July 26th, 2023
URISA’s Vanguard Cabinet Announces Results of 2023 Digital Competition

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URISA’s Vanguard Cabinet is pleased to announce the results of the 2023 Student and Young Professional Digital Competition

Eligible participants were currently enrolled in a college or university, a recent graduate, or a young or emerging geospatial professional with fewer than five years of experience. The competition was limited to projects that utilize web and mobile platforms, such as ArcGIS Online, Tableau, Mapbox, or Power BI. Projects showcased the visualization functions of these platforms while also demonstrating knowledge and proficiency in spatial analytics, cartographic design, and/or geospatial techniques.

The competition included two categories of participants:  those that can reasonably attend/travel to Columbus, Ohio and those that cannot attend/travel. All participants received a free URISA membership.

To enter the competition, participants submitted a link to a recorded 5-7 minute ignite or lightning-style presentation recorded via Zoom (or similar screen recording software) on their project’s use of an interactive visualization platform, geospatial technology, and spatial thinking.

Judges:

• Jordan Carmona, GISP, Senior Geospatial Development Engineer, HEB, San Antonio, Texas
• Kelsey Calvez, Environmental Scientist /GIS Analyst, Freese and Nichols, Inc., Austin, Texas
• Sydney Young, GIS Technician, Chatham County Engineering Department, Savannah, Georgia
• Brooke Hatcher, Senior Geospatial Consultant, New Light Technologies, Seattle, Washington
• Matt Worthy, Program Manager, Optimal GEO, Huntsville, Alabama
• Sara Thompson, Geospatial Analysis Section Manager, Department of Transportation, Phoenix, Arizona
• Sid Pandey, Senior Geospatial Consultant, Deloitte, Washington D.C.

The top three presentations among the group that is unable to travel to GIS-Pro 2023 were:

1. Aiming Higher: The Caltrans District 2 Guardrail Inventory Project 
   Submitted by Naomi Yates, Caltrans,  Redding, California United States
2. Geospatial Analysis of Urban Growth in Ahmedabad City
   Submitted by Prajwal Parmar, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
3. Zamfara Health Facilities Access App
   Submitted by: Adedoyin Ajeyomi, Federal University of Technology Akure, Abuja, Nigeria

Among the group that indicated they can attend GIS-Pro, the top three projects were:

1. Detection & Mapping of Flood Inundated Areas using SAR, A Time-series Study in Mahi River Basin, India
   Submitted by: Ishita Singh, Arcadis, India (GIS Consultant-UK Environment), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
2. Crime Predictions in Baltimore, MD from 2023 to 2033
   Submitted by: Marko Zlatic, Johns Hopkins University, San Diego, CA, United States
3. Early Detection of Climate Impacts on Crop Production
   Submitted by: Yash Doshi, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Those three individuals will receive a complimentary registration to GIS-Pro 2023  in Columbus, Ohio; a $500 stipend for travel; and a commitment to present their work live during the Lightning Talks session at the conference.

Honorable Mention: Integrating GIS for Empowering Multidiscliplinary Teams
Submitted by: Euclides Paulo, Rhode Island Energy, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

The Vanguard Cabinet appreciates the time, effort, and contribution to the geospatial field made by all competition participants. We enthusiastically look forward to following their careers!

The Vanguard Cabinet (VC) is an advisory board made up of passionate, young (35 years of age or younger) geospatial professionals who strive to engage young practitioners, increase their numbers in the organization, and better understand the concerns facing these future leaders of the geospatial community. The VC’s mission is to collaborate with URISA’s Board of Directors and URISA committees in creating and promoting programs and policies of benefit to young professionals and to enhance overall innovation, collaboration, networking, and professional development opportunities