EFGS Conference 2024

This year’s European Forum for Geography and Statistics (EFGS) conference took place from 10 to 12 December 2024, at Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia. The event was hosted by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia and the Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia. After several years, the conference was held in person again and welcomed around 150 participants from Slovenia and abroad.

The EFGS conference is an annual event dedicated to promoting the integration of geospatial and statistical data. Each year, it brings together experts focusing on topics related to the integration of geography and statistics, particularly the incorporation of geospatial information within statistical production.

The motto of this year’s EFGS conference was "Empowering Data for Shaping Europe's Future". The event offered a combination of strategic content and practical sessions designed to attract high-level decision-makers, implementation managers, and technical experts. Participants gained insights into the latest achievements and best practices in the field and engaged in discussions that will help shape the future of geospatial and statistical data integration.

The conference was opened with addresses by Mag. Apolonija Oblak Flander, Director-General of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, Tomaž Petek, Director-General of the Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia on behalf of Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Jože Novak, Arturo de la Fuente Nuño, Acting-Director of the Directorate for Sectoral and Regional Statistics, and Ingrid Kaminger, President of the European Forum for Geography and Statistics.

Over three days, the conference featured expert discussions and more than 70 presentations across 12 sessions addressing challenges related to the following topics:

• Implementation of the GSGF Europe: showcasing best practices and successful use cases
• Demographic changes and migration through data integration
• Driving digital transformation using geospatial data
• Mapping sustainability and supporting environmental risks management
• European data strategy and geospatial integration

In addition to the professional program, participants had opportunities for informal networking during several social events.

EFGS 2024 - Programme

The conference programme is also available here in PDF format.

Poster Session

10–12 December

Grandis hall

Call for abstracts

We invite you to submit your abstract by 31 October 2024 to efgs2024.surs@gov.si. Abstracts for oral presentations, speed talks or posters (maximum printed size 100 cm x 100 cm) must be submitted in English and should not exceed 250 words. It is the author's responsibility to ensure that the abstract is free from typos and grammatical errors.

You may submit your abstract in Word or PDF format. Please name your file as follows: “LastNameOfAuthor (in capitals)_Abstract_ShortTitle_EFGS2024”.

Once you have submitted your abstract, you should receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive this confirmation, please contact the conference team at efgs2024.surs@gov.si.

Abstracts will be peer-reviewed, and acceptance will be based on content, available space, and overall programme balance. Presenters of selected abstracts will be notified at the beginning of November 2024, along with further instructions and guidance.

To summarise, the key deadlines are as follows:

Tasks and Deadlines

Implementation of the GSGF Europe: Showcasing Best Practices and Successful Use Cases

Description: Practical examples and case studies of implementing the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework (GSGF) in Europe. The session aims to provide actionable insights and proof-of-concepts for practitioners already implementing or looking to adopt GSGF (Europe) principles. The showcasing good practices and use cases ideally cover all five GSGF principles in which a final overview can be made to address the presented examples and case studies to the GSGF Europe Requirements and Recommendations (how such examples and case studies are related to specific requirements in order to support and guide in the implementation of the framework).

Topics: Best practices in GSGF implementation across Europe or globally; Case studies showcasing successful GSGF applications; Practical strategies for adopting GSGF principles; Overcoming challenges in aligning geospatial and statistical data; Enhancing data interoperability through GSGF; Collaboration between national statistical and mapping agencies/geospatial data producers for GSGF; Tools and methodologies for effective GSGF implementation; Impact of GSGF on decision-making and policy support; Lessons learned from early GSGF adopters; Future directions and innovations in GSGF Europe. The bigger picture – GSGF as part of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework.

Demographic Changes and Migration through Data Integration

Description: Role of integrated geospatial and statistical data in addressing demographic changes and migration. Highlighting how data integration can provide insights into migration patterns and support policy lifecycle in this field to address current and emerging demographic challenges and opportunities

Topics: Tracking migration patterns and demographic changes with integrated datasets (e.g., cross- border examples); Analysing impacts through the combination of geospatial, census, and health data; Enhancing understanding of population dynamics; Policy-driven healthcare planning based on integrated data analysis; Addressing challenges in merging real-time geospatial data with periodic census statistics, health statistics, transport/accessibility statistics based on geospatial data and spatial analysis; Innovations in data integration for migration and health analysis; Collaborative approaches to data sharing and integration; Best practices for leveraging integrated demographic datasets for policy-making; Ethical considerations in geospatial and statistical data integration, Statistical confidentiality and confidentiality in geospatial statistics.

Driving Digital Transformation through Geospatial Data

Description: How digital transformation in the European Statistical System is being propelled by the integration of geospatial data. Participants will explore the European Commission's data strategy, focusing on how geospatial analytics enhance data-driven decision-making. Challenges in data privacy, big data integration, and AI implementation will be discussed, alongside solutions to overcome them.

