The 13^th International Symposium on Geographic Information System of Central Asia (hereafter referred to as GISCA2019) was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan between May 30^th and June 1^st, 2019. This meeting was hosted by Austrian Academy of Sciences and Austria-Central Asia Centre for GIScience, organized by Kyrgyz State University of Construction, Transport and Architecture and co-hosted by Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (RCEECA) and Trimble Navigation Ltd of America. Over 60 people from China, Austria, US, Germany, Australia, South Korea, Russia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan participated in the meeting. 

At the opening ceremony, President of Kyrgyz State University of Construction, Transport and Architecture, President of Kyrgyzstan Academy of Sciences, Director of Kyrgyzstan’s Bureau of Mapping and Geodesy and Director of the Business Development Department of Trimble respectively delivered speech. Chen Xi, Vice President of Xinjiang Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director of RCEECA and Professor of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography introduced the development of RCEECA, the work progress of Bishkek Branch and stage achievements received, and expressed his wish that more research institutes would join the science and technological cooperation of Central Asia.

The theme of this meeting is “from spatial data to spatial intelligence”. Participants exchanged ideas and discussed about geospatial education, new technologies for geodesy and research, remote sensing application, regional sustainability, spatial analysis and the management of geographic information system on environment, water resources, soil and emergency. 44 representatives delivered academic reports. Professor Joseph, academician of Austrian Academy of Sciences, Director of Geographic Information Center and President of Geographic Information College of Salzburg University delivered the keynote speech.

After the meeting, accompanied by President Dzhumatayev of Kyrgyzstan Academy of Sciences, a group of people led by Chen Xi visited the Natural Resources Research Institute and Jalalabad Forestry and Pomology Research Institute under KAS South Branch and conducted field investigation at the meteorological station of the Hydrometeorological Service.

The International Symposium on Geographic Information System of Central Asia, launched by Austrian Academy of Sciences and Austria-Central Asia Centre for GIScience in 2005, is aimed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in geographic information system research among Central Asia countries. RCEECA began to work with Austrian Academy of Sciences since 2014 and actively participated in the organization and preparation for the annual meetings. In 2014, RCEECA hosted the 8^th International Symposium on Geographic Information System of Central Asia in Urumqi.

Chen Xi delivers speech

Conference scene

Visit the Natural Resources Research Institute

Visit the Forestry and Pomology Research Institute

Conduct field investigation at meteorological stations