World GIS Day 2025

On 19 November in Sofia, we celebrated World GIS Day 2025, organized by GIS Alliance Bulgaria, an event that annually brings together leading experts, representatives of public administration, academic institutions, and the business sector. The event is part of the global GIS Day initiative – an international celebration aimed at promoting the role of geographic information systems in society, the economy, and sustainable governance.

Our team participated with the presentation “The UN Sustainable Development Goals: An Example of a Global GIS Based on Open-Source Products.” The presentation highlighted the key role of GIS in monitoring and evaluating progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We showcased concrete examples related to mapping poverty and risk areas, education, healthcare, and the analysis of vulnerable groups.

A key focus was placed on the advantages of open-source solutions, their scalability, and their resilience when used in global organizations such as the United Nations. We also demonstrated the significant increase in the use of QGIS over the past decade, underscoring the growing trust in open-source geospatial technologies.

We extend our gratitude to GIS Alliance for the excellent organization and the opportunity to share our experience. We believe that GIS will continue to be a crucial tool for informed decision-making and for achieving a more sustainable future.