GIS can be a tool for real management – from spatial planning to infrastructure. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Nikolay Naydenov to experts in the field and students during a forum at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski“. Today he opened the Conference on Open and Free Geographic Information Systems, Open Spatial Data and Open Methods in Remote Sensing.
Deputy Minister Naydenov pointed out that the share of free software in the administration is increasing and the trend is irreversible. Eng. Naydenov informed that over the past year he has trained more than 120 employees in various administrations in the country to work with free software and data within the framework of professional trainings conducted by the Institute of Public Administration. These are people who are already applying what they have learned – open data, analyze, ask questions and look for better solutions, the deputy minister was categorical. He expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the participants in these trainings are now sharing experience and are not so dependent on software licenses and data, but can build solutions themselves. And he added that he will work to achieve more transparency, more control and more expertise within the administration through the use of free software. “Because when data is open, the debate is of better quality. When decisions are based on public information, trust grows. And when the state works with the community, the results are even better“, emphasized the regional deputy minister.
The main goal of the Conference on Open and Free Geographic Information Systems, Open Spatial Data and Open Methods in Remote Sensing is to promote the application of open GIS among students, professionals, public organizations, administrations and those interested in the topic. Workshops were also held within the framework of the forum, in which beginners and advanced players had the opportunity to develop new practical skills.
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