Department of Geography and Geographic Information Systems Holds the Second international Conference

Department of Geography and Geographic Information Systems held the second international scientific geographic conference in Iraq Hall, College of Arts – Al-Iraqia University, on Wednesday and Thursday , February 22-23, 2023, in presence of the Rector of the University Prof. Dr. Ali Saleh Hussein Al-Jubouri and Assistant Rector of the University For scientific affairs, Prof. Dr. Khamis Awad Zaidanas well as a number of deans of the faculties of the University, with the participation of 113 researchers from 10 countries, including 35 universities, research institutions and scientific centers.

The conference included a speech by the Dean of College of Arts, Prof. Dr. Hussein Dakhil Al-Bahadli, in which he welcomed the participating guests, especially guests from Palestinian Universities. The conference was attended by a number of retired geographers in Iraq. A summary of the first geographical conference and the activities of Geography Department since its establishment in 2012-2013 to date was presented.

During the conference, four research workshops took place, starting with announcing the entry of Al-Iraqia University into Iraq Geographical Gate, the interactive project of the Presidency of Council of Ministers and Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well as a discussion of the ethics of geographic information systems by American Dr. (Joseph J. Kerski, PhD) consultant at the Environmental Systems Research Foundation ESRI and Prof. Dr. hab. Marek Dutkowski / Poland / University of Schegen, Poland, (Geographic Information Systems as a tool for creating, shaping and using cyberspace, and a research paper by Dr. Faisal Sabah entitled (The application of structural plans in Palestinian cities using geographic information systems – an applied study for the city of (Nablus).

It is worth noting that 67 scientific research papers were discussed distributed in nine scientific halls with a ZOOM link, to produce results indicating that the second geographical conference, with its global dimension, presented a vision that applied geography contributed to digital transformations, and it is expected that this conference will contribute to building a sustainable vision of geoinformatics in all its dimensions, to highlight awareness Geographers of the comprehensive developments towards a digital revolution in which geographers from all parts of the globe participate and contribute with a unified vision to achieve development and sustainability for the whole world.

The conference aimed to spread technology based on positioning to revolutionize the smart management economy in creating job opportunities for geographers with an increased absorption of geospatial information, as well as increasing the importance of the role of official institutions in providing basic infrastructure and reliable reference data, to ensure the accuracy, consistency, sharing and use of information. Effectively, reducing the geospatial digital divide, which is widening day by day. It is necessary to take quick measures to prevent further decline in these countries. And to highlight the most important problems in the field of environmental balance, the most important of which are climate changes and food. In conclusion, certificates of participation and shields were distributed on the researchers.