The prestigious event was held under the motto “See What Others Can’t” and was officially opened by Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.
Sofia, 14 November 2019 - For the 21st consecutive year, Bulgaria celebrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day. The prestigious event was held under the motto “See What Others Can’t” and was formally opened by Rosen Zhelyazkov, Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Maria Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation and Youth at the European Commission, Justin P. Friedman, US Deputy Ambassador in Bulgaria Krassimir Zhivkov, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, lieutenant-general Dimitar Iliev, Deputy Chief of Defense, Ministry of Defense and Evgenia Karadjova, General Manager of ESRI Bulgaria – the leading company in the field of GIS in Bulgaria and the official organizer of the forum in the country.
The International GIS Day continued with a plenary session during which Adriano Baptista, Director of Operations at the European Union Satellite Center and Francisco Nobre, Vice-President of the European Emergency Calls Association (112) shared their international experience and demonstrated innovative GIS applications that the two organizations use for analysis, planning and informed decision-making on security, crisis management, search and rescue, emergency calls, law enforcement. etc.
The Bulgarian experience in the field of GIS technologies was shared by Zlatina Nikolova, Head of Broadband Technologies and Applications Department and Daniela Pesheva, etc. Director of IT Directorate at the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, who made a live demonstration of the GIS-based Single Information Point platform. The main emphasis in this part of the program was also the participation of Iliyana Todorova, Director of the Water Management Directorate at the Ministry of Environment and Water, who presented the ongoing project for “Development of a Water Management System in the Iskar River Basin as a First Phase of the National Real-Time Water Management System (NRTWMS)“. In the field of security, Mladen Petrov, Director at the Ministry of Interior, Communication and Informations Systems Directorate presented the modern GIS applications for real-time monitoring, analysis and management used by the Office in service of the society. Another main focus of the program was the implementation of GIS for the improvement of the public works and territorial planning, where Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality, as well as representatives of Vision for Sofia, participated.
At an official award ceremony later that day were presented the Special Achievement in GIS Awards. “Bulgaria holds an honorable place on the world map with the GIS projects that are implemented every year in our country,” said Evgeniy Karadjova, General Manager of ESRI Bulgaria at the opening of the awards ceremony. “I`m proud to say that many innovative and at the same time extremely useful GIS systems are being built in our country“, Ms. Karadjova emphasized.
The Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications received the award for “Applying innovative GIS technologies for the construction of a national electronic platform” Single Information Point”. The award was presented by Marianna Nikolova, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Demographic Policy, who emphasized that this is the largest project for e-Governance in the Republic of Bulgaria and its realization is a prerequisite for better internet connectivity, as well as stimulating economic development in the country. The prestigious award went to Rossen Zhelyazkov, Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications.
The Ministry of Energy received the award for “Long-standing contribution to the use of advanced GIS solutions for efficient energy management in Bulgaria”. The award was received by Zhecho Stankov, Deputy Minister of Energy from Valentin Yovev, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.
The Burgas Municipality was awarded for “Implementation of the latest GIS technologies and sustainable development of Geographic Information Systems in support of municipal activities”. Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo presented the award to Ruska Boyadzhieva, Deputy Mayor for European Policies and Environment of Burgas Municipality.
Mozaika Technology Laboratory received the award in the Private Business category for Applying a Scientific Approach and Innovative GIS Solutions for Creating New Generation Information Systems. Gergana Passy, Digital Champion of Bulgaria and founder of the Digital National Alliance, presented the prestigious award to Mariana Damova, CEO of Mozaika, wishing her to continually build a mosaic of innovations.
In the “Education and Science” category the University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev” received an award for “Application of the most modern GIS technologies for building GIS capacity in Bulgaria”. Assoc. Prof. Peter Nikolov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science presented the award to Prof. Dr. Eng. Plamen Daskalov, Deputy Rector of the Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”
The winners of the National Story Map Contest “Stories, Projects and Dreams on a Map” were also honored at the awards ceremony. The competition is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture. In the “Printed map” category, Colonel Ivan Inkovski, Chief of the Military Geographical Service, presented the award to the Ministry of Interior for the map “Assessment of fire damage near the village of Bryagovo, Haskovo region on 12-08-2019″. The interactive map awards went to the Troyan Monastery “Uspenie Bogorodichno” in the “Travel and Tourism” category for the map “Pilgrimage Tour of the Troyan Monastery”, Strumyani Municipality in the “History and Culture” category for the map “Maleshevo sings and dances”, Rosen Ivanov, University of Architecture, Civil Eng. and Geodesy won in the category “Sustainable Development” for “Map of Areas Suitable for Organic Beekeeping” and Asparuh Kamburov, professor at the University of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilski “in the “Education and Science” category for the map “Bachelor program Surveying and Geodesy. Who are we?”. The “Map of the audience” award went to Elisaveta Stoev, a student at Sofia University” St. Kliment Ohridski “for the map “Ecological construction. Is there a future in Bulgaria?”
Official partners of the 21st GIS Day in Bulgaria were the record 47 organizations, including: Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Bulgarian Association of Software Companies, American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, Foundation for Local Government Reform, Bulgarian Council for Sustainable Development, Union of Surveyors and Land Builders in Bulgaria, Union of Architects in Bulgaria, Union of Urbanists in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Construction Chamber, Bulgarian Water Association, AFCEA Sofia Chapter, Bulgarian Association of the Police Chiefs, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria, Digital National Alliance, Move.bg, Bulgarian Cartographic Association, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, University of Mining and Geology, University of Forestry, SCGIS Branch Bulgaria, Green Balkans, Bulgarian Geographical Society, Geographer BG, Bulgarian Red Cross, NATO Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence, Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology, Bulgarian Natural Gas Association, Institute for Road Safety, Electronic Communications Association, Bulgarian Association of Cable and Communication Operators, Bulgarian Association for Geospatial Information Systems, BTV Media Group, National Geographic Bulgaria, City Media Group, CIO, Computerworld , Esri, Geographica Ltd., Stemo, SAP, HERE, Siela Norma, GIS Solutions and Agora 66.
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