// Portfolio

ChrisLyons

GIS Analyst III · Spatial Developer · 5-Language OSS Author
// now
Building tissot — Rust + WASM projection diagnostics engine with QGIS plugin
Building geoflow-stac-mcp — MCP server for AI-driven spatial queries over live STAC catalogs
Writing Null Island Dispatch — GeoAI newsletter on LLMs + spatial reasoning
[email protected] in LinkedIn GitHub 📍 Frankfort, Kentucky

Professional Summary

GIS Analyst III specializing in environmental regulatory workflows, enterprise geodatabase development, and spatial automation. Expertise in bridging legacy systems with modern GIS technologies through custom ArcPy scripting, ArcGIS Pro SDK development, and production-ready automation tools. Publisher of Null Island Dispatch, a newsletter exploring GeoAI and the intersection of artificial intelligence with geospatial technologies.

Professional Experience

GIS Analyst III
Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet
2019 – Present
  • Design and maintain enterprise geodatabases supporting statewide environmental regulatory workflows
  • Develop custom ArcPy scripts and ArcGIS Pro SDK add-ins to automate spatial data processing and map generation
  • Modernize legacy ArcMap workflows to ArcGIS Pro, migrating Microsoft Access-dependent processes to enterprise geodatabases
  • Develop and maintain automated geospatial data processing pipelines
  • Implement automated data validation and quality control processes for geospatial datasets
  • Develop automated map series and reporting systems for regulatory documentation

Technical Skills

GIS Platforms
ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Enterprise Global Mapper ArcGIS Online QGIS
Development
Python / ArcPy C# / .NET TypeScript Rust R JavaScript React Node.js
Spatial / Cloud
DuckDB Spatial GeoParquet COG / STAC PMTiles sf / terra NetTopologySuite
Database Systems
Enterprise Geodatabase Oracle Spatial SQL Server PostGIS

Open Source

Filling the gaps in the geospatial tooling ecosystem — cloud-native I/O, data quality, ETL pipelines, and accessible cartography. Packages for Python, R, .NET, TypeScript, and Rust. All on GitHub.


Writing


GitHub Repositories

tissot
Visual projection diagnostics engine — per-feature distortion heatmaps, CRS recommendations, QGIS plugin, CLI, WebAssembly.
RustMar 2026
FaultLine
Cloud-native geospatial change engine for comparing, validating, and tracking dataset evolution across GeoParquet, COG, and PMTiles.
RustMar 2026
geoflow-stac-mcp
Analytical MCP server for SpatioTemporal Asset Catalogs — AI-driven spatial workflows with DuckDB compute pushed to the edge.
RustMar 2026
GeoWorkbench
AI-driven spatial analysis workbench. Natural language → structured GIS workflows with explainable dataset discovery across services.
TypeScriptMar 2026
ProPilot
Natural language command interface for ArcGIS Pro. Type plain English, preview the action, execute with confidence. Bundled local AI — no API keys.
C#Mar 2026
MapAccessibility
WCAG 2.1 color accessibility checking for cartographic palettes. Zero external dependencies. .NET 8.
C#Mar 2026
MeridianWebsite
News synthesis platform — ingests articles across the political spectrum, clusters by story with AI, produces neutral fact-first summaries.
TypeScriptMar 2026
Declination
Geopolitical event mapping with multi-source narrative analysis. Conversational AI interface to explore how different news sources frame stories.
JavaScriptMar 2026
terra-vista
Interactive 3D terrain visualizer — load GeoTIFF elevation files, explore with color ramps, elevation exaggeration, and orbit controls.
TypeScriptFeb 2026
aboveR
LiDAR terrain analysis and change detection for R — cut/fill volumes, profiling, reclamation monitoring, and KyFromAbove access.
RMar 2026
stacr
Tidy STAC workflows for R — pipe-friendly rstac wrapper returning tibbles. Search, filter, download, cube in one API.
RMar 2026
cloudgeo
Unified cloud-native geospatial reader/writer for R — S3, GCS, STAC, COG, GeoParquet via one API.
RMar 2026
cryptid-tracker-ky
Real-time Kentucky Cryptid Tracker — a delightfully unserious spatial data pipeline project.
PythonMar 2026
ClaudeCodeAgents
Reusable agent configurations for Claude Code — architect, domain expert, and reviewer personas for AI-assisted development.
MarkdownFeb 2026
AI-Dev-Library
Curated library of AI-assisted development patterns, prompts, and scaffolding templates.
DocsMar 2026
gis_markdown_badges
Collection of GIS-themed markdown badges for README files — ArcGIS, QGIS, spatial formats, and more.
MarkdownFeb 2026
signal-lost-web
Web companion to Signal Lost — an atmospheric sci-fi experience built with Three.js.
HTMLFeb 2026
null-island-labs.github.io
Package showcase site for Null Island Labs — the open-source geospatial tooling ecosystem.
HTMLMar 2026

Signature Projects


Education & Certifications

MS Environmental Science
Kentucky State University
May 2021
BS Agriculture & Natural Resources
Kentucky State University
May 2018

// Let's talk
● Open to opportunities

Get in touch

Interested in geospatial engineering, GeoAI, cloud-native spatial infrastructure, or open-source collaboration? I'd like to hear from you.