Our Work

Blue Raster helps you tell your story through interactive
mapping technology. Make your message clear, exciting,
and user-friendly for both mobile and web platforms.

Filter

Flora Finder: Blue Raster Helps Holden Forests & Gardens Launch First Public Collections Viewer

Blue Raster partnered with Holden Forests & Gardens to launch Flora Finder, an interactive mapping application that allows researchers, staff, and the public to explore over 20,000 plant and tree records across Holden Arboretum, Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the David G. Leach Research Station. Built using ArcGIS Experience Builder, Flora Finder includes information about plant records (taxon, condition, measurements, provenance, and more) and also displays trails, water features, and amenities including parking and restrooms throughout the campuses. 

Flora Finder application

 

Along with Flora Finder, Blue Raster created a robust GIS system for staff to maintain their growing GIS datasets. This project was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Service’s Museums for America grant and allowed for Blue Raster to visit Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden to capture drone imagery. This current imagery is utilized in Flora Finder and across the organization’s GIS maps as a high-resolution basemap. Blue Raster also implemented a bidirectional sync between BG-BASE – a botanical collections management platform – and ArcGIS, which allows Holden Forests & Gardens to maintain their existing system-of-record while taking full advantage of GIS for interactive and modern applications and ArcGIS Field Maps workflows. 

Flora Finder in Action

The application is designed for use on desktop and mobile devices, meaning whether a user is sitting at home or exploring the arboretum, they can see the most up to date information about plant records across the three campuses. Specific plants can be searched by common name, scientific name, or accession number.

Flora Finder Holden Forests & Gardens Plant Popup

See a flower icon on the map? You’ve found “It’s Poppin’”, a guide to exploring plant records across the campuses that have been highlighted by curatorial staff. These records will also likely include photo attachments, collected by staff and volunteers to showcase what these plants look like at their very best. 

Don’t see a plant on the map? Click a white dotted garden bed to view a list of all plants in that location.

Flora Finder Holden Forests & Gardens Plant Beds

Along with the launch, the Arboretum will be hosting drop-in sessions to explore and get to know the application. This will allow visitors of all ages to explore not only the data about plants throughout Holden Forests & Gardens but see the value of a geospatially enabled application. 

“This tool brings to life a decades-old dream,” said Ed Moydell, President and CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens. “Years ago, former Arboretum Director R. Henry Norweb envisioned a way for visitors to easily find any plant they wanted to see in our collections. With Flora Finder, that vision is now a reality. It not only helps guests connect more deeply with the plants they love but also enhances our team’s ability to care for them.”

Flora Finder is part of a broader effort by Holden Forests & Gardens to enhance visitor engagement and operational efficiency through modern geospatial tools. By integrating GIS across departments, the organization can better analyze plant health trends, track maintenance, and support long-term planning. Blue Raster provided training and documentation to ensure the Holden team can continue expanding their GIS capabilities with confidence. As public gardens evolve into dynamic, data-rich environments, tools like Flora Finder demonstrate how location intelligence can support both mission-driven storytelling and day-to-day operations. This collaboration underscores Blue Raster’s commitment to building sustainable, user-focused solutions for the public garden community.

Blue Raster has partnered with Public Gardens and Cemeteries for over fifteen years to bring GIS and mapping to everyday workflows. We design intuitive tools for staff to manage plant records, and interactive applications for the public to search and enhance their experiences. Learn more about our Public Gardens Practice here! Our team is featuring our gardens work at the 2025 Esri User Conference with a poster in the Map Gallery. View the poster here!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

World Forest ID’s Evaluation Platform: Strengthening Supply Chain Transparency with Blue Raster

Blue Raster and World Forest ID (WFID) have partnered to create the World Forest ID Evaluation Platform, a powerful digital tool that brings transparency and accountability to global forest-connected supply chains. As global demand for timber and agricultural products grows, forests are under increasing pressure. Without clear traceability, it’s easy for illegal or unsustainable sourcing to go unnoticed. This lack of transparency contributes to environmental problems like biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. The World Forest ID Evaluation Platform helps solve these challenges by providing a reliable way to track the origin of forest products and support responsible sourcing practices. 

What is the World Forest ID Evaluation Platform? 

The WFID Evaluation Platform is a secure, user-friendly, web-based tool that helps stakeholders, including companies, regulators, certification bodies, and NGOs verify the origin of traded timber. Using advanced spatial analysis and machine learning, the WFID Evaluation Platform analyzes timber samples to predict their likely harvest location. Built by Blue Raster, the platform leverages a spatial model developed by WFID, combining geolocated reference samples and genus distribution data into an intuitive, cloud-based application developed using the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript. It simplifies the complex process of timber origin verification, with future support planned for agricultural commodities like soy and cocoa. 

WFID- supply chain-1

Key Features and Benefits 

The WFID Evaluation Platform helps users verify timber sourcing claims and improve visibility across the supply chain. It supports: 

  • Certification schemes in ensuring sourcing integrity 
  • Regulators in enforcing supply chain transparency and accountability 
  • Companies in achieving sustainability goals and complying with international trade regulations 

Personalized Reports 

Users begin by sending timber samples to certified labs, which return a completed WFID chemical data spreadsheet. This file is then uploaded to the platform, along with the user’s claimed harvest location. The platform runs its spatial model and produces a downloadable PDF report showing whether the claimed origin is plausible. The report also includes details about the modeling process and the geolocated reference samples used in the analysis. 

 Intuitive User Interface 

The platform’s simple, intuitive design lets users easily review results, manage data inputs, and store reports securely. Data protection is ensured through AWS cloud hosting solution and integrations with ArcGIS Online. 

WFID-supply chain-2

Blue Raster’s Role: Geospatial Technology Meets Forestry Innovation

Data Visualization in ArcGIS Pro

Our team used ArcGIS Pro to create high-resolution genus distribution grids. These grids allow users to spatially anchor their timber samples within corresponding native regions, delivering more accurate harvest origin predictions. 

Data Management in ArcGIS Online

Blue Raster configured the application to record both user-submitted inputs and the results of spatial model outputs stored in ArcGIS Online. This ensures ongoing data integrity and allows WFID to analyze historical data for future research and enhancement of the model. 

Application Development & Integration

From front-end UI design to backend modeling and cloud infrastructure, we worked closely with WFID to create a custom, scalable application that: 

  • Integrates with ArcGIS Online and AWS cloud environment and backend functions
  • Runs WFID’s spatial model seamlessly 
  • Delivers results in a secure and user-friendly environment 

Strengthening Global Wood Supply Chain Integrity 

At Blue Raster, we’re proud to support World Forest ID’s mission to improve supply chain transparency and combat illegal sourcing using GIS and spatial analysis. This partnership combines data science, spatial modeling, and environmental responsibility. 

We believe in the power of GIS for Good, using geospatial technology to drive meaningful change, inform communities, and support organizations working toward a more sustainable and equitable future. We collaborate with mission driven partners to build tools that make complex data accessible, actionable, and impactful

If you need GIS consulting for forestry, environmental compliance, or supply chain transparency, contact Blue Raster today to discover how we can help you create advanced geospatial solutions. 

Contact Form

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

3D Visualization of Tornadic Mesocyclones Using Voxel Rendering

Integrating NOAA NEXRAD Spectrum Width, Storm Relative Motion, and Reflectivity with Damage Survey Overlays

Palmer Wilson, a Blue Raster Senior DevOps Engineer, recently used 3D voxel rendering in ArcGIS Pro to analyze NOAA radar data from the Grand Junction, Tennessee tornado on April 3, 2025. This case study shows how integrating volumetric radar layers can help identify and interpret tornadic structures with greater clarity.

Why Voxels?

Voxels, short for "volumetric pixels", are 3D units used to build spatial visualizations. While they originated in early 90s video games, they are now a powerful tool in geospatial analysis. ArcGIS Pro's voxel capabilities let analysts explore vertical and temporal dimensions of weather events like never before.

Visualizing the Hail Core

By isolating high reflectivity values in radar data, we were able to extract and visualize the storm’s hail column. These values typically indicate dense hydrometeors such as hail. Layering this volumetric data on top of 2D composite reflectivity gives insight into the size, intensity, and elevation of the hail core.

Identifying Rotation

Next, we filtered the data to display storm-relative motion. This allowed us to detect a rotating column of air, a classic signature of a mesocyclone. In the 3D scene, the hail column aligns vertically with the region of strongest updraft. Surrounding this core, storm-relative velocity data reveals rotation, with inbound and outbound winds clearly circling the hail column.

  • Blue = outbound velocity

  • Tan = inbound velocity

This rotating motion combined with vertical alignment shows how the updraft lifts hail-forming precipitation into the storm’s core, contributing to storm intensification.

Adding Spectrum Width: A Deeper Look into Turbulence

We also visualized Spectrum Width, which measures the variability in wind speed within the radar beam. High values indicate turbulence and shear, which are key components of tornadic activity. Concentrated areas of high spectrum width appeared near the tornado’s center, providing further evidence of violent wind motion.

When viewed together with storm-relative motion, these layers validate the presence of a well-developed tornado embedded within the mesocyclone.

Bringing It All Together

By combining hail reflectivity, storm-relative motion, and spectrum width into a single 3D visualization, we captured a dynamic, multi-dimensional view of the tornado-producing storm. Each layer added context:

  • Reflectivity highlighted hail formation

  • Velocity showed organized rotation

  • Spectrum width pinpointed turbulent zones

Together, they told the full story of the storm’s structure, strength, and destructive potential.


Interested in learning more about how Blue Raster visualizes extreme weather with ArcGIS Pro?
Contact us to explore how 3D geospatial tools can support your meteorological, emergency management, or environmental research projects.

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Flood Risk Mapping for Future Planning: Blue Raster and Climate Central Drive Climate Resilience in 2025

As climate change drives rising seas and more frequent extreme weather, communities need accessible, location-specific tools to understand and prepare for future flood risks. Translating complex climate models into actionable insights remains a challenge, especially when communicating risks to the public and decision makers in a clear and engaging way.

Climate Central is a nonprofit organization of scientists and communicators who translate climate data into maps, images, and local stories. Their mission is to help people understand how climate change affects their lives today and in the future. Their tools have informed journalists, planners, and community leaders across the country and around the world.

Partnering to Advance Climate Resilience

To support this mission, Blue Raster partnered with Climate Central to develop and scale FloodVision, a new ArcGIS Experience Builder application that delivers immersive, street level views of future flood scenarios. This innovative tool enables planners, emergency managers, educators, and residents to visualize flood risk driven by sea level rise and storm events across multiple timelines.

FloodVision is powered by imagery captured through Climate Central’s FloodRover, a vehicle equipped with GPS, lidar, and stereoscopic cameras. Blue Raster supported the deployment of this application within ArcGIS Enterprise, configuring its data model and workflows to power a smooth, interactive experience.

Flood Vision 1

Flood Vision 1

Two datasets in the ArcGIS Data Store, a metadata table and a spatial feature class, are linked by a unique key and drive the application's functionality. The application is built using ArcGIS Experience Builder, which provides a flexible, modern framework that is fundamental to creating an immersive and responsive user experience.

Flood images, stored as JPEGs in Google Drive, are linked using item IDs. Blue Raster created custom Python scripts to clean, organize, and publish this data to the ArcGIS platform. Additionally, Blue Raster implemented an ArcGIS Survey123 form to allow users to easily request and download visuals directly from the app for noncommercial use.'

Flood vision 3

Building Tools for Impact

With FloodVision, Climate Central is helping communities visualize future flood risks with clarity and precision. The platform supports planning, public education, and resilience strategies by making climate data understandable and locally relevant.

At Blue Raster, we believe in the power of GIS for Good, using geospatial technology to drive meaningful change, inform communities, and support organizations working toward a more sustainable and equitable future. We collaborate with mission driven partners to build tools that make complex data accessible, actionable, and impactful. In the face of climate change, we are committed to advancing climate resilience through innovative geospatial solutions.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Partner with Blue Raster to bring your data to life and build tools that make a difference. Get empowered with GIS.

Contact Form

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

2025 Esri UC: Connect with Blue Raster in San Diego

Blue Raster Exhibiting at 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego

Blue Raster is excited to exhibit again at the 2025 Esri User Conference, happening July 14-18 in San Diego, California. As one of the largest gatherings of GIS professionals and innovators worldwide, the Esri UC is the place to explore new technologies and connect through the power of spatial thinking.

2025 Esri UC

Why Attend the 2025 Esri User Conference?

The conference kicks off with the Plenary Session, themed GIS—Integrating Everything, Everywhere. GIS acts as a universal language, connecting data from around the world to help us better understand our environment. Esri President Jack Dangermond will lead the session, along with keynote speaker Dr. Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Johnson will share insights from his work exploring over a thousand fossil sites and his research on the extinction of the dinosaurs. He’ll also talk about the critical role of museums in advancing scientific knowledge and how GIS supports that mission. Fun fact: Smithsonian Institute is a Blue Raster client!

In addition to the keynotes, you’ll see live demos of the latest GIS tools and hear how organizations like CVS Health, CAL FIRE, and San Francisco International Airport are using GIS to drive real-world change.

The 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego is a chance to see what’s next in GIS technology. No matter which industry you represent, you’ll find ideas and connections that help you use spatial data more effectively. Blue Raster’s team will be there all week, from the Plenary to the Expo, sharing how we help clients solve challenges through GIS solutions.

Meet the Blue Raster Team

Blue Raster will be at booth 1912, near the GIS for Good zone. We’re excited to show you how we use ArcGIS to tackle real-world challenges and make data work for our clients. Six of our team members will be there all week, ready to hear about your goals, share ideas, and swap stories.

Come say hi and check out some of our latest projects. We’ll have live demos running, plus fun giveaways and plenty of candy to share!

Add These Sessions to Your UC Agenda

Our team and clients are taking the stage at the 2025 Esri User Conference to share how geospatial technology is driving real-world impact:

2025 UC

🔹 Christopher Messerich
📍 Spatial Analytics Summit
🕙 Tuesday, July 15 | 10–11 AM | Room 8
Chris joins a panel of leaders discussing how spatial analytics unlocks insights and drives better decisions.

🔹 Benjamin Masters
📍 Federal and State Agricultural Programs
🕣 Thursday, July 17 | 8:30–9:30 AM | Room 29 B
Learn about our work supporting America’s farmers and producers with the Agricultural Registry.

🔹 Kate Lenzer, GISP (Blue Raster client NTHP)
📍 Mapping Stories and Communities for Inclusive Preservation
🕣 Thursday, July 17 | 8:30–9:30 AM | Marriott Salon 25
Discover how the National Trust for Historic Preservation is using Esri technology to highlight underrepresented stories through interactive maps.

Explore the Esri UC Expo and Map Gallery

The Expo will feature over 2,000 Esri staff and 200 exhibitors showcasing new products and solutions. Specialty zones, Esri staff, and demo presentation theaters provide the perfect place to discover the latest GIS tools, see real-world applications, and explore demos and services that bring ideas to life. Visit us at our booth or meet us at the Map Gallery Reception on Monday.

Expo Hours:

  • Tuesday, July 15: 9 AM – 5 PM

  • Wednesday, July 16: 9 AM – 5 PM

  • Thursday, July 17: 9 AM – 4 PM

Contact us now to schedule a time to meet!

Map Gallery Reception: Monday, July 14: 3:30 – 6 PM

Look for Blue Raster's posters about 3D Voxel Rendering, Web-Based Hydrologic Information Portal, San Mateo’s Recycling Compliance Application, and our Public Gardens projects.

Check them all out and vote for your favorite!

Connect and Collaborate: Demos and Social Events

Our team will be exhibiting on the expo floor, offering live demos of recent projects and sharing how we help clients deploy geospatial solutions in the cloud. Our team is also planning to join special interest group (SIG) meetings, attend evening socials, and connect with partners and peers to exchange ideas. If you’re interested in seeing how GIS can support your goals, come by for a quick demo, join us for a SIG meeting, or just stop in to say hello!

Are you attending the 2025 Esri User Conference?

If you’re interested in how Blue Raster can support your geospatial goals, stop by booth in the expo or contact us now to set up a meeting time!


Page 1 of 74