March 2025 – Maurer-Stutz

Earlier this March, I had the opportunity to attend the Esri Partner Conference (EPC) and Developer Summit (DevSummit) in Palm Springs, California. This marked my fifth time attending EPC. Every time I go, I’m reminded that while the sessions, product updates, and technical insights are invaluable, the real benefit lies in the connections and networking that happen throughout the event. It’s an experience that extends beyond the formal agenda—one that reinforces why attending these events is essential for any organization leveraging Esri’s technology.

Plenary Session: Setting the Stage for Innovation

The Plenary Session at EPC is always a highlight, and this year was no different. Jack Dangermond kicked things off with his signature enthusiasm and deep insights about the future of GIS. The session showcased the latest updates to the ArcGIS ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on AI integration, ArcGIS Knowledge Graphs, and real-time geospatial analytics. It was exciting to see demonstrations of how ArcGIS Pro, Enterprise, and Online continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in geospatial technology.

One of the standout demonstrations highlighted how ArcGIS Image Analyst and ArcGIS Pro are leveraging AI to detect and classify objects in imagery at unprecedented speeds. Another session explored how ArcGIS Knowledge Graphs and AI-driven link analysis are transforming how we analyze complex spatial relationships and networks. As AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that Esri is positioning its technology to empower organizations to harness these capabilities for more intelligent, data-driven decision-making.

Technical and Sales Sessions: A Balanced Approach

While the Plenary provided a glimpse into the future, I spent a significant portion of my time attending sales-focused sessions designed to help partners better promote Esri products and effectively sell geospatial services. These sessions were packed with insights on how to align Esri’s technology stack with client needs, demonstrate the value of enterprise GIS, and position services in a way that maximizes impact for clients.

One of the key takeaways was the importance of understanding customer pain points and tailoring solutions that address real-world challenges. Whether it’s highlighting the benefits of migrating to ArcGIS Online for improved collaboration or promoting the power of ArcGIS Enterprise for organizations requiring on-premises control, these sessions emphasized that successful selling is rooted in serving clients better. I also picked up valuable strategies for building long-term relationships with clients by offering managed services and ongoing GIS support—an approach that aligns perfectly with the goals of Maurer-Stutz Geospatial Services (MSGS).

The Real Value: Networking and Collaboration

As much as I enjoy the technical content, the most meaningful part of attending EPC and DevSummit is the networking. Being in Palm Springs with GIS professionals, developers, and partners from around the world creates countless opportunities to exchange ideas, solve challenges, and explore new partnerships. Whether it’s a chance encounter over coffee or a deeper conversation during a breakout session, these connections often lead to collaborations that drive real value long after the event ends.

This year, I had the opportunity to reconnect with old colleagues, meet potential partners, and strengthen relationships with other Esri partners. Conversations ranged from sharing best practices for enterprise GIS management to brainstorming ideas for integrating emerging technologies into our service offerings. These interactions are what make attending EPC and DevSummit more than just a learning experience—they make it an opportunity to build relationships that fuel growth and innovation.

A Minor Perk: Escaping Central Illinois in March😉

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the minor perk of escaping the unpredictable weather of Central Illinois in early March. Palm Springs provides the perfect backdrop for a week of learning and networking, with its warm sunshine and stunning views of the San Jacinto Mountains. Even though it did rain for a day or two, it’s still a welcome change from the Midwest’s lingering winter, and it certainly adds to the appeal of making the annual trek to EPC and DevSummit.

Why I Keep Coming Back

After five EPCs, I can confidently say that attending is about more than just staying up to date with the latest GIS technology—it’s about being part of a community that’s shaping the future of geospatial innovation. The sessions provide the knowledge, but the connections provide the inspiration and momentum to apply that knowledge in ways that drive real impact.

If you’re considering attending in the future, I can’t recommend it enough. Whether you’re a developer looking to deepen your technical expertise, a business leader focused on expanding your GIS capabilities, or a partner aiming to better serve your clients, EPC and DevSummit offer a unique blend of learning, networking, and inspiration that’s hard to find anywhere else. Plus, a little sunshine in Palm Springs doesn’t hurt either.

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We recently completed a major installation of ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 for a client, which included a complete data migration into their new system. Utilizing ArcGIS Pro, we published layers from their database directly to their new portal. Everything was set up for a seamless experience—until an unexpected issue emerged.

The Alignment Issue

After deploying the webmap in an Experience Builder application, our team noticed that the map layers were not aligning correctly with the basemap. Here’s what we observed:

The image above is intentionally fuzzy.

Consistently Inconsistent: Despite verifying projections and coordinate systems, every republish of the map layers resulted in misalignment in the ArcGIS Portal webmap. The fiber network feature seemed to ‘hop’ around the map space.
Conflicting Results Across Devices:
- The client’s computer exhibited persistent alignment issues.
- Interestingly, when we accessed the portal on our systems, as well as on an iPad or another user’s computer, the map data aligned perfectly.

This inconsistency was perplexing and demanded deeper investigation.

The Debugging Journey

We began by rechecking every variable that could influence map rendering:

The image above is intentionally fuzzy.

Revalidating Projections and Coordinate Systems:
We double-checked all spatial references, confirming that there were no discrepancies that could cause the misalignment.
Republishing Multiple Times:
Despite several attempts and republishing sessions, the misalignment persisted on the client’s main system.
Browser and Cache Considerations:
We had the client try different browsers and even cleared browser caches—none of which resolved the issue.
A Surprising Discovery with Developer Tools:
The breakthrough came when we noticed that opening Chrome Developer Tools seemed to “correct” the alignment. This was a critical hint that the issue might be related to the browser’s rendering dimensions.

The Root Cause: Screen Resolution and Size Limits

Digging deeper, we discovered that the primary client’s workstation featured a 49″ wide screen with a resolution of 4216 x 976 pixels. When the browser window was resized (as it often is when opening Developer Tools), the map data would align properly.

After thorough testing, we pinpointed the issue to a specific limitation: the Experience Builder application’s map element appears to have a maximum width limit for properly displaying a mapping service. Our tests revealed that:

A Webmap element set to 3280 pixels would not align correctly.
Once we reduced the width to 3275 pixels, the map aligned perfectly.

This finding confirmed that the Experience Builder webmap element has a hard limit of 3275 pixels. Exceeding this limit can lead to unexpected rendering issues like the one we experienced. This is our experience, your results may vary.

Lessons

Screen Resolution Matters:
Large monitors and high-resolution screens can expose limitations in web application design that might not be apparent on standard displays.

Dynamic Testing Can Reveal Hidden Issues:
Simple actions like opening Developer Tools, which resize the browser window, can provide clues about underlying layout constraints.
Set Explicit Limits:
When designing applications in Experience Builder, consider setting maximum element widths to prevent layout issues across different devices and screen sizes.
Document Your Findings:
Sharing insights like these can help other developers avoid similar pitfalls and contribute to a more robust design for web mapping applications. We’re all swimming the dark, your discovery may open the door for someone else.

While our initial installation and data migration were successful, the misalignment issue provided an opportunity to dive deep into the nuances of Experience Builder’s rendering behavior. Understanding that a pixel limit of 3275 exists for the webmap element not only helped resolve our client’s issue but also highlighted the importance of considering display dimensions during application design.

Reinforced Attendance.