - Tags: AAPI, ArcGIS Online, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Cascade, Esri, Story Map, U.S. Department of Education, White House - Industries: Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Conferences & Webinars, GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Insight Blue Raster is excited to attend and present at the 2016 White House Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Data Challenge & Convening on October 7th. The event highlights the importance of AAPI data and how it can be used to improve outcomes in areas including education, health, and civic participation. Christina Phang will tell the story — Language of the Election — how a little known provision of the Voting Rights Act brings bilingual voting materials and ballots to minority-language citizens. The talk will highlight how we used a story map and geographic visualizations to bring a temporarily relevant topic to life. This presentation is part of a collaboration between Blue Raster and Esri. For more information about the event, visit the White House's Elevate: AAPI Data Challenge event site. “Every vote matters, and language should not be a barrier to participation. Our ArcGIS Online Story Map shares how a little known provision of the Voting Rights Act invites participation and enfranchises minority-language speaking communities, and you may be surprised which community is growing the fastest. ”Christina Phang, Blue Raster See how an ArcGIS Story Map delivers a platform for sharing ideas and telling stories that matter: - Categories: Education, Federal, Open Data - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS JavaScript API, College, education, ES6, Federal, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, IPEDS, NCES, React JS, Responsive Design, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Finding Schools is now easier than ever with the College Map, the first geographic search tool published by IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) providing access to over 7,000 certificate, undergraduate and graduate-level schools. This all-in-one tool enables students, parents and counselors to filter potential programs for location, major, tuition and more. Including both certificate-level programs and advanced degrees, this public application makes the often overwhelming process of school searching simple, and it's available on mobile devices. Once the results are narrowed down, users can share their lists on social media or download in excel format. Additionally, the College Map integrates with the College Navigator, a research based search tool providing data from the complete list of IPEDS Survey indicators. The College Map is powered by the ArcGIS JavaScript API and ArcGIS for Server, and the tool leverages React JS, and ES6. - Categories: Development, Infrastructure, Land Use, Real Estate - Tags: DCOZ, Historic, infrastructure, Real Estate, Washington D.C., Zoning - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster worked with the DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ) to compile scanned versions of the 1958 zoning data as it evolved over approximately 60 years to present day. The data was georeferenced and converted to digital services and then displayed through an interactive application that allows users to choose a year of interest and see which case records happened on or before that year. By investigating the evolution of the zoning information for a property, insight can be gained into the when and why a change occurred. By using a responsive design, the information is now available across a number of devices and browsers. Be sure to explore the history of your zone today! DCOZ Historic Zoning Viewer - Categories: ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Climate, Environment, Human Rights, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Image Server, global, Global Water, Highcharts, React JS, Water Risk - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Global water supply is rapidly becoming a topic that crosses international borders and stretches across watersheds, communities, and livelihoods. Well known organizations such as the United Nations, the World Wildlife Foundation and The Water Project all recognize the threat of water shortage on generations to come and that these threats will have effects far beyond environmental. These organizations estimate that: today, nearly one billion people do not have access to safe drinking water (The Water Project) by 2025, up to two-thirds of the world's population may have water shortages (World Wildlife Foundation) With a clear motive and call for action, World Resources Institute and Blue Raster teamed up to create Global Forest Watch Water, allowing users to quickly identify risks to clean water in areas of deforestation, forest fires and soil erosion and to identify cost-effective natural infrastructure solutions. This public facing tool provides the means for governments, businesses, financing, institutions, and communities to create a plan for action that is educated, sustainable, and effective. "Global Forest Watch (GFW) Water is a global mapping tool and database that examines how forest loss, fires, unsustainable land use and other threats to natural infrastructure affect water security. Users can drop a pin anywhere on the map to see the risks to nearby water supplies and find resources on how investing in natural infrastructure protection can help alleviate these threats. GFW Water looks to help downstream utilities, businesses, financing and development institutions, researchers and civil society groups quickly identify risks to ample, clean water by providing the data they need for all 230 global watersheds in an easy-to-use, accessible format. " - Jasmine Qin, Research Analyst, World Resources Institute The World Resources Institute is partnering with civil-society organizations to support on-the-ground results, using GFW Water information to help them secure clean water supplies. These partners include: The Ecological Society and Centre for Ecology Development and Research in India Hutan Riau and Yayasan Mitra Insani in Indonesia GFW Water leverages the Esri ArcGIS API for JavaScript and ArcGIS Image Extension for Server for its advanced mapping capabilities and the ability to produce on-the-fly analysis for selected water features. The full reports include risk scores for forest loss, erosion, fires, and baseline water stress, as well as number of water intake locations, the presence of dams, and more. The application incorporates the Esri Hydrology Service, which allows for upstream analysis as a user specifies a point placed on a map. ReactJS and Highcharts are used for enhanced user interface features including the incorporation of animated charts and graphs. - Categories: Development, District of Columbia, Economic Development, Infrastructure, Open Data - Tags: DC, Google Earth, Open Data, Salesforce, WDCEP - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, State & Local Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work The Washington D. C. Economic Partnership (WDCEP) attracts new organizations to the D. C. area by assessing the needs of potential businesses, and then matching those needs to suitable locations within the city. WDCEP then demonstrates site suitability by presenting demographics, neighboring businesses, economic trends, pending constructions and space availability. To organize and present all of this data, Blue Raster transformed WDCEP's retail and construction data into maps and visualizations, and combined it with DC GIS Open Data. Using the Google Earth platform, this information paints a compelling picture of where and why businesses will flourish in D. C. With Blue Raster's help, WDCEP can now provide insightful, layered stories on demand, leading to informed decisions by potential businesses considering a move to the D. C. area. “WDCEP’s core mission is to actively position, promote, and facilitate economic development and business opportunities in Washington, DC. Blue Raster helped us build a platform that gave us fast access to current data and simplified the telling of DC’s story to local, national and international audiences. ” – Chad Shuskey, Senior Vice President of Research and Real Estate, Washington DC Economic Partnership - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Forest, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Cascade Story Map, conservation, Story Map, UC 2016 - Industries: Conservation - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team had a fantastic time at the 2016 Esri User Conference in San Diego earlier this month! Highlights: Chris's lightning talk on UNICEF: Unless We Act Now Blue Raster's UNICEF Unless We Act Now poster was awarded in the ICA and IMIA Excellence in the Cartography category Participation in the Small Business Walkthrough Christina's presentation on the Sustainable Development Goals and The DHS Program Adrienne's panel presentation on Effective Geospatial Tools for Sustainable Development Our booth even received a visit from Globie and the Esri Snapchat team! Our booth visits were more exciting this year because of our campaign to plant a tree for everyone that pinned our map. Blue Raster is very proud to sponsor 526 trees to be planted in Tahoe National Forest through the Arbor Day Foundation We had lots of fun using the new Story Map Cascade template to document our trip. Check out our Esri UC 2016 Story Map for a closer look at our adventures and endeavors with the Arbor Day Foundation. Stay tuned for what we decide to do next year! - Categories: Environment, Forest, Health, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: global - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Greenpeace Indonesia has released its latest addition: custom Fires and GLAD (Global Land Analysis & Discovery) Analysis. Users easily create generated reports on active Fires across Indonesia, powered by data from the NASA MODIS Fire Detection Satellites, updated in near real-time. They can also generate reports on GLAD Datasets, which contain 30-meter resolution Forest Loss, adding up to billions of pixels worldwide. All the Analysis is done on the fly and includes the most up to date data possible. Analysis is available nationally for Indonesia and for selected islands or provinces, and results pinpoint exactly where the highest numbers of fires or GLAD alerts exist. Hotspots are by districts, concessions, areas of peatland, and instances within tiger and orangutan habitats. These reports are powered by the latest technology, including the ArcGIS JavaScript API, Highcharts to animate the reports, React JS to build the library interface, and ES6. "With the new analysis tool, it's extremely quick and easy for anyone interested in Indonesian commodities to spot potential problems as they arise. Researchers can interrogate the concession data we've publicly released to see which groups or companies have the highest rates of clearance or fire alerts. This can help identify long-term trends and show customers any potential problems with forest and peatland clearance in their supply chains. " -Kiki Taufik, Coordinator of Greenpeace Indonesia’s Forests Campaign - Categories: Esri, Federal, Media, News - Tags: Esri, Federal, Federal Small Business Program - Industries: Federal Government - Services: Technological Insights - Types: Insight Blue Raster is proud to announce our participation in Esri's Federal Small Business Program. This program creates opportunities for small businesses to deepen Geographic Information System (GIS) skills and prepare for upcoming federal procurements. The program offers a variety of outreach such as business development boot camps, hands-on technical workshops, and access to marketing and community events. Access to these benefits promotes good practices in business development, and prepares our developer staff to be the most knowledgeable in the GIS and Application Development fields as possible. Under this program, Blue Raster will work closely with Esri, providing comprehensive service to the federal government. Involvement in the Federal Small Business Program is just one of the ways Blue Raster is constantly striving to be experts in the latest Esri technology, allowing us to deliver the best value to our many federal customers. For more information about the Federal Small Business Specialty, visit the Esri News announcement. - Categories: Development, Education, Media - Tags: #Map4Trees, Arbor Day Foundation, Esri UC 2016, Fish Taco Night, San Diego, Small Business Partners, Sustainable World Showcase, Tahoe National Forest - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight Blue Raster is proud to attend our 16th Esri User Conference in San Diego! This year we have teamed up with the National Arbor Day Foundation to replant our national forests. Place a pin on our map at #EsriUC, and we will plant a tree in Tahoe National Forest. Be sure to come check out Blue Raster at booth 2215, near the Sustainable World Showcase! Meet the Blue Raster team, learn about our mapping applications, plant a tree in Tahoe National Forest, and more! Blue Raster events at Esri User Conference: Monday Impact of Climate Change on Children (UNICEF) Monday (6/27) 4:30pm, Christopher Gabris SDCC, Ballroom 20 D – Lightning Talk Visit us in the Map Gallery to see our UNICEF poster Monday (6/27) 3:30pm– 7:00pm, Map Gallery Opening and Evening Reception SDCC, Sails Pavilion Tuesday (World Resources Institute) Using Big Data to Identify Patterns of Deforestation and Drive Action to Protect Forests (World Resources Institute) Tuesday (6/28) 2:30pm, Liz Goldman Conservation Tower Mapping Sustainable Development Goals (DHS Program), Tuesday (6/28) 3:00pm, Christina Phang, Sustainable Development Tower (Exhibit Hall B1) Community Forest Monitoring (Jane Goodall Institute) Tuesday (6/28) 3:15pm SDCC, Ballroom 24 C Fish Taco Night in Ocean Beach Tuesday (6/28) 7:00pm - Blue Raster’s annual retreat to Ocean Beach for the best fish tacos - Stop by the booth for details Wednesday Small Business Partners Walk through Wednesday (7/29) 1:30pm Panel Presentation - Effective Geospatial Tools for Sustainable Development Wednesday (6/29) 3:15pm, Adrienne Allegretti Room 30A Before you arrive, check out esri. com/events/user-conference/agenda for a complete schedule of events. We look forward to seeing everyone and all of the latest mapping trends and technologies, stop by our booth and say hello! Follow @blueraster for live tweets and updates throughout the conference Also find us on Instagram and Snapchat @blueraster Please also “Like” Blue Raster on Facebook for photos and more in-depth news from the conference and beyond. - Categories: Development, Infrastructure, Land Use, Real Estate - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Backbone JS, DCOZ, Development, infrastructure, React JS, Real Estate, Washington D.C., Zoning - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster and the DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ) worked together to create the DC Zoning Map of 2016, a mobile-responsive application that incorporates recently adopted DC Zoning Regulations of 2016 in a platform available to the public. The application provides users a rich representation of DC Zoning by color and offers powerful search capabilities, detailed PDF reports for properties, and high quality cartographic outputs. It delivers all the new regulations and maps to consumers accessing the web via a growing variety mobile devices and platforms, and was nominated by Technical. ly for Best Web/Mobile Product of the Year in the inaugural D. C. Innovation Awards. The launch follows the first major rewrite of Washington D. C. Zoning Regulations since 1958. The modern application allows ease of access for the public who may be curious about their neighborhood's potential development or proximity to historic sites, while being a valuable resource to residents, developers, and government agencies who want to keep Washington growing and lively while respecting the historic character of the city. The DC Zoning Application leverages the latest technologies to provide these advanced features to the user. For example, ArcGIS for Server delivers geographic data via map services, and React JS and Backbone JS drive the architecture and sustainability of the code base. The site fully integrates with the government's existing systems, such as the Interactive Zoning Information System, delivering valuable lot-level data and reports. Customized geoprocessing and vector printing allow users to export stylized, high-quality cartographic maps, while PDFKit produces standardized pdf reports for each property of interest. Sweet Alerts deliver customized messaging throughout the application experience. Explore Washington D. C. and visit the application today. “The new ZR16 zoning map application and the Zoning Handbook generate a greater active interest in zoning by presenting visual data and a lot of content in a clear and concise manner. Blue Raster effectively worked to translate DCOZ’s vision into an application we are all proud of. ” - Nyambi A. Nyambi, Chief Technology Officer, District of Columbia Office of Zoning - Categories: Climate, Environment, Forest, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Server, ArcGIS JavaScript API, global, Highcharts, React JS - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Global Forest Watch - Commodities is proud to announce the integration of the PALM Risk Tool (Prioritizing Areas, Landscapes and Mills), a groundbreaking tool aiming to eliminate deforestation surrounding palm oil production across Indonesia, Malaysia and elsewhere. With a global data set of nearly 800 palm oil mills, corporations have for the first time the resources needed to commit to deforestation-free palm oil sourcing. To make this tool successful in real-time, the application utilizes satellite-based data alongside regularly updated mill data. Users can select one or multiple mill sites, and analyze data surrounding this location for fire activity, tree cover loss, and high-carbon peatlands. Based on this analysis, rankings are calculated to create a more focused and efficient approach to sustainable palm oil production. The maps utilize ArcGIS for Server while the code base integrates ArcGIS JavaScript API, Highcharts, and React JS, all working together to power an application that is accessible and reliable. In order to support the advanced analysis done on-the-fly, the application uses the ArcGIS Image Server extension and compute-histograms tools. "Companies have made ambitious commitments to remove deforestation from their supply chains, yet significant challenges exist to turning these commitments into action. The PALM risk tool helps address this challenge. Commodity traders and buyers can use the tool to identify the mill areas of highest priority in their supply chain in order to intervene and in turn, get the biggest bang for their buck. The tool leverages the powerful data of Global Forest Watch together with dynamic analysis in ArcGIS, allowing companies to analyze their own supply chain — as well as the first-ever mill dataset hosted by GFW — to begin moving towards their zero-deforestation goals. " -Sarah Lake, Corporate Engagement Research Analyst, Global Forest Watch - Categories: Education, Federal - Tags: ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Geometry Engine, D3 - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster has created new, one-of-a-kind functionality for the MapEd Project that displays School Feeder Patterns across the United States. A Feeder Pattern shows the trajectory of a student through the school system based on a geographic location. It is a unique way to visualize the School Attendance Boundary Survey (SABS), a National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) survey conducted bi-annually, outlining a school's geographic attendance zone. This provides a more complete look at school boundaries and gives parents school options for their child. The charts are powered by D3. js and use a modified Dendrogram to create smooth connecting lines. The functionality behind the graphic leverages the ArcGIS API for JavaScript Geometry Engine which allows for the intersection of geometries to be done on-the-fly as the users explore the SABS Dataset. The MapEd Project continues to evolve and keep up with the latest technologies in data visualization Feeder Patterns being the latest exceptional example of this. "School Feeder Patterns allow users to use the School Attendance Boundary Survey in ways never possible before: visualizing the projection of a student throughout the school system. The school feeder patterns were created from regular and defacto 2013-2014 school attendance boundaries. These patterns were identified through a union of overlapping elementary, middle, high, and other school level boundaries. The team is looking forward to enhancing the data for schools by incorporating 2010-2014 American Community Survey data at the school level to become a rich resource for the Education Research/Statistical and GIS communities. " -Tai Phan, Census Mapping Lead at NCES - Categories: Climate, Environment, Forest, Health, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS JavaScript API, Flux, global, React JS - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster partnered with Greenpeace and Global Forest Watch (GFW) to help protect one of the world's most fragile ecosystems: forests. Their threat from fires and deforestation has been characterized by some as one of the worst environmental disasters in recent history. Fires across Indonesia have far-reaching effects on both air pollution and climate change while deforestation depletes the natural forests and changes landscapes for years to come. The Greenpeace Indonesia mapping application fuses the most helpful datasets together and makes them available to the public. Datasets include: detailed concession information including forest cover, fires instances provided by NASA's Fire Information for Resources Management System (FIRMS), and selected animal habitats. Greenpeace Indonesia allows decision makers to accomplish ambitious goals by getting the latest data in the hands of the public: especially in the hands of people who can act on it. The Energy Desk at Greenpeace further describes the mapping app in their post, "Investigation: Mapping Indonesia's fires and logging rights". Additionally, Channel NewsAsia suggests in their publication, "Greenpeace Indonesia launches map to track haze-causing fires," that the map can be used as evidence in court — this is certainly a game changer. This application uses the ArcGIS JavaScript API, React JS, and Flux, creating a reliable repository of data that can be viewed and downloaded within the application. Many Indonesian residents are able to have access to data for the first time, and hold land owners responsible for deforestation and illegal fires that have repercussions across Southeast Asia. "Since the catastrophic fires last year, Indonesia's president has made commitments to ending the destruction of the carbon-rich peatlands but this will only be possible with free access to up-to-date information on land use and land tenure. In 2011, the Indonesian government promised a single mapping platform to publish this data - One Map - but it now may not see the light of day until 2019 at the earliest. We can't wait that long, which is why we've compiled and released the most comprehensive concession maps available. We worked closely with the team at Blue Raster to combine our data with several other map layers provided by GFW, including fire and deforestation alerts. Together, these data sets provide an essential tool for producers, traders, consumer companies and researchers to monitor activity on the ground in near-real time and - cruicually - see who controls the land on which fires and deforestation occur. Out hope is that the Kepo Hutan maps will spur the government into action and set the standard for the official maps which are so desperately needed. " -KiKi Taufik, Coordinator of Greenpeace Indonesia's Forests Campaign - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, Climate, Environment, Federal, JavaScript API, Water - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Climate, JavaScript API, nutrients, sediments, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water, watersheds - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work EPA's Global Change Explorer provides data visualization across all aspects of environmental change and is now available to the public. Blue Raster worked with The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to redesign and improve their Watersheds mapping application, one of the three modeling projects which focuses on the largest 19 watersheds in the United States and how these watersheds are predicted to change under various climate change and urban development scenarios. The application explores trends in sediment levels and nutrient loading, enabling viewers to visualize the sensitivity of watersheds nationwide. The sites selected represent a range of geographic, hydrologic, and climatic characteristics of the US. While several water quality measures are included, the project has particular emphasis on stream flow, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediment loads. The site's powerful data visualization is made possible by ArcGIS for Server, the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, and ArcGIS Desktop. To learn more about the project, visit the Watersheds Application and full report publication. - Categories: Climate, Environment, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS JavaScript API, Highcharts, jQuery - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster has long worked with The Nature Conservancy to tackle complex environmental problems using GIS analysis and expertise. The Texas Water Explorer does just that: transforming Texas water data into interactive, visual maps so that anyone can understand it at a glance. The first step in creating the Texas Water Explorer was to create a dashboard, giving detailed background information to users learning about all of the water bodies and conservation indicators available. Read about each of the indicators and datasets, such as River Fragmentation or Sector Water Use, or explore each of the geographies across Texas from the Colorado River Basin to the Gulf Coast Aquifer. Once in the explorer, users can view and compare data, for example, River Flow Alteration and Presence of Invasive Species. Indicators have pop-ups powered by Highcharts showing trends in data over time. Export tools allow the creation of custom reports that can be downloaded as Excel and taken on the go. The Texas Water Explorer uses the ArcGIS JavaScript API and Knockout. js to deliver the large amount of data supplied by The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy has called the Texas Water Explorer a "one-stop shop on the current state of water in Texas", an essential component to informed decision making that will lead to healthy communities, healthy environments, and a thriving economy now and in the future. (TNC Launches Texas Water Explorer) "By 2050, our population is set to double to 54 million and every region in Texas is in search of water to support its fast-growing communities. It's essential to arm decision-makers with the best information available so they can make sound choices and be good stewards. This tool provides important data that can help Texans support healthy communities, a healthy environment and a thriving economy now and in the future. " -Laura Huffman, Texas State Director for The Nature Conservancy - Categories: Uncategorized - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Conferences & Webinars - Types: Insight The Blue Raster team returned energized more than ever from the Esri Developers Summit in Palm Springs, California. The DevSummit is where we innovate with others on the latest approaches to web mapping and GIS as well as get a sneak peak on what's coming up in 2016 specific to the Esri Tools. Stand out technological upgrades from our experts: The ArcGIS JavaScript 4. 