As university facilities professionals, you’re tasked with keeping campuses safe, efficient, and sustainable while balancing limited resources and evolving expectations.
Incorporating GIS and location intelligence into managing facilities is revolutionizing how we manage our campus environment from asset tracking and vegetation management to wayfinding and emergency response.
Attending key conferences can deepen your GIS expertise, spark new ideas, connect you with peers, and grow your professional support system.
I compiled a list of the top GIS conferences that support ArcGIS in digitally transforming campus operations.
Esri Partner Conference – March 8–9, 2026 | Palm Springs, CA
Kicking us off is the Esri Partner Conference (EPC) happening March 8-9. 2026 in Palm, Springs, California. This is where you can learn about Esri’s partners and their resources and opportunities that are specific to the GIS industry. The partners are all apart of the Esri Partner Network which can be valuable for institutions exploring integrations with Esri products and strategic use of ArcGIS technology.
The conference features keynote presentations, technical updates from Esri thought leaders, best-practice discussions, and curated networking activities that help attendees stay current on trends like GeoAI and enterprise GIS strategies.
Why it matters: EPC is ideal for facilities managers interested in how GIS technologies are being extended across industries and how strategic collaborations can help push your campus GIS initiatives forward.
Geodesign Summit - April 14–16 | Redlands, CA
The Geodesign Summit takes place at the Esri HQ in Redlands, California April 14-16, 2026. This in-person (and online option) brings together planners, designers, GIS practitioners, and innovators to explore how geospatial data and design frameworks can solve complex challenges. The best part? Registration is free.
Geodesign blends spatial analysis with strategic design principles to support smarter decision-making across disciplines. Attendees can look forward to hearing from industry leaders in panel discussions, networking with peers, and learn about enhanced Esri technology like ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS GeoBIM, and ArcGIS Urban.
Why it matters: For facilities managers on campus, geodesign offers powerful methods for envisioning future development, optimizing land use, and engaging stakeholders with compelling visual narratives.
Esri User Conference – July 14–18, 2026 | San Diego, CA
The annual Esri User Conference (UC) is the largest GIS event in the world and a must-attend for anyone serious about geospatial innovation. Happening July 14-18, 2026 in San Diego, California, UC brings together thousands of GIS professionals from across the globe in diverse sectors such as education, utilities, infrastructure, transportation, public safety, and so much more. UC offers a comprehensive program of technical sessions, hands-on labs, plenary sessions, networking socials, and expansive Expo Hall.
There are many sessions and user presentations that support campus operations such as understanding ArcGIS Indoors, digital twins, GIS tools for public safety, and so much more.
Why it matters: UC offers a breadth of examples and value of applying GIS across disciplines making it ideal for connecting strategic vision with practical, implementable tools.
APPA Annual Conference – July 15–17, 2026 | Washington, DC
The APPA Annual Conference is the premier event for educational facilities professionals from universities, colleges, and K-12 systems. The conferences takes place July 15-17 in Washington, DC with a focus on facilities leadership, operations, and innovation and include addressing key topics like campus planning, sustainability, asset lifecycle management, and data-driven decision-making.
Attending APPA will get you networking with peers from other institutions which is a powerful way to exchange creative applications of GIS technology.
Why it matters: APPA connects you with the broader facilities management community perfect for blending GIS capabilities with institutional goals and operational leadership.
CFTA Annual Conference – August 4–6, 2026 | Minneapolis, MN
The Campus FM Technology Association (CFTA) Annual Conference is focused specifically on technology solutions for facilities management and connects campus practitioners, technologists, and industry partners to advance the effective use of technology in campus facilities and infrastructure management.
Attendees include technology leaders, facilities professionals, and business partners who are exploring innovative systems including GIS, IoT sensors, CAFM, CMMS, and data platforms all to support smarter campus operations.
This blog post by Jeff Ulricken, Assistant Director for Spatial Services at University of Rhode Island, to learn how CFTA is at the forefront of driving smart campus operations and elevating Esri po-wered facilities management across higher education.
Why it matters: CFTA is a high-value forum if your work sits at the intersection of GIS and other facilities technology. For Esri users, CFTA offers a uniquely practical community to align GIS with core campus systems – turning spatial data into operational impact.
Esri Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference (IMGIS) – Oct 27–29, 2026 | Palm Springs, CA
Closing out the year is the Esri Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference (IMGIS) taking place October 27-29, 2026 in Palm, Springs, California. It’s a focused event that highlights how GIS can be applied to infrastructure lifecycle management. Although this conference historically attracts professionals from utilities and engineering, it has direct relevance for campus facilities teams who are responsible for managing built infrastructure, utilities networks, and spatial operations.
Sessions typically cover workflows for asset management, network analysis, mobile integration, data modeling, and analytics. IMGIS provides a space to dive deeper into infrastructure-oriented GIS solutions.
Why it matters: IMGIS is your go-to for advanced discussions on GIS workflows that bridge operational data with infrastructure decision support.
There’s a strong GIS conference ecosystem in 2026 that supports both strategic vision and practical implementation. Any of the events listed above will give you the knowledge, community, and inspiration you need to support your smart campus operations goals in leveraging GIS to transform campus operations.
Comment below any other events you feel are essential to smart campus operations specifically around implementing GIS.
