For five days – from September 28 to October 2, 2026, Sofia will become an arena for world ideas for the future of cities, and the GATE Institute at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” will gather international expertise and turn Sofia into a place where scientists from all over the world present their ideas and research related to the analysis, management and visualization of geospatial data for the creation of sustainable cities and intelligent societies.

As a leading scientific organization in our country and in Europe in the field of big data and artificial intelligence, the GATE Institute will host three prestigious international forums, where leading scientists will show and discuss how science, data and technology can improve the way we plan and manage the urban environment, making it a better place to live.

The news was announced by Prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova – Head of the “Cities of the Future” Department at the GATE Institute during the 3D GeoInfo & 9th Smart Data Smart Cities 2025 – the international event uniting the 20th International Conference 3D GeoInfo 2025 and the 9th International Conference Smart Data and Smart Cities (SDSC) from September 2 to 5, 2025 in Kashiwa, Japan. Prof. Petrova-Antonova was a guest speaker on stage at the event, presenting the synergy between digital city twins and data spaces as two complementary technological solutions for innovation in the cities of the future and announcing the hosting of the GATE Institute for 2026.

“I am honored to be the Chair of 3D GeoInfo | SDSC | LADM & 3D LA 2026 – an event bringing together three prestigious international conferences under one roof in Sofia,” noted Prof. Desislava Petrova-Antonova. – Our goal is to create an environment in which researchers, practitioners and innovators can exchange ideas, share knowledge and inspire young researchers. By combining expertise in the fields of geoinformatics, geospatial data and artificial intelligence, smart cities and intelligent governance of urban planning and design, we strive to develop science and technologies that will shape the sustainable, data-driven societies of the future.

Thank you for your trust and I look forward to working together with the international scientific committees, local organizers and all of you who will contribute to its success.

I invite you to join us in Sofia – to present your developments, to collaborate beyond the boundaries of science and to enjoy not only an inspiring scientific program, but also the rich culture and hospitality of Bulgaria.
Let us together make 3D GeoInfo | SDSC | LADM & 3D LA 2026 a memorable and significant event! ”, added Prof. Petrov-Antonova.

The 2025 conferences were organized with the support of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) and the Urban Data Management Society (UDMS) – international organizations creating a community of global scientists working on new methods for processing, analyzing and visualizing geospatial data. The event was hosted by the Center for Spatial Information Sciences (CSIS) at the University of Tokyo and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT).

In 2026, for the first time since 2018 in the Netherlands, as part of the major international event uniting the two conferences – 3D GeoInfo and Smart Data and Smart Cities, there will also be an international seminar Land Administration Domain Model & 3D Land Administration, supported by another international scientific network – the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG).

Next year, the 3D GeoInfo conference will be held on September 28 and 29, kicking off a five-day scientific marathon related to geospatial science and technology and their application for the creation of planning, management and optimization of urban processes and mitigating the effects of climate change, natural disasters and environmental pollution. The 3D GeoInfo Conference aims to bring together international researchers, practitioners and specialists to discuss the latest advances in 3D geoinformation science and technology. This annual conference offers a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral forum in the field of 3D/4D data collection, management, data quality assurance, analysis, advanced modeling and visualization, with a strong focus on cutting-edge research, technical, application and standardization issues across a variety of disciplines.

From 29 September to 1 October, the Smart Data and Smart Cities Conference, a leading international conference focused on the dissemination and exchange of knowledge and research results related to urban innovation and smart technologies in the European Union, the Americas and Australasia, is being held. It is initiated by the Urban Data Management Society. Each conference fosters communication between senior researchers, students, developers, practitioners and citizens and establishes collaborations on new research topics, creating opportunities for innovation in the cities of the future.

The Land Administration Domain Model & 3D Land Administration (LADM & 3D LA) workshop will be held on October 1 and 2. It will present and discuss new developments in domain-specific modeling of land management, including three-dimensional approaches to land administration (3D LA), taking into account existing standards and the specific requirements of a particular geographical region. Participants will be able to see demonstrations of working systems, pilot projects and prototypes, showing how these technologies are applied in practice for sustainable urban development.