0 release promises fresh architecture and enhanced capabilities. We are particularly excited for the 3D capabilities that this release supports. Portal for ArcGIS 10. 4 supports sharing information throughout organizations with each team member having personalized access and editing capabilities. The Spatio-Temporal Big-Data Store can hold archives of large-volume data with longer retention, essential for big-data projects. Optimizing access to cloud-hosted Rasters using the Nasa-developed MRF (Meta Raster Format) Driver along with Limited Error Raster Compression (LERC). This allows imagery to be stored in Amazon S3 while be accessed as if located on local drives. Vector Tiles for ArcGIS Pro allow full customization of Basemaps and Vector Layers. This meets the demanding requirements of high-performing web maps for desktop and moble The DevSummit is Blue Raster's chance to get one-on-one time with Esri experts as we innovate together and reflect on the latest trends in analysis, web mapping and GIS. Phil Satlof and Amy Ramsdell were inspired by a presentation by Stephen Sylvia of Esri on Customizing Story Maps and quickly created a Story Map for their trip to Joshua Tree National Park, a day long venture filled with hiking, fun and of course maps. The platform allowed the team to publish and share their adventure via maps without any custom development. Lastly, the team let off some steam with some good old-fashioned fun at the Esri DevSummit party. During our record-breaking advancement into the final game of the dodge ball tournament, we enjoyed reflecting on a week of learning and catching up with other devs -- ultimately finshing in 2nd place out of 40 teams. - Categories: Education, Federal, Story Map - Tags: Advanced Placement, AP Program, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, education, REL Midwest, Story Map - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work This year, REL Midwest EdMaps launched two new story maps analyzing education trends in the Midwest. With the ArcGIS Online Map Journal template, the story maps naturally walk through the narrative behind the maps. The first story map, Advanced Placement (AP) Program Participation explores the expansion of the AP Program, a College Board offering giving high school students the opportunity to earn college course credit, exemption from introductory courses, or both. The story map shows how access to the AP Program has spread from 2006–2012, with expansion in both urban and rural areas. A case study in Indiana attributes eliminating all fees for math and science AP exams as a contributing factor for the spread of AP participation within the state. The annual AP exams are necessary for receiving college credit, and removing the fees is one way schools are making it easier for students to participate in the AP Program. The second story map, Incidences of Pre-Kindergarten Suspension capitalizes on a new preschool-discipline dataset from the U. S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The Civil Rights Data Collection released by the OCR showed that more than 8,000 public preschool students were suspended at least once, with almost half of those children suspended more than once in a single school year. The new data helped to reveal racial disparities, with black students accounting for 18 percent of preschool enrollment but nearly half (42%) of the preschool children suspended one time. With a wide range of opinions on the effectiveness of suspension, Minneapolis has stood out for eradicating suspensions for nonviolent behavior for preschool, kindergarten and first grade students. Former Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson argued that, "If you're not in school, you can't learn, and if you're not learning you cannot address the achievement gap. " (Minneapolis Public Schools, 2014). "Working with Blue Raster has been both a lesson in story map creation and an archetype for collaborative project management. I was able to tell stories about topics that matter in a way that a broad audience can digest, and wouldn’t have been able to do that without Blue Raster’s guidance and partnership. ” -Megan Norris, American Institutes for Research (AIR) - Categories: Environment, Infrastructure, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO, Restoration, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Image Server, ArcGIS JavaScript API, Green Infrastructure Support Tool, Highcharts, infrastructure, water - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Water is one of the world’s most pressing challenges. Faced with the opportunity to find better water solutions for global stakeholders, the Earth Genome, backed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), enlisted the help of Blue Raster and Arizona State University to create the Green Infrastructure Support Tool (GIST). The interactive web mapping application provides high-level wetland-restoration site analysis and portfolio prioritization to address water scarcity and was recently launched at GreenBiz 2016. The tool employs criteria-based screening via spatial data and end-user inputs, enabling end users to weigh options across the region and compare relative value and costs. Financial metrics include net present value, area cost curves, and environmental return on investment. Together, they help determine the best "bang for buck" restoration sites to provision water across an entire basin. The application combines environmental data such as wetland areas, biodiversity and land cover with business initiatives that consider both investment and costs for various land-cover restoration options, resulting in a truly spatial decision support system. Key in the development of GIST was the ability to present data in an easy-to-use way and to incorporate millions of points of disparate environmental data. As a result, corporations, governments, water authorities, resource engineers or anyone interested in potential water restoration are able to create their own development sites with corresponding financial analysis. The reporting engine supports comparing multiple sites, determining the optimal green infrastructure investment, based on landscape characteristics and hydrologic modeling. The ability to create these custom reports is made possible by on-the-fly statistical/histogram calculations leveraging the ArcGIS Image Server extension. The GIST also uses the ArcGIS JavaScript API and Highcharts to supply the data and charting throughout the application. "Blue Raster was a terrific partner. The Earth Genome exists to unite data, science, visualization and end users to solve some of the planet's most wicked problems. Blue Raster was essential in pulling off GIST, what we believe is a breakthrough tool that puts environmental data, translated via world class science, into the hands of real decision makers. I'm most pleased with the work Blue Raster did on the visual interface. The tool is elegant yet simple: anybody can use it to find the opportunities that make most financial sense for their organization. " - Glen Low Co-Founder, The Earth Genome - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Education, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: AIR, American Institutes for Research, ArcGIS Online, education, Esri, Story Map, TEA, Texas State Education Agency, Training - Industries: Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Archive Work We visited Austin, Texas last week to lead a second round of ArcGIS Online Accelerate training for the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the Texas State Education Agency (TEA). We held a first round of hands-on training in August that covered the skills needed to create (and to teach others in creating) maps in ArcGIS Online. At the end of the training, AIR and TEA were able to answer questions such as: How can I create and share maps with colleagues within my organization or within a targeted audience? How can I make the most of my ArcGIS Online subscription? And most importantly, how can I create content that allows educators across Texas to effectively do their job? This February, Blue Raster returned to Austin to build off of last year's training and cover advanced topics. The two-day deep dive focused on refining and advancing the teams’ ArcGIS Online skills and covered spatial analysis and web application creation and deployment. The teams also utilized Blue Raster's Story Map Starter Kit to learn the building blocks for creating effective Story Maps. See images of two story maps from the training below. Learn more about Blue Raster’s GIS training at our ArcGIS Online Accelerate Solutions page. - Categories: Media, News, Nonprofit/NGO, Public Safety, Transportation - Tags: Flux, Python, React JS, WordPress - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Safety - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation (NAPSG), is committed to enhancing public safety one community at a time and building a more resilient nation across all levels of government. With the help of Blue Raster, NAPSG enhanced their website in two ways: Modernize the resource library turning it into an organized, user-friendly data outlet Created a symbol library establishing a common language for incident information The Resources Page is a publicly accessible data platform, allowing communities and local entities access to key resources that aid in decision making. The Resources page is built with Wordpress and features newly organized categories and search functionality, Researchers can now pinpoint what is needed and where to find it quickly rather than spending time scrolling through information. Built with React JS, Flux and Python, the Symbol Library provides a set of standardized incident symbols that can be used on maps and in GIS applications. Framework and guidelines are included to ensure that all of the downloadable data is used properly and consistently. Complete with its own Library Tool, symbols can be downloaded on an individual level or by topic. "Blue Raster understood our community’s needs and requirements out of the gate. This made designing the solution for our Symbol Library Tool and reorganization of resources on our website a much more streamlined and efficient process. Again the Blue Raster Team exceeded our expectations. " -Rebecca Harned, Senior Program Manager, National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation - Categories: Climate, Environment, Federal - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Climate, D3.js, Data Visualization, EPA, JavaScript API, Land Use, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnered with Blue Raster to release a new version of ICLUS (Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios), richly visualizing climate and land-use model scenarios. EPA intends to use the results of this first phase of modeling to facilitate investigation of additional impact scenarios including water and air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnered with Blue Raster to release a new version of ICLUS (Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios), richly visualizing climate and land-use model scenarios. The ICLUS model incorporates: Climate change variables Commercial and industrial growth Enhanced land use and impervious surface coverage relationships EPA intends to use the results of this first phase of modeling to facilitate investigation of additional impact scenarios including water and air quality. This research will enable more sophisticated model runs evaluating effects of projected climate change on population growth and economic development. To let users compare and contrast maps, the application features a side-by-side comparison view. Users can easily view up to four maps in parallel, revealing similarities and differences in density and distribution. The maps can be synced to the same dataset, year, and/or location. ArcGIS for Server 10. 2 and the latest JavaScript API power the upgraded application. ICLUS leverages the powerful visualization components of D3. js and Highcharts. Visit and explore the ICLUS tool today. - Categories: Federal, Health, JavaScript API, News - Tags: Adobe, AngularJS, demographic, DHS API, DHS Program, Health, HTML5, JavaScript API, mobile, PhoneGap, SQLite, STATcompiler, USAID - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: Mobile Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is excited to announce the release of the The DHS Program Mobile App v2. 0. A more intuitive interface, offline data download feature and enhanced cartography are a few of the upgrades creating excitement around v2. 0. Here’s a first look at what's new in this release. 125 indicators Now when you use the app, you have access to 101 additional indicators — providing more than three times as much data than was previously accessible in v1. 0. Behind the scenes, data is being supplied by the STATcompiler database through The DHS Program API. This ensures that you always have up-to-date data, even as new countries and indicators are added or adjusted. Beautiful, clear design We updated the look and feel of the app to give you a more compelling, intuitive user experience. We also revamped the maps to feature the latest in cartographic design allowing for better interpretation and clarity. Take data offline In v1. 0, you could display trends for a single country through Quickstats and compare and contrast 25 preloaded indicators through a series of tables, charts and maps. Now v2. 0 features the ability to download Quickstat data packages by country, making complete sets of data accessible even when offline. Through a combination of SQLite, Adobe PhoneGap, HTML5, AngularJS, and JavaScript, Blue Raster and The DHS Program are able to provide far more indicators offline to Android and iOS users. Get the app for your device today. For iOS - Download here For Android - Download here Have feedback? Connect with us - @DHSprogram, @blueraster - Categories: Amazon Web Services, Federal, JavaScript API - Tags: Amazon EC2, Babel, Esri, FDA, Food recall, Jade, JavaScript API, openFDA, React, Stylus - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work In response to 18F's challenge to build a next generation application using the openFDA API, Blue Raster developed the openFDA Enforcement Mapper. Our goal was to create a map-based dashboard showcasing food recalls across the United States. You can visually see how recalls affected different regions. Here is a first look at how we built this rapid prototype. Another Blue Raster solution for Open Data Enterprise along with the Tracing Global Foods story map inspired the visual design. In the spirit of the challenge, five team members rapidly prototyped the application using Node. js and the latest HTML5/Javascript. The visualization pulls data from the openFDA API, gecodes food recalls by location and maps the impact across the United States. The team carefully combined multiple technologies to power the app: Source code pre-processing: Babel, Jade and Stylus JavaScript ES6 & 7 Amazon Web Services / EC2 Node. js / Express Data Visualization: Chart. js React Flux Container: Docker Map interface: ArcGIS JavaScript API Jenkins For full project documentation and code, visit our GitHub at github. com/blueraster/open-fda-map-viewer. - Categories: Climate, Environment, Health, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map, Water - Tags: Climate Change, COP21, global, Paris Climate Conference, The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is proud to announce a collaboration with The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to contribute to Unless We Act Now: The Impact of Climate Change on Children - a report published by UNICEF at the annual Conference of Parties (COP21), also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. COP21 is a renowned conference that brings together international voices representing government and UN Agencies, NGOs and civil society to assess climate change and set universal agreements and goals for reducing climate change and adapting to the changes that have already begun. The Unless We Act Now report leveraged geospatial analysis of current demographic, environmental and projected climate data, in order to direct aid to child populations across the world as they face unforgiving changing weather patterns. UNICEF has made putting children first their mission, and although climate change is an imminent threat to populations across the world, it is children who are hit the hardest as their bodies are most vulnerable to change. Being able to understand where these 2. 3 billion children are was the first step, but taking this further to understand how environmental conditions such as droughts, floods, and extreme heat effect food and water supply, sanitation, and the spread of disease is made possible through GIS analysis via ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Online. Climate Change affects children in unique ways -- these maps show where Children and Climate Change intersect. "COP21 is a fantastic opportunity for UNICEF to present our "Unless We Act Now: The Impacts of Climate Change on Children" report, as climate change will be of critical importance when protecting and preserving the future livelihood of children around the world. Blue Raster was with us every step of the way during the data analysis and cartographic development, and their timely responses, adaptive and analytical methods, and personal connections to spatial data subject matter experts working around the world helped make this project a resounding success. " - Nicholas Rees, Policy Analysis Specialist, UNICEF New York A map poster featuring the analytical and cartographic work was then featured at the 2016 Esri User Conference and won the ICA and IMIA Excellence in Cartography award, and was selected for publication in 2017 Esri Map Book, Volume 32. “The Impact of Climate Change on Children by UNICEF was recognized by the judges for it’s powerful, stark design on a relevant, topical subject. This work delivered a high impact, strong message with clarity and effective simplicity. ” - Esri Insider, July 14, 2016 A special thanks to: Trevor Croft, DHS Program | Paul Reig and Tianyi Luo, World Resources Institute | Carmelle Terborgh, Esri Deborah-Balk, The City University of New York | Susana Adamo and Kytt MacManus, CIESIN Columbia University - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, Human Rights, JavaScript API, Land Use, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, human rights, JavaScript API, land rights, land tenure, poverty, Responsive Design, WordPress, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster partnered with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and a 13 member Steering Group to create LandMark, the first-ever attempt to build a global repository of community land rights data. Launched on November 10, the LandMark website is the world’s first interactive global platform to map these lands. According to WRI, up to 65% of land in the world is held by indigenous peoples and local communities, but only 10% is legally recognized as belonging to them. LandMark aims to help these communities publicly document their land boundaries, particularly in countries where there are no systems currently in place to do so. Blue Raster created the site using WordPress, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, and the JavaScript API. "Blue Raster has been a great asset to the World Resources Institute and our partner institutions in designing and developing the LandMark mapping platform. Especially valuable was their proficiency in creating a flexible product with a big-picture view towards future growth and development, as LandMark is a project that is constantly evolving," said Katie Reytar, Senior Research Associate at WRI. The site allows users to explore maps at both the community and national level, with the goal of helping key audiences including: Companies who are interested in identifying areas for potential investments and want to reduce company risk and costs associated with acquiring contested land. Community members and groups supporting them who are looking for a platform to proactively document their land publicly. Governments, to better recognize community land rights and encourage fellow public officials to take action based on examples of other nations. General public, to gain a better awareness of the extent of land rights issues worldwide. To learn more about the project and see the platform in action, check out WRI’s project page. - Categories: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, Environment, News, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS Pro, AWS, big data, Earth Observation in the Cloud Demo Day, Esri, presentation, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Conferences & Webinars, Technological Insights - Types: Insight Blue Raster is excited to attend and present at the 2015 Earth Observation in the Cloud Demo Day on November 10th. Michael Lippmann and Jon Nordling will be presenting on our work with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Earth Observation Data. The talk will highlight how big data analysis provided by AWS is helping pinpoint emerging hotspots of tree cover loss around the world. The project is part of a collaboration between Blue Raster, the World Resources Institute (WRI) Global Forest Watch Team and the Esri Big Data Team. For more information about the event, visit Amazon's Earth Observation in the Cloud Demo Day site. Behind-the-scenes look at producing the maps: See the full presentation here: Blue Raster Presents on Emerging Hotspots of Global Tree Cover Loss from Blue Raster - Categories: Federal, Health, JavaScript API - Tags: ArcGIS JavaScript API, demographic, DHS Program, Health, HTML 5 - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work More than 15 years after initial creation, STATCompiler has reached a level of unparalleled excellency with the latest release. The newly designed Beta STATCompiler website now reflects the most up-to-date indicator data from The DHS Program in a platform accessible universally across devices. There are several changes to STATCompiler that bring it in to a new era: New user interface and all new cartography for beautiful maps and visualizations Over 500 new indicators including data from the DHS-6 tabulation plan on topics such as domestic violence, female genital cutting, malaria and maternal mortality Metadata is now included in the "indicator details" with full definitions, denominators, and the measure of data (rate, percentage, etc. ). Confidence Intervals are now included in the graphics, an especially important consideration for rare events, particularly HIV prevalence and maternal mortality. New data visualizations such as pop-ups in the map that summarizes trends over time Mobile friendly interface allows it to be accessed on tablet devices. The site now leverages the DHS Program's public Application Programming Interface (API) ensuring data continuity and authenticity. STATCompiler is built with modern tools such as JavaScript, HTML 5, the ArcGIS JavaScript API and incorporates proven legacy tools such as ColdFusion. - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Appalachia, Census, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, demographic, education, Flex API, Health, HealthLandscape - Industries: Health - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue raster is pleased to announce the release of the newest HealthLandsape tool - the Appalachia Community Data Portal. Created for the Appalachian region, the tool enables users to explore demographic, education, income, and health disparities for more than 400 Appalachia counties. The tool marries datasets from the the U. S. Census Bureau, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid. Using the Appalachia Data Portal tool, users can create side-by-side maps between indicators (for example, diabetes and poverty) to visualize potential relationships. Users can also overlay infrastructure data such as interstate networks or locations of Health Facilities, and start to visualize patterns between the two. Graphs and charts are available to see the numbers behind the data. Explore the Appalachia Data Portal, and more health information tools, at healthlandscape. org. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Education, Federal - Tags: education, NCES, SABS, School Attendance Boundary Survey, School Mapper - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Due to the widespread success of School Mapper for the 2013-2014 school year, it has now been released for the second round of data collection for the 2015-2016 school year. Built in collaboration with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Sanametrix, School Mapper provides District Superintendents the ability to add, update, and delete the school attendance boundaries within their districts, as well as edit schools locations and details. The updated data is then reviewed and saved as part of the School Attendance Boundary Survey (SABS). Because SABS is an optional survey, the 90. 