GIS Day 2025 | UBC GIS

Celebrate GIS Day 2025 with Us!

GIS Day 2025 is coming soon! Join us on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, at the Dodson Room in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus.

GIS Day is an annual worldwide celebration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology and community, dedicated to promoting geospatial literacy, education, and awareness.
This event brings together students, educators, researchers, and industry professionals who share an interest in geography, cartography, remote sensing, spatial data science, and related fields.

Whether you are an experienced GIS professional or just curious about spatial technologies, JOIN US!

Date: November 19, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Dodson Room, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
Address: 1961 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1

What to Expect

GIS Day 2025 will feature a variety of engaging sessions and activities, including:

Demos – Explore new geospatial tools and applications.
Workshops – Hands-on learning sessions with GIS experts.
Lightning Talks – Short, inspiring presentations showcasing current GIS research and innovation.
Research Talks – Learn from UBC researchers and students applying GIS across disciplines.
Industry Speakers – Hear from professionals using GIS in real-world projects.

Program Schedule

☕ 9:00 AM — Welcome & Refreshments

Coffee and snacks available

🎤 9:15 AM – Opening Remarks

Dr. Paul Pickell Professor, Faculty of Forestry, UBC

Topic: Introduction and Opening

Duration: 15 min

🌲 9:30 AM – Research Talk

Kate van de Berg MGEM, UBC

Topic: Resistance and Resilience of Forests Facing Western Spruce Budworm

Duration: 15 min talk + 5 min Q&A

🌐 9:50 AM – Lighting Talk

Sadie Russell PhD Student, Faculty of Forestry, UBC

Topic: SCGIS Canada Vancouver Chapter

Duration: 5 min

⏸️ 9:55 AM – Break (5 min)

🗺️ 10:00 AM – Research Talk

Kelvin Boateng MGEM, UBC

Topic: Street-Level Mapping Using Mapillary (Open-Source Application)

Duration: 15 min talk + 5 min Q&A

🏛️ 10:20 AM – Research Talk

Shreya Singh & GIS Team UBC SmartCity GIS Team

Topic: Mapping Accessibility in the Built Environment of UBC

Duration: 15 min talk + 5 min Q&A

🧭 10:40 AM – Research Talk

Rachel Wiersma & Tom Lavery UBC Campus and Community Planning

Topic: Wayfinding at UBC

Duration: 15 min talk + 5 min Q&A

⏸️ 11:00 AM – Break (5 min)

🔥 11:05 AM – Research Talk

Irina Yan GIS Specialist & Resource Analyst, RPF, Meristem Insights

Topic: Disturbance Footprint

Duration: 15 min talk + 5 min Q&A

🧠 11:25 AM – Research Talk

Nuo Xu PhD Student, Faculty of Forestry, UBC

Topic: Seeing Beyond Pixels: A Journey into eCognition and Object-Based Image

Analysis Duration: 15 min talk + 5 min Q&A

🤖 11:45 AM – Workshop

Kendra Munn 3D Urban Specialist, Esri

Topic: GeoAI, Deep Learning, and AI Assistants in Esri Technology

Duration: 50 min talk + 5 min Q&A

🥪 12:40 PM – Social & Closing

Informal networking and refreshments
Duration: 1 hour

Registration

Registration Deadline: Nov 12

Registration is required for anyone who wishes to give a presentation, lightning talk, or research talk at GIS Day 2025.
If you’d like to share your work, please register early to secure a presentation slot.

General attendees are also encouraged to register so we can keep you updated on the latest event details.

Register here: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eUKcjZPPzWebreK

or Scan QR Code:

Join Us for GIS Day 2025!

Be part of the global movement celebrating the power of maps, data, and spatial thinking.
Mark your calendar, register today, and get ready to explore the world through the lens of GIS.