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GIS-Based Project Management Modernization for National Bobwhite & Grassland Initiative Foundation

Client: National Bobwhite & Grassland Initiative Foundation
Date: May 2024–present
Technologies: ArcGIS Field Maps, Striven API, ArcGIS Notebooks, ArcGIS API for Python, Experience Builder

The National Bobwhite & Grassland Initiative Foundation (NBGIF) restores grassland habitat benefiting bobwhite quail and other native wildlife through a network of state and regional conservation partners. Dymaptic built the Foundation's first spatial infrastructure and grew it, over successive stages, into an integrated field-to-office platform.

The Challenge

NBGIF works with private landowners across multiple states to implement NRCS conservation practices, with cost-share payments based on spatial measurements, such as acres of prescribed burned habitat or linear feet hedgerow cover, adding to the matrix of habitat restored. NBGIF was building from the ground up, with no GIS of its own and no central home for project data. Projects, contracts, and payments were managed in Striven, a business platform with no spatial capability, so measurements taken by field staff, which determine payments, were disconnected from the project management system.

Our Solution

Dymaptic stood up NBGIF's first GIS environment and expanded it into a connected field-to-office system, including:

  • ArcGIS Online as NBGIF's first central home for project data.
  • A customized ArcGIS Field Maps application for online and offline field collection, built around a structured, nested data model (project area, treatment actions, NRCS practices) so geometry is captured once and reused rather than duplicated, with smart data-entry forms filtered by state and NRCS code and managed domains to keep records consistent and complete.
  • A two-way integration between ArcGIS and Striven, NBGIF's project and contract management system, via the Striven API, paired with ArcGIS Notebooks (Python) automation that generates project records and GIS-derived quotes in Striven directly from finalized field data with no manual transcription.
  • ArcGIS Experience Builder administrative tools that let NBGIF configure grant and reporting types, project templates and allowed values without developer involvement, and push projects through the integration on demand rather than waiting for a daily system-wide data share.
  • Support for multiple project types and payment structures, a streamlined workflow variant and expansion to additional states, with ongoing production maintenance and enhancement.

Two side-by-side mobile screenshots of a field data collection app. A green project boundary sits on satellite imagery, and panels guide the user through adding NRCS conservation practices and treatment spots.

Adding NRCS practices and treatment spots to a project in ArcGIS Field Maps

The Impact

NBGIF went from no GIS to a scalable cloud platform of its own. Field measurements flow into project records and payment quotes without anyone needing to re-enter data. The system has grown with the organization, expanding to new states and new project types. In its first two years, NBGIF has recorded more than 1,100 projects, 5,000 NRCS practices and 12,000 resulting tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does NBGIF's ArcGIS system connect to Striven?
A two-way integration through the Striven API, paired with ArcGIS Notebooks (Python) automation, generates project records and GIS-derived quotes in Striven directly from finalized field data. Staff can also push projects through the integration on demand from an Experience Builder tool instead of waiting for the daily data share.
Why do field measurements matter for NBGIF's cost-share payments?
NBGIF's cost-share payments to private landowners are based on spatial measurements, such as acres of prescribed burned habitat or linear feet of hedgerow. Before the project, those measurements were disconnected from Striven, where payments were managed. Now they flow into project records and payment quotes without anyone re-entering data. In its first two years, NBGIF has recorded more than 1,100 projects, 5,000 NRCS practices and 12,000 resulting tasks on the platform.
Can dymaptic connect ArcGIS to our project management or business system?
Yes. If your field data lives in ArcGIS but projects, contracts or payments are managed somewhere else, the software development team at dymaptic can build an API integration so the two systems share data automatically. For NBGIF, that meant field measurements turning into Striven project records and quotes with no manual transcription. The same approach applies to other platforms that offer an API.
Our organization has no GIS yet. Can dymaptic help us get started?
Yes. NBGIF started with no GIS of its own, and dymaptic stood up its first ArcGIS Online environment, then grew it in stages as the Foundation added states, project types and integrations. Conservation groups and other nonprofits can start with a focused first phase, like field data collection, and build on it from there.
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