The symposium covers a broad range of topics, in line with the terms of reference of the WGs:

Symposium Themes

WG 1: Spatial Data Representation and Interoperability

• Data interoperability (data models, formats, metadata, etc.)
• Conceptual models for spatial data representation and associated data
• The use of international standards for scalability and reusability
• Disconnected developments and interoperability
• Good practices for data management, storage, processing and exchange
• Semantic technologies, ontologies and linked data
• Big data spatial representation, mapping, connection and federation of disconnected data models 
• Solutions for effective and meaningful spatial data integration
• Collaboration with standardisation organisations (OGC, buildingSMART, W3C…)
• Practices and research related to use of spatial data spaces

WG 2: Artificial Intelligence and Uncertainty Modeling in Spatial Analysis

• Data mining, machine learning and artificial intelligence methods
• Spatial statistics for uncertainty assessment
• Methods to assess quality of spatial decision-making processes
• Big spatial data collection, fusion, mining, and assessment
• Artificial intelligence algorithms for spatial analysis, spatial statistics and uncertainty modeling
• Uncertainty modelling and visualisation
• Sensors and their calibration, fusion and information extraction
• Data quality and uncertainty assessment
• Intelligent and generally accepted quality control techniques and standards
• Uncertainty assessment, deep web, linked data etc.

WG 3: Geo-computation and Geo-simulation

• High-performance Geocompuation/Geosimulation techniques
• Reliable Geocompuation/Geosimulation techniques to resolve uncertainties
• Knowledge-based Geocompuation/Geosimulation techniques
• Complex network analysis methods to detect patterns and analyse their vulnerability, reliability and resilience
• Agent-based simulation and cellular automata
• Effective integration of Geocomputation/Geosimulation techniques in spatial decision support systems
• OGC standards for Geocomputation/Geosimulation (e.g. web processing service)

WG 4: Data Management for Spatial Scenarios

• Advanced interfaces for spatial data interoperability, spatial analysis and artificial intelligence, geosimulation, spatially enabled digital twins, point cloud processing
• OGC/ISO standards
• Model, store, integrate, and manage voluminous and heterogeneous geospatial data
• Semantically rich spatial data structures, spatial indexing schemes and generic analytical tools
• Intelligent data preparation and analysis, geospatial data access methods
• Geometric and topological relations, data aggregation, integration, and scalability
• Federated spatial data models and linked data
• Strategies for fusion of multi-dimensional spatial models
• Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), socio-economic models, and IoT data

WG 5: Extended Reality and Visual Analytics

• Human factors in geovisualisation
• Evaluations of geovisualisation/AR/VR design
• Spatial cognition in geovisualisation/AR/VR
• Asssessments of geovisualisation/AR