A More Intelligent World
Two scientists from the California Water Science Center will share their work at the 2026 Esri User Conference, highlighting innovative applications of Geographic Information System (GIS) and water science. Their presentations showcase how geospatial tools help advance scientific understanding and support informed resource management.
July 13 - 17, San Diego
The 2026 Esri User Conference takes place mid-July in San Diego. This year's theme—GIS: Creating a More Intelligent World—captures how location technology transforms geographic understanding into collective intelligence, connecting data, systems, and people to support smarter decisions for communities, organizations, and the planet.
As Esri President Jack Dangermond put it in his 2024 Esri plenary address:
"Geography organizes everything we know—all our experiences. The where is a powerful thing. It's your bridge to everyone else on the planet. It helps us see the world in interconnected ways."
That power of where is on full display in CAWSC's contributions this year.
Christiana Rosenberg
Physical Scientist Christiana Rosenberg will present work on combining multiple geologic datasets into a seamless gridded basement surface for the Salton Sea watershed. The project demonstrates how GIS can integrate complex datasets to support regional geologic and water-resources investigations.
Whitney Seymour
Geographer Whitney Seymour will present two posters highlighting USGS groundwater and surface water science across California. The posters showcase how maps, data, and geospatial tools help tell the story of CAWSC research—from long-term monitoring and modeling to habitat, water-quality, and resource-management studies.
"Presenting at the Esri User Conference puts California Water Science in front of a global audience," says Whitney Seymour. "It's a chance to show an international community of mapping professionals the important work we do."