2% completion rate by Superintendents for the 2013-2014 school year is considered exceptional, and led to the continuation of the survey biennially. Being able to update this data set easily and frequently allows researchers to get a narrower view of what is going on for a school's attendance zone with respect to demographic, social and economic indices, where we previously may have been limited to county or district borders. To make it even simpler: once all schools have been completed within the district, the data can be downloaded as a PDF or shapefile, so that when the next collection starts, the user can upload their shapefile and pick up where they left off. The School Mapper leverages the latest ArcGIS for Server technologies, ArcGIS Online, Python and various JavaScript tools such as data-driven documents (d3. js). "The success of the School Mapper Application is due to its simplicity in design, encouraging representatives to update school boundaries while eliminating the burden of reporting data and removing inconsistencies in data collection. NCES makes this latest boundary data publicly available so that researchers can examine social and demographic characteristics and educational policy effects at the school level for real, targeted change. " - Tai Phan, Mathematical Statistician, NCES, U. S. Department of Education - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: advocacy, agriculture, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, biodiversity, Conservation International, Story Map, Vital Signs - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work We worked with Conservation International to upgrade their Vital Signs mapping applications. Using the Esri story map series template, we customized, optimized, and styled the atlases to reflect the mission and spirit of Vital Signs. Designed to provide risk management tools for agricultural development, the atlases feature new functionality including the ability to: Re-order layers Adjust transparency Download datasets Share the maps on social media “These atlases will enable planners and managers in Africa, who do not have GIS skills, to manipulate and overlay different data layers for planning and also provide access to relevant data from a wide variety of sources and sectors. ” -Sandy Andelman, Ph. D. , Senior Vice President and Chief Scientist at Conservation International The atlases provide a baseline and a synthesis of existing data on agriculture, ecosystems, and human well-being, on which Vital Signs is building. They also enable anyone to visualize where Vital Signs is collecting data, in the context of what is already known. "Blue Raster helped our team optimize Vital Signs's Online Interactive Atlases and add user-friendly functionality. They understood our needs and lent the support our team needed in the critical months before release. " -Kellee Koenig, GIS Manager at Conservation International Blue Raster leveraged ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS desktop to build the atlases. Visit the site, and see how Blue Raster helped Conservation International leverage and customize a current Esri Story Map framework to provide three compelling risk management tools for the agriculture industry. - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, Education, Federal, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, Esri, OSERS, Story Map, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work As part of the U. S. Department of Education's (ED) new public awareness campaign, #RethinkDiscipline, Blue Raster launched The Hidden Cost of Suspension story map in partnership with Sanametrix. Since 2011, the U. S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice have collected data on suspensions, expulsions, and other practices that remove students from instruction. To make their data comprehensible at a glance by decision makers and the public, ED turned to Blue Raster to create a series of maps to be shared on social media. Through this story map, the public can better understand the prevalence of out-of-school suspensions in their communities. The application was developed using Esri's side accordion story map template that allows users to step through three maps. "Creating and sustaining safe, supportive schools is absolutely essential to ensuring students can engage in the rich learning experiences they need for success in college, work and life - that’s why rethinking school discipline is critical to boosting student achievement and improving school outcomes," -Arne Duncan, U. S. Secretary of Education This story map was highlighted in the articles below: This is where your child is most likely to get suspended from school, Washington Post This Is Where Students Get Suspended From School The Most, Huffington Post - Categories: ArcGIS Online, Education, Media, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Bear Trust International, conservation, education, global, species, Story Map - Industries: Conservation, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster has long recognized the importance of putting exploration tools into the hands of science enthusiasts. So we were excited to collaborate on a joint project with Bear Trust International, a non-profit dedicated to conservation education. As part of their STEM program, Bear Trust asked Blue Raster to create an engaging web lesson plan rooted in bear research and ecology. Using datasets generously provided from the IUCN Red List, Blue Raster created the Bears of the World story map. Built with ArcGIS Online, the story map enables kids to learn about the eight species of bears worldwide and view their range maps. "The folks at Blue Raster provided unparalleled customer service, expertise, and creative vision. We are so excited about providing our interactive map to kids and the public, and we look forward to our next collaborative project with Blue Raster. " -Dr. Melissa Reynolds-Hogland, Executive Director of Bear Trust International Check out the story map today, and discover how its helping engage the next generation of environmental stewards. - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, ArcGIS Online, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, DigitalGlobe, Fires, GFW, Global Forest Watch, JavaScript API, MODIS, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The World Resources Institute's (WRI) Global Forest Watch Fires is currently being used to respond to a massive outbreak of fires in Tesso Nilo National Park, Indonesia. The fires in the protected area began May 29, 2015 and have continued to burn since. In response, Blue Raster created the maps below using ArcGIS Online and a custom application to analyze the region where fires are burning. Using 50 centimeter resolution imagery along with NASA MODIS fire data, the maps capture the illegal activity occurring within the boundaries of this protected land. GFW Fires continues to be used as a response tool in Tesso Nilo and other parts of the world. Check out the maps, and visit GFW Fires to see the latest on this outbreak. - Categories: ArcGIS Online, JavaScript API, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, Center for Open Data Enterprise, Leaflet, ODE, Open Data - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster worked with the Center for Open Data Enterprise to build a mapping application showcasing a centralized, searchable database of organizations using open data worldwide. The Open Data Impact Map makes it possible to explore open data-use trends through filters and visualizations and facilitates comparative analysis by country, region, or company use of data. All information collected becomes publicly available as a resource for others to build on. The web map was developed in Leaflet using React, Backbone. js, Dojo, Modernizr, Underscore. js and jQuery javascript frameworks. ZURB Foundation was used as the web framework. "All of us at the Center for Open Data Enterprise are pleased to have worked with Blue Raster on the Open Data Impact Map. Their engaging, user-friendly visualization will help make this an excellent resource for the open-data community worldwide. We're looking forward to continuing to work with Blue Raster... " -Joel Gurin – President, The Center for Open Data Enterprise Check out the site and see how dynamic clustering is used to visualize open data around the world. - Categories: Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: advocacy, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, GAIN, Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition, Health, malnutrition - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster recently worked with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to build a mapping application to highlight the multiple burdens of malnutrition in low, middle and high-income countries. This is a contribution to the growing research on the issue of the double/multiple burden of malnutrition globally. The interactive map transforms extensive tabular data from various resources into rich geographic visualizations, bringing the data to life in ways not possible in traditional reports. Intended as a policy and advocacy tool, the map allows users to analyze emerging issues and explore important indicators driving malnutrition. It provides country-level data and possibility to view the following: Demographics Undernutrition Overweight / Obesity Non-communicable diseases Risk factors, and Protective factors Cloud-based ArcGIS Online powers the interactive mapping. For rapid performance, Blue Raster leveraged ArcGIS Desktop to symbolize and tile the data, and ArcGIS Online to host and serve the tiled layers and feature services. Users can explore and understand the underlying data by selecting multiple variables simultaneously and viewing countries exceeding thresholds or missing data. "Blue Raster did an excellent job under a very tight timeline. Their responsiveness to our needs and their creativity exceeded our expectations. We are very excited to share this policy and advocacy tool with researchers and other stakeholders around the world. " -Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition GAIN's mapping tool is helping deliver a better understanding of the burdens faced by countries suffering from malnutrition. It provides new geographic insight and analytical capabilities, and will lead to better decisions on how to help the most vulnerable of the global population. Visit the site, and see how Blue Raster helped GAIN move from static reports to a powerful advocacy tool. - Categories: Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: Aqueduct, conservation, Responsive Design, Water Risk, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Earlier today, Blue Raster and the World Resources Institute (WRI) released a new version of Aqueduct Atlas, an application helping companies and investors manage exposure to water risks. Launched in 2013, Aqueduct is used worldwide by leading companies, including McDonald's, Goldman Sachs, and Procter & Gamble. For the first time, the site is optimized for mobile phones and tablets. The new site enables users to: Assess water stress, supply, and demand in the coming decades Learn where water risks will be most severe under well-known climate scenarios Prioritize investments for projected conditions "The World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct team has worked closely with Blue Raster for over three years developing the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. Blue Raster has been an invaluable partner in building innovative mapping tools to meet our target audiences’ needs. " -Charles Iceland, Director, Aqueduct Project Features: Global water risk maps Weighing risk priorities: scarcity, quality, prices, governance, and competition Provides industry presets with sector-specific weighting schemes or define your own Geocode facilities, suppliers, and potential new market locations Export analysis results to Excel Aqueduct is powered by ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS JavaScript API, and ArcGIS Desktop. To learn more, visit the platform and see Aqueduct featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, Fast Company, Bloomberg, and Greenbiz. - Categories: Story Map, Transportation - Tags: advocacy, American Public Transportation Association, APTA, ArcGIS Online, Responsive Design, Story Map, storymap, Transportation - Industries: Transportation & Logistics - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) asked Blue Raster to create a story map to spread their message. According to APTA, public transit saw its highest ridership in 58 years at 10. 8 billion trips, but the current federal funding bill is set to expire on May 31, 2015. Although a long-term transportation bill is supported by the transportation industry in near unanimity, APTA wanted a way to connect their message with constituents and to broadcast it out to a wide audience. The Stand Up 4 Transportation story map features first-person narratives describing how public transit is impacting people in all parts of the country and sectors of the economy. The story map strategically launched in coordination with national Stand Up For Transportation Day on April 9th, a keystone event for showing national bill support. The map provides users with quick data visualization and offers information important at the community level including: Transportation funding Manufacturing Jobs Rail and bus services The ability to share the map on social media enabled APTA to amplify their message. Launching the application helped propel #SU4T on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media. By using maps, APTA was able to show the scale and impact of public transit, in a new way that text could not. View the Stand Up 4 Transportation story map and see for yourself how your story can get in front of Congress and decision makers. - Categories: Education, Federal - Tags: ArcGIS Online, demographic, education, Esri, NCES, Open Data, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work Did you know that websites you visit every day, such as weather. com, are powered by open data from government agencies? Large amounts of government data are available on sites like data. gov, but often organizations have difficulty finding the relevant datasets. Open data initiatives like MapED Open Data provide authoritative, ready-to-use data driving many private-sector applications on the web today. Built by Blue Raster, the MapED Open Data site enables citizens to better discover, map, and download NCES and Census datasets in a user friendly way. GIS-users can download data in shapefiles and KMLs. Traditional download formats like excel spreadsheets are also supported. Additionally, developers can find datasets for their applications and access them with the Esri GeoServices REST Spec or GeoJSON. The site features innovative data filtering and analytical mapping that is approachable by everyday users. Charting capabilities, histograms, and scatter plots can be embedded in other websites, applications, and tools. The site currently features school, district, and state-level data, with additional datasets coming in the next few months. Visit the MapED Open Data site at data. deptofed. opendata. arcgis. com. - Categories: News, Nonprofit/NGO - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Insight Blue Raster has been chosen to receive the Public Web Application Award for the 2015 Esri Partner Conference. The award is given to a company who demonstrates outstanding and innovative uses of the Esri platform, taking geographic visualization to a higher level. Candidates for the award are nominated by Esri staff, and the selected winner is honored at the 2015 Esri Partner Conference, March 7-10. Blue Raster’s winning application, Global Forest Watch Fires (GFW Fires), is part of the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch platform. Launched in July 2014, GFW Fires aims to promote access to information on forest and land fires in Southeast Asia. The fires, often set illegally to clear land for agriculture or used as a tool in conflict over land, produce a toxic haze that threatens human health, the economy, and the environment. Efforts to stop the fires have been hampered by a lack of concrete evidence regarding who is responsible for starting them. Now, with GFW Fires, everyone from decision makers to local community members can pinpoint fires on company concessions- and use this information to take action. This application was built using Esri ArcGIS Server and Image Server Extension, and uses Digital Globe first look imagery along with the Twilio API for SMS, and includes webservices feeds from many sources including NASA, NOAA and others. Visit GFW Fires, and learn more about the Global Forest Watch platform. - Categories: Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, business, conservation, global, India, JavaScript API, Water Risk, watersheds, WBCSD, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Companies in India are contending with a growing resource crisis: water shortage. With 54% of the country's total area facing high to extremely high water stress, India is positioned to become one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. A combination of water-intensive agriculture, increasing industrialization, and business-as-usual approaches to water management has put the water supply in danger. In a report published by the Water Resources Group, the national supply is predicted to fall 50% below demand by 2030. But companies, government agencies, and other water users have a new tool poised to make a meaningful difference, the India Water Tool 2. 0 (IWT 2. 0). Today marked the launch of version 2 of this comprehensive, publicly available online tool. IWT 2. 0 was created in partnership by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), companies, research organizations, and industry associations. "We are proud to have led the development of the India Water Tool. Water is a shared resource with finite volumes, resulting in collective risk. Collaboration is key to developing scalable and impactful solutions and driving their locally-relevant implementation. " -Joppe Cramwinckel, Director, Water, WBCSD The tool is the most comprehensive freely available resource to help companies, government agencies, and other stakeholders identify their water risks and prioritize water-management sites. The web platform incorporates a series of interactive maps including groundwater level, rainfall, surface water availability, projected water stress, and water quality. Users can upload or enter GPS-based locations and receive custom reports featuring charts and graphs quantifying water-risk metrics. Built using the ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS for Server, and ArcGIS JavaScript API, the tool allows companies to answer questions including: How many of my sites are in high stress regions? How many of my sites are in over-exploited or critical areas? What is the net groundwater availability and projected demand for groundwater for my sites? Are any sites in areas where the concentration of pollutants are above permissible limits? The tool also addresses the shared risks between agriculture, industry, and domestic users. For example, of the 632 groundwater quality districts captured in the tool, only 59 meet Indian-government water quality safety standards. This equates to more than 100 million people living in areas of poor water quality. Among the 4,000 wells showing statistically significant trends, 54% have declined in the past seven years, and 16% have dropped over 1 meter per year. The map also shows a widespread pattern of high risk in Northwest India, a region where agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy. Producing 50% of the national government's rice supply and 85% of its wheat, the area depends heavily on groundwater for these water intensive crops. IWT 2. 0 is the first step for understanding water-related challenges in India and planning for long-term water management. Check out and explore the India Water Tool 2. 0 today. - Categories: Education, Federal, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, broadband, EdMaps, education, JavaScript API, REL Midwest, Story Map - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is pleased to announce a new release of the REL Midwest's EdMaps, an interactive web mapping application that helps education stakeholders think spatially about education issues affecting their communities. Initially launched in January 2014, EdMaps enables users to visualize and analyze complex, geographically linked education data through easy-to-use story maps. The updated application features three additional maps, as well as a new custom maps tool and tutorial video. It also incorporates recently released public school, private school, and district-level school data from the U. S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The new story maps look at: School access to broadband Internet - Currently fewer than 40 percent of American public schools have high-speed Internet in their classrooms. President Obama stated in a ConnectED conference that, "In a country where we expect free Wi-Fi with our coffee, the least we can do is expect that our schools are properly wired. " Historic district-level ethnicity - Users can view the distribution of racial/ethnic groups across the Midwest region from 2000/01 - 2011/12. Priority and Focus schools - Visualize locations of low-performing schools designated as Priority or Focus schools. The data and story maps in the application address the Rel Midwest's four main priority areas of college and career readiness, early childhood education, educator effectiveness, and low-performing schools. Blue Raster built the application using the JavaScript API, ArcGIS Desktop, and ArcGIS for Server. Future releases of the application will feature additional story maps including a look at Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the Midwest region using the Esri Map Journal Builder. Check out the application today by visiting EdMaps. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: conservation, Development, Disqus, Jamaican Environment Trust, mobile, Responsive Design, The Access Initiative, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Transportation & Logistics, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) announced today the launch of the newest tool from WRI's Access initiative, Development Alert! . Built by Blue Raster, the free, mobile-friendly site provides the public with greater access to information about development projects affecting the environment and public health. The site plots approved and proposed large-scale development projects along with overlays of protected areas, fisheries, forest reserves and land cover so users can easily identify projects in or around environmentally sensitive areas. In Jamaica, Development Alert! is helping promote transparency and public involvement in projects including the trans-shipment port in Goat Islands. The project is expected to flatten the Goat Islands to develop a $1. 5 billion trans-shipment port. Using the map of Jamaica in Development Alert! , members of the public can see that this project is not only located in a protected area but is also within a forest reserve and Special Fisheries Conservation Area. See the Goat Islands Project in Action. "The dynamic new website Development Alert! Jamaica is the result of a close collaborative approach with Blue Raster. What has been accomplished is an innovative new advocacy tool for environmental defenders. It's a first not only in Jamaica but in the entire Caribbean. We could not have asked for better partners in this project and hope to bring this website to other countries around the world. " Carole Excell, Project Director of The Access Initiative at WRI The site is developed on WordPress for easy content management by JET, and is integrated with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Server via the JavaScript API for mapping capabilities. Learn more and visit Development Alert! . - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, Education, Federal, Media, News - Tags: All4Ed, ConnectED, education, Esri, FutureReady, video, White House - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Blue Raster is proud to have produced the Future Ready video for the White House ConnectED conference on Wednesday in partnership with All4Ed. The standing-room-only East Room was abuzz with more than 120 superintendents "signing the pledge". Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and President Obama addressed the invited guests. Enjoy a brief highlight of the event via YouTube as well as the map video below. Behind-the-scenes look at producing the video: The final video map: - Categories: Land Use - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, Boston, Boston Redevelopment Authority, JavaScript API, Zoning - Industries: State & Local Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work View planning and zoning information for properties across the City of Boston with the Boston Redevelopment Authority's (BRA) new Boston Zoning Viewer. With the help of Blue Raster, this interactive web-mapping application was redesigned and updated with new data to assist city staff and the public in locating and determining zoning information for Boston land parcels. Recognizing the need to build a tool that works across multiple platforms, Blue Raster worked to optimize the application (for the first time) on mobile devices in addition to desktops. The mapping tool was successfully migrated from Flex to JavaScript and uses the latest version of ArcGIS for Server. ArcGIS Image Extension serves imagery, and with the Zoning Viewer, both the public and city staff can access parcel information including address and owner, as well as many other contextual layers including zoning districts, smart growth, transit corridor and urban renewal. For the first time, the new Zoning Viewer is available on tablets and phones. Users can select a parcel from the map, or locate a particular parcel by typing an address into the navigation search bar. The application also supports geo-searches with line-and-polygon buffer-selection tools. "This application greatly simplifies our ability to get at critical zoning information combined with other GIS data. " -Carolyn Bennett, Boston Redevelopment Authority GIS Manager Staff and the public now have current information at their finger tips to make more informed planning decisions. Visit and explore the Boston Redevelopment Authority Zoning Viewer tool today. - Categories: Transportation - Tags: American Public Transportation Association, APTA, ArcGIS Online, Transportation - Industries: Transportation & Logistics - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster has always been a big fan of public transportation. Our office is strategically located across the street from the CourtHouse Metro stop. When the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) asked us to build a national map of public transportation for their members, we were excited to participate in their mission of ensuring public transportation accessibility to communities across the country. APTA set out to create an interactive map to provide their members with an advocacy and outreach tool to educate public and elected officials about the vital role of public transportation. With ArcGIS Online Accelerate solutions, Blue Raster built an interactive Industry Footprint map that leverages APTA's ArcGIS Online subscription as their mapping and analysis tool. The map includes: APTA members public rail lines and stops bus stops buffered to 0. 