Morning Workshop Spotlights for the 2026 Annual WLIA Conference
The 2026 Annual Conference features some great Workshops on Wednesday morning, which you can register for at the conference registration site! Two of them are spotlighted below:
Workshop 5: Never Republish Again! Using the ArcGIS API for Python to Manage and Modify Hosted Feature Layers
Nathan Walker, Ruekert & Mielke
Nathan Walker, a GIS Developer with Ruekert & Mielke, Inc., brings a practical, automation-focused perspective to a hands-on workshop designed to simplify the management of Hosted Feature Layers (HFLs) in ArcGIS Online. Ruekert & Mielke is a 100% employee-owned civil engineering firm with more than 75 years of service supporting local communities and organizations, and Walker’s work reflects the firm’s emphasis on efficiency, reliability, and technical innovation.
Republishing Hosted Feature Layers in ArcGIS Online can be a slow and restrictive process, often locking critical service properties once a layer has been published. These limitations can create unnecessary downtime and complicate routine maintenance for GIS administrators and developers. This workshop introduces a more flexible approach using the ArcGIS API for Python, enabling users to make targeted updates without downloading data or republishing services.
Participants will walk through a series of practical Python scripts that demonstrate how to modify domains, fields, tables, relationships, and layer view capabilities directly within ArcGIS Online. The session also highlights ways to automate common administrative tasks, reducing repetitive manual work and improving overall system management. Emphasis is placed on real-world use cases that GIS professionals regularly encounter when supporting production environments.
Designed for GIS developers and power users, the workshop requires attendees to bring a laptop with ArcGIS Pro installed and an ArcGIS Online account with appropriate administrative privileges. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how Python-based workflows can streamline Hosted Feature Layer maintenance, enhance flexibility, and significantly improve efficiency in ArcGIS Online operations.
Workshop 6: Intro to ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric
Frank Conkling, Panda Consulting
With more than five decades of experience in GIS, surveying, and parcel mapping, Frank J. Conkling brings unparalleled expertise to a half-day workshop focused on Esri’s ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric. Conkling is the Owner and Founder of Panda Consulting, a GIS professional services firm established in 1998 and the first organization in the nation to receive Esri’s Parcel Management Specialty Designation. A licensed Professional Surveyor and Mapper in Florida and a licensed GIS Surveyor in South Carolina, he has played a central role in shaping modern cadastral systems across the United States. His career began in 1974, and he has since guided the creation, implementation, and maintenance of some of the nation’s most accurate and effective land ownership databases.
Join Frank at the annual conference in his workshop that introduces ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric as an advanced solution for editing and managing land records and parcel data within ArcGIS Pro. Designed for GIS and cadastral professionals, the session covers the Parcel Fabric’s functionality, data structure, implementation options, and essential workflows. Participants will receive a download link to a sample parcel fabric and project file, allowing them to follow along and gain hands-on experience throughout the workshop.
Several parcel maintenance workflows will be demonstrated to show how the Parcel Fabric operates in real-world scenarios, including how it helps identify, manage, and correct problematic parcels. Attendees are required to bring a laptop with a fully licensed copy of ArcGIS Pro 3.x or later to participate fully. By the end of the session, participants will have a practical understanding of how the Parcel Fabric supports more accurate, efficient, and sustainable parcel management.
Learn more about the 2026 Annual Conference in Wisconsin Dells by checking out the Event Page!