Security, sustainable development and smart infrastructure are among the highlights of the GIS conference
On November 20, Bulgaria will celebrate the 25th annual World Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day with a conference under the theme “United in GIS Solutions, We Create a Better Future.” The forum will be held at the Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia, organized by Esri Bulgaria in partnership with more than 50 leading business, academic, non-governmental, and media organizations.
The largest GIS event in the country will bring together renowned international and Bulgarian experts, who will showcase the latest trends, solutions, and best practices in geospatial technologies through live demonstrations. GIS applications and completed projects in various fields will be presented, including cadastre, environment, security, utilities, transport, local governance, spatial planning, education, and more.
A special guest at the World GIS Day conference will be Giuseppe Pino Nobile, Director of Geospatial Technologies at NATO. He will discuss the role of GIS technologies in supporting the Alliance’s Situation Centre. His presentation will highlight the application of geographic information systems in providing situational awareness to the North Atlantic Council and the Military Committee during times of peace, tension, and crises, as well as for high-level exercises. The NATO Geospatial Section team will introduce the conference participants to the wide range of GIS products and services they offer in the land, maritime, air, and space domains. This includes everything from rapid mapping to providing the most up-to-date common operational picture of conflicts and disasters through specialized dashboards and applications.
Significant interest is also expected around the participation of Jan Koppél, Business Development Manager at Esri Europe, during World GIS Day. He will present the latest trends in GIS technologies and their innovative, large-scale applications across Europe. His presentation will cover a range of topics, from the GIS applications used by authorities in Paris to ensure security during the Olympics, to the implementation of GIS for the construction of transnational railways in Europe, as well as the sustainable management of water resources and many other areas.
During the afternoon session of the conference, in the panel titled “Innovative GIS Solutions in Bulgaria,” some of the most significant and interesting GIS projects implemented over the past year in the country will be showcased. Experts from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) will discuss the upgrade of the ministry’s GIS system and the new interagency portal for crisis management plans, which municipalities and regional administrations can now use. Traditionally, the conference will also feature demonstrations of GIS projects for infrastructure needs, including mobile GIS applications and dashboards for maintaining road signage systems, as well as automated processes for the design and maintenance of utility networks. Additionally, innovative cloud-based GIS solutions from the Municipality of Karlovo will be presented, highlighting applications for citizen reporting, transportation, and the green system, along with many other projects.
As part of the GIS Day celebration of in Bulgaria, the National Educational Competition “Exploring the World with GIS” is being held once again, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science. The participants’ projects will be featured in a virtual exhibition accompanying the conference. During an official ceremony on the same day at the Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia, awards will be presented for the best interactive lessons, Story Maps, and other GIS projects created for the competition by teachers, students, and PhD candidates from across the country.
“For 25 years, we at Esri Bulgaria, together with our partners, have been developing and establishing the World GIS Day in Bulgaria. It is an event where all of us, along with experts from various fields, share experiences, best practices, and ideas on how to effectively address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. United by GIS solutions, we aim to create a more sustainable world, and a better future together,” commented Evgenia Karadjova, Founder and Managing Director of Esri Bulgaria.
Participation in the “World GIS Day” conference is free of charge.
Prior registration is required.
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World GIS Day is organized by Esri Bulgaria with the support of Geographica, Telelink Business Services, Ciela Norma, and Agora.
In partnership with:
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Faculty of Geology and Geography at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” Faculty of Economics at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, University “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” – Burgas, University of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilski,” Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar,” Military Academy “Georgi Sava Rakovski,” University of National and World Economy, New Bulgarian University, Veliko Tarnovo University “Sts. Cyril and Methodius,” Higher School of Telecommunications and Posts, National University Center “GIT,” Educational Initiative Space School, University of Forestry, Ruse University “Angel Kanchev,” UniBIT, Shumen University “Bishop Konstantin Preslavski,” South-West University “Neofit Rilski,” Academy of the Ministry of Interior, Association of Police Chiefs, Bulgarian Red Cross, Bulgarian Geographical Society, Bulgarian Cartographic Association, Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology, Green Balkans, Society for the Conservation of Nature and Cultural Heritage with GIS – Bulgaria Branch, National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, Foundation for Local Government Reform, CMDR Centre of Excellence, Bulgarian Construction Chamber, Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Water Association, Bulgarian Natural Gas Association, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Union of Urbanists in Bulgaria, AFCEA Sofia, Institute for Road Safety, Union of Surveyors and Land Planners in Bulgaria, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, BASSCOM, Bulgarian Industrial Association, Union of Architects in Bulgaria, American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, Association for Electronic Communications, Alliance of the Technology Industry, BAGEES, Digital National Coalition, and Move.bg.
With the media partnership of:
National Geographic Bulgaria, Dir.bg, Digitalk, bTV Media Group, BNR, and City Media Group.