Modern challenges in geodesy and cartography call for an interdisciplinary approach and the integration of various academic centres capable of meeting the growing demands of this dynamic field. The response to these challenges is the “GeoIntegration” project – a research cooperation platform aimed at building a network of national academic centres involved in geodesy and cartography research. This initiative, carried out as part of a task commissioned by the Minister of Science and Higher Education, holds strategic importance for the future of the Polish scientific community in this field.

The coordinator of the task is Katarzyna Osińska-Skotak, PhD, associate professor, who also co-developed the concept for its implementation. The concept was the result of discussions on the state of scientific activity in the broadly understood field of geodesy and cartography and its position within the scientific discipline of civil engineering, geodesy, and transport. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education allocated 400,000 PLN for the implementation of the task.

The main goal of the project is to strengthen national academic centres by fostering research cooperation and enhancing their research capacities. As a result of collaboration between various scientific institutions, the project is expected to yield outcomes such as new research projects, scientific publications, and the development of new research directions. The long-term objective is to establish a lasting platform for inter-university research cooperation that will support the development of young researchers and future research staff in Poland.

“The biggest challenge in implementing the ‘GeoIntegration’ project turned out to be the multitude of organizational and formal issues involved in planning and coordinating individual events,” says Katarzyna Osińska-Skotak, PhD, associate professor and task coordinator. “These events, aimed at fostering multi-centre cooperation, are organized by various faculties offering programmes in the field of geodesy and cartography.”

Thanks to the involvement of all cooperating units, the initial difficulties were successfully overcome, and the first planned event – the GeoAI’2024 Hackathon – was held. A new approach to team formation was introduced during the event, with teams being created through a random draw.

“Carrying out tasks in such structured teams allowed participants to significantly expand their competencies in collaboration and in building inter-university, interdisciplinary teams,” explains Katarzyna Osińska-Skotak, PhD, associate professor. “Participants had the opportunity to experience both the challenges and the benefits of working in this kind of team in practice.”

Such solutions align with one of the main objectives of the task: integrating various research communities conducting research in the field of geodesy and cartography. The organization of the Hackathon fulfilled its purpose – it brought together participants from eight academic centres.

So far, 11 people from the Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography have been involved in the project, taking on various roles related to coordinating activities, organizing events, and collaborating with partners.

Work is currently underway to organize the second planned event: “Remote Sensing and Data Processing,” which will take place at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków in early May 2025. A call for applications has also been launched for research internships for doctoral students at national research institutions.

The implementation of all events within the project will benefit not only young researchers but also the entire scientific community involved in geodesy and cartography in Poland. Additionally, the creation of a national research infrastructure platform will provide scientific institutions with access to modern tools and resources that can support further research.

More information about the project is available at www.gik.pw.edu.pl.