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A Reservoir of Goodwill: CCC Camps, Mountaineer Properties, Campsites and Trailheads, Eleanor Wildermuth, Washington State University

Description: This webmap includes separate feature layers for CCC camps, Mountaineer sites, Forest Service locations, case‑study points, and a dedicated Proximity Layer. CCC camps are shown in burnt orange, while all Mountaineer features use a unified forest green to reflect their collective footprint on the landscape and to make their distribution directly comparable to CCC activity. The Proximity Layer appears as a lowered‑opacity circle with a faded paper tone and a bright cyan edge, creating strong contrast and marking locations where these groups worked in close geographic range of one another. Together, these layers highlight overlapping routes, shared infrastructure, and informal cooperation that rarely appeared in official records, bringing scattered historical references into one interactive spatial view.

Contestant Bio: Eleanor Wildermuth is a Management Information Systems major at Washington State University Global Campus, pursuing a minor in Geographic Information Systems. Her research combines archival sources, historical newspapers, and spatial analysis to understand how early conservation work took shape in the Pacific Northwest. Her current project examines the overlooked relationships between the Civilian Conservation Corps and regional climbing clubs during the 1930s, a topic that connects her academic interests with her own family history in the Mountaineers.

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Tumwater Approved Street and Right of Way Tree Selector, Nemo Paulson, City of Tumwater / Evergreen State College

Description: Determining what trees to plant based on a geographic location can be tricky. Landscaping has a significant impact on the local environment, so it's important to know which trees are pertinent to its location. This app simplifies the process of selecting an appropriate tree by filtering width, drought tolerance, foliage color, and more. The tree selection list is determined by alphabetical order, tree board recommended trees, and urban forester recommended trees. By selecting a tree, the app will show different details for that specific tree species.

Contestant Bio: My name is Nemo Paulson, and I am a 21-year-old GIS field technician intern with the City of Tumwater's water resources and sustainability department. I am also a college student at The Evergreen State College set to graduate in September of this year.

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Smart Reporting, Safer Highways: A Mock Dashboard, MaryAnna Swainston, The Evergreen State College

Description: None provided

Contestant Bio: None provided

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Mystery Miles: Following the Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew on their Travels around the World, Georgianna Hupp, City of Tumwater/The Evergreen State College

Description: Ever wanted to see all the locations from your favorite Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books on a map? Well, now you can! All of the locations from the "original" 56 classic books in both series have been mapped, so you can explore the travels of the top teen detectives from the comfort of your own computer.

Contestant Bio: Georgianna is the GIS Analyst for the City of Tumwater and an Adjunct Professor in the GIS Certificate Program at the Evergreen State College. Georgianna is passionate about mapping everything (especially the fun things) and believes that GIS is for everyone. When she’s not making maps, you can find her lifting weights, running, working in the garden, sewing, and enjoying life with her husband and two cats.

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Seattle GeoData Explorer, Benji Antolin, Submitting as Self (Work for SPU)

Description: Seattle GeoData Explorer is an interactive web mapping application that reimagines Seattle’s public GIS data catalog as a map-first exploration workspace. Instead of treating open data discovery, web mapping, and attribute inspection as separate steps, the application brings them together into one focused browser experience where users can search Seattle public GIS datasets, filter by owner, category, type, and tag, load live map layers, manage active layers, and inspect feature attributes in a dynamic table view.

The idea began while browsing the Seattle GeoData Portal for inspiration for the WAGISA 2026 Map Contest. A simple catalog export revealed a rich CSV of public GIS metadata, which became the foundation for a prototype question: what if a civic open data catalog could become the interface for exploring the city itself?

Built with Vite and the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, the app uses modern front-end architecture, ArcGIS widgets, and custom interface patterns inspired by Esri’s web component and Calcite design direction. The project was also shaped by lessons from the 2026 Esri Developer & Technology Summit, especially around modular web GIS, performant client-side apps, and user-centered geospatial experiences.

Seattle GeoData Explorer was developed independently as an open source side project by a Seattle Public Utilities GIS Developer. It reflects a mix of professional GIS practice, personal experimentation, and AI-assisted development using tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and IDE-integrated AI workflows. The goal was not just to build a polished contest entry, but to explore how quickly modern GIS developers can move from idea to working application when public data, open web technology, and thoughtful AI-assisted iteration come together.

At its core, Seattle GeoData Explorer asks how civic GIS data can feel more immediate, visual, and approachable. It is a playful but practical prototype for turning a data catalog into an engaging geospatial discovery experience.

Contestant Bio: None provided

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Tacoma tMap, Alicia Bradshaw, City of Tacoma

Description: TacomaMap (tMap) is a public, web-based GIS mapping application that lets users view and interact with the City of Tacoma's geographic data including zoning, parcels, and other municipal information.

The application is built using Experience Builder and combines out of the box tools with custom widgets and basemap. Alicia built the framework, but this public-facing product was (and still is) a team effort.

Contestant Bio: Alicia Bradshaw is a Senior GIS Analyst at the City of Tacoma, where she manages and maintains the City’s GIS data for both internal teams and the public. She has a knack for turning complex data into clear, meaningful stories—whether it’s through thoughtful documentation, projects like the Equity Index StoryMap, or building out the GIS training resources that help users feel confident and informed.

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Tacoma Residential Redevelopment Suitability Analysis, Claire Zhao, Organization

Description: This project evaluates residential redevelopment and vacant land development potential within the City of Tacoma using GIS-based spatial analysis and AHP weighted suitability modeling.

Residential parcels were first separated into:

• Vacant land parcels 

• Redevelopment opportunity parcels 

Seven spatial and environmental factors were evaluated, including:

• Slope 

• Flood Hazard 

• Buildable Area 

• Road Accessibility 

• Parcel Shape 

• Contamination Risk 

• Redevelopment Value 

All factors were standardized and weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Final scores were classified into High, Moderate, and Low suitability categories.

Contestant Bio: None given

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A Reservoir of Good Will: The Unrecorded Relationships That Shaped Early Northwest Conservation, Eleanor Wildermuth, Washington State University

Description: This map identifies locations where CCC crews, Mountaineers, and Forest Service rangers worked in close proximity during the 1930s–40s, using layered points to show where their activities overlapped on the landscape. These proximity layers highlight places where the groups shared trails, cabins, and responsibilities, even when those interactions went unrecorded. By bringing scattered archival references together in one spatial view, the map reveals clear visible patterns of shared stewardship that shaped early conservation work in Washington State.

Contestant Bio: Eleanor Wildermuth is a Management Information Systems major at Washington State University Global Campus, pursuing a minor in Geographic Information Systems. Her research combines archival sources, historical newspapers, and spatial analysis to understand how early conservation work took shape in the Pacific Northwest. Her current project examines the overlooked relationships between the Civilian Conservation Corps and regional climbing clubs during the 1930s, a topic that connects her academic interests with her own family history in the Mountaineers.

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Tukwila Parks System Map, Ben Silver, King County GIS Center

Description: This map was designed as a folded brochure for the City of Tukwila. It highlights the City's parks and trails system, along with various other local and regional civic features. In contrast to similar past efforts at the King County GIS Center, we tried to use ArcGIS Pro for all of the design work on this, especially in areas we would normally move to Adobe products. Advancements in layer styling and blending modes made this sort of project possible in Pro. It was an interesting experiment trying to push Pro to the limits of design functionality.

The map was printed as one side of a map brochure that can be accessed at the City of Tukwila Parks Department.

Currently, Ben works as a Senior GIS Engineer in the King County GIS Center. Prior to joining the County in May 2024, Ben worked for as a GIS consultant at BERK Consulting, in addition to prior stints in GIS roles at the WA State Office of the Chief Information Officer as well as the Thurston Regional Planning Council.

Ben holds a BS in Environmental Science and BA in Community, Environment, & Planning from the University of Washington, and is a certified GIS Professional (GISP).

Bat Conservation International Agave Restoration Initiative, Ia Iakobashvili, Bat Conservation International

Description: No description provided.

Contestant Bio: GIS Analyst

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City of Pullman Community Service Bus Routes, Eliud Flores Saenz, City of Pullman

Description: A poster size version of the city of Pullman's Community Service Transit brochure. Initially designed to fit in a standard legal paper size (8.5 x 14 inches), this submission has been modified to fit in standard poster 24 x 36 size. The emphasis of the map is to display as much information that a average commuter that is not familiar with the transit system would need in a small paper format.

Contestant Bio: Eliud Flores is a GIS Analyst working for the city of Pullman Washington. Having served in that role since February 2024.

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Transit Travel Time Modeling in Culver City, Meng Gao, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates

Description: This poster details a spatial modeling methodology designed to estimate bus travel times along the Sepulveda Transit Corridor in Culver City, CA, by evaluating the impacts of proposed transit priority treatments. Utilizing a segmented analysis of the corridor’s geography, the study models travel speed and expedited signal crossing time introduced by dedicated bus lanes; and travel time discounts benefiting from in-lane bus stops. Central to the poster is a detailed mapping of corridor nodes and segments that illustrates the complex modeling for street segments, intersections, and bus stops. Through a combination of maps, diagrams, and infographics, the poster demonstrates how data-driven transit modeling can predict travel time decreases and inform urban mobility planning.

Contestant Bio: Meng Gao is a Transit Planner/GIS Analyst at Nelson\Nygaard with over 6 years of consulting experience in the transportation industry. Her work focuses on using spatial and big data to solve transit and urban problems. When not making maps, Meng enjoys sewing and drinking bubble tea.

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Smart Reporting, Safer Highways: A GIS‑Driven Graffiti Solution, MaryAnna Swainston, The Evergreen State College

Description: I have created this proposal for WSDOT in honor of April's Work Zone Safety Awareness Month. Featuring a user-friendly design, location capturing, and analytics thanks to its integration of ArcGIS. Dashboard link: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/07bc67ef0f8b42418396f8f0d5cef120

Contestant Bio: None provided