Workshop: Vibe Coding for GIS: Build a "What's Near Me?" Map with AI

Topic: Vibe Coding for GIS: Build a "What's Near Me?" Map with AI

Join me for a few lively hours on a Friday to see how I build applications and how you can too! We'll build a real, live GIS app using AI (Claude Code) to write it. You click anywhere on a map of Portland, and it will show you what's nearby (landmarks, history, odd points of interest) pulled straight from Wikipedia. Along the way, you'll pick up how to use AI to wire up a map to an outside data source, which is a handy skill to have!

I'll build my version in front of everyone so you can copy me and build your own with your own flair! I'm hoping some of you will share what you build at the end!

Format: It's a 3-hour session. Of that time, I'll talk for roughly two hours and have Claude (and you) coding for about one. It'll be all mixed together, though, no rigid blocks or schedules in sight, the perfect way to spend your Friday, learning and being creative! We'll start with an overview of the tooling and AI in general, then I'll demo the build process so that we can all start building our "What's Near Me" app together. From there, we pile on the extras and other fun things (using your own location, or maybe a "walking tour" feature). 

 Speaker: Christopher Moravec is an expert problem-solver and technology innovator who specializes in turning complex challenges into elegant solutions. As the CTO and founder of dymaptic, an Esri Gold Partner, he combines his passion for building software with his expertise in GIS and AI technologies. Known for his creative approach to engineering challenges—from developing enterprise mapping solutions to creating whimsical inventions like candy-dispensing robots—Christopher brings both technical precision and innovative thinking to every project he undertakes.

What folks need:

• A paid AI coding tool. I use and recommend Claude Code—if you don't already have an AI coding setup, give Claude a try. (If you already use OpenAI Codex, that works too.) Claude Code comes with the Claude Pro plan at $20/month, which is all you need. Three hours of building can bump into the limits, so the paid plan matters; paying for one month and canceling after is totally fine. You're welcome to just come and watch without one.

What to bring: No prep/homework other than getting the above tools installed. Try to come with these installed on your computer; there won't be much time for individual software or licensing troubleshooting. If you are feeling adventurous, bring your own "places" or data API to plug in, instead of or in addition to!

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