25 mi 2010 Census urbanized areas 113th Congressional districts By using the map, users can view transit information localized to their community, as well as to the regional and national level. Several of the layers include custom information useful to APTA Members. This puts quick facts into the hands of APTA members, for example, the number of passenger miles traveled within a legislator's district. Blue Raster integrated Sunlight Foundation's Congress API v3 for complete and accurate congressional details. Blue Raster queries a secure APTA member web service and geocodes addresses using Esri’s ArcGIS Online World Geocoder. The tool leverages the ArcGIS Online Portal API and server-side python tools to seamlessly integrate member geographic data. The transit information is built from the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data exchange. This specification defines a common format for public transportation schedules and associated geographic information. The GTFS data exchange is a site of "feeds" for public transit agencies to publish their data, and for developers to write applications that consume the data in an interoperable way. The result is a national layer of public transit in the Industry Footprint map. Learn more about GTFS by visiting the Yay Transit! website that breaks down a GTFS feed for the ArcGIS user. Contact us today to learn how your organization can benefit from our ArcGIS Online Accelerate solutions. - Categories: Education, Federal, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, demographic, education, JavaScript API, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Story Map, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The Census Mapping program at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) – U. S. Department of Education has just released MapED, a new online mapping platform developed by Blue Raster and partner, Sanametrix, to visualize education and census data across the country. The platform unites NCES and CENSUS datasets with GIS mapping capabilities. The general public can investigate education and demographic trends on local, regional, and national scales. The improved workflow makes it possible for anyone to discover, map, and analyze the data with ease, as users walk through selecting a program or topic area and explore and visualize the data on customizable maps. Initially, the platform contains school, district, and or state-level data from: American Community Survey (ACS) Common Core of Data (CCD) Integrated Postsecondary Educational Data System (IPEDS) National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) the Private School Universe Survey (PSS) More data and programs are planned in the future. "MapED is a valuable resource. The data has always been available but the ability to narrow down hundreds of Census demographic indicators over multiple years, starting out with a topic of interest; and then visualize it on a national map down to the district or school level is a new and powerful way to make it accessible to a much wider audience. " -Tai Phan, Census Mapping Lead at NCES MapED also features a series of Story Maps that will be released in the coming months. The initial release features Story Maps exploring school bullying on the basis of race, sex, and disability as well as public school student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) from 2003 to 2013. Future releases will include additional story maps including school enrollment by race comparisons using ACS data. MapED is developed using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript and ArcGIS Server and uses . NET web services to automate the addition of new data each year. Esri JavaScript templates and ArcGIS Online both support the development of story maps. To learn more about the project and view the application, visit NCES MapED. - Categories: Education, Federal - Tags: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS for Server, GovCloud, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: GIS Managed Services - Types: Archive Work After two years of planning and preparation, on September 15, 2014 the U. S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) successfully completed migration of its on-premises datacenter to the Amazon Web Services GovCloud region. As an Amazon Consulting Partner, Blue Raster led the effort to consolidate IES’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) ArcGIS servers from a hybrid on-premise/private cloud-hosted environment to their AWS GovCloud account. The GIS servers are built using Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) with Esri ArcGIS Server and SQL Server. These servers power the newly released MapED website, as well as the NCES’s School District Demographic System mapping application, a national survey effort that includes a GIS feature editing application to collect school attendance areas. Designed specifically to meet the needs of U. S. government agencies, the AWS GovCloud (US) framework allows agencies, contractors, and customers to migrate sensitive workloads into the cloud while adhering to U. S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) as well as the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMPSM) requirements. Contact us today to learn more about migrating ArcGIS server workflows to Amazon Web Services. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, conservation, DigitalGlobe, Global Forest Watch, Responsive Design, Story Map, Twilio SMS, Twitter, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Active Work Global Forest Watch (GFW) recently launched a new story map highlighting the functionality behind GFW Fires, an online platform for monitoring and responding to fires in Southeast Asia. The story map walks users through the platform and explains its growing role in the fight against land and forest fires. Created using ArcGIS Online and the Map Journal Builder, the story map is organized into eight sections that users can scroll through. Each section highlights a different feature of the platform, and tells the story behind how it is helping government agencies in Indonesia and other countries monitor and respond to fires with more precision and speed. It also explores the environmental, economic, and social implications of these fires. From Digital Globe and Landsat high-resolution satellite imagery to wind and air quality data, the platform empowers people to combat these fires before they burn out of control and enables greater accountability where crimes of illegal burning may have been committed. To learn more about GFW Fires and how you can get involved, check out the GFW Fires Story Map and the GFW Fires platform today. - Categories: Federal, Health - Tags: ColdFusion, DHS API, DHS Program, Federal, global, Open Data, USAID - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work On the heels of the White House's commitment to open data, Blue Raster collaborated with ICF International under The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program to build the DHS Indicator Data Application Programming Interface (API). Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the API provides users direct access to over 30 years of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for more than 90 countries covering almost 1,500 indicators - more than 3 million records. By using this tool, developers, analysts, and researchers can obtain DHS data programmatically and develop applications that suit their needs. The API was developed by Blue Raster on the ColdFusion Web Application platform. Developers can query the DHS data using both a RESTful interface, which allows selecting parameters including countries, indicators, and surveys, as well as a conventional query-based interface which provides advanced options for obtaining more customized results. For those looking to query large sets of data, the API offers additional parameters that control the format, citation, and version information. Additionally, JSON, XML, CSV and HTML output formats are supported to provide users with flexibility. In the spirit of openness, the DHS Program has put together tips and code samples in JavaScript, ColdFusion, . NET, Python, R, Stata, and more to help users get started. You can even register to be a DHS API partner which allows you access to a larger number of entries returned per page and assistance in application development. Trever Croft, DHS Program's Capacity Strengthening Technical Coordinator, says: "The DHS API provides a new level of access to DHS data. Blue Raster has produced a wonderfully simple but powerful tool that will power both the DHS website and STATcompiler as well as users and developers own applications. " For more details, visit the DHS Indicator Data API website. Let us know if you build an app, and follow the API on Twitter (@DHSprogramAPI). - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS, DigitalGlobe, Fires, Global Forest Watch, Image Extension, MODIS, Twilio SMS, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Archive Work Fires across Indonesia are one of the largest threats to the life, environment, and people who rely on Indonesian land. To address these risks, Blue Raster partnered with the World Resources Institute (WRI), Esri, DigitalGlobe, Google and others to launch the Global Forest Watch-Fires (GFW-Fires) online platform. GFW-Fires was built using Esri's ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS API for Javascript. The platform contains comprehensive information on the locations of fires, land use, land cover and conservation areas. Users can view locations of fires on peat lands, which has become imperative due to environmental and health implications, including haze and smoke that result from burning on high carbon soils. FORESTS News reports that, "Peat fires were the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in 2005 (larger than energy). " What makes this application truly exceptional, is the addition of DigitalGlobe's remarkable 50 centimeter resolution satellite imagery, giving a bird's eye view sharp enough to see each tree on the ground. With the help of NASA's MODIS data and imagery, used to locate the fires, DigitalGlobe can now be directed to a location to take super high resolution images. This imagery is so clear that you can easily distinguish between healthy and dead vegetation, the type of vegetation effected, view and draw burn area boundaries, and detect previously existing burn scars. This allows accountability to be assigned to the fires, as one now has the tools to investigate where and how these fires have started. What was once a point on a map can now be confirmed through close to real-time imagery. In addition, the user can then view wind direction and air quality data, key components of determining who will be effected downwind. Often, a fire may be located in Indonesia, but the toxic air is carried to a neighboring island in Malaysia or Singapore. By utilizing the ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, the platform computes and provides statistics on a selected area of interest, and allows the user to export the analysis in a report. In order to get this information to the public, GFW-Fires also offers an SMS Alerts system, using the Twilio platform. The addition of this capability has made it possible for Global Forest Watch to achieve their goals of responding to environmental hazards faster than ever before. It is now possible to locate a fire, confirm and analyze the fire, and get the word out through SMS Alerts in a matter of minutes. Using the extensive amount of data available on the platform, users have the capacity to voice their concern and request change towards a sustainable future free of dangerous smog and land conflict. Susan Minnemeyer, WRI's Senior Mapping and Data Manager for Global Forest Watch, says: "The website puts near-real time data and analysis tools in the hands of citizens and decision makers to learn more about developing fires crises and effectively respond. Working with Blue Raster, we were able to develop the site over only a few weeks and automate analysis our GIS team had been doing in house. " Read more by the World Resources Institutes' blog series on Indonesia Forest Fires. - Categories: Environment, Federal, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS for Server, environmental, Flex API, National Park Service, NatureServe, Rock Creek Park - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work At the heart of Washington D. C. lies Rock Creek Park, America's oldest and largest urban national park. Spanning 2,000 acres and encompassing the Georgetown Waterfront, Meridian Hill Park, and Thompson Boathouse, Rock Creek has been attracting visitors for decades. But with over 32 miles of paved and unpaved trails, historic sites, and much more, it can be difficult to figure out how to get the most out of your park visit. To help with this challenge, NatureServe developed the Rock Creek Park Map Viewer. Built by Blue Raster, the interactive map acts as a field guide focused on highlighting the natural communities of Rock Creek. The Map Viewer arms park visitors with the knowledge and skills to "read" the natural landscape and hit the trails with a personalized hike route. Using the application's "Build-a-hike" tool, users can create custom hikes and print reports on what they will see on the trail. Resource management specialists, park rangers, and interpretive staff also use the site to better manage natural areas and generate reports on areas of study. The Map Viewer is funded and supported by a partnership with the National Park Service. Currently released to highlight Rock Creek Park, the viewer is designed to easily expand to other locations across the country. Blue Raster built the Map Viewer using ArcGIS for Server and ArcGIS Desktop. Visit the Rock Creek Park Map Viewer today. - Categories: Federal, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: Cricket Media, Folklife, Smithsonian Institution, Story Map - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The second in a series of story maps for the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Tradition and the Art of Living China highlights the culture bearers appearing at the 2014 Folklife Festival in Washington D. C. Built by Blue Raster and Cricket Media, the map allows users to experience the artistry and heritage of those keeping China's diverse traditions alive. Although the map has since been removed from the web, it was created using ArcGIS Online. The story map integrates photographs of the Folklife Festival participants and their work. As a result, it offers a comprehensive look into the cultural heritage of China. From calligraphy and pottery, to martial arts, users worldwide can explore the unique stories of these tradition bearers. - Categories: Federal, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: Cricket Media, Folklife, Smithsonian Institution, Story Map - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and Cricket Media, an education media company and global learning network, recently invited kids from around the world to identify and interview people who exemplify important traditions in their communities, then asked them to document and present their stories. Cricket Media and Blue Raster created the Traditions of the World story map using ArcGIS Online, highlighting the top video submissions from kids ages 8-18 from around the world. The result is an interactive virtual field trip with lively hosts that include a 9 year old boy from West Bengal India showing traditional saris being hand woven and students in China documenting everything from dumpling making to martial arts. The challenge was launched in coordination with the Smithsonian Center’s annual June-July Washington D. C. -based Folklife Festival and extends the folklife experience to millions of students globally. The Story Map has since been removed from the web. “The challenge inspired students to explore the richness of their local traditions and unique stories of tradition bearers, and the map created by Blue Raster captured this amazing student work in an engaging way that will preserve these traditions for generations to come,” said Cricket Media CEO, Katya Andresen. “It’s a truly unique, global digital museum, curated by kids. ” - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: conservation, Global Forest Watch, Image Extension, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work A new initiative from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) aims to shed light on how individual oil palm concessions affect forest information that can empower companies to manage their forests and supply chains more sustainably. Global Forest Watch-Commodities (GFW-Commodities), a new platform produced by Blue Raster combines the RSPO’s maps of certified sustainable palm oil production sites with global forest data like tree cover loss, forest clearance, locations of primary forests and legal land classifications. Armed with these new maps and knowledge, companies can reduce the risk that the palm oil they purchase contributes to deforestation. WRI analysis has shown that companies, communities, NGOs and different levels of government often have different information about forest use. These maps will act as a universally available, coherent and current source of information for any of these above groups to utilize in their work to make palm oil production sustainable for the environment and the communities that rely on it. GFW-Commodities was built on Esri’s ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS API for JavaScript. It leverages the Image Extension for ArcGIS Server, to compute, analyze and provide statistics on tree cover loss over time, near real time forest clearing and fires within selected areas of interest. The analysis features come out-of-the-box with Esri’s Image Extension for ArcGIS Server. Satellite data including Landsat and MODIS are mosaiced and allow for analysis on-the-fly as users explore their areas of interest. Key features of each tool: Suitability Mapper Ability to set own suitability criteria based on a range of environmental factors Identifies degraded areas as alternative to development on forest areas Forest Analyzer Detailed land cover data, include data layers on forests, tree cover, and peat lands all important to zero deforestation goals and climate change strategies Additional data layers on protected areas and population density RSPO Support tool - Never-before accessible maps of certified areas for palm oil production - Analysis of forest change on certified areas - Analysis necessary for RSPO compensation procedure Features of all three tools: Option for users to upload their own shape file for analysis Download data and results for further analysis The Global Forest Watch platform is at the forefront in its field and will continue to grow and evolve with its use, applying technology for a sustainable world. Read more about the project and WRI's efforts towards sustainability in Wired magazine - "How a New Map of Palm Oil Plantations Could Help Save Rainforests. " Videos of Application: Featured at Esri UC 2014 Tutorial by World Resources Institute - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: conservation, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The world has lost almost half of its original forest cover, largely tied to accelerated population growth and agricultural expansion. Although forests are quickly disappearing, there is a tremendous amount of unused land that if restored, could support woodlands. Through the Atlas of Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunities, it has been found that more than 2 billion hectares (about 8 million square miles) of land worldwide have the potential to be restored, many of which are located in unexpected regions. Blue Raster and the World Resource Institute created an online mapping application helping users find suitable land for sustainable agriculture. Sustainability and Restoration are key components of saving our environment, so these map projects are extremely useful tools. The Atlas also shows restoration potential for individual countries and regions. For example, Cambodia’s tropical forests have been damaged by illegal logging and plantations giving it the highest percentage of land in the world (30 percent) with opportunity for wide-scale restoration. Many opportunities for restoration lie in the northern portion of the country due to low population density. The areas of land highlighted in red represent deforestation that has occurred within the last decade. Built using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript and ArcGIS Server, the application allows analysis of potential land use and can help professionals better understand and visualize actions, such as forest restoration, that need to be taken in order to save resources that we all rely on. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: conservation, Global Forest Watch, Image Extension, Image Server, Raster Processing, Suitability Mapper, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The power of GIS as a tool to help manage our planet’s natural resources is limited only by the insightfulness of our questions. Fortunately, more timely and detailed data becomes available every year, so we are free to ask an ever-wider range of questions, such as: In relation to agriculture, what factors affect our ability to sustainably produce crops, and how do these factors change across the landscape? Where should agriculture expand, and where should it retract? Blue Raster, along with partners World Resources Institute (WRI) and Sekala, has developed an interactive web application allowing users to customize criteria for sustainable agriculture and find sites for sustainable palm oil across Indonesia. Upon entering the Suitability Mapper, users visualize various layers superimposed on the Indonesian landscape including elevation, hill slope, rainfall, and soil acidity. WRI provides a two-color layer showing the distribution of areas deemed "potentially suitable" (purple) and "unsuitable" (yellow) for sustainable palm oil production. Taking analysis a step further, the user can adjust the criteria for this suitability layer by adjusting controls linked to each palm oil variable. In the screenshot below, I have adjusted the suitability analysis to increase the mandatory distance from conservation areas and water resources. With my custom analysis complete, I can use drawing tools to summarize the results for a specific area. Results include the area's legal status, amount of suitable area, distance from nearby roads, legal status, and whether an oil palm concession already exists in the location. The Suitability Mapper was built on top of Esri’s ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS API for JavaScript. Using the ArcGIS Image Extension for Server, we are able to analyze and compute accurate suitability maps in realtime based on user-supplied criteria. Instead of investing large amounts of time in software development and maintenance, we were able to use the out-of-the-box features of Esri’s Image Extension for ArcGIS Server to achieve the goals of the project. This platform will also make it easier to add more and better data as it becomes available, to continually improve our analysis, inform key stakeholders, and make better decisions. Suitability Mapper is part of the Global Forest Watch platform which has many new features coming soon with the launch of its Commodities analysis tool. Stay tuned for more information and launch dates soon. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: Ceres, Data Visualization, GIS Analysis, Hydraulic Fracturing, Water Risk - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work With hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling on the rise in the United States, many regions have become at risk for water availability. To help highlight these areas, Blue Raster created a series of Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress maps for Ceres using Esri's ArcGIS Desktop software and Adobe Photoshop. Through these maps, users can view eight regions of intense shale development in the United States and Canada, and the degree to which these areas are under stress. Featured in CERES' latest report: Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Water Demand by the Numbers, the maps provide investors, lenders, and regulators with sustainable recommendations for minimizing their water demands. With more than 55% of U. S. wells located in areas amid drought, and 36% percent in areas experiencing groundwater depletion, the maps serve as resources for ensuring a long term sustainable strategy for industries in shale energy development. To learn more about the project and to view the maps, visit Ceres' Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress page. - Categories: Nonprofit/NGO, Public Safety - Tags: Blue Raster, CARAT, GIS, NAPSG, National Alliance for Public Safety, Public Safety - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Safety - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The NAPSG (National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation), a not-for-profit organization specializing in preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery in the sphere of public safety, recently launched its redesigned website with the Capability and Readiness Assessment Tool (CARAT). Built in partnership with Blue Raster, Interra Group, and a number of other Geospatial Management Organizations, CARAT provides public safety practitioners with information on building, directing, or enhancing a GIS program. The tool uses the simple continuum - Crawl, Walk, or Run, to help decision makers identify their current GIS capability and conceptualize potential areas where GIS could improve operations. Topics are sorted into four categories: Planning, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, and case studies are offered to help users implement similar functionality into their work. CARAT's design makes it possible for anyone, from basic capability to advanced problem solving, to connect with this dynamic knowledge base. The repository of people, tools and experience offers public safety practitioners a comprehensive guide for integrating GIS into their daily operations. To learn more, visit http://napsgfoundation. org/carat/. - Categories: Federal, Story Map - Tags: Amazon EC2, American Community Survey (ACS), ArcGIS for Server, demographic, education, JavaScript API - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work How has poverty changed in the Midwest region since 2000? This question as well as others related to education priorities in the Midwest can be answered with the REL Midwest's newly launched EdMaps. EdMaps is a mapping application that displays educational data as “story maps” with the focus of building knowledge across the REL's four educational priority areas. Built by Blue Raster, EdMaps helps users analyze publicly available school- and district-level data, observe trends over time and frame conversations on practice and policy. In its initial debut, EdMaps includes story maps on graduation rates and poverty levels and future releases of the application will allow a choice of data to overlay and compare over time. Matt Burke, project leader, says: We believe that education stakeholders throughout our region will benefit greatly from being able to identify and compare particular schools, districts, and states, observe trends over time and demographic shifts, and create custom data displays from a wide variety of publicly available data. We hope that EdMaps will serve as a useful tool to help frame conversations on practice and policy, and the development of this tool would not have been possible without the knowledgeable and skillful staff at Blue Raster. The data is delivered by ArcGIS for Server deployed in the Amazon Cloud and uses the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. School District data trends are leveraging with the Dojo Toolkit and HighCharts API. To view the application, visit http://www. relmidwest. org/edmaps. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Amazon EC2, ArcGIS for Server, conservation, JavaScript API, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced today the launch of their newest online mapping application, the Rights to Resources map. Built by Blue Raster, the tool visualizes resource rights in Africa and allows users to compare findings across countries and resources: water, trees, wildlife, minerals and petroleum. The data displayed in the tool is the outcome of WRI's systematic review of the national framework laws across the 5 resources. The results of which confirm long suspected notions that across sub-Saharan Africa, few national laws provide communities with strong, secure rights to the resources on their land and that rights to many high-value natural resources are held by the state. For instance, take WRI’s example of the situation in Ghana: “Naturally-occurring trees are nominally owned by the chieftaincy or traditional authorities, but commercial rights to timber species belong to the state. With only weak rights, many farmers are reluctant to plant timber trees. Some resort to destroying or removing trees on their farms before logging companies come to harvest. " The new Rights to Resources application endeavors to strengthen and secure resource rights for communities in sub-Saharan Africa while incentivizing sustainable management of local resources. To learn more about the project and review the application, check out WRI’s Land and Resource Rights project page. