APGA 2025 | Digital Maps for Public Gardens

Laura had the opportunity to work with five brilliant GIS users from different gardens in the US to put together a session for the APGA Elemental Conference in Denver Colorado. The session walked attendees through how to start with digital mapping, where to learn more, and what was possible when using Geographic Information System (GIS) software for a garden.

Pictured from left to right starting in the front: Jena Portanova - Houston Botanic Garden, John Chau - Filoli, Laura Knutson Murray - IrisBG, Nick Kreevich - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Rowan Blaik - Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Greg Payton - The Dawes Arboretum

Starting a GIS program with limited resources | John Chau, Filoli

John walked attendees through how he started with paper maps and many questions for how to make the maps digital.  He talked about the ESRI's Nonprofit Software Discounts Program, resources he used to learn about GIS (see attached resource) the hardware he uses, and how he is now mentoring others to help them on their GIS journey.

Filoli moved from paper maps to digital in three years with John Chau's efforts. The equipment used is listed below.

Integrating data from other sources for basemaps | Rowan Blaik, Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Rowan gave a great overview of the importance of a good basemap. He has curated very useful data from public sources and clipped them to his garden. His knowledge and use of QGIS is impressive and demonstrated that having a GIS program at your garden does not need to be costly to be powerful.

Rowan displayed their use of aerial imagery and LiDAR data for mapping their outdoor (above) and indoor collections (below).

Migrating to a different System: Considerations and Planning | Nick Kreevich, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Nick provided very practical  and thoughtful advice and knowledge about the digital data that is being created and how it will be used. He provided examples of how to keep up with signage and other public garden workflows that can made easier by using GIS.

Great questions to think through on any GIS Project (above) and two examples of projects for internal signage monitoring and external education about the living collection (below).

Hands on and Getting More Hands with GIS | Jena Portanova, Houston Botanic Garden

Jena was able to show how she can manage volunteers that help the mission of the organization using GIS and keeps track of the progress on a project with a Dashboard.  She also took time to explain some of the terminology used when creating the maps that she uses for these projects.

Above are screenshots of the Dashboard for the the Legacy Tree Project and the interface that her volunteers will see on a mobile device where they record the measurements and locations of the legacy trees. Below is a slide that talks about how to use ESRI's ArcGIS Online app call Field Maps Designer that creates the project for her volunteers to use on their Mobile Devices.

Lessons Learned From The Dawes Arboretum | Greg Payton, The Dawes Arboretum

Greg shared his experience watching the technology change and adopting the latest tech. He showed how he is using the IrisBG-ArcGIS Mobile to keep his garden up to date.

Greg showed the attendees how technology has progressed and the evolution of their collections database over the years.  He provided an overview of how the IrisBG-ArcGIS Mobile works for accessions and bed locations.