Topics: Digital transformation in the European Statistical System with geospatial data (trends and drivers); Integrating new data sources (EO data, MNO data, etc.) into geospatial statistical production and analytics; Enhancing data-driven decision-making through geospatial technologies; Addressing data privacy and security concerns in the digital era; Overcoming challenges in big data integration with geospatial data; Innovations in geospatial data for digital transformation; Best practices in implementing AI and machine learning for geospatial insights; Case studies on successful digital transformation using geospatial data; Impacts of Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) in official statistics.


Mapping Sustainability and Support Environmental Risks Management

Description: Exploring the role of geospatial data and other capabilities in advancing the European Green Deal's objectives.

Topics: Advancing the European Green Deal with geospatial data integration; Monitoring carbon emissions and land use changes using geospatial technologies; Enhancing biodiversity tracking and conservation efforts through spatial data; Integrating environmental statistics with geospatial data for comprehensive sustainability analysis; Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with geospatial insights (e.g., Ecosystem Extent Accounts); Overcoming challenges in data standardisation and harmonisation across borders; Case studies on successful geospatial applications in European environmental policies; Tools and methodologies for effective policy support and decision-making towards sustainability; Role of geospatial data in achieving climate neutrality and sustainable development in Europe.

European Data Strategy and Geospatial Integration

Description: Exploring the European Data Strategy's impact on geospatial data integration, highlighting efforts to create a unified digital market. Implications of policies such as the Open Data Directive, emphasizing how geospatial data integration supports sectoral data spaces and enhances the interoperability of digital infrastructure across Europe. How geospatial integration fits into the EU data initiatives, such as High-Value Datasets (HVD) and European Interoperability Framework (EIF). Address challenges regarding geospatial data integration in the data policies, namely related data protection, privacy and security (e.g., General Data Protection Regulation).

Topics: Exploring the European Data Strategy's role in enhancing geospatial data integration; Enhancing sectoral data spaces through integrated spatial datasets; Addressing challenges in the interoperability of geospatial data systems; Showcasing policy-driven advancements in geospatial data usage; Case studies on successful integration of geospatial data under European directives; Tools and methodologies for aligning national geospatial data with relevant standards.

You can complete your registration here.

Registrations are open until 29 November 2024. The number of conference participants is limited. We kindly ask you to register for the conference as soon as possible to facilitate planning. Attendance at the conference is free of charge.

The conference will be held at the Brdo Congress Centre, Predoslje 39, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia.

Brdo Estate is located right next to the village Predoslje, near the Gorenjska motorway, halfway between Ljubljana and Bled, and close to the international airport and motorway links. There are plenty of free parking spots available.

The estate is open to all visitors who appreciate the unspoiled nature, cultural heritage and high level of service. Brdo’s estate can boast rich, more than 500-year history. On the estate, the Renaissance Brdo Castle, the beginnings of which go back to the 15th century, and in which many a noble family lived over the centuries. The entire Brdo estate extends in two enclosures: Grajski Park Brdo on 70 hectares and the closed forest part with a natural animal reserve on almost 430 hectares.

The whole estate is designated as a cultural monument of national importance and a natural value of national significance. Due to the species and habitat diversity, as well as for the forest with a special purpose, it is an ecologically important area and a protected Natura 2000 area.

For booking accommodation, we recommend one of the following options located in or near the area where the conference will be held. The availability of rooms is limited, so we suggest booking your stay as soon as possible.

Elegans hotel Brdo

Location: Predoslje 39, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

The hotel is located in close proximity to the Brdo Congress Centre, where the conference will take place, making the event accessible on foot.

Reservations can only be made directly through the hotel reception at the email address recepcija@brdo.si, as all rooms are pre-booked for this event. When making the reservation, please mention that it is for the SURS EFGS event and specify the selected dates.

The price for an overnight stay with breakfast is approximately EUR 120 per person.

There are 99 rooms available.

Hotel Oskar Zaplata

Location: Tupalice 32, 4205 Preddvor, Slovenia

Distance: Approximately 7 km (11 minutes by car) from the conference venue and 9.5 km (11 minutes by car) from the airport.

The hotel offers free shuttle service to and from the airport.

The price for an overnight stay with breakfast is approximately EUR 60 per person.

Hotel Azul

Location: Šuceva 26, 4000 Kranj

Distance: 4.8 km (8 minutes by car) from the conference venue and 6.6 km (10 minutes by car) from the airport.

The price for an overnight stay with breakfast in a single room is approximately EUR 78 per person. Airport transfer can be arranged for an additional fee.

Hotel Creina

Location: Koroška cesta 5, 4000 Kranj

Distance: In the Kranj city centre; a 6-minute walk to the Kranj bus station, approximately 5 km (10 minutes by car) to the conference venue, and 8 km (11 minutes by car) to the airport.

There are 60 single and double rooms available (all rooms have two separate beds). The price for an overnight stay with breakfast is approximately EUR 60 for a single room.

Public bus transport (with a transfer in Kranj) is available from Ljubljana Airport to the Brdo Congress Centre and the Elegans Hotel Brdo. Other transportation options from the airport (shuttle, taxi) are also available and can be found here.

Some contacts for taxi and shuttle service providers:

Taxi Kranj, Dejan Pajić s.p., https://taxidejan.com/services/, +386 51 658 961

Taxi Kranj, Goran Jandrić s.p., https://www.taxikranj.com/, +386 40 943 283

Taxi Božo, Boško Kričković s. p., +386 41 555 602

Here you can find a list of taxi companies with a permission from the Municipality of Kranj.

Shuttle:

GoOpti, https://www.goopti.com/en/

ZUP Prevozi, https://zup-prevozi.eu/en, +386 31 304 141

Nomago, https://www.nomago.si/en/shuttle

Airport – Kranj

The bus timetable from airport to Kranj bus station is available here. Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver.

Kranj – Brdo

To travel from the Kranj bus station to the Brdo Congress Center, you can take the city bus. From Kranj AP (Kranj bus station), take bus line number 5 or 6 to the Brdo stop (in the village of Predoslje), and from there it's about 1 kilometre walk to the Brdo Estate. Those staying in hotels in Kranj can also use the same bus line to the Brdo Congress Centre.

A daily ticket, costing EUR 1.00, can be purchased on the bus or at the Kranj bus station. This ticket allows for unlimited transfers. Each time you board a bus on the same day, you will receive a new validation ticket with a value of EUR 0.00 when presenting your EUR 1.00 ticket. You must carry both the original and the validation ticket during your ride. Issuance of the validation ticket is mandatory (according to the Road Transport Contracts Act).

The bus schedule and fare information is available here.

The bus lines map can be accessed here.

To search for bus departures, you can use the schedule tool on the website, as shown in the image below. It displays departure and arrival times as well as travel duration, making it easier to organize your journey.

Ljubljana – Kranj

The schedule is available here.

Tickets can be purchased at the bus station ticket office (Monday to Friday between 5:00 AM and 10:30 PM). More information is available here.

Gala dinner

On the evening of the first day of the conference, 10 December 2024, a gala dinner will be organized for all conference participants at the Brdo Congress Center. The Lars H. Backer Award will also be presented during the event. Please indicate during registration if you plan to attend. For the gala dinner, you can choose on the conference registration form between two menus. There is a plant-based menu available, as well as one that includes animal products. Any dietary restrictions can also be communicated on the registration form.

Trip to Ljubljana

On the evening of the second day of the conference, 11 December 2024, a trip to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, will be organized. Paid bus transportation Brdo–Ljubljana–Brdo will be provided, along with a paid boat ride on the Ljubljanica River and an organized self-paid dinner. Please indicate during registration if you plan to participate in this event.

The trip will be organized following the conference programme. The approximate timeline:

17:30 Departure by bus from Brdo Congress Center

18:00 Arrival in Ljubljana

18:30 Half-hour boat ride on the Ljubljanica River (where you will be able to see the festively lit city)

19:30 Arrival at the restaurant and dinner until 22:00 at the latest

22:30 Departure by bus from Ljubljana to Brdo Congress Center

For the self-paid dinner on the trip to Ljubljana, you can choose on the conference registration form one of the three menus. The menus are described here to help you decide what to select during registration and will help us with the organisation. Any dietary restrictions can also be communicated on the registration form. The estimated cost of the dinner (including drinks) is EUR 35.

Mushroom soup, veal roast with roasted potatoes, apple strudel with vanilla cream

Vegetable soup, sea bass fillet with chard and potatoes, apple strudel with vanilla cream

Mushroom soup, gluten-free pasta Mediterranean style, vegan chocolate cake

December is a particularly beautiful and vibrant time in Ljubljana. The city centre is adorned with numerous festive lights, and Ljubljana Castle is also illuminated. On the squares and along the banks of the Ljubljanica River, market stalls offer a selection of items perfect for holiday gifts, as well as food stands with festive treats and warm drinks, inviting you to socialize. Locals and visitors to Ljubljana can choose from a wide range of concerts, theatre performances, markets, and other events that enhance the festive atmosphere in December.

Time zone: Slovenia is in the Central European Time Zone (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1).

Currency: The official currency in Slovenia is the Euro (€). ATMs are widely available, and credit and debit cards are accepted in most shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Language: The official language is Slovene, but many people, especially younger residents and those in tourist areas, speak English.

Drinking water: Tap water is safe to drink throughout Slovenia, so there is no need to purchase bottled water.

Healthcare: In case of emergency, call 112. The emergency number for the police is 113. Slovenia has a well-developed healthcare system with medical centres and hospitals in all major cities. It is recommended to carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or travel insurance.

Electricity: The electrical voltage in Slovenia is 230V, with a frequency of 50Hz. Power outlets are of types C, E, and F. If you need an adapter, it's easiest to bring one with you, but they can also be purchased in electronics stores.

Here is the complete photo gallery available.

The author of the photos is Katja Goljat.