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Map Gallery Awards

Explore the most exceptional maps from the 2026 Esri User Conference.

About the Map Gallery Awards

The Map Gallery is central to Esri UC because it's one of the most extensive and comprehensive collections of GIS work globally. It serves as an indicator of trends and shifts in technical and cartographic practice. Every year, our users' work inspires, moves, and challenges us to innovate and try new things. The most visually stunning maps are selected in each category to exemplify cartographic excellence.

Reference Map Award

Interesting and Popular Places in the Colorado Plateau

Authored by Lynn Roth from Bureau of Land Management

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Reference Map Finalists Map link
Mongolia's New Horizon
Authored by Chris Bruce from The Nature Conservancy		 Explore the map
Hudson County 2025 Official County Map
Authored by Vincent Viera and Daryl Krasnuk from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection		 Explore the map
25K Recreational Topo: Mount Hood, Oregon
Authored by Bethany Walker and Brendan Berve from U.S Geological Survey		 Explore the map

Artistic Award

Lines of Life

Authored by Inge van den Meiracker from African Parks Network

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Artistic Map Finalists Map link
Walking With Ghosts
Authored by Deanne Watts from Women in GIS		 Explore the map
MUCHA Ado About Art Nouveau: Mapping Prague's Architectural Elegance in the Spirit of Alphonse Mucha
Authored by Seth Frame from Tyler Technologies		 Explore the map

Al Khobar Corniche Map
Authored by 

الجيومكانية بهيئة تطوير المنطقة الشرقية الإدارة العامة للبيانات الحضرية والحلول from Sharqia Development Authority - تطوير المنطقة الشرقية هيئة

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A Study in Biomes
Authored by Laura S. Finley from Cleveland County, Oklahoma		 Explore the map
Ceramic Spilhaus
Authored by Seth Frame from Tyler Technologies		 Explore the map

Interactive Web Map Award

Colombia Amphibian Explorer

Authored by Juan Sebastian Cortes from University of Southern California

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Interactive Web Map Finalists Map link
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge — An Oasis in the Mojave Desert
Authored by Becca Settele and Nathan Marcy from Defenders of Wildlife		 Explore the map
From Vulnerable to Gentrified: Mapping Displacement Risk in Somerville, MA
Authored by Lauren Chapman from Tufts University		 Explore the map
A Guide to The Revolutionary Sites of Monmouth County
Authored by Michael Hanlon and Adelaide Kellett from County of Monmouth		 Explore the map

Map with a Message Award

Play Anyway: Mapping the Climb of Women's Sports

Authored by Melissa Alexander, Maggie Bailey, Ben Appel, Angelica Gonzalez, Emily Hawarah, Jeremy Anne Herco, Aaron Pleskac, Nicole Sowinski, and Natalie Verdiguel from Blue Cottage of CannonDesign

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Map with a Message Finalists Map link
The Mississippi: From Source to Dead Zone
Authored by Pandiyan Kesavan from Waggoner Engineering		 Explore the map
Boundary Evolution of Dinosaur National Monument
Authored by Shiera Demas from National Park Service		 Explore the map
Alaska's Historic Boarding Schools
Authored by Sophia Dupras, Benjamin Jacuk, Nyche Andrew, Marta Kumle, and Angie Demma from Alaska Native Heritage Center		 Explore the map
Lake Powell Critical Levels
Authored by Zach Beck from UGRC - Utah Geospatial Resource Center		 Explore the map

Communication of Methodology Award

Mapping Wildfire Risk for Community Protection; Integrating Fuels, Terrain, and Community Exposure Across the Wildland Urban Interface in Southern Arizona

Authored by Drake Stasyshyn and Hilary Mulford from True Environmental

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Communication of Methodology Finalists Map link
Loudoun County Linear Parks and Trails Plan
Authored by Emily McCoy, Corey Dodd, Brenna Laffey, and Anna Laybourn from Design Workshop 		 Explore the map
American Badger Corridor Modeling Across Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Jurisdiction
Authored by Lillian Amaral from Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority		 Explore the map
U.S. Geological Survey 25K Recreational Topo: Using ArcGIS Pro for Cartographic Design
Authored by Marcelle Caturia from U.S. Geological Survey		 Explore the map
Assessing the Spatiotemporal Pattern of PM2.5: Unraveling the Relation between PM2.5 and Key Determinants in Bangkok Metropolitan Region
Authored by Kashfia Tasnim Nishtha from Tufts University		 Explore the map
Moose Crossing: A Habitat Suitability Analysis of Moose in Massachusetts
Authored by Ashley Berthiaume from Tufts University		 Explore the map

