Hotel

Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown/Convention Center

A limited block of rooms has been reserved for National Tribal Geospatial Conference attendees at the Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown/Convention Center.  T-REX is about one block east of the Courtyard Marriott, making it a convenient walk for Layer Up attendees. . We encourage attendees who would like to stay at the conference hotel to make their reservations early, as rooms within the group block are limited.

Located in the heart of downtown St. Louis at 823–827 Washington Avenue, the Courtyard is conveniently located near the America’s Center Convention Complex, Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, City Museum, and a variety of restaurants and downtown attractions. The hotel also offers an on-site restaurant, fitness center, complimentary Wi-Fi, mini-refrigerators, and comfortable workspaces.

The hotel is also conveniently located near Convention Center MetroLink Station, making it an accessible option for attendees traveling from St. Louis Lambert International Airport by MetroLink.

Reserve your room using the National Tribal Geospatial Event group rate *$150/night:

Book your group rate for National Tribal Geospatial Conference

*Valet Parking available for $48/night with in and out privileges. 

Please note: The conference room block is limited, so attendees are encouraged to reserve their rooms as soon as possible.

Other Nearby Hotel Options

If the Courtyard group block is full, several other downtown hotels are located nearby. 

  • Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Louis Downtown — Located across from the America’s Center Convention Complex, this all-suite hotel offers complimentary made-to-order breakfast, an evening reception, an indoor pool, fitness center, and on-site restaurant.
    View Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Louis Downtown

We recommend selecting the hotel that best fits your transportation, lodging, and budget needs.

Transportation

Transportation from St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Attendees should plan ahead for their transportation needs to and from the airport. Recommended transportation options include rental vehicles, Uber/ride-share services, or MetroLink, St. Louis’ budget-friendly light rail system. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation. 

Taking MetroLink from the Airport

For attendees who are new to MetroLink, traveling from the airport to downtown St. Louis is straightforward and does not require a transfer.

To view the MetroLink schedule, fares, and schematic map you can visit the following link. 

MetroLink Information

Metrolink Instructions.png

MetroLink-Schematic-Map-2024-05.pdf

Learning Pathways

Below is a breakdown of the training tracks and courses in each track to help you select the sessions that best fit your experience and interests.

Participants in the Intermediate track who begin with the ArcGIS Online (AGOL) course will have the flexibility to choose their path midweek based on their skill level and the courses they would like to take. If you are newer to AGOL, you may want to continue with the Database Design course. If you are more familiar with AGOL, you may choose the Migrating from Web AppBuilder to Experience Builder course.

Beginning Thursday, the Intermediate and Intermediate/Advanced tracks will merge into a single training track.

LayerUp Skill Level Chart.png

Training Schedule

Monday, Nov. 16 Schedule

8:30 AM -9:00 AMWelcome and Introductions

Attendees will gather on the 4th-floor Geospatial Foyer for brief introductions and a welcome.

9:15 AM - 4:30 PMIntroduction to ArcGIS Pro Training Course

4.5-Day Class
Session hosted by Tribal GIS
In this course, you’ll begin by learning GIS terminology, core concepts and basic operations of GIS. Then we’ll show you how to navigate ESRI’s intuitive interface, work with maps and data, and apply core GIS workflows to real-world projects. Whether you’re new to GIS or transitioning from ArcMap, we’ll guide you step-by-step through essential tools, techniques, and best practices so you can feel confident creating your own maps. After finishing this short course, you should be able to complete basic GIS functions and use your new skills to learn more GIS techniques.

9:15 AM - 4:30 PMIntroduction ArcGIS Online

Intro to AGOL: This 2- day course introduces the basics of ArcGIS Online, focusing on navigating the platform, managing content, sharing maps and layers, and understanding how AGOL supports collaboration and web mapping.

9:15 PM - 4:30pmIntroduction to Python and Arcade

This 2-day instructor-led course introduces the basics of Python and Arcade scripting in ArcGIS.

Why use Python in GIS?
Automate Repetitive Tasks – Python lets you automate workflows such as data processing, map production, and analysis, saving time and reducing manual errors.

Access Powerful Geoprocessing Tools – ArcGIS Pro exposes nearly all of its geoprocessing tools via the ArcPy Python library, allowing users to build custom scripts and models that leverage the full power of ArcGIS.

Batch Processing – With Python, you can process multiple datasets (e.g., hundreds of shapefiles) in a single script, something that would be tedious to do manually.

Customization – Python enables users to build custom geoprocessing tools, add-ins, and toolboxes that can be shared and reused across projects and organizations.

Ability to integrate with many third-party libraries – Python can be combined with libraries like pandas, numpy, and matplotlib, making it possible to perform advanced data analysis and visualization alongside spatial processing.

Reproducibility and Consistency – Scripts ensure that analyses are repeatable and consistent, which is crucial for scientific research, compliance, and collaborative work.

Huge Community and Support – Python is widely used, with an abundance of tutorials, sample code, documentation, and forums to support learning and troubleshooting.

Usable outside ArcGIS – While requiring an ArcGIS license, some scripts may be executed outside of ArcGIS with the proper setup, allowing task scheduling.

What is Arcade?
Arcade is a lightweight, expression-based scripting language developed by Esri specifically for the ArcGIS platform. Its primary purpose is to enable dynamic, on-the-fly calculations and data manipulation within maps and apps, without permanently altering the underlying data.

Arcade is designed to be simple, portable, and secure.
It is used for real-time calculations, data-driven visualizations, popups, and custom labeling.
Arcade expressions are evaluated on the fly, making them ideal for dynamic mapping and analysis.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PMLunch on your own

4:30 PM - 6:00 PMWelcome Social

Complimentary beverages and networking.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 Schedule

8:30 AM - 5:00 PMIntroduction to ArcGIS Pro Training Continued

Day 2 - Class continued

8:30 AM - 5:00 PMIntroduction to ArcGIS Online

Day 2 - Class continued

8:30 AM - 5:00 PMIntroduction to Python and Arcade

Day 2 - Class continued

11:30 AM - 1:00 PMLunch on your own

Wednesday, Nov. 18 Schedule

9:00 AM - 11:30 AMIntro to ArcGIS Pro

Day 3 - Class continued

9:00 AM - 11:30 PMDatabase Design

Hosted by Washington University
Dorris Scott, PhD, Academic Director of
Data Studies, Professional and Community
Education, Wash U

9:00 AM - 11:30 PMMigrating from Web AppBuilder to Experience Builder

Learn the differences between Web App Builder and Experience Builder, and the workflow to migrate. Best for those who currently utilize Web App Builder, and need support in migrating their apps prior to Esri’s end-of-second-quarter-2027 deadline.

11:30PM - 1:00 PMLunch Provided

1:30 PM - 3:30 PMArch Tour

Tour of the arch (optional). Walking required.

4:00 PM - 5:30 PMGIS Day Social

GIS Day Social

Thursday, Nov. 19 Schedule

8:30 PM - 5:00 PMIntro to ArcGIS Pro

Day 4- Class Continued

8:30 AM - 5:00 PMArcGIS Online: Experience Builder and Dashboards

Learn how to create Dashboards to quickly inform data-based decisions using spatial data and handy widgets. Take it a step further by creating immersive and more complex experiences with Experience Builder. We will utilize GIS data, both template layouts and custom layouts, widgets, and no-code design to create student-tailored Experiences.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PMLunch on your own

Friday, Nov. 20 Schedule

8:30 AM - 4:30 PMIntroduction to ArcGIS Pro Training Continued

Day 5- Class continued

8:30 AM - 4:30 PMEsri Field Apps: Survey 123 and Field Maps

Learn how to use both Survey123 and Field Maps, understand the difference between the two, and how to choose the best application for your workflow. Some light walking will be required, and participants must bring their own “field devices” – a smart phone or tablet will work!

11:30 AM - 1:00pmLunch on Your Own

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