Community Forum: Overture Maps-video, slides, notes

The CGIA Community Forum presentation on Overture Maps happened on July 7, 2026. As promised, the slides, notes, and recording are now available.Link to the slides: Link to the notes: The video is posted on our YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/n_pBhpczIoo?si=XMxFMnNf-_GpKKYHThe CGIA Community Forum has long been focused on the status of California's Spatial Data Infrastructure. For this Forum, we invited you to learn about Overture Maps and the Overture Maps Foundation, which, according their website, is "A platform for bringing together tech companies, mapping organizations, government agencies, [...]

GIS & AI Webinar 4 – xAI: Ethics, Sustainability, and Equity in Social and Collective Settings

Thank you to all of you who attended the second webinar in our GIS & AI series. If you missed it, the recording is available below, as well as slides from our presenters!https://youtu.be/XgH3ZQIcqWIPresentation 1Generative AI for Geographic Education in anDr Siqin (Sisi) Wang is Associate Professor at Spatial Sciences Institute, University of Southern California, US, double afflicted to University of Queensland and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia as Adjunct Associate Professor. Her current professional roles include service as the Research Associate at Harvard Centre for [...]

FOSS4G North America 2026 Call for Presentations Extended to 7/20

The Call for Proposals for FOSS4G (Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial) North America 2026 is now open a little longer. You have until July 20, 2026, to submit talks and lightning talks, or until a few remaining program gaps are filled. The conference runs November 2–4 in Sacramento, California. The program is already strong, but the organizers would love your help rounding it out in four priority areas: Business of Open Source — sustainability, governance, funding, and lessons from building open source organizations. Community of Practice — user groups, collaboration, education, mentorship, [...]

CGIA Community Forum: Overture Maps

The California Geographic Information Association’s Community Forum (formerly known as the California GIS Council) is pleased to invite all members of the California GIS Community of Practice to attend the Overture Maps Forum on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) via Zoom.Register to attend this virtual event at this link - After you register, the link to join the meeting will be emailed to you, and it will include a link to add the information to your calendar. The CGIA Community Forum has long been focused on the status of California's [...]

Join us for the 2026 CGIA Awards Ceremony!

Celebrating GIS Excellence Since 1994CGIA is thrilled to invite you to our 2026 ESRI UC Event celebrating the CGIA Awards._____Location: Revel Revel (868 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA)Date & Time: Monday, July 13, 2026 (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm PDT)We are providing food and drink vouchers for the first 75 to arrive! Festivities will include a ceremony for the 2026 CGIA Award winners.Come celebrate the CGIA's Awards Ceremony amongst GIS friends! [...]

Member Spotlight: Jane Schafer-Kramer

Jane Schafer-Kramer is a Geographic Data Specialist with the California Department of Water Resources, where she leads the national hydrography data stewardship program. Her journey into GIS wasn’t exactly linear—she began her career at DWR in a clerical role and, driven by curiosity and determination, took night classes at American River College to learn GIS. In midlife she pivoted from a role as an Executive Secretary to a Research Data Analyst, processing geospatial data for the hydrologic engineers. Jane is an active member of the geospatial community. She’s been involved with the Geospatial Professional Network (formerly URISA), served on CalGIS planning committees, and […]

Sustaining Member Spotlight: Shasta College GIS

Shasta College's GIS Program is the state’s longest running community college program north of Sacramento. The foundation courses were developed to support the retraining of laid off timber workers in the mid-1990s. By the end of the decade the addition of several courses allowed for the creation of a GIS Certificate, which has been continuously offered for almost 30 years. Over the years, of course, there have been many changes. The program transitioned from ArcView to ArcMap and later to ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Field Maps and peripheral apps. The GIS Program has always worked closely with government, industry and […]

CGIA Awards Winners 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined CGIA at our annual Awards celebration at the Esri User Conference last week! It was a pleasure to spend time with so many members and friends. We collected on Tuesday evening at Revel Revel with an evening of snacks, drinks, awards, and networking, with thanks to ParcelQuest for their additional sponsorship. This year, we presented awards to four lucky winners: Next year is a long way off, but we'll look forward to seeing everybody again! We've shared some pictures from the event below.

New CGIA Publication – Cautions to Geospatial Professionals

CGIA is proud to announce the publication of a document to help protect the California geospatial community, Cautions to Geospatial Professionals, in context of California statutes defining the Practice of Surveying.

This document provides carefully researched guidance and insight for geospatial professionals navigating the complex landscape of California statutes defining the practice of surveying.

Introducing the CGIA Shop

Have you been at an event recently where you bumped into CGIA board members wearing beautiful CGIA t-shirts? There's a picture below of our outgoing and incoming Chairs, Roland and Tracy, sporting them at the Los Angeles Geospatial Summit a few months back. They're a bargain, made with thick cotton, and starting at just $15 including shipping. As you can see, they're currently available in blue or green. Black (not shown) is also an option. Do you want your own? Of course you do! We're hoping to be able to offer them on sale at future in-person events, but for […]

CGIA on Film

We recently showcased the CGIA YouTube channel, but have you seen our wonderful video showcasing the good work done by CGIA? Maybe you saw it on the front page of our website already? It should give you a bit of a feel for what CGIA does and why you might want to consider joining as a member or contributing to the work that we do. Here's a longer version, if you have a minute or so more to spend: https://youtu.be/9eFF5WTfyTg.

About CGIA

California Geographic Information Association (CGIA) is a non-profit, statewide association formed in 1994 to facilitate coordination, collaboration, and advocacy for California’s Geographic Information System (GIS) community. CGIA promotes the creation and maintenance of the best practices in the governance and application of geographic information within the State of California that can become a model for the nation.

Learn more…

Community Forum: Overture Maps-video, slides, notes

The CGIA Community Forum presentation on Overture Maps happened on July 7, 2026. As promised, the slides, notes, and recording…

July 9, 2026

GIS & AI Webinar 4 – xAI: Ethics, Sustainability, and Equity in Social and Collective Settings

Thank you to all of you who attended the second webinar in our GIS & AI series. If you missed…

July 7, 2026

FOSS4G North America 2026 Call for Presentations Extended to 7/20

The Call for Proposals for FOSS4G (Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial) North America 2026 is now open a…

July 1, 2026

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Spatial Data Infrastructure Map

CGIA has launched an initiative to provide California with a comprehensive picture of our state's Spatial Data Infrastructure

CGIA Awards

CGIA recognizes outstanding achievements in various aspects of geospatial technologies within California through its annual awards program, commemorating excellence in Geographic Information across the Golden State.

Events

CGIA hosts webinars, brown bag lunch series and general membership meetings.

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California GIS Contact Map

View a map of GIS contacts throughout California. Perfect for networking!

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We are GIS professionals, students, educators and nonprofits. Join CGIA and gain access to job updates, networking events, annual awards programs, discounted conference registrations and more. As a CGIA member you have the opportunity to participate in the shaping of GIS industry standards, best practices and legislation affecting California and the nation.