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Amazon EC2, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, biodiversity, conservation, Flickr, Flickr API, JavaScript API - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work To help illustrate the extensive geographic reach of their mission and impact of their conservation programs, Blue Raster built the Where We Work web map for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The mapping application allows supporters to visualize where NFWF is working and learn more about individual grants of interest. Matt Foster, Monitoring and Biodiversity Officer at NFWF, has this to say about the map - “The interactive map showing NFWF projects over the past 30 years is a great asset. It really helps to convey the breadth of NFWF work in the U. S. and around the world and describes the wide range of actions that we support. ” Built on ArcGIS for Server using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, NFWF's Where We Work map allows filtering based on time, location, and various other grant attributes including the associated conservation program. The Flickr API provides images for the various projects. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is a Congressionally-chartered foundation, specifically charged with the administration of monies to “further the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources” of the United States (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act, 16 U. S. C. §3701 et seq. ). Since 1984, NFWF has become one of the world’s largest conservation grant-makers with more than 12,100 grants totaling over $2. 1 billion. - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, Federal, Health - Tags: Chemonics, Famine, Federal, FEWS NET, global, USAID - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work How does USAID (U. S. Agency for International Development) prepare for famine assistance to the world’s neediest? One success story is the Famine Early Warning Systems Network at www. fews. net. Blue Raster assisted in releasing the new FEWS NET and is proud to partner with Chemonics International and Forum One in launching the new tool. Blue Raster automated the generation of forecasting maps for the 37 monitored countries, making the maps available sooner to decision makers. Two side-by-side comparative maps of food-security outlooks are produced for every region, and the countries are colored according to their food security, highlighting areas of Stress, Crisis, Emergency and Famine. FEWS NET is a collaboration of international, regional and national partners to provide timely and rigorous early-warning and vulnerability information on emerging and evolving food security issues. Once identified, FEWS NET uses a suite of communications and decision-support products to help decision makers act to mitigate food insecurity. The tech behind the site are ArcGIS Desktop and Python Tools as well as ArcGIS Server delivering dynamic maps. Node. js delivers both dynamic and static maps as needed throughout the Drupal CMS, with tight integration allowing Drupal admins to access maps for report pages during periodic updates. The servers are hosted in the Amazon Cloud environment taking advantage of S3 as well. - Categories: Education, Federal - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, education, JavaScript, NCES, school boundary, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work Beginning in November 2013, school districts across the United States will be able to draw, upload, or update previous year school boundaries in a web-editing application as part of the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Blue Raster developed NCES’s online feature-drawing and editing application using Esri’s ArcGIS for Server and JavaScript API. One of the biggest challenges was offering a customized editing toolset for the non-technical district representatives who best know their school attendance areas. Once processed, the school boundaries will be freely available for visualization and download on the NCES School District Demographics System website. By providing the public with detailed boundary information, it will be possible for the public, researchers, and policy makers to examine relationships between schools covering many demographic, social and economic indices. NCES has initiated this 2013 School Attendance Boundary Survey (SABS) with support from the U. S Census Bureau, to collect school boundaries for the 13,000+ U. S. school districts. This represents more than 100,000 public elementary and secondary schools from the Common Core of Data (CCD) school universe. Blue Raster has delivered innovative data-visualization techniques for NCES using the latest Esri ArcGIS-for-Server technologies, ArcGIS Online offerings, Python and many JavaScript tools such as data-driven documents (d3. js) . - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Online, conservation, HTML5, JavaScript API, Water Risk, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster recently worked with the World Resources Institute (WRI) to build the Agricultural Exposure to Water Stress interactive map which highlights the intersection between 20 commodity crops, from coffee to cocoa to oranges, with different levels of baseline water stress. WRI describes water stress as “the ratio of total water withdrawals to the available renewable supply in an area. In highly water-stressed regions, 40 percent or more of the supply is used annually. When that ratio gets up to 80 percent, it’s considered extremely stressed. ” The new series of maps designed by Aqueduct analyst, Francis Gassert, reveals where crops are grown in areas of high competition for limited water supplies and shows that 56% of irrigated agriculture face high water stress. The tool allows users to zoom to areas of irrigated and non-irrigated farm land around the world and visualize where the demand for water is greatest. With water demand forecasted to increase 50% by 2030 due mostly to agriculture, the tool helps show the urgency of finding sustainable means for food production. Coverage of the Aqueduct Commodities Interactive Map appeared in Energy & Environment (subscription) and Salon, among others. - Categories: Environment, Infrastructure, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Baltimore, Development, Flickr API, Gardens, infrastructure - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Public Gardens, Transportation & Logistics, Water - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work The Interactive Map of Community-Managed Open Space assists city residents in discovering natural spaces they can protect, claim, and effectively use for their community in an urban location. Blue Raster enabled BNIA-JFI (Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance-Jacob France Institute) to setup and launch their new interactive map for community gardens and open spaces in Baltimore with ArcGIS Online Accelerate. The Interactive Map of Community-Managed Open Space assists city residents in discovering natural spaces they can protect, claim, and effectively use for their community in an urban location. Take a look at this video to see the site in action. The site also allows users to search by address or garden, view gardens by categories and submit pictures. Seema D. Iyer, associate director of the Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore’s Merrick School of Business, said that the website will help communities and community-based organizations visualize where greening efforts have been occurring as they work to coordinate resources: "BNIA-JFI utilized Blue Raster’s ArcGIS Online Accelerate program to help launch an online mapping platform for data that we integrated from five different organizations with overlapping information. Blue Raster quickly understood our technical needs, met our aggressive timeframe, helped us build our own internal capacity to maintain the site, and provided professional advice on how to augment the site in the future. We look forward to working with them again. " ArcGIS Online and Flickr API allowed five different organizations - Baltimore Green Space, Parks and People, Master Gardeners, the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and Baltimore City’s Power in Dirt project - to aid governmental and non-governmental agencies synchronize “greening activities”. The Interactive Map of Community-Managed Open Space is helping local groups across the city preserve uncluttered space. - Categories: Human Rights, Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: Amnesty International, ArcGIS Online, Drone, Esri, Geoblog, Pakistan, Story Map - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Using the Esri Geoblog template, Blue Raster helped Amnesty International create the "Will I Be Next? " story map on the drone strikes in Pakistan. The map uses data collected by Amnesty International and displays it from an on-the-ground perspective via videos, images, and stories. Users can scroll through a journal of stories, as well as view positions of witnesses on the map. Users can also "Take Action! " on the events and participate in the Amnesty activism campaigns. By teaming Amnesty International's efforts with Blue Raster's online mapping capabilities, visitors can learn about the ongoing work of the organization with a geographic and visual context. View the "Will I Be Next? story map today, and read more about Amnesty International's work in their "Will I be next? " report. - Categories: Federal, Health - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, Esri, Federal, global, HTML5, JavaScript API, MEASURE DHS, Open Data, SDR, Spatial Data Repository, USAID - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is pleased to announce the launch of the Spatial Data Repository (SDR), a new open data tool that provides geographically-linked health and demographic data from the USAID funded MEASURE Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) project and the U. S. Census Bureau for mapping in a geographic information system (GIS). This new resource offers: National and subnational boundaries of DHS regions can be visualized over time. More than 1,500 DHS indicators and U. S. Census population estimates in GIS format. Users without GIS software can make interactive maps of DHS indicators at STATcompiler. Blue Raster leveraged the power of ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Online along with custom Python scripts to deliver all MEASURE DHS data in spatial formats (shapefiles and file geodatabase). Users can select indicators of interest (from more than 90 countries) and SDR will create custom data packages for download data . Visit Spatial Data Repository for access to USAID's first public and accessible global health dataset. Clara Burgert, GIS Coordinator, MEASURE DHS explains, The Spatial Data Repository has been innovative from the start, being the first time that global health was shared in a GIS format. This new version of the website continues that innovation with new tools and abilities which Blue Raster, a key partner on this activity, was a driving force in implementing. I am particularly pleased with the ability to select and download your own data packages and also visualizing the DHS regions over time. MEASURE DHS has such a wealth of data and resources - we are excited by the opportunities that the new website brings in opening the data to the geographic community. The Spatial Data Repository is supported by the U. S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) effort to provide data for decision making and improve knowledge and understanding of the impact of HIV worldwide. Blue Raster partnered with ICF International to deliver this new open data platform for USAID. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Online, conservation, Deforestation, Indonesia Fire Map, logging, Palm Oil, REDD, Twilio SMS, Webmap, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work News happens fast. Are you prepared (in a moments notice) to deliver a rapid response map to help illuminate an important news story or policy issue your organization focuses on? With their ArcGIS Online subscription, World Resources Institute was. Together using open data, we created a webmap to tell the story behind the Indonesia forest fires this Spring. In a matter of a day, an interactive, embeddable webmap was envisioned, developed, delivered and published to the WRI Insights blog - titled Peering Through the Haze: What Data Can Tell Us About the Fires in Indonesia. Within less than 24 hours, the embeddable map was picked up by international news organizations including Bloomberg, Reuters, Guardian, Mongabay and others. The map was even translated into Bahasa to serve an international audience. As the situation evolved, WRI was able to update the webmap to keep the story current and provide critical insight to the world. See the WRI Indonesia Forest Fire Map in action and think about how adding a visual element enhances the story behind the event. Learn more in the after action report by Nigel Sizer, Director, Forests Initiative and Global Forest Watch 2. 0. Mongabay re-embedded the map Guardian featured the map WRI Indonesia Forest Fire Map - Built by Blue Raster with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Server - Categories: Health - Tags: Adobe, ArcGIS for Server, Esri, HTML5, JavaScript API, MEASURE DHS, mobile, PhoneGap, Responsive Design, USAID - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is excited to announce the Demographic and Health Surveys - MEASURE DHS mobile application is featured in a new case study publication by Adobe. Leveraging Adobe PhoneGap and Adobe PhoneGap Build, Blue Raster developed and deployed the application which enables users worldwide to access key demographic and health survey data provided by MEASURE DHS surveys. Since launching, the application has already achieved more than 1,000 downloads. See how Adobe PhoneGap and Blue Raster made it possible http://adobe. ly/11kdoB2. Get the app for your iOS or Android device today! - Categories: Environment, Federal, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Amazon EC2, ArcGIS API for JavaScript, HTML5, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian WILD, species - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is pleased to announce the completion of the second phase of eMammal, a collaboration between researchers at the Smithsonian Institution and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The objective of eMammal is to document the effect of recreational use of conservation areas on animal populations. To help in the effort, citizen scientists have joined forces with the researchers to deploy camera traps near and off trails of popular parks like Shenandoah National Park and Catoctin Mountain Park. They then retrieve and process the images collected using tools created by Blue Raster in the initial phase of the project. The first season was a huge success with over 1 million photos collected, the species identified, and the images archived and awaiting review by the researchers. With the prospect of another 3 million photos on the way with the coming second season, Smithsonian asked Blue Raster to build an Expert Review Tool that would allow them to review the images and subsequent metadata from the first season. Using Amazon EC2 Servers and S3 as the system infrastructure, the Expert Review Tool provides scientists with the means to see the collected photos and confirm or change the species identification and individual counts made by the volunteers. The tool allows researchers the ability to monitor the progression of their review process via a dashboard and ‘favorite’ images that can then be posted to the eMammal Facebook page and in return shared with the volunteers and others interested in the project. The tool also includes an interactive map, built on Esri ArcGIS API for JavaScript, which displays the camera trap latitude and longitude points that the volunteers collected using GPS devices. By verifying the camera trap deployment images and data as well as locations, scientists for eMammal hope to document and map species ranges and population statistics. With the success of the first Mid-Atlantic season, the collective team at the Smithsonian Institution, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and Blue Raster looks to scale eMammal to be used in other regions across the US and worldwide. The images and data collected will help answer questions about mammal distribution and abundance, aiding the efforts of wildlife conservation. http://youtu. be/jOfrxlG1RSY - Categories: Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Census, demographic, JavaScript API, NCES, Story Map, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work You can find press releases everywhere. To increase the effect of an online press release, Blue Raster recommends including a story map, visually demonstrating the message with an approachable visual aid. Here is a recent example of enhancing a text-only announcement with the power of a story map. The U. S. Census Bureau recently released, Census Bureau Releases 2011 Income and Poverty Estimates for All Counties and School Districts. The Bureau found according to their own SAIPE data (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), between 2007 and 2011, the school-age poverty rate showed a statistically significant increase in 26 percent of all counties in the United States. Blue Raster immediately saw geography behind the story and mapped the percentage of school age children living in poverty across the nation (by school district) between 2005-2011 and published the data in an ArcGIS Online web map. This SAIPE story map helps illuminate the significant increases in poverty over the past few years through an approachable presentation. By automatically stepping through a time series of the poverty rates by district, the map provides visual complement to the Bureau’s findings – that school-age poverty rate has increased within 26% of US Counties between 2007-2011. View the story map and see for yourself how an interactive data visualization can enhance your online offerings including press releases and other data announcements. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: Amazon EC2, Aqueduct, ArcGIS Server Flex API, Esri, Responsive Design, Water Risk, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster and the World Resources Institute (WRI) recently launched the latest version of Aqueduct Atlas, helping businesses around the world understand the impacts of a sustainable water supply. The platform creates customizable, multi-variable maps that display twelve indicators of water risk in a given area, including groundwater stress levels, drought intensity, and flood occurrence. It also considers less obvious risks like legislation and regulatory limits to water access. This information helps companies, investors, and other decision-makers: Prioritize investments that will increase water security Learn how water stress will affect their operations Assess risk and target new opportunities worldwide To map their priorities, users can adjust the weight of the water risk variables. The maps also have settings for nine water-intense industry sectors, including energy, agriculture, and chemical. Geocoding allows users to plot facilities, suppliers, and potential new market locations. Built on ArcGIS Server 10. 1, the tool takes advantage of the new “dynamic layers” capability to allow rapid rendering of more than 25,000 polygons to depict the topology of catchment areas. Major companies around the world are already using Aqueduct to inform operations: McDonalds is requiring hundreds of its suppliers to use Aqueduct to assess local water risk Procter & Gamble used Aqueduct to understand how water risk may affect its global facilities Bank of America Merrill Lynch used Aqueduct to illustrate water risks and opportunities for investors “Recent history is littered with companies that failed to anticipate emerging threats. Water scarcity is one such threat,” said Andrew Steer, President of WRI. “Thankfully, forward-thinking business leaders are starting to get it. They understand that water risk is one of the top issues that they face. ” Aqueduct has received extensive media coverage, including in the New York Times, The Guardian, Fast Company, Bloomberg, and Greenbiz. Aqueduct allows users to easily see water risk around the world. Come check out this new decision-support tool. - Categories: Education, Federal - Tags: Amazon EC2, American Community Survey (ACS), ArcGIS for Server, demographic, education, HTML5, JavaScript API, mobile, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster and partner, Sanametrix, are pleased to present the Demographic Profile Viewer. This is the newest addition to the National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) School District Demographics System (SDDS). It provides: Policymakers, education professionals, and the public a unique way to better understand patterns in our school systems. Visualization of key demographic data within school districts for the entire nation. Around 600 economic and social characteristics from the U. S. Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey (ACS) profile data and 2010 Decennial Census. Percentage estimates, including margins of error, which accounts for variations in population for educational maps. A wide variety of custom maps can be created from the local to the national level for analysis. This application uses the new Esri ArcGIS Server 10. 1 dynamic map functionality for instant rendering of almost 14,000 school districts. In addition, the application is written in HTML5 using ArcGIS Server JavaScript API with ArcGIS Online basemaps and Geosearch functionality for the tool’s location finder. The Demographic Profile Viewer was developed to work on mobile and desktop devices seamlessly. Future updates include incorporation of 2007-2011 aggregate ACS data and map printing capabilities. - Categories: Environment, Federal, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Adobe, Amazon EC2, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Server Flex API, conservation, Federal, global, USAID, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Current information relating to land rights, agriculture, and forestry in Cameroon is now easily accessed with the development of the Cameroon Interactive Forest Atlas, produced by Blue Raster in collaboration with the World Resources Institute. The Atlas combines the use of remote sensing, mapping, and ground-truthing to monitor and manage forests. Stakeholders can access timely and accurate information about land use allocation within the national forest estate (forest concessions, protected areas, council forests, community forests, etc. ) through the Forest Atlas. The goal of the project is to place forest information securely into public hands to support transparent and participatory decision making towards sustainable forest management in Cameroon. For Cameroon, WRI aimed to play a role in supporting environmental protection and promote responsible population development, economic growth, and use of local resources by providing a clearer picture when discussing local environmental issues and greater socio-economic issues for the nation. In supporting that goal, Blue Raster was charged with creating a multilingual user-friendly application for accessing this detailed information on the local forestry infrastructure. Using GIS data, the Cameroon Interactive Forest Atlas displays information on concessions and boundaries, better explains the legality of logging in specific regions, and reveals areas of responsible mining and agriculture. For analysis, the data can be overlaid on satellite imagery giving the user both a current and clear visualization of the area. "The Forest Atlases are an essential contribution towards improving the management and monitoring of forest lands across the Congo Basin. Through the online and offline Atlas applications, users can easily access up-to-date forest information without any technical training – significantly lowering barriers for turning information into action", comments Matthew Steil, Manager, People and Ecosystems at World Resources Institute. In addition to the interactive web application, an Offline Atlas is available for use in the field or for those without access to a reliable internet connection. This downloadable version, as well as charts, maps, and a poster of the region, can be utilized remotely, giving users the mobility they require. Blue Raster continues to work with WRI and Ministry of Forestry to create similar Atlas applications for other nations, including: Democratic Republic of Congo Republic of Congo Central African Republic Gabon (coming soon) Equatorial Guinea (coming soon) Indonesia (coming soon) With support from USAID, WRI promotes responsible economic growth alongside environmental protection in developing regions. Through continued collaboration between WRI and Cameroon Ministry of Forests and Fauna, Blue Raster will continue to contribute to this project by updating it regularly, giving users access to the most current and accurate information available to promote the objectives of WRI in the Congo Basin. The following press releases are available for additional information: http://green. blogs. nytimes. com/2012/11/15/mapping-cameroons-motley-canopy/? ref=science http://allafrica. com/stories/201210310440. html http://www. trust. org/alertnet/news/interactive-atlas-aims-to-improve-cameroons-forest-governance - Categories: Media, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Center for International Media Assistance, CIMA, Esri, HTML5, JavaScript API, mobile, NED, Open Society Foundations, PhoneGap - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The explosion of digital media has created new ways to distribute news and information with global audiences. Events in almost any location can be shared immediately with citizens in the remote corners of the developing world. Although this digital revolution holds promise for organizations that support freedom of expression and balanced news coverage, it also presents challenges, such as bridging the digital divide between prosperous and impoverished communities. The Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) at the National Endowment for Democracy partnered with Blue Raster to develop an interactive map featuring 10 digital media indicators from Open Society Foundations' Mapping Digital Media project. The project examines the global opportunities and risks created by the transition from traditional to digital media. Covering 60 countries, the project includes data on how these changes affect news about political, economic, and social affairs. Using this interactive web map, visitors can view indicators of digital media penetration and usage by country. Selected indicators include television consumption, digital broadcasting, internet penetration, broadband, mobile phone and social media usage. The indicator data is drawn from the Mapping Digital Media project reports, which were researched and written by teams of in-country academics and journalists. Users can quickly view all 10 indicators from these reports or compare specific indicators across countries of interest. The tool also encourages users to share new information via social media. By making the Mapping Digital Media tool available to the public, CIMA hopes to expand the conversation about its mission to strengthen the support, raise the visibility, and improve the effectiveness of independent media development throughout the world. The application, accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, was built utilizing ArcGIS Online, the Esri JavaScript API and HTML5. Blue Raster also used Adobe PhoneGap to create an iPad version of the map, which is available for download from the Apple App Store. