Metes and Bounds Newsletter

We are excited to announce the theme for the 41st Annual Kansas Association of Mappers Conference:

Mapping on the Chisholm Trail

This year’s theme reflects Kansas’s cattle drive heritage and the forward momentum of the geospatial profession. Just as the Chisholm Trail helped shape commerce and growth across our state, today’s GIS professionals guide planning, infrastructure, and informed decision making within our communities and organizations.

Wichita once earned the nickname “Cowtown” as a northern terminus of the historic Chisholm Trail. In October, we will gather in that same city to map new pathways forward for our profession.

Join us October 6–9, 2026 in Wichita as we celebrate our shared history and continue advancing GIS across Kansas and beyond.

2026 Conference Keynote

We are proud to announce Brandi Rank, PMP as the Keynote Speaker for the 41st Annual Kansas Association of Mappers Conference.

Brandi is a dynamic geospatial technology leader with more than two decades of experience designing and delivering mission critical GIS solutions that align closely with organizational objectives. As Principal Product Engineer at Esri, she crafts innovative geospatial solutions ensuring organizations extract tangible ROI from location intelligence and drive strategic enterprise impact.

Her career spans consulting and more than 20 years of public sector leadership, including roles as Senior Consultant at POWER Engineers, GIS Manager for the City of Thornton, and Business Solutions Manager for Adams County. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated how GIS can modernize workflows, improve data integrity, and significantly reduce process timelines while increasing transparency and efficiency.

Brandi brings strategic insight, practical experience, and an inspiring perspective on positioning GIS as a driver of meaningful organizational progress. We are excited to welcome her to Wichita for KAM 2026

Call for Abstracts

We invite mapping and geospatial professionals to share their work and experiences at the 2026 conference.

To ensure inclusion in the official 2026 conference program, please submit your presentation abstract by Thursday, July 31, 2026. Abstracts submitted after this date will still be accepted and considered on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows.

We encourage presentations that highlight practical applications, innovative projects, and emerging trends in mapping and GIS. Suggested topics include:

• GIS projects that improved workflows or decision-making

• LiDAR, imagery, or drone data applications

• Data management, governance, and quality improvement

• Real-world GIS applications in government, infrastructure, or public safety

• Lessons learned from implementing or expanding GIS programs

• Artificial intelligence and automation in GIS

If you have a project, workflow improvement, or innovative use of mapping technology, we encourage you to share it with the Kansas geospatial community.

Submit Abstract

Expanding KAM Educational Resources

In addition to the annual conference, the Kansas Association of Mappers Education Committee is exploring new ways to share knowledge and professional development opportunities with the geospatial community.

Plans are underway to begin producing educational videos for the association’s YouTube channel. These videos are expected to cover a variety of topics within the GIS and mapping field and will provide another way for members to learn from peers and stay informed about emerging technologies and best practices.

More information on topics, contributors, and release schedules will be shared as the initiative develops.

Kansas Associtation of Mapper Youtube

Sponsors and Exibitors

Exhibitor and sponsor registration is now live for the 2026 Kansas Association of Mappers conference! ️

If your organization is interested in connecting with GIS professionals from across the state, showcasing your solutions, and supporting the Kansas geospatial community, we invite you to secure your spot.

All exhibitor and sponsor submission links are available and ready to go on the KAM Exhibitors page:
https://lnkd.in/dU94MaaA

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