Leading Experts from the European Commission and Esri to Arrive in Sofia

On November 19, Bulgaria will mark the 26th World Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day with a large-scale conference themed “GIS connects everything, everywhere – for a more sustainable world”. The event will be held at the Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia and is organized by Esri Bulgaria in partnership with 70 leading business, academic, NGO, and media organizations.

This flagship GIS event in Bulgaria is expected to bring together more than 800 participants from government institutions, local authorities, businesses, academia, and the non-profit sector. International and Bulgarian experts will present the latest trends, solutions, and best practices in geospatial technologies. The conference will highlight innovative GIS applications and real-world projects across a wide range of fields, including environment, security, transport, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and resource management.

A special guest speaker at the prestigious forum will be Dr. Bruno Combal, Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission (EC). He will present the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, along with the Habitats Directive and the Natura 2000 network. In his presentation, Dr. Combal will emphasize how GIS technologies and open geodata support the formulation and implementation of the EC’s environmental policies. The session will also highlight the Commission’s environmental information systems powered by advanced GIS technologies, such as the Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE) – the EU’s central platform for accessing data and knowledge on biodiversity status and progress toward the Union’s environmental goals.

Also arriving in Bulgaria for GIS Day is Arkadiusz Sadkowski, Global Manager for Reality Mapping Solutions at Esri. He will present the latest technological trends in leveraging GIS to create realistic and dynamic digital twins. Attendees will discover global best practices in both large-scale and detailed reality mapping, applied to urban planning, infrastructure engineering, public safety, and natural resource management.

During the technology session, participants will explore the latest capabilities of the ArcGIS platform – from AI-powered assistants and generative agents to new cartographic techniques, ready-to-use spatial analyses, and advanced 3D and field operations.

The afternoon session will highlight some of the most significant GIS projects implemented in Bulgaria over the past year – from new GIS registries and applications integrated into the Single Information Point of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, in line with EU digital connectivity regulations, to the GIS-based crime prevention system of the Ministry of the Interior, and smart GIS solutions for municipalities, including the new Green System GIS of Sofia Municipality.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Leonid Todorov from Sofia University will present a geospatial analysis of transport accessibility to emergency medical services in Bulgaria. Additional demonstrations will showcase how GIS technologies are being applied in other key areas such as flood management, healthcare, and education.

Running parallel to the conference will be a virtual exhibition showcasing projects from the National Educational Competition “Exploring the World with GIS,” held under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science. The best interactive lessons and story maps created by teachers, students, and doctoral candidates will be recognized at an official award ceremony that same evening.

The event will also feature the first National Student Hackathon “GIS & Climate: Solutions for the Future,” where the winning teams will receive their prizes during the ceremony.

The culmination of the event will be the Annual GIS Awards for Outstanding Achievements, honoring organizations, teams, and experts who have contributed to the advancement of geospatial technologies in Bulgaria.

“World GIS Day is where visionaries, professionals, and enthusiasts come together to inspire and build a more sustainable future through geospatial technologies,” said Miglena Kuzmanova, Managing Director of Esri Bulgaria.

Participation in the World GIS Day Conference is free of charge, but advance registration is required. The event is organized by Esri Bulgaria.

With the support of:

Schneider Electric; Geographica; EnduroSat; HERE Technologies; Telelink Business Services; Ciela Norma; and Agora 66.

In partnership with:

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”; Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”; Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”; University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy; University of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilski”; University of Forestry; Bulgarian Geographical Society; Bulgarian Cartographic Association; American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria; National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria; Foundation for Local Government Reform; Bulgarian Association of Information Technology (BAIT); Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASSCOM); AFCEA Sofia Chapter; The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria; Union of Surveyors and Land Managers in Bulgaria; Chamber of Builders in Bulgaria;

Union of Architects in Bulgaria; Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria; Union of Urban Planners in Bulgaria; Bulgarian Water Association; Institute for Transport Infrastructure; Road Safety Institute; Bulgarian Red Cross; Green Balkans; Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology; Bulgarian Natural Gas Association; Association of Police Chiefs; MOVE.BG; Digital National Coalition; Bulgarian Industrial Association; Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; CMDR CEO; Alliance of the Technology Industry; Association of Electronic Communications; BAGIS;

SCGIS Chapter Bulgaria (Society for Conservation GIS – Bulgaria Chapter); Technical University of Sofia; New Bulgarian University; University of National and World Economy; National University Center for Geospatial Research and Technologies at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”; University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT); Higher School of Telecommunications and Posts; Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”; Georgi Stoykov Rakovski Military Academy; Academy of the Ministry of Interior; Institute of Defense “Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov”; Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”; University “Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov” – Burgas;

Vasil Levski National Military University; South-West University “Neofit Rilski”; Shumen University “Episkop Konstantin Preslavski”; Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy; Veliko Tarnovo University “Sts. Cyril and Methodius”; D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics; Space School; National High School of Mathematics and Science “Acad. Lyubomir Chakalov” (NHMS).

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