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Adobe AIR, Amazon S3, Drupal, Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian WILD, species - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work eMammal is a project where citizen scientists work in collaboration with researchers at the Smithsonian Institution and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to document mammals throughout the mid-Atlantic region, and soon, the entire country. Citizen volunteers place "camera traps", infrared activated cameras, across the landscape in parks and other natural areas to collect photos of mammals. These photos help researchers answer questions about mammal distribution and abundance and use this information for conservation. The first phase of this project was the Smithsonian Wild prototype funded through a grant which has evolved into eMammal. To help manage the new camera trap data, Blue Raster and partner Orion Creative Group built a camera trap management and identification system. Deployed on Drupal 7, the system manages volunteer and camera trap data for the research team. An Adobe AIR Desktop application allows citizen scientists to identify ‘captured’ animal photos and upload to the image repository in Amazon S3. Then the camera trap photos and metadata are collected by eMammal scientists and analyzed. "eMammal is at the cutting edge intersection of the new technologies surrounding cloud computing and "big data" and the time honored tradition of citizens volunteering to help conservation efforts," said Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Conservation Biologist, Tavis Forrester, Ph. D. The next phase of eMammal will be the creation of a robust website where photos will be displayed along with project site information. Crowd sourcing for species identification will also be explored. Keep an eye out in 2013 for these great additions to the eMammal project. Visit http://facebook. com/eMammal to see a sampling of the best photos and keep up to date on our progress. - Categories: Nonprofit/NGO, Story Map - Tags: ArcGIS Online, Flickr API, Georesults, HTML5, JavaScript API, Story Map, World Bank, YouTube - Industries: Uncategorized - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster and the World Bank Institute teamed up to create Georesults, an online mapping tool that allows users to learn about World Bank projects from an on-the-ground perspective via images, videos, and stories. With this innovative tool, World Bank staff are able to document, contextualize, and share development solutions via interactive multimedia, an accessible alternative to conventional project reports that are often long and technical. Georesults is an extension of the World Bank’s Mapping for Results initiative, founded in 2010, which aims to better monitor the impact of and offer local perspectives on Bank-financed aid projects at the sub-national level. Georesults’ interactive depictions of progress in local communities will help the World Bank track the effectiveness of its work and promote transparency and accountability. “Inspired by our close collaboration with project managers and their teams, we ideated and are piloting this new approach of showing progress of World Bank results, connecting people to Georesults (beta) via the Mapping Platform,” said Aleem Walji, Director of Innovation Labs in WBI. ” Storytelling alternatives within the Georesults system include sequences of text and photos to illustrate events; before-and-after images that reveal results; and video clips offering an intimate peek into on-the-ground action. Users can browse project sites by location on a world map or search by project ID. The concept is based on Esri Story Maps, a platform for joining online mapping with interactive content. The application uses ArcGIS Online, Esri JavaScript API, Flickr, and YouTube. No programming or content management systems are required, so that World Bank staff can populate the system by uploading content to arcgis. com and tagging images using existing multimedia platforms. The World Bank has taken this app offline. - Categories: Federal, Health - Tags: Adobe, Federal, global, JavaScript API, MEASURE DHS, mobile, Open Data, PhoneGap, Responsive Design, USAID - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: Mobile Application Development - Types: Archive Work With pressure to base policies and programs on meticulously collected data, there is a need to make USAID funded Monitoring and Evaluation to Assess and Use Results Demographic and Health Surveys (MEASURE DHS) reports more readily available. However, many developing countries have no access to a tangible library of DHS reports, nor a reliable internet connection to visit the MEASURE DHS website to access these surveys. Luckily, the rapid increase in the mobile phone and smartphone usage has given the MEASURE DHS team hope. The popularity of these devices can grant anyone access to DHS reports, from policy makers in Washington, D. C. to remote communities in rural Africa. In fact, according to Pingdom’s STATcounter, 15% of Africa’s internet browsing in May 2012 came from mobile devices, an increase of more than 150% from 2010. With the help of MEASURE DHS technology partner, Blue Raster, the DHS Mobile application was developed. MEASURE DHS mobile covers over ninety countries, including data on vaccination, childhood mortality, nutrition, HIV testing and prevalence, literacy rates, twenty other indicators. It displays trends within a single country through Quickstats, and allows users to compare and contrast the most common indicators through a series of tables, charts and maps. It also provides basic information about the individual surveys, such as sample size, timing, and topics included, and links to download the final reports, Key Findings, and fact sheets. Recognizing the need to build an application that is available on multiple mobile platforms, Blue Raster, an Adobe Partner, utilized Adobe PhoneGap to compile both iOS and Android applications. PhoneGap Build allowed Blue Raster to capitalize on their experience in web-standard technologies such as HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript to rapidly build and deploy the app. Spatial data is delivered to the app using the ArcGIS 10. 1 platform. Basemap tiles are accessed from ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Online, and the Esri Javascript API was used to link the geometry and data. The app also stores all the indicator and survey data locally on the device, and periodically checks for updates. This functionality truly enables users to connect with the data, despite the absence of consistent internet, and allows policymakers and program managers to visit field sites without having to create massive, tangible copies of data or abandon the data completely. The DHS mobile application is free and available for Apple iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android smartphones and tablets. Blue Raster will work with the MEASURE DHS team to enhance the application with new features and continue to improve the user experience in the coming months. For suggestions in improving the DHS Mobile application, please email mobile@measuredhs. com. - Categories: Environment, Federal - Tags: Arboretum Botanical Explorer, ArcGIS for Server, Esri, Flex API, FME, US National Arboretum, USDA - Industries: Conservation, Federal Government, Public Gardens - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work With over 440 acres of trees, shrubs and plants, as well as a massive collection of plant records and specimens, the U. S. National Arboretum can be an overwhelming place for first-time visitors and skilled researchers alike. Beginning this month, however, guests can plan their Arboretum visit in advance using a new web mapping application developed by Blue Raster. Arboretum Botanical Explorer (ABE) will allow visitors to investigate the Arboretum grounds and collections through a searchable database and interactive maps. Working with the National Arboretum and its parent agency, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Blue Raster replaced the Arboretum’s legacy system with an ArcGIS Server geodatabase to manage their collection. A custom application was then developed that enables users to access and display information from the Arboretum’s botanical collection, maintained in BG-Base, and its photo repository in Asset Bank. The collection includes more than 30,000 plant records and information on more than 60,000 specimens (plant leaf or cutting). "The National Arboretum is excited to offer a web-based application that makes its extensive collections searchable online for the first time," said Education and Visitor Services Unit Leader, Nancy Luria. "ABE brings together the Arboretum’s plant records and image databases into a single, user-friendly system that researchers and visitors alike can use to map specific plants and to plan a visit. It provides a rich platform for sharing information and images with the public that will greatly increase the Arboretum’s outreach efforts. " To prepare for their trip to the Arboretum, visitors and researchers can use the application to create maps that show the location of specific plants on the grounds, as well as points of interest, dedicated trees and benches, special collections and amenities. Visitors can explore the interactive maps of the Arboretum’s featured tours of cherry trees and herb gardens, and learn details about each plant on the tour. Researchers, horticulturists, and visitors can use the application to create reports with photos and attributes of the specific plants they are studying. To view the National Arboretum’s Botanical Explorer, visit http://usna. usda. gov/abe/. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, conservation, Deforestation, Esri, Indonesia, Oil Palm, Palm Oil, POTICO, Project POTICO, Suitability Mapper, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The World Resources Institute (WRI) is launching two powerful online mapping applications that offer unprecedented capabilities to support industry and government efforts to achieve more sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia. The Suitability Mapper helps users find potential sites for sustainable palm oil production, using a customizable map. It empowers companies and government planners to use a standard, easily replicable method to find potential sites for sustainable palm oil production and plan field assessments for further investigation. The Forest Cover Analyzer allows users to view change in forest cover over time in areas of their choice, using up-to-date satellite data. It provides a unique set of monitoring tools to help buyers, investors, and governments strengthen incentives for avoiding deforestation when developing new plantations. “Palm oil holds tremendous opportunities for people and business in Indonesia—and should be produced in a way that avoids destruction of vibrant lands and forests,” said Andrew Steer, President of WRI. “These dynamic new online tools will enable companies to better identify the best places for palm oil production and assess deforestation and other factors that are critical for long-term sustainability of this industry. ” - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: conservation, JavaScript API, PADDD, PADDDTracker, PADDDTracker.org, protected areas, World Wildlife Fund, WWF - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Conservation policy assumes that national parks and other protected areas are permanent fixtures on the landscape, but recent World Wildlife Fund (WWF) research demonstrates that these precious natural resources are at risk. To understand and address the changes happening to existing protected areas, WWF worked with Blue Raster to develop PADDDtracker. org, an online portal that uses spatial mapping to track protected areas threatened by Protected Areas Downgrading, Downsizing and Degazettement, or PADDD. PADDD is the legal process of making protected areas weaker (downgrading) or smaller (downsizing) or eliminating them entirely (degazettement). While some of these changes offer the opportunity to restore lands to indigenous communities or allocate conservation resources more efficiently, others present challenges to the protection of nature. PADDDtracker. org will help scientists collect and analyze PADDD data, and share these findings with conservation organizations, government agencies, and concerned citizens everywhere. Blue Raster and partner, Orion Creative Group built the user-friendly system integrating Drupal 7 and ArcGIS for Server 10. 1. PADDDtracker. org features interactive maps that allow users to browse current and historical PADDD data, as well as contribute new information on PADDD events in their regions. The site contains data collected on hundreds of PADDD instances affecting many protected areas across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. By compiling and disseminating PADDD data, PADDDtracker. org will build awareness of PADDD and its conservation implications, and ultimately foster greater transparency and accountability in natural resource decision making worldwide. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Online, biodiversity, conservation, Esri, global, IUCN, range map, Red List, species - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Technological Insights - Types: Archive Work Julia Marton-Lefevre, Director General of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and Keynote Speaker at the 2012 Esri International User Conference in San Diego, announced the immediate availability of species data on ArcGIS Online. Aligned with their mission to “influence society to conserve nature and natural resources in an equitable and sustainable manner”, IUCN has collaborated with Esri and Blue Raster to release species range data for their collection of over 32,000 species. Anyone can search ArcGIS Online for a species, view the scientific taxonomy, and see the species range map as published on the IUCN Red List. ArcGIS Online is directly linked to IUCN’s interactive mapping application which now provides the ability to download the species range data in GIS-ready format. - Categories: Health - Tags: AIDS, AIDS 2012, Android, Avenir Health, Goals Express, Goals Model, HIV, HIV Impact Tool, HTML5, iOS, iPad, jQuery, mobile, PhoneGap Build - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: Mobile Application Development - Types: Archive Work Each year, nations spend millions of dollars on efforts to prevent HIV infections without completely understanding the most effective ways to allocate these funds. To equip health officials and policymakers with effective decision-making tools, Avenir Health worked with Blue Raster to develop the Goals Express: HIV Impact Tool, a new tablet app for iPad and Android devices. This mobile application will be used to examine how coverage for various HIV intervention strategies affects progress toward national HIV prevention goals, including the reduction of new HIV infections. Goals Express, which was introduced at the AIDS 2012 international conference in Washington DC, is based on the Goals Model, a web-based simulation tool used to plan HIV prevention and treatment programs. Similar to the web application, the new Goals Express app can be used to model the spread of HIV in a national population in four different epidemic scenarios (generalized, concentrated, hyper-endemic and injection drug-driven epidemics). Tablet users can manipulate slider bars to adjust the coverage level for several different HIV interventions, including antiretroviral therapy and youth outreach, to identify cost-effective combinations of prevention and treatment strategies. “We expect that this app will encourage people to explore different HIV prevention and treatment strategies and gain insight into the best ways to allocate resources in different epidemic settings,” said John Stover, president and founder of Futures Institute. Goals Express, which was developed with HTML5 and deployed to iOS and Android devices using PhoneGap Build, is now available for download from the Apple App Store, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore at no cost. - Categories: Education - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, demographic, education, Esri Education GIS Conference, NCES, school, school boundaries, school boundaries geodatabase, school district, sdds, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work It is an exciting year for the School District Demographics System (SDDS), which was developed by Blue Raster for the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). There are many new data updates including an initial release of School Boundary files. The announcement was made at the Esri Education GIS Conference in San Diego where Blue Raster’s Michael Lippmann and Brendan Collins presented NCES School District Mapping. The School Boundaries Geodatabase displays data for the 350 largest school districts based on enrollment, which is approximately 20% of the nation’s schools and approximately 38% of the nation's students. The goal is to include the data for all school districts by 2015. Developed using ArcGIS Server 10. 1, the School Boundaries Geodatabase compliments the existing education statistics available through NCES. NCES School District Mapping - 2012 Esri International User Conference NCES School District Mapping from blueraster - Categories: Education - Tags: American Community Survey (ACS), ArcGIS, demographic, education, Esri, geocoding, NCES, Stats-DC, StatsDC, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster’s Adrienne Allegretti presented Geocoding Our Nation’s Schools at the 2012 NCES Stats-DC Data Conference in Washington DC. Geocoding Our Nation's Schools - Blue Raster NCES Stats-DC 2012 Presentation View more PowerPoints from Blue Raster. - Categories: Education - Tags: Android, ArcGIS for Server, demographic, education, HTML5, IES, iPad, JavaScript API, mobile, NCES, sdds, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: Mobile Application Development - Types: Archive Work The Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics turned to Blue Raster to enhance the content and accessibility of their School District Demographics System (SDDS) by deploying it to mobile devices. Using ArcGIS Server 10. 1 and JavaScript API 3. 0, our team developed this HTML5 application to run in a tablet browser (Apple iPad Safari or Android browsers), giving users instant access to education statistics at the state and school-district level. This mobile tool allows users to create custom maps by selecting from a menu of options, including U. S. Census demographic statistics and math and reading assessments (NAEP). SDDS Map Viewer Mobile was released at the NCES STATS-DC 2012 Data Conference today in Washington, DC. Blue Raster’s Robert Winterbottom presented The School District Demographics System (SDDS) Goes Mobile! at the 2012 NCES Stats-DC Data Conference in Washington DC. View more presentations from Blue Raster. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Drupal, Environmental Investigation Agency, forest legality alliance, HTML5, JavaScript API, tools, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The Forest Legality Alliance, a joint effort of the World Resources Institute and the Environmental Investigation Agency, partnered with Blue Raster and others around the world to release two new web tools to help in their efforts to reduce illegal logging by supporting the supply of legal forest products. The recent focus on illegal logging has made people wary of buying forest products from countries that are perceived to be high risk. By providing useful advice and information about the due care process and supply chain facts, The Forest Legality Alliance hopes to reduce the effort of exercising due care with its new Risk Tool. Using the Risk Tool, users can search for information about the forest products trade and relevant legality information by country or by species. The goal of the site is to make it easier, cheaper, and less painful to examine forest product supply chains and improve transparency in the marketplace. The Declaration Tool is designed to help importers understand the rationale for the Lacey Act Declaration (PPQ Form 505), which is required by the U. S Department of Agriculture for importers of wood products. The tool helps to reduce confusion over the data entry process by providing a wizard interface that steps through the PPQ505 Form, FAQs, and reference materials. The Declaration Tool also helps importers understand the importance of this form and its role in preventing the trade of illegal wildlife and plants. - Categories: Environment - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, conservation, environmental, Esri, forest restoration, Green Belt Movement, JavaScript API, Kenya, tree planting, trees - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work With the launch of their new website, the Green Belt Movement (GBM) is sharing the good news about forest restoration in Kenya using a new web mapping tool developed by Blue Raster. The GBM Impact Map is an interactive application that charts the progress of GBM’s tree planting initiative, which mobilizes Kenyan communities to start tree nurseries and plant seedlings on public lands and degraded forest areas. Since 1978, GBM has worked with communities to plant more than 47 million trees in Kenya to address environmental concerns regarding deforestation, soil erosion and lack of water. The GBM Impact Map will help donors, volunteers and concerned citizens visualize the results of GBM’s tree planting initiative. "Reliable location-specific data provided by the GBM web mapping application is vital in planning and monitoring the impact of our watershed-based projects. The ability to map and track the projects on the ground ensures that we are effective and efficient in our work across Kenya and also that the impact of our work is measurable,” said Wanjira Mathai, International Director of the Green Belt Movement. This application, built using ArcGIS Server API for JavaScript 2. 8, enables anyone to view thousands of tree planting sites across Kenya including the number of trees planted and the planting date. The interactive map also displays geolocated facts about the community-based tree nurseries that grow the seedlings including photos from Flickr of nurseries/planting sites. In addition, users can observe the sites over dozens of different basemap themes. To experience the GBM Impact Map, visit www. greenbeltmovement. org. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Amazon Web Services, ArcGIS for Server, Arkive, biodiversity, conservation, EC2, Esri, global, HTML5, IUCN, JavaScript API, Red List, species - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work To inform the world about the important connections between threatened species and protected areas, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) partnered with Blue Raster to create the IUCN Red List Mapper. This interactive mapping application combines two significant global biodiversity datasets—IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species and the World Database on Protected Areas. Now conservationists, scientists, policy makers and concerned citizens can instantly see the geographic range of a threatened species overlayed with protected areas. Developed with ArcGIS Server and JavaScript API, the new IUCN Red List Mapper is seamlessly integrated with the existing Red List of Threatened Species, which provides detailed information on species’ habitat, population, current threats, and related conservation efforts. The new Red List Mapper enables users to generate custom maps that show the known and probable range of each species and nearby protected areas. Using interactive menus, users can view images from content rich ARKive and data for each protected area, including the total area and percentage of the species range encompassed by the protected area. The application is deployed in the Amazon Web Services cloud computing environment including Esri ArcGIS Server on EC2. The IUCN Red List Mapper also provides access to geolocated species information from open data and citizen science initiatives, including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, iNaturalist, and the Encyclopedia of Life. Placing these current images and observations of threatened species in a geographic context will help conservationists’ efforts to monitor the status and range of threatened species. The application was launched at the IUCN SSC Chairs' Meeting 2012 in Abu Dhabi. - Categories: Education, Federal - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Server Flex API, demographic, DPI, education, Esri, Flex API, school, Wisconsin, WISE, WISEmaps - Industries: Education, Federal Government - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Archive Work Wisconsin educators, policy makers and parents now have a new way to visualize and analyze the state’s education data and trends. WISEmaps is an interactive mapping application developed by Blue Raster in collaboration with REL Midwest (Midwest Regional Educational Laboratories) and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), for the purpose of sharing Wisconsin education data with the public in a compelling way. The application, which is part of DPI’s Wisconsin Information System for Education (WISE), was built by Blue Raster using Esri ArcGIS API for Flex. WISEmaps gives citizens the opportunity to examine Wisconsin education and demographic statistics at the school, district, city or county level. The data includes more than 5,000 indicators, including statistics regarding enrollment, math and reading assessments, and high school completion rates. WISEmaps features a split screen function, which makes it easy for users to compare multiple maps, view trends across time, or identify correlations among datasets. To enhance their maps, users can choose options such as color scheme, layer transparency and map type (street level, topographic, canvas or satellite imagery). The customized maps can be exported as images or PDF files or shared via Twitter. This application has been taken offline. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcPy, biodiversity, c-square, c-squares, Conservation International, Esri, marine protected areas, Spatial Analyst - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Conservation International (CI) partnered with Blue Raster to analyze and map an enormous marine species dataset—an initiative that will help CI prioritize areas that should be targeted for biodiversity conservation. Marine biodiversity faces growing threats from climate change, run-off pollution and overfishing. Coral reefs, for example, contain more than 25 percent of all marine species, but 75 percent of the world’s coral reefs are now threatened by human activities. To confront these threats, CI is working with governments and conservation organizations worldwide to establish marine protected areas (MPAs). To analyze CI’s dataset of more than 11,000 marine species, Blue Raster indexed spatial data using the c-squares system and then aggregated c-square values to a global hexagon layer, which covered the planet in around 200,000 equal-area hexagons. Each hexagon was analyzed for marine species richness and rarity. In total the database contained over 230,850,000 rows. Using ArcGIS Desktop with ArcPy and Esri’s Spatial Analyst Extension, Blue Raster produced a data analysis that allows CI to identify places in the ocean with the highest species richness and areas most threatened by human activities, as well as those that are most pristine. CI can also use the analysis to map areas with the most endemic species. These maps will help CI pinpoint locations with the greatest need for designation as a marine protected area. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Arkive, biodiversity, Esri, Flickr, Oracle, species, WildFinder, World Wildlife Fund, WWF - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work To promote understanding of global species biodiversity and conservation, World Wildlife Fund partnered with Blue Raster to launch an updated version of WildFinder. This online mapping application provides conservationists, educators, students and concerned global citizens with enhanced ability to study the global distribution of more than 26,000 species. WildFinder gives users the ability to visualize and investigate the world's most comprehensive dataset of the geographic distributions of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Scientists have used WildFinder to conduct research that otherwise would have required a time-consuming search of hundreds of references. This interactive application provides the ability to search for wildlife by location, species name (common or scientific) and ecoregions. Users can explore a variety of thematic ecoregion maps such as terrestrial biomes, species endemism and richness, as well as freshwater and terrestrial rarity, providing geographic context to user queries. New features in this latest version of WildFinder include increased visualization and context for both species and ecoregions through photos from Flickr and Arkive, new thematic maps, details on ecoregions and updated threat status information for species. The application applies the technologies of ESRI ArcGIS Server, Oracle, and Adobe ColdFusion as well as the Flickr and ARKive APIs. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Server Flex API, Esri, Flex API, Flickr API, Oil Palm, Palm Oil, Pixel Bender, POTICO, Project POTICO, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work To preserve endangered rainforests in Indonesia, the World Resources Institute (WRI) has launched Project POTICO (Palm Oil, Timber, Carbon Offsets), a revolutionary approach to ecosystem management. Working with spatial analysis tools developed by Blue Raster, Project POTICO aims to divert planned oil palm plantations away from virgin tropical forests to already degraded lands, a swap that will prevent deforestation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage sustainable agricultural development. Using the Suitability Mapper, Project POTICO is mapping degraded lands in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, to identify areas with high potential for sustainable oil palm expansion. This interactive web application produces a customized map of potentially suitable locations based on user inputs and a methodology developed by the WRI and its local partner Sekala. The custom maps can be used by government officials for land-use planning and zoning decisions and by oil palm companies to prioritize areas for project-specific field assessments. To create these custom maps, the application uses Esri ArcGIS Server Flex API and Pixel Bender for geoprocessing directly in the browser. Blue Raster also developed the Forest Cover Analyzer, which supports Project POTICO’s efforts to monitor changes to the forest cover. Using this application, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations can compare current and historic satellite imagery of Indonesian forests, and determine if oil palm companies are using degraded lands and meeting the standards of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. In addition to using Esri ArcGIS Server Flex API, the application uses the Flickr API, allowing users to explore over 190 field points and panoramic images collected to verify maps. The beta versions of these two websites were presented at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil conference in Malaysia November 2011 and feedback collected from this event will be used to inform revisions to the public website to be launched in 2012. For more information on the project please contact beth. gingold@wri. org. - Categories: Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Flex API, Health, HealthLandscape - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is pleased to announce the release of the new version of HealthLandscape, an interactive web-based mapping tool for healthcare providers, advocates, researchers, and policy makers. HealthLandscape Version 3, which was launched in October, enhances the power of this award-winning GIS application, which allows healthcare professionals to combine, analyze, and display health information in ways that promote understanding, improve outcomes, and reduce cost of healthcare. In July 2011, HealthLandscape and UDS Mapper took first place in the Web-Based GIS Application category at the Esri International User Conference's User Software Applications Fair. Blue Raster upgraded HealthLandscape from a legacy server system (ArcIMS) to ArcGIS Server and Flex API to provide users with more dynamic applications and greater functionality. Most notably, HealthLandscape's anthology of health-related tools can now be combined, enabling the user to use them all in one mapping viewer. Users can turn tools on and off depending on their data needs and display layers from multiple tools on the map at the same time. The new version also makes it easier for healthcare professionals and advocates to combine their own data with existing health maps and public sources of health, socio-economic and environmental information. Using the new QuickGeocodes tool, users can upload data from Excel spreadsheets to create instant health maps. They can also use the new QuickThemes tool to upload state, county or zip code-level data to create thematic maps that show how health information varies from region to region. Visit HealthLandscape and see for yourself how it conveniently brings together and communicates critical health information and trends with compelling custom maps. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: Aqueduct, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Server Flex API, Drupal, Esri, Flex API, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work As the world’s rapidly growing population places increasing stress on global water resources, companies and investors are paying closer attention to water use and water risk management. To help understand and manage exposure to geographic water risks, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and its partners are working with Blue Raster to launch the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. Coca-Cola donated maps and data developed to help in understanding and managing exposure to water risks in facilities globally. Through Aqueduct this information has been made accessible to the public in an interactive, easy-to-use platform, providing a comprehensive and credible metric for measuring geographic water risks. The Aqueduct Atlas can create high resolution maps of water risks tailored to your unique risk exposure profile. This interactive application, built using ArcGIS Server, helps companies to quantify and map water risks on a local scale and project future water use and availability. The current mapviewer includes the Yellow River basin in China. In the future, the Water Risk Atlas will analyze risk for a wide range of sectors and river basins including the Murray-Darling, Orange-Senqu, and Colorado River basins. Using the Water Risk Atlas, users can generate detailed, multi-variable maps by adjusting the weight and priority of various factors, including risks related to water scarcity, deteriorating quality, increasing prices, poor water governance, or increasing competition for water resources. The Atlas can be used to model what-if scenarios, identify risks and opportunities , and share water risk information. To learn more, visit the water risk mapping platform at http://www. wri. org/our-work/project/aqueduct. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO, Water - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Server Flex API, Delicious, Drupal, Esri, eutrophication, Flex API, Flickr, hypoxia, World Resources Institute, WRI, YouTube - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work When the World Resources Institute (WRI) wanted to draw attention to nutrient pollution of coastal waters, they turned to Blue Raster to develop an interactive website and GIS application to depict and track this growing problem. The central feature of the WRI’s Eutrophication and Hypoxia: Nutrient Pollution in Coastal Waters website is an interactive map, which combines geographic, environmental, and time-lapse data. Within the past 50 years, eutrophication—the over-enrichment of water by nutrients such as nitrogen phosphorus—has emerged as one of the leading causes of water quality impairment. Eutrophication can result in hypoxia (or oxygen depletion), which can destroy aquatic life and create dead zones in coastal regions. “Until now, a lack of information and monitoring has been a major impediment to understanding the extent and impacts of ‘dead zones’ and eutrophication in coastal ecosystems,” said Mindy Selman, senior water quality analyst at WRI. “This website is an important step forward because it compiles the current information into a central location to raise awareness and offer solutions for controlling nutrient pollution. ” Blue Raster developed the user-friendly application using ArcGIS Server and Flex API to create a comprehensive look at historical and recent eutrophic and hypoxic events around the world. The interactive map allows users to investigate 762 coastal areas around the globe that have been affected by eutrophication and hypoxia. The data, which was compiled by analysts at WRI and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, includes 479 sites identified as experiencing hypoxia, 55 sites that once experienced hypoxia but are now improving, and 228 sites that experience other symptoms of eutrophication, including algal blooms, species loss, and impacts to coral reef assemblages. Using Flickr, YouTube and Delicious, Blue Raster provided users with the ability to access and share other resources on eutrophication and hypoxia, including publications, photographs, and video. The site also allows users to provide updates to the maps and databases based on their knowledge of local coastal water conditions. To learn more, please visit WRI's website on nutrient pollution in coastal waters. - Categories: Federal, Health - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ColdFusion, CommonSpot, Federal, Flex API, global, MEASURE DHS, STATcompiler, USAID - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The new MEASURE DHS website (www. measuredhs. com) and STATcompiler (www. statcompiler. com) were launched today, introducing the global community to new ways of visualizing Demographic and Health Surveys data. New features of the website include an interactive map of countries and surveys, an enhanced publications library, and more information on survey methodology. The new, more user-friendly STATcompiler features customized tables, as well as charts, maps, and scatter plots. STATcompiler has always allowed users to create custom tables, comparing survey results across countries and over time. Now users can visualize these data through interactive column charts, line graphs, maps, and scatter plots. Users can select indicators and countries of interest, add background characteristics such as age, education, and wealth, and instantly see in a chart what is hard to discern in a table. These images are exportable for use in papers and presentations. Data tables have also been enhanced, allowing users to sort data and customize their view. The MEASURE DHS web tools allow for the sharing of Demographic and Health Surveys data from 90 countries and over 260 surveys. Data are made available through free publications, datasets, and online data visualization tools. The website also provides background information on the survey process and methodology, contextual information on health and demographic topics, and summary data on countries and topics of interest. Blue Raster collaborated with ICF Macro to build this application using ArcGIS Server, Flex API, ColdFusion, and CommonSpot. The MEASURE Demographic and Health Surveys Project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). - Categories: Human Rights, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Amnesty International, ArcGIS for Server, Esri, Eyes on Syria, Flex API, Syria - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster announces the launch of Eyes on Syria for Amnesty International, the world's largest human rights organization. Created using ArcGIS Server Flex API, Flickr, and YouTube, this application tracks human rights concerns within Syria, the harassment of pro-reform Syrians abroad, and activism of Amnesty International supporters around the world. Eyes on Syria offers a comprehensive picture of the situation in and outside Syria using geolocated photography and video evidence with eyewitness testimonies as well as activist campaign materials. The project was led by Amnesty International's Science for Human Rights Program. - Categories: Environment - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Server Flex API, Australia, Carnegie Institution of Science, Esri - Industries: Conservation - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster has developed Australia Walkabout Through Time for the Carnegie Institution for Science using ArcGIS Server and Flex API. This interactive web mapping application allows the public to view interpreted data regarding the extinction and survival of megafauna in Australia. The website was developed towards middle and high school students to teach the science of paleontology in Australia and the use of geographic information systems as a research tool in helping to solve complex questions, such as What Happened to Australia's Megafauna? GIS enabled the scientists to see new patterns emerge. For instance once their interpreted data was on a satellite photo of Australia, different climate and ecological zones were clearly visible on a continental scale. For more information please visit http://www. australiamegafauna. org/. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Server Flex API, conservation, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Esri, Forest Atlas, World Resources Institute, WRI - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The World Resources Institute partnered with Blue Raster to create an interactive map viewer that shows development in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Designed using ESRI ArcGIS Server 10 and the Flex API 2. 2, this forest atlas allows the viewer to examine in detail logging and mining concessions, protected areas, roads, and detailed change in the forests, which cover two-thirds of the country's territory and serve as one of the planet's major forest carbon sinks. The user can view the information in both English and French by themes such as forest zoning, concession date, timber production, mining, vegetation, and forest cover change. Further, the adjustable transparency of the map layers enables the user to view the base map data underneath. The government of DRC faces challenges in developing comprehensive forest management, zoning processes, and management of logging, mining, and agriculture. Forest Atlas of the DRC provides easier access to current forest land allocation in the DRC and will help improve land use planning, monitoring, and resolution of conflicts over resources in areas of overlapping claims. It will also help local NGOs and communities understand government actions and defend their access rights. The DRC Forest Atlas map viewer is the first in a series of interactive maps focusing on forest developments and change. Over the coming months, additional map viewers will be available for other central African countries and Indonesia. For more information regarding the World Resources Institute Forest Atlas Project please visit http://www. wri. org/stories/2011/04/new-map-viewer-shows-development-forests-democratic-republic-congo. - Categories: Human Rights, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: AAAS, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Amnesty International, ArcGIS for Server, Eyes on Nigeria, Flex API - Industries: Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is proud to announce the launch of Eyes on Nigeria for Amnesty International, the world’s largest human rights organization. Created using ESRI ArcGIS Server and Flex API, this application utilizes satellite imagery to track developments on the ground in areas of Nigeria where there are ongoing human rights concerns including forced evictions, pollution, violations of international humanitarian law, and communal violence and armed conflict. The project was led by Amnesty International's Science for Human Rights Program, in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Eyes on Nigeria utilizes high- and moderate-resolution satellite technology as well as traditional cartographic techniques and geolocated photography and video. As a result, it offers a comprehensive picture of the situation on the ground in Nigeria, including through active monitoring of gas flaring in the Niger Delta region. Eyes on Nigeria enables private citizens and policy makers worldwide to monitor the regions as well as allows access to related research findings, analysis, eyewitness testimonies, and advocacy and campaigning materials. This site is designed to bring concerned people across the world closer to the daily threat those in Nigeria face. "The Eyes on Nigeria project is a comprehensive view of the most pressing human rights issues facing the people of Nigeria," said Scott Edwards, director of the Amnesty International Science for Human Rights Program. "We hope that people around the world will be inspired by what they learn through this new project to act in concert with the Nigerian people to demand basic human dignity. " To see how Amnesty International’s Eyes on Nigeria leverages the power of geospatial technology to map human rights violations please visit www. eyesonnigeria. org. For more background on the project go to Amnesty International's News and Events, Amnesty International UK, Amnesty International's Blog, or AAAS. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Camera Trap, Flex API, Flickr, SIWILD, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Smithsonian WILD - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Candid Cameras Show Rare Glimpses of Wildlife As part of a Smithsonian Web 2. 0 grant, Blue Raster has developed Smithsonian Wild, an interactive web mapping application for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History using ESRI ArcGIS. com, ArcGIS Server Flex API, and Flickr. This web site offers the public a unique opportunity to observe over 250 different species in their natural habitats throughout the world. Motion-activated ‘camera traps’ placed in various regions across the globe capture over 201,000 still images and ‘near-video’ sequences of animals as they pass. Robert Costello, a national outreach program manager for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, hopes visitors to the site "feel a sense of anticipation and excitement, like the researchers, as they explore photographs of wildlife taken in the absence of human beings and often at very short distances. " Smithsonian Wild also offers detailed descriptions of the diverse animals and regions as well as a world map so the user is always aware where the animal being observed is located in China, Kenya, Malaysia, Panama, Peru, Thailand, or the United States. Customized searches allow the user to choose the path of this entertaining and educational experience via species, group, or region. Please visit Smithsonian Wild at http://siwild. si. edu/ today to view these amazing pictures and get your own rare glimpse into the animal world. To learn more details please go to the Natural History Museum's blog post. - Categories: Education, Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: citizen science, conservation, education, National Geographic - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster worked with the National Geographic Society to develop FieldScope, a mapping and analysis tool that puts data visualization and analysis into the hands of people participating in citizen science projects. The application focuses on projects with geospatial data, called "community geography" projects. Members of the public participate in data collection and analyze the data for geographic patterns. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the application enables any organization working with citizen scientists to quickly and easily create a FieldScope project that will store their data online and analyze it using graphs and other visualizations. By combining traditional hands-on data collection with web-based mapping, users can rapidly deploy, analyze, and share their data with others. It also provides a unique educational tool that enables students and classrooms to upload field data and view it in relation to their peers and the scientific community. Said Daniel Edelson, National Geographic's vice president for education, "Community Geography is a 'killer app' for teaching young people how to reason about geography. Students get to observe firsthand how factors vary with location and to learn from the data of others about how different places are connected. " FieldScope was created using Adobe Flex and Flex API for ArcGIS Server. To get started with FieldScope and learn more about the project, visit the National Geographic FieldScope website. - Categories: Environment - Tags: AmphibiaTrends, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Server Flex API, conservation, species, USGS - Industries: Conservation - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is pleased to announce the launch of AmphibiaTrends application for National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) - a part of USGS. Using ESRI ArcGIS Server and the Flex API, this application is a single source for information about the status and trends of U. S. amphibians. It provides one-stop access to information from diverse sources, including contextual information about natural history, taxonomy, and distribution, all within a single site for Amphibians in North America including frogs, salamanders, and newts. Land managers and natural resource decision makers and researchers want to know about the status and trends of amphibian populations in the U. S. Numerous amphibian monitoring programs collect this information at the national, regional and local levels. AmphibiaTrends brings them together into one site, to give you easy access to current trends and status of our nation's amphibians. Search by species, location, conservation status, or taxonomic order to view reports including distribution maps, detailed species and habitat descriptions and the latest trend information from the experts. Visit AmphibiaTrends today. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Server Flex API, ColdFusion, North American Mammals, Smithsonian Institution, species, The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has asked Blue Raster to recreate its interactive searching tool for North American Mammals. Migrating from the legacy ArcIMS application to ESRI ArcGIS Server and Flex API with a custom-based map, this web site has been designed to serve as a comprehensive resource for students, teachers, and the general public and will make accessible the Museum's unparalleled natural history collections, scientific research, permanent and special exhibits, and libraries. With detailed descriptions, images, and distribution ranges for more than 400 mammals native to the North American continent, this new application allows users to examine the distribution of mammals over the continent through complex and customized searches of animals, locations, and conservation statuses. The map provides a variety of filters to refine a user’s search, including topography. Users can also create a Field Guide from their search to take into the outdoors. For more information regarding the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History launch-please visit North American Mammals. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Online, CAKE, Climate, Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE), Drupal, EcoAdapt, Island Press - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Partnering with EcoAdapt and Island Press, Blue Raster has developed a revolutionary online platform using ArcGIS Online and Drupal (open source CMS) with custom modules, which will be used for cross-sector and cross disciplinary information sharing on climate adaptation strategies. Since climate adaptation is an emerging field, no source exists as a single clearinghouse of information, and the Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) aspires to be this vital resource for scientists, NGOs and policy-makers encouraging the adoption and evolution of policy, science and management approaches to climate change adaptation. In addition to being a vital source of information, CAKE features a forum for managers, scientists, advocates, and educators to connect with one another and share knowledge and strategies. For more information regarding Climate Adaptation Knowledge Environment please visit http://cakex. org. - Categories: Health - Tags: AAFP, Adobe, Amazon EC2, ArcGIS, ColdFusion, Esri, Flex, Health, HealthLandscape, HRSA, UDS Mapper - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is proud to have contributed to the development of the UDS Mapper for HRSA, (Health Resources and Services Administration) part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. This web mapping application is developed using Adobe Flex and ESRI ArcGIS Server and is deployed on the Amazon Cloud (EC2). Its assists with the decision-making process regarding grants for Section-330 federally-funded community health centers. The UDS Mapper provides information previously unavailable to the public at the local level by allowing analysis of under-served populations across a dozen themes. HealthLandscape, Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati and the American Academy of Family Physicians are among the partners in this multi-year project. - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, Federal, Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Flex API, Health, HealthLandscape, Med School Mapper, Robert Graham Center - Industries: Federal Government, Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work This year we launched an online data explorer tool for health care professionals and policy makers, called the Med School Mapper. The goal of this tool is to map the reach (or footprint) of medical school programs and graduates. The Med School Mapper dramatically reduces the effort and time needed to identify communities that depend on a program's or state's graduates the most. It includes a footprint map showing which counties a state's or school's graduates are serving and how intensely. The map also shows: if graduates are caring for underserved communities whether graduates are practicing in rural communities which areas of care they are focused on This information is used by state policymakers to direct expansion funding for medical school programs. The tool was built using ArcGIS Server and Flex API. View the tool today, and see how it is capturing the impact of local and regional medical schools. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS Server Flex API, Drupal, World Resources Institute - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Partnering with the World Resources Institute, Blue Raster has developed an innovative tool to map the health of the southern forests of the United States. More than 200 million acres of forests, stretching from Texas to Virginia, are under threat from suburban sprawl, coal mining and resource extraction. Integrating YouTube, Flickr, WMS services, and KML, this Adobe Flex-based ArcGIS Server mapping application supports WRI’s initiatives of 1) increasing public awareness about these threats and providing useful information about the value of intact forest ecosystems, 2) identifying and developing options that direct economic incentive toward maintaining the health of these forests, and 3) tracking the execution of these initiatives and analyzing their progress. For more information regarding the World Resources Institute Southern Forests for the Future Project please visit http://www. wri. org/project/southern-forests. Visit seesouthernforests. org to learn more about this innovative Drupal and ArcGIS Server Flex API application. - Categories: Education - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, Flex API, Fredericksburg, National Park Service - Industries: Conservation - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is working with the National Park Service and International Mapping to create an interactive modeling application for the Battle of Fredericksburg (1862) and the Battle of the Wilderness (1864). Created using ArcGIS Server 9. 3. 1 and Flex API, the mapping tool will allow users to identify hotspots in the area as well as locations of damaged buildings, looting, bombardment, slaves, refugee sites, hospitals, and troop positions. Users can link to interesting information from this map and can even change to a 3D view of the battlefield and of local objects and buildings. A slide control will allow users to follow the troop movement in timed sequence throughout the encounter, and then they can click on each individual troop formation for information. This interactive tool will serve as a virtual-park representation of this important Civil War battle for an area mostly developed with modern infrastructure. For more information on the National Parks Service please visit http://www. nps. gov/frsp/index. htm. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS, ArcGIS for Server, conservation, Forest Carbon Index (FCI), Resources for the Future - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster has created a new application for the Forest Carbon Index (FCI) which compiles and displays trends relating to biological, economic, governance, investment, and market readiness conditions for every forest and country in the world, and helps provide a reference for the best places and countries to make investments in forest conservation. Designed by Blue Raster for Resources for the Future, and created using ArcGIS Desktop and the Flex API, this new application incorporates four different maps into a single tool that assesses the most effective places to invest in forest conservation. Resources for the Future hopes that this powerful tool will help policy makers and investors better identify where to invest their limited resources. This application has been taken offline. - Categories: Health, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Flex API, Health, HealthLandscape - Industries: Health, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster has partnered with HealthLandscape to design an interactive web atlas that allows health professionals, policy makers, academic researchers and planners to combine, analyze and display information in ways that promote understanding and improvement of healthcare. This gives health practitioners the tools they need to create simple, effective displays of their neighborhoods, communities, and regions. HealthLandscape allows organizations to reveal relationships through: Distribution Mapping of point data, such as patient concentrations around clinic locations, polluted water sources, or high poverty areas Service Area Mapping, analyzing population data against known encounter information to define underserved areas Market Penetration Mapping, revealing the proportion of people visiting a specific site from nearby areas calculating penetration rates. For more information regarding HealthLandscape please visit http://www. healthlandscape. org/. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Adaptation Atlas, ArcGIS for Server, biodiversity, Climate, Flex API, Resources for the Future - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is pleased to announce a partnership with Resources for the Future, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that conducts research on environmental, energy, natural resource and public health issues, to create an interactive mapping tool that will track and present the effects of climate change on populations around the world. The application, created using ArcGIS Server 9. 3. 1 and Flex API, allows users to track historical environmental patterns around the world, as well as to predict the consequences on regions of various hypothetical scenarios, which could include factors of pollution control, energy and transportation policy, land and water use, hazardous waste disposal, climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem management, public health, and environmental challenges in developing countries. We hope that this user-friendly tool will help generate support for Resources for the Future’s goals of improving environmental and natural resource policymaking worldwide. For more information regarding Adaption Atlas please visit http://www. adaptationatlas. org/. - Categories: ArcGIS for Server, Federal, Health, News - Tags: demographic, DHS Program, Federal, Flex API, global, Health, MEASURE DHS, USAID - Industries: Federal Government, Health - Services: UX | UI Design, Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work The U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has selected the ICF Macro team, including Blue Raster as a substantial subcontractor, to implement the MEASURE Phase III Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) contract. Blue Raster will update the website and STATcompiler, using ArcGIS Server 9. 3. 1 and Flex API, to allow widespread access to this data, which will dramatically improve usability and information accessibility. The mapping application allows users to customize data sets for factors of region, years and household indicator, and then to view the results graphically. This $142 million, five-year contract will serve as the Bureau for Global Health's primary demographic and health data collection effort. For more information on Measure DHS please visit http://www. measuredhs. com. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: Climate Change LEADS, conservation, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, water, World Wildlife Fund, WWF - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs, Water - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster has contributed an ArcGIS Server Flex API application for the World Wildlife Fund to support the Climate Change LEADS: Linking Environmental Analysis to Decision Support project. The tool allows users to explore water quality patterns throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. These results are based on quantitative landscape ecology and GIS techniques using existing and emerging data to perform an analysis of the spatial and temporal relationships between environmental factors and coral bleaching response to suggest patterns of resilience within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This is very specific to the Keys, but the scientific concepts if applied world-wide would provide one of the few “global” (near-shore environments) data sets and analytical capabilities. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, conservation, Flex API, species, WildFinder, World Wildlife Fund, WWF - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work World Wildlife Fund officially released the new and dramatically improved WildFinder II. This new version showcases ArcGIS Server 9. 3. 1, Adobe Flex, and Google Maps Flash API, which when combined, deliver a superior user experience. Blue Raster is proud to work with WWF to bring Web 2. 0 technologies to the forefront of wildlife conservation. The Wildfinder application was designed by Blue Raster LLC and lets users explore what species live where and select and print quick-maps of global diversity patterns. The application incorporates WWF’s searchable species distribution database and information on these species into a user-friendly tool that will help conservationists target their efforts worldwide, scientists study global patterns of species diversity, teachers build curricula, students learn more about ecosystems and species, and nature enthusiasts plan excursions. You can access the WildFinder at https://www. worldwildlife. org/pages/wildfinder. Since science is constantly revealing new information about the world around us, new data will constantly be loaded into Wildfinder to provide the most comprehensive database of species diversity on the internet. - Categories: Health - Tags: Adobe Flex, Avenir Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Futures Institute, Xcelsius - Industries: Health - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is pleased to announce a partnership with Avenir Health, which is dedicated to assisting developing countries design and implement public health and social programs. For a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Avenir Health required an interactive application that would provide users with information regarding the Costs of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) globally, and would predict changes over the long term based on user-defined variables. Blue Raster applied models for long-range planning, and created an interactive Adobe Flex application which was developed using Xcelsius. The new application allows users to set goals, strategies, and objectives while providing feedback on different outcomes. Centered on five questions related to the future commitment to anti-retroviral treatment in the developing world, the application is a powerful tool for those looking to understand the positive consequences of rapid scale-up of treatment. For more information regarding the Future ART Costs application, visit avenirhealth. org/PolicyTools/FC/. - Categories: Education - Tags: Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), American Community Survey (ACS), ArcGIS for Server, education, Flex API, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), NCES, U.S. Department of Education - Industries: Education - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work Blue Raster is pleased to be working with the U. S. Department of Education (National Center for Education Statistics- Institute of Education Sciences) on developing a new interactive mapping tool. The School District Demographics System has shown tremendous improvement over previous applications, including an increase in content and data for schools and districts nationwide and usability that will make accessing this information easier. Created using ESRI ArcGIS Server 9. 3. 1, Flex AP1 and Map Service Definitions (. msd), the speed has increased dramatically and has made it possible to include updated Census information, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), American Community Survey (ACS), National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), compare mode, new filters, and the ability to export images straight to desktop including PDF. For more information regarding the Department of Education please visit http://nces. ed. gov/surveys/sdds/. - Categories: Environment, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: ArcGIS for Server, conservation, Flex API, Landscope America, NatureServe, The National Geographic Society - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: Web Application Development - Types: Archive Work LandScope America is an online resource for the land-protection community and the public. Developed in collaboration by NatureServe, the National Geographic Society, and numerous partner organizations, LandScope America is designed to increase the pace and effectiveness of conservation action and investment throughout the United States. Blue Raster has contributed a unique mapping system to Landscope designed using ArcGIS server 9. 3. 1, Flex API, and Bing maps to enable decision makers, policy directors, and landowners to set and redefine their own conservation priorities. The aerial and satellite images allow conservationists at all levels to interact and relate with the American landscape. The ultimate goal of Landscope is not to create a new set of conservation priorities but to highlight and reveal important aspects of existing plans and priorities. For more information regarding LandScope please visit http://www. landscope. org/. - Categories: ArcGIS Desktop, Environment, Natural Hazards, Nonprofit/NGO - Tags: disaster, global, hotspots, risk, World Bank - Industries: Conservation, Non-Profit & NGOs - Services: GIS Consulting & Training - Types: Active Work Featured in the Nature scientific journal, Blue Raster worked with the World Bank to support the Natural Disaster Hotspots report, which presents a global view of major natural disaster risk hotspots with the goal of aligning resources to areas at highest risk of disaster. It summarizes the results of an interdisciplinary analysis of the location and characteristics of hotspots for six natural hazards - earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, floods, drought, and cyclones. It combines sub-national population data with economic analysis and past disaster losses to identify areas at relatively high risk of one or more hazards. Blue Raster produced more than 30 case study maps for the report as well as an interactive application. ## News Global Forest Watch Commodities (GFW Commodities) received a Computerworld Data+ Editors' Choice Award for 2015. The award is given to organizations who demonstrate outstanding uses of data analytics. Selected winners are highlighted in the September 2015 feature. Blue Raster's winning application, GFW Commodities, is part of The World Resources Institute's (WRI) Global Forest Watch platform. Launched in June 2014, GFW Commodities aims to help companies measure the risk of deforestation in their supply chains. The application combines datasets on the natural environment, such as forest change, with the locations of palm oil plantations and other areas used by companies to source their supply chains. This approach empowers companies to credibly ensure their products are deforestation-free. This application's powerful analysis is delivered with Esri ArcGIS Server, Esri ArcGIS Image Server Extension, the JavaScript API and web-service feeds from sources including USGS and NASA. Visit GFW Commodities, and learn more about the Global Forest Watch platform. Blue Raster received a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award in partnership with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) at the 2015 Esri International User Conference. The award was given in recognition of our work building MapED and the School District Demographic System (SDDS). Both applications are web mapping tools exploring education and demographic trends. For more information on the award, including a project description, visit the Award Winners page. It’s that time of year again! Blue Raster is proud to be a Nonprofit Showcase Sponsor and excited about attending and presenting at the Esri International User Conference, July 20-24, 2015, in San Diego, CA. Make sure to come check out Blue Raster at booth V11 in Hall C to see the latest in ArcGIS Online, web and mobile mapping applications and more. Meet the Blue Raster team, learn about our mapping applications, or just say hello! Remember to check out Blue Raster: Tuesday, 7/21 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm, Demo Theater 1 – Creating Apps with Maps in AppStudio, presenter: Jon Nordling Tuesday- Wednesday 7/21-22 9:00 am - 6:00 pm and Thursday, 7/23 9:00 am - 1:30 pm, SDCC, Hall A - Arboretum Mobile at User Software Applications Fair Tuesday, 7/21 for Blue Raster's annual Fish Taco Night - email afairbrother@blueraster. com for details Wednesday, 7/22 10:15 am - 11:30 am, Marriott Marquis Hotel, Catalina Room (Level 4 of Hotel) - Collecting, Managing, and Sharing Geographic Information at Public Gardens, presenter: Adrienne Allegretti Wednesday, 7/22 at 3pm - Marriott Marquis Hotel Mission Hills Level 3 South Tower - Blue Raster is sponsoring the American Public Gardens Association Evening Reception, presenter: Jon Nordling will demo the National Arboretum Mobile application built with AppStudio for ArcGIS Before you arrive, check out esri. com/events/user-conference/agenda for a complete schedule of events. We look forward to seeing everyone and mapping about the latest trends, stop by our booth and say hello! Follow @Blueraster for live tweets and updates throughout the conference To schedule a time to meet at the conference, email Jessica Viel at jviel@blueraster. com. While you are at it, please also “Like” Blue Raster on Facebook for photos and more in-depth news from the conference and beyond. We had a great webinar today with NetHope on non profits and the power of story maps. If you missed it, catch a full recording here as well as our presentation slides. Blue Raster has supported many NetHope Members including Catholic Relief Services, WWF, FHI 360, The Nature Conservancy, and Wildlife Conservation Society. You can view the full recording here http://bit. ly/1eKlEUi Blue Raster has been chosen to receive the Public Web Application Award for the 2015 Esri Partner Conference. The award is given to a company who demonstrates outstanding and innovative uses of the Esri platform, taking geographic visualization to a higher level. Candidates for the award are nominated by Esri staff, and the selected winner is honored at the 2015 Esri Partner Conference, March 7-10. Blue Raster's winning application, Global Forest Watch Fires (GFW Fires), is part of the World Resources Institute's Global Forest Watch platform. Launched in July 2014, GFW Fires aims to promote access to information on forest and land fires in Southeast Asia. The fires, often set illegally to clear land for agriculture or used as a tool in conflict over land, produce a toxic haze that threatens human health, the economy, and the environment. Efforts to stop the fires have been hampered by a lack of concrete evidence regarding who is responsible for starting them. Now, with GFW Fires, everyone from decision makers to local community members can pinpoint fires on company concessions- and use this information to take action. This application was built using Esri ArcGIS Server and Image Server Extension, and uses Digital Globe first look imagery along with the Twilio API for SMS, and includes webservices feeds from many sources including NASA, NOAA and others. Visit GFW Fires, and learn more about the Global Forest Watch platform. On November 20th, we celebrated GIS Day by inviting GIS students from Washington-Lee High School to visit Blue Raster. Led by teacher, Ryan Miller, Washington-Lee offers several technology classes linked to James Madison University. For the second year, Blue Raster has hosted the class, giving them some insight into how GIS professionals are making a positive impact in the world today. Our developers invited the students to use Instagram to connect to other GIS Day celebrants around the world, and created a GIS Day Global Map. Students immediately saw the future prospects of geospatial technology. Mr. Miller said: Stephen, Michael and the rest of the Blue Raster Team once again volunteered to spend time during GIS Day 2013 with the high school students in my GIS class. Blue Raster provided an exceptionally strong experience that enriched my student's perspective of the capabilities and potential impact of GIS analysis on the enrichment of peoples' lives. The Blue Raster Dev team shared real-world GIS success stories through a round of lightening talks on ongoing projects, and then challenged the students' analyst skills with a fun Geography Challenge. We wrapped up with a talk about GIS Careers and enjoyed some pizza and prizes. Mr. Miller said: To see the impact of GIS, and Blue Raster's work, assisted each student in making that essential connection between what we learn in the classroom and what is happening concurrently in the real-world. As a teacher, I'm so grateful for their time and their willingness to reach out. You can try the map challenge yourself. Blue Raster is honored to be one of the first companies granted the ArcGIS Online Specialty distinction by Esri. Blue Raster has successfully implemented ArcGIS Online for more than 10 clients and established the ArcGIS Online Accelerate program to onramp organizations into the best practices of online/cloud mapping rapidly with a custom approach to each organization's needs. "ArcGIS Online is transforming the way organizations manage and share their spatial data with internal stakeholders and external customers," said Esri president Jack Dangermond. "The ArcGIS Online Specialty allows us to recognize and collaborate with our partners that have embraced ArcGIS Online and are helping users succeed. " Learn more about ArcGIS Online Accelerate and contact us to get started. In Blue Raster’s continued effort to promote technology education, the company hosted an event in recognition of GIS Day. The annual celebration takes place on November 14th to salute geospatial technology, and was started in 1999 by Blue Raster partner, Esri. GIS Day is marked globally with events that aim to educate others on geography and the uses of GIS. Blue Raster welcomed twenty-three students from Washington-Lee High School who are participating in the James Madison University Geospatial Semester, a college-level GIS class. The program which is offered at several high schools across Virginia is for seniors and provides college credit upon successful completion of the course. Class instructor, Ryan Miller, who has been teaching the course for five years, notes that it gives students “a hands-on experience learning GIS,” and sees the value in taking students outside the classroom to view real-world applications of the course concepts. “What we were able to accomplish today -- establishing rapport between the GIS professional community and GIS students -- truly represents the essence of GIS Day,” shares Miller. “Bridging the gap between those that know GIS well and those learning it, benefits our entire community. We are most thankful for the opportunity Blue Raster provided here. ” The day’s agenda included presentations of various Blue Raster GIS projects, a geography challenge and a Q&A session for students seeking an understanding of working at a GIS firm. Blue Raster principal, Michael Lippmann, felt an overall sense of pride in having taken part in GIS Day. “It has been very rewarding to share our work with students and learn about their enthusiasm for GIS. These eager minds are getting a jumpstart on their careers, and we look forward to maintaining our connection with the next-generation of GIS developers through internships and mentoring in the future. ” Blue Raster is now an official Amazon Web Services Partner Network Consulting Partner. The AWS Partner Network (APN) Consulting Partners are professional services firms that help customers of all sizes design, architect, migrate, or build new applications on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Upon completion of the application process, Blue Raster became one of the first APN participants to gain public designation as a Standard Consulting Partner. As an APN Consulting Partner, Blue Raster is listed in the AWS Partner Directory and receives APN support while designing, building, and managing solutions on the AWS platform for clients worldwide. The Blue Raster team includes several experts in cloud computing architecture and best practices for running complex mapping applications with Amazon Web Services. Our experience deploying Esri ArcGIS Server to the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) powers several Federal and International mapping initiatives. Blue Raster also participates in the FGDC GeoCloud initiative to migrate the U. S. Department of Education (ED) ArcGIS Servers to Amazon. This program offers a jumpstart for federal agencies to move their legacy systems to a cloud hosting environment. Blue Raster has won the 2012 Esri Partner Conference Award in the Public Web Application category for its Indonesian Rainforest Preservation (Forest Cover Analyzer) application. Blue Raster was one of six category winners who were honored at the Esri Partner Conference, which was held March 24-27, 2012 in Palm Springs. The awards recognized companies who have developed practical yet innovative solutions using Esri ArcGIS 10. The winning application supports Project POTICO (Palm Oil, Timber, Carbon Offsets), an initiative of the World Resources Institute designed to preserve endangered rainforests in Indonesia. Using the Forest Cover Analyzer application, users can compare current and historical satellite imagery of Indonesian forests and monitor changes to the forest cover. The application can be used by government agencies and nongovernmental organizations to assess whether there is a high risk that primary forests have been lost in areas being considered for investment or oil palm expansion. Blue Raster is pleased to announce UDS Mapper took first place in the Web-Based GIS Application category at the Esri International User Conference's User Software Applications Fair. The application was developed using Adobe Flex and Esri ArcGIS Server and is deployed on the Amazon Cloud (EC2). Smithsonian Wild was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams tonight. Watch the full report, including comments from Robert Costello, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. "Cameras peer inside animals secret lives They are captured without a net or a dart and without harm: Some of the world's most magnificent animals, whose only complaint may be that their privacy was invaded. " NBC's Lee Cowan reports. Visit msnbc. com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy