2025 SAG Award Winners

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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Project Goal

The GIS Program at STRI is committed to providing innovative, accessible, and impactful geospatial solutions that support research, operations, and conservation across the Institute. Built on the Esri platform, our program enables a wide range of applications—from our public STRI Map Server, where users can freely access and download geographic datasets, to field-based tools like ArcGIS Field Maps used in annual tree censuses. Survey123 is used across multiple workflows, including documenting game warden incidents, conducting security inspections, managing visitor entry to research facilities, and updating space assignments within our buildings. These data collection efforts are complemented by intuitive dashboards that provide real-time insights and are accessible from both computers and mobile devices. Additionally, ArcGIS Hub has allowed us to develop dedicated departmental pages that organize and showcase GIS content, improving collaboration and access to spatial information.
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Business Problem Solved

Before adopting the ArcGIS Platform, many of STRI’s essential operations—including annual tree censuses, trail and facility inspections, sensor maintenance logs, verification checklists, and even boat reservations—relied heavily on paper forms, Excel spreadsheets, and shared files stored on internal servers. This approach often resulted in data silos, limited accessibility, inconsistent location information, and inefficient workflows. By transitioning these processes to a cloud-based GIS environment, we replaced outdated paper methods with smart forms using Field Maps and Survey123, greatly improving data accuracy, especially for mapping newly recorded trees with precise locations. Now, all operational data is stored in centralized, secure, and permission-based feature services, accessible from any device at any time. This transformation has streamlined data collection, improved collaboration across teams, and provided real-time visibility through interactive dashboards.

Technology Implemented

STRI is using a combination of all ESRI ArcGIS Online ecosystem: Field Maps & Survey123 for capturing data on the field, Hub to create internal department websites, Dashboards to present last minute information and statistical data, ArcGIS Pro to prepare and edit geospational data, Experience Builder to integrate all components, ArcGIS Solutions to customize specific solutions, StoryMaps to present information for end users, TrackViewer to track and visualize location information.

Development Team Biography

Milton Solano, GIS Analyst with more than 18 years at STRI is the lead developer, analyst, trainer and GIS evangelist.
Steve Paton, Physical Monitor Program Manager, supervises all work done by Milton.