Navigating the Esri Developer & Technology Summit as a Student
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With some time having passed since the 2025 Esri Developer & Technology Summit (Esri Dev & Tech Summit), it is an opportune time to look back at the highlights and anticipate what lies ahead. This annual four-day event, held every March, brings together developers, engineers, technologists, and more from around the world in Palm Springs, California.
Esri showcases its latest product releases and advancements in geospatial technology, giving students an exciting opportunity to learn about the latest in GIS development and engage with GIS professionals and industry leaders. What sets this event apart, moreover, is its exclusive focus on developers, system architects, and DevOps engineers, and GIS builders.
As an aspiring GIS technologist, I was determined to attend and experience the event as a student assistant — an opportunity that promised both an insider's view of the event and engaging technical experience.
The Student Assistantship Experience
My experience as a student assistant was incredibly rewarding. The role was flexible, with responsibilities encompassing operational support during registration, at the Esri Store, and with technical sessions. Despite these commitments, I had ample time to participate in the Esri Dev & Tech Summit.
I attended workshops, explored the Tech Zone, and networked at social events. To that end, this role offered a unique vantage point: I gained first-hand insight into event logistics while developing a rich, technical understanding of the GIS industry. I highly recommend that students attend Esri Dev & Tech Summit, as it will deepen their knowledge of geospatial technologies and help build meaningful connections with GIS professionals and industry leaders. Here's what I learned, along with a few tips and recommendations for fellow students considering attendance.
Plenary Highlights: GeoAI and Vision-Language Models
The event is structured around Plenary sessions, technical workshops, a grand Tech Zone area, networking opportunities, and user-focused sessions. Each day consists of fun social events, giving attendees opportunities to mingle with peers and industry professionals.
At the 2025 Esri Dev & Tech Summit, a standout Plenary presentation for me was on GeoAI, led by Esri CTO Jay Theodore. GeoAI integrates AI and machine learning into GIS workflows, making them agnostic to input formats, be that traditional coordinate systems, text, or even unstructured data. Linda Beale, Program Manager of Geospatial Analytics and AI at Esri, demonstrated “AI Mapping,” an application that allows users to generate spatial analyses via voice input. Rohit Singh, Director of Esri R&D Center India, also had a compelling presentation on Vision-Language Context-based Classification Models. Using simple, colloquial text inputs, he conducted damage assessments on buildings affected by the Palisade fires—a highly topical application at the time. Through these demos, I recognized GeoAI as a paradigm shift in the field of GIS.
Attending the Plenary sessions as a student exposed me to the latest technologies shaping the GIS industry. The sessions sparked ideas for future projects, and the demos illustrated how to apply these technologies tactfully. I am particularly excited by the low/no-code approach that expedites critical analysis and decision-making. Both sessions shepherd a future in which GIS and AI empower student developers to perform sophisticated spatial analyses more effectively.
Tech Zone, Networking, and Interactive Learning
The Tech Zone is a great opportunity to learn from Esri developers. This is especially important for students who are currently using Esri’s product suite in their classes or coursework. For instance, at the time, I was working on an isochrone analysis of the NYC Subway system using ArcGIS Pro’s Network Analyst Toolkit for my Urban Systems class. I got to troubleshoot some of my issues directly from Esri developers, engineers, and professionals responsible for the software — an experience that would have been impossible outside the event.
As a student, the Tech Zone also gave me a chance to see how Esri is building enterprise solutions, helping map out future career pathways for myself. While networking in the Tech Zone, I had the opportunity to connect with client partners, including CEOs and in-house developers, which made for a very memorable experience and offered valuable connections that will carry on beyond my schooling.
Looking Forward to 2026 Esri Dev & Tech Summit
Given the rapid developments in Large Language Models and agentic AI, I anticipate that the 2026 Esri Dev & Tech Summit will herald Esri’s advancements in its GeoAI and location agent services. These technologies will offer developers a way to engage more seamlessly across Esri’s product suite, expediting map creation, customization, and data analysis. The growing interoperability signals an exciting future for GIS developers!
Discounted Student Rates
Esri offers students a discounted rate to attend the event! This subsidized rate reflects Esri’s commitment to supporting the next generation of GIS professionals, so I highly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.
To register, visit the Esri Dev & Tech Summit Registration page and select the Education rate option. You will then be prompted to upload documentation confirming your enrollment in a higher education institution. Once approved, you are all set for the event!
Tips for Students
Finally, I want to leave you with a couple of tips and recommendations from my own experience as both a student assistant and attendee.
Students spotted at In-N-Out, a specialty of California- Establish your presence early and actively fortify your network. Start off by getting to know your fellow students, as they are the future GIS specialists and technologists. Next, mingle with Esri staff in the Tech Zone and at socials. This is a rare opportunity that has the potential to open many doors for you. It certainly did for me! After the event, if you enjoyed meeting people and mingling with GIS enthusiasts as much as I did, you will be eager to stay involved in Esri’s network. There are ample opportunities for this: consider attending Esri User Conference 2026 and getting connected to the Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN).
- Keep resumes and business cards handy! As you are meeting and mingling, you will want to maintain those relationships. Nothing signals your technical prowess like a digital business card! I use Blinq, which provides easy access to your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, and overall digital footprint.
- Leverage the Tech Zone to learn more about Esri’s product suite and troubleshoot. If you are working on projects using Esri’s tools, make a note of any questions beforehand and bring your laptop with you. Opportunities to get real-time, in-person guidance from the developers themselves are rare, so take full advantage of them!
- Participate in the dodgeball tournament! Students can form teams, and the tournament is a fun way to unwind after four busy days. Make sure to bring good sports shoes.
Overall, my experience as a student attendee at the Esri Developer & Technology Summit was transformative. If you’re passionate about GIS, cartography, or data science, I highly recommend attending the event. With an open mind and active engagement, this experience can open doors that extend far beyond the event itself.
Feel free to reach out to me at atmikapai13@gmail.com if you have any questions. I also attended the Esri User Conference as a student assistant and would be happy to share my experience!
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