2026 WA GIS Conference: Full Schedule

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1:30pm PDT

Zero to Production: A GIS Professional's Process for Building Real Apps with AI

Wednesday May 20, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Since December, I have been building open-source GIS tools on my own time, learning what it actually takes to deliver production-ready applications using AI. I started as a GIS developer. Today I am a manager. Both perspectives matter here, but this talk is not about management. It is about process.

The most important thing I learned was the difference between "vibe coding," where AI drives, and you follow, and Vector Coding, where the human provides clear architectural direction and the AI executes it. That distinction is what turns an interesting demo into something you can actually ship.

With that process in place, FeedSimple went from idea to production-ready widget in four days: a universal XML parser, real-time search, map integration, spatial joins, and 137 unit tests.

I will walk through the process that made that possible:

* The Anatomy of the Prompt: How to structure AI conversations for intentional, architectural results
* The Guardrails: How specs, plans, and code reviews keep a codebase honest across a long build
* Course Correction: How to spot when AI is solving the wrong problem and redirect it without losing momentum
* The Human Moat: Why domain expertise remains the most important thing in the room, regardless of coding role

AI is the tool. You are the Architect.

Speakers

Adam Cabrera

Map and AI Whisperer, MapSimple

Adam Cabrera is a GIS professional with 30 years of experience spanning the full arc of the industry, from command-line tools to modern web frameworks. He serves as Geo Engineering Manager at the King County GIS Center, where he leads a team building public-facing geospatial appl... Read More →

Wednesday May 20, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
401-402

Technology, AI

3:30pm PDT

Beyond the Prompt: Finding and Following the Golden Thread in Long-Duration AI-Centric GIS Projects

Wednesday May 20, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT

401-402

Every long-duration project needs a golden thread -- the through-line that holds direction when things pivot, stall, regress, and push forward. When AI is doing most or all of the work over weeks or months, that thread is what keeps you and the model aligned. This talk draws on lessons from multiple large AI-built projects, many still ongoing, spanning Esri-based and other GIS-related products, data, and services: a problem-solving intelligent ArcGIS Pro Add-in, a public chatbot that grows in capability and knowledge, data and research pipelines, and full web apps and system modernizations.
As these projects grew, the challenge shifted from prompting to managing. Think of it like navigating terrain -- set an azimuth, identify waypoints, travel, reassess, correct, and continue. You do not walk with the compass glued to your face.
This framework is built on a core principle: your level of control. AI models are powerful and deeply knowledgeable. Building and maintaining confidence in the process -- through research, clear expectations, and ongoing collaboration -- gives both you and the model room to build. Defining your security posture -- what you expose to models and how you scope their access -- establishes boundaries before you travel.
We cover creating bare-bones plans, defining proof-of-concept scope, and managing training data, ambiguity, and model drift as constant factors requiring ongoing attention. Knowing when to continue is as important as knowing when to stop -- practical guideposts help determine when to pause, reassess, redesign, and refocus. We address how to iterate, improve, and provide effective feedback to strengthen outcomes through each cycle.
By the end, you will have experience-based insights for maintaining your own golden thread across sustained, AI-centric projects.

Speakers

Tim Rawson

Software Developer, Dymaptic

Software engineer with a diverse background, including experience in government, military, and business. Brings GIS experience in both field/operational and support roles. Has worked at dymaptic since 2022 and is a member of the Development Team, collaborating with the GIS Development... Read More →

Wednesday May 20, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
401-402

Technology, AI

2026 WA GIS Conference

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2026 WA GIS Conference

1:30pm PDT

Adam Cabrera

3:30pm PDT

Tim Rawson

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