KazNU hosted the GISCA 2025 conference
The international scientific conference GIS in Central Asia - GISCA 2025 "Digital Earth uniting All" was held at the Al–Farabi Kazakh National University.
The event was attended by more than 130 scientists and experts from Austria, Germany, the USA, China and the countries of Central Asia – Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. The conference was also attended by representatives of internationally renowned organizations such as ESRI, Eurasia-Pacific UNINET, Trimble and ACA*GIScience.
Opening the annual meeting of partner universities of the Eurasian-Pacific University Network UNINET (EPU), Chairman of the Board - Rector of Al–Farabi Kazakh National University Zhanseit Tuimebayev noted that this conference is not only one of the leading scientific platforms in the field of geoinformation technologies and sustainable development, but also a vivid example of international cooperation, scientific integration and digital transformation. In this regard, he expressed deep gratitude to the organizations that traditionally support GISCA: Eurasia-Pacific UNINET (EPU), the Austrian-Central Asian Center – ACA* GIScience, the University of Salzburg.
The purpose and objectives of the 19th GISCA 2025 International Scientific Conference were to discuss current achievements and challenges in the field of geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis, strengthen international scientific cooperation, and promote ideas of sustainable development and digital transformation in universities in Central Asian countries.
The key speaker of the conference, Professor Alexander Zipf of the Heidelberg Institute of Geoinformation Technologies (HeiGIT), made a presentation on the topic: "OpenStreetMap for Humanitarian Action". Richard Baden, Esri's Deputy General Director for the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, also presented a presentation on "The Geographic Approach: Creating Insight and Understanding with GIS".
A number of events were held within the framework of GISCA 2025 on May 29-31, such as the annual meeting of partner universities of the Eurasian-Pacific University Network UNINET (EPU), which is being held as part of the GIS conference in Central Asia – GISCA 2025. There were also trainings and trainings for the participants. They were conducted by Konstantin Nagornyuk, Head of Technical Marketing at Data+ International, and Vyacheslav Ragulin, consultant of this department, "Using ArcGIS Field Maps for Field Soil Sampling". The trainings were also conducted by Manfred Mitlebock, Professor at the University of Salzburg. ESRI Data+ International is the gold sponsor of the GISCA 2025 International Scientific Conference.
The GISCA 2025 international scientific conference was held in five sections: Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and geoportals, Water Resources, Innovative methods in GIS, Climate and Environment, and Remote Sensing Applications.
At the conference, joint international projects were initiated in collaboration with colleagues from Central Asian and European countries to develop inter-university cooperation within the framework of GISCA. These include scientific and practical research of environmental and water management problems of a transboundary water basin using GIS and satellite monitoring, the development of a joint educational program for PhD training in Geoinformation sciences, and the organization of scientific internships for PhD students and undergraduates from Central Asian countries at the Al–Farabi Kazakh National University. As well as the creation of the Digital Demography of Central Asia geoportal with the participation of research centers in Europe and Central Asia.
Since joining Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in the Eurasian-Pacific University Network EPU, university scientists have been successfully implementing joint international projects, within which new educational programs "Geospatial Environmental Management", "Geoinformatics" and transnational trainings have been opened. GISCA 2025 has become a logical continuation of these efforts, where academic initiatives, scientific leadership and human connections shape the future of a digital and sustainable world.
The speakers stressed that in the age of technology it is necessary not only to conduct scientific dialogues, exchange experiences and strengthen international cooperation, but also to promote the ideas of digital transformation, sustainable development and internationalization of education. Thanks to the joint work and efforts of scientists, today young students from around the world gain unique access to the global academic community.
Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
