2026 WA GIS Conference: Full Schedule

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1:30pm PDT

Drone Panel - We Came, We Flew, We Mapped

Thursday May 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Drone pilots and GIS-drone enthusiasts, come together to share real-world experiences across the full drone-to-data workflow. Panelists will cover flight planning, data capture, processing, and GIS integration — with open discussion on best practices and lessons learned.

Speakers

Jim Mudd

GIS Director, Puyallup Tribe of Indians

James Mudd is the GIS Director for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, where he leads enterprise GIS services supporting Tribal programs, planning initiatives, and data-driven decision-making. With over two decades of geospatial experience, he specializes in enterprise GIS architecture... Read More →

Peter Keum

Drone Program Lead/GIS Analyst, King County

Peter Keum, M.S., GISP, King County Wastewater Treatment Drone Program Lead/GIS Analyst:. Peter is a Drone Program Lead and GIS Analyst for the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, where he merges his passion for maps with advanced drone technology. With over 28 years of GIS... Read More →

Jesse Alton

GIS and Data Project Manager, Environmental Services Office WSDOT

Jesse Alton serves in WSDOT’s Environmental Services Office as the GIS and Data Project Manager, bringing more than 20 years of experience in geospatial technology and environmental data systems. He maintains essential GIS data, GPS equipment, and custom online web applications... Read More →

Keisha Chinn

Environmental Information Program Manager, Environmental Services Office WSDOT

Keisha Chinn is the Environmental Information Program Manager for the Washington State Department of Transportation. She graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences and a focus on Environmental Studies and GIS. Keisha has worked... Read More →

Ben Delyea

UAV Coordinator & GIS Analyst, Cowlitz PUD No. 1

Ben Delyea is the UAV Coordinator and GIS Analyst for Cowlitz PUD No. 1 in Southwest Washington. With six years in the public utilities sector, he specializes in integrating spatial analytics, remote sensing, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into utility operations. Ben launched... Read More →

Alex Arams

GIS Analyst, Fish Biologist, South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group

Alex Arams is a GIS Analyst and fisheries field biologist with the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group (SPSSEG) in Olympia, WA. With nine years of experience in salmonid habitat assessment and restoration, he integrates drone mapping, UAV photogrammetry, RTK GNSS surveying... Read More →

Thursday May 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
407-408

Remote Sensing, Drone

2:30pm PDT

Beyond the Map: Immersive 360 Degree Imagery and Drone Mapping for Stream Restoration in the South Puget Sound

Thursday May 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT

407-408

The success of a stream restoration project often depends on how well stakeholders can “see” the vision. Yet a persistent gap exists between restoration engineers and surveyors, and the grant funders, project partners, and communities they support. Static maps and survey notes rarely convey real-world conditions in a way that is accessible to everyone, making it difficult to fully grasp site conditions and restoration outcomes. While drone-based mapping provides high-resolution spatial coverage and critical context, canopy occlusion, shadowing, and water-surface artifacts can obscure in-channel complexity.

This presentation introduces a workflow that integrates georeferenced 360-degree imagery with drone photogrammetry to bridge that gap. By linking immersive, ground-level perspectives with orthomosaics and elevation models, users move beyond “paper fish” (on a flat map) to “real fish,” providing a tangible, on-the-ground sense of how restoration sites function. Our process combines RTK GNSS surveying, UAV photogrammetry, and oriented imagery datasets, allowing users to seamlessly transition from high-level spatial analysis to “virtual boots-on-the-ground” views while highlighting channel conditions, habitat features, and project performance over time.

Examples from South Puget Sound (WRIAs 10–15) demonstrate how this approach supports restoration monitoring, virtual site visits, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The workflow enhances both technical analysis and communication, making complex spatial data more intuitive and accessible to diverse audiences.

Speakers