Welcome to Jido Junction!
Field-tested GIS workflows, tools, and insights for people keeping City and County maps (and departments) running
Hi, I’m Mettja Kuna, and I’ve been in the municipal GIS trenches for over 20 years. I started Jido Geospatial to help small cities and counties make better use of the data they already have — whether that means organizing AGOL chaos, automating repetitive tasks, or just making better-looking maps.
Now, I’m launching Jido Junction — a newsletter for the people who keep local government GIS running (and the folks who depend on it), often with too little time, too few resources, and way too many browser tabs open.
👥 This newsletter is for you if:
You’re the only GIS person in your department — or maybe your whole city
You wear a dozen hats, from AGOL admin to map-maker to data detective
You want clear, practical tips — not theory, not fluff — that actually make your job easier
You don’t work in GIS, but you rely on maps and data to make decisions — planners, engineers, public works supervisors, or anyone who’s ever said, “Can GIS do this?”
You’re trying to simplify your GIS setup, stretch your limited time and budget, and get the most value from the tools you already have
🧰 What You’ll Find Here:
✅ Field-Tested GIS Workflows
Step-by-step tutorials and scripts that solve real problems — especially for Planning, Public Works, Community Services (Parks & Rec), Emergency Services, and Utilities.
✅ Organizational Fixes
Simple strategies for managing ArcGIS Online content, reducing clutter, and preventing “zombie services” no one wants to admit they published.
✅ Automation & Integration Tips
I’m not a professional developer but I’ve written just enough Python and API calls to automate dozens of GIS tasks. I’ll share code that’s “good enough to get by,” with notes on how and why I used it.
✅ Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Lessons from real City and County projects: what worked, what didn’t, and how to make GIS more visible (and more useful) across departments.
✅ Maps That Look Good
Cartography still matters — especially in government. I’ll share tips on building better-looking apps, dashboards, and print maps that people actually want to use.
📦 Tools I Use
Everything you see here is built with Esri software — primarily ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, and Esri’s web tools. I don’t use QGIS or open-source platforms — not because I’m against them, but because the cities I work with are deeply embedded in the Esri ecosystem. If that’s your world too, you’re in the right place.
📬 Why Subscribe?
There are a lot of ways to do things in GIS — and this newsletter is where I share what’s worked for me. It’s practical, honest, and based on real-world constraints. If you're looking for ideas that make your daily GIS life a little easier, this is for you.
I’ll post 2–4 times a month (no spam, no fluff). As a subscriber, you’ll get access to past posts, downloads, and future scripts, templates, and workflows.
If you're curious about my background or want to see past work, visit my portfolio or check out Jido Geospatial.
💸 About Free vs. Paid Subscriptions
Jido Junction will always include some free posts — especially quick tips, tools, and general updates. But if you find the content helpful and want more, a paid subscription unlocks:
Full-length tutorials and deep-dive workflows
Downloadable templates, scripts, and GIS tools I actually use in my consulting work
Behind-the-scenes looks at real city projects and problem-solving approaches
A way to support independent, field-tested GIS content focused on local government needs
If your department can expense it, even better.
Thanks for being here! I’m excited to share what I’ve learned, and I hope Jido Junction becomes a helpful stop in your week.
- Mettja
If you found this helpful, consider forwarding it to a colleague or sharing it with your network:
The more this gets shared, the more I can keep creating practical GIS tools for small-staffed cities and counties.