Layout for Print Award

The Peoples of the Caucasus

Authored by Bob Bruijns

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Layout for Print Finalists Map link
Mapping the spread of political risk
Authored by Jess Middleton and Bruce Kerridge from Verisk Maplecroft		 Explore the map
Geological Map of the Gamo Zone at a Scale of 1: 100,000
Authored by Verner, K. - Megerssa, L. - Buriánek, D. - Šíma, J. - Janderková, J. - Martínek, K. - Dvořák, Š. - Hroch, T. - Zenebe, B. - Nádaskay, R. - Gonfa, N. - Melka, B. - Balke, G. - Pacherová, P. - Štych, P. - Laštovička, J. - Getaneh, S. - Valenta, J. - Jelének, J. - Hejtmánková, P. - Čermáková, D. - Jelínek, J. - Amare, T. - Bukovská, Z. - Franěk, J. - Aue, M. - Vacek, F. - Mixa, P. - Abdella, M. - Adugna, A. - Bekele, B. - Wubshet, Y. - Tute, M. - Minda, B. - Berhanu, N. - Abiye, M. - Zelenková, K. - Spálovský, V. Gonzales, L. S. - Finsa, M. - Valchářová, D. - Svoboda, J. - Krejčí, Z. - Koseková, E. - Petyniak, O. from Charles University in Prague		 Explore the map
The Central Arctic Ocean and Connecting Seas Folding Map and Infographics
Authored by Jeremy Davies, Patricia Chambers, Alexander Shahbazi, and Scott Highleyman from Ocean Conservancy		 Explore the map
2025 Malawi Presidential Election Result
Authored by Dickson Mbeya from Malawi University of Science and Technology		 Explore the map
How Does Kenton County Use Its Land?
Authored by Hannah Kravitz from PDS/LINK-GIS		 Explore the map
City of Pullman Community Service Bus Routes
Authored by Eliud Flores Saenz from City of Pullman		 Explore the map

Outstanding Spatial Analysis

Vector-Borne Disease Risk Hotspots in Texas

Authored by Debanjan Sarkar, Vanesa Calvillo-Fernandez, and Teresa Patricia Feria Arroyo from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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Outstanding Spatial Analysis Finalists Map link
GIS for Aquifer Storage and Recovery Feasibility
Authored by Nicole Palmer and Bella Ramos from GSI Water Solutions, Inc.		 Explore the map
Rising Waters, Sinking Ground: Navigating Climate Threats for Community Relocation
Authored by Jackie Dean from Woodwell Climate Research Center		 Explore the map
A Spatial Investigation into the Spread of the European Wall Lizard across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
Authored by Hannah Kravitz from PDS/LINK-GIS		 Explore the map

Envisioning the Future Award

The Dual Impacts of Climate Change on Japan

Authored by Itsuki Noguchi, Hikaru Ikeda, Kouki Suzu, and Hajime Iseda from TAKENAKA Corporation

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Envisioning the Future Finalists Map link
Bangladesh: The Land of Rivers
Authored by Safia Javed from Penn State University		 Explore the map
Sidewalk & Trails Master Plan
Authored by Aubrey Larsen (Landmark Design), Brian Busch, GISP (Millcreek), and Fred Lutze, and PE (Millcreek) from Millcreek		 Explore the map
Small but Mighty! Local Contributions to 30x30 California
Authored by Anna Costanza from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District		 Explore the map
Louisville Loop - 100 Mile Multi-modal Path
Authored by Scott Stepro from LOJIC (Louisville Jefferson County Information Consortium)		 Explore the map
El Conquistador Parkway Proposed Alternative Concept
Authored by Ryan Wenger, Lucas Cruse, and Joseph Wright from Patel, Greene & Associates		 Explore the map

Place Perspective Award

The Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire

Authored by Dana Heusinkveld from NM Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute

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Place Perspective Finalists Map link
Hydrography of Port Valdez and Valdez Glacier Lake
Authored by Joseph Gonzales (3D), Elizabeth Geraghty, Ben Blumensheid (graphic design), and Ryan Cross (project lead, copywriting) from Woolpert		 Explore the map
Transit Corridors, Historic Cores: SB 79 Implications for Historic Preservation in Pasadena
Authored by Taylor Kealy from Pasadena City College		 Explore the map
Grasslands in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Authored by Anna McGarrigle from Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority		 Explore the map
Waší∙šiw ɁitdéɁ - “the homelands of the Washoe People”
Authored by Chelsea Karthauser and Amanda Hartman from Far Western Anthropological Group, Inc.		 Explore the map
EXPRESS: Making waves in deep-ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization
Authored by Jane A. Rudebusch from U.S. Geological Survey		 Explore the map
Blueways of Tennessee
Authored by Charlie Mix from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga		 Explore the map

Teaching with Maps Award

1942 War Emergency Pipelines, Big Inch and Little Big Inch Project

Authored by Sarah Beth Maddox from Enbridge Energy

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Teaching with Maps Finalists Map link
Watching the Watershed Educational Display
Authored by Carol Zuber-Mallison from Woolpert		 Explore the map
Visualizing Glacial Recession: Glacier Grey in Retreat
Authored by Averey Johnson from Women in GIS		 Explore the map
Drive Yourself Batty: Watch the bats fly and get back to Austin by bedtime! 
Authored by Andrea Torres from Austin Community College		 Explore the map

Universal Design/Accessibility Award

Accessibility Overhaul – Working Towards WCAG 2.0 Compliance

Authored by Christian Raumann from Midpen

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Universal Design/Accessibility Finalists Map link
Accessible Quaternary Geology of Wisconsin
Authored by Caroline Rose, Brandon Biggs, Sam Tupy, J. Elmo Rawling III, Eric C. Carson, John W. Attig, David M. Mickelson, William N. Mode, Mark D. Johnson, and Kent M. Syverson from Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey		 Explore the map
Feel Florida: A Tactile Map Series
Authored by Jevaughn Henry from CSTARS - University of Miami		 Explore the map

Innovative Award

UCLA: The Climate Adapted Campus

Authored by Xiaojian Fan from Design Workshop

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Innovative Finalists Map link
H2Oquirrh: Optimizing Water Conservation in the Arid West
Authored by Anna Laybourn and Helen Lea from Design Workshop		 Explore the map
Köppen Climates Visualized
Authored by Atlas Guo from University of Wisconsin-Madison		 Explore the map

Mapper's Choice Award

GeoFM OSP Map

Authored by Raja Ijaz Haider from SIT Digital International Inc

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Cartography Excellence Awards

These awards are selected by cartographers from the International Cartographic Association (ICA), the International Map Industry Association (IMIA), and the Cartography Special Interest Group to recognize excellence in map design and advancement of cartography.

Cartography Special Interest Group Excellence

  • A detailed topographic map shows a winding turquoise river cutting through rugged canyon terrain

    Award

    Lake Powell Critical Levels

    Authored by Zach Beck from UGRC - Utah Geospatial Resource Center

    View the map
  • A detailed map highlights tidal current speeds in waterways around Queen Charlotte Strait and Port Hardy

    Award

    Coastal Currents

    Authored by Dave Taylor from Pathfinder Geospatial

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  • Stylized illustrated map highlights Cape Cod towns with ice cream icons

    Award

    From Sand to Scoop: Mapping the Sweetest Path from the Shoreline to Nearby Ice Cream Shops

    Authored by Stephanie Pelletier from VHB

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ICA and IMIA Excellence in Cartography

  • A detailed map illustrates a scenic coastal route winding through the mountainous coastline of northern Norway.

    Award

    Norway by Bicycle

    Authored by Heidi Rodenhizer from Woodwell Climate Research Center

    View the map
  • An abstract visualization shows dense, multicolored lines weaving across a dark background

    Award

    Lines of Life

    Authored by Inge van den Meiracker from African Parks Network

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Dates and location

July 13–17, 2026

San Diego Convention Center

111 W Harbor Drive | San Diego, CA 92101 | USA

Resources

  • Proceedings
  • Code of Conduct

Conference help

  • 1-888-377-4576
  • confregis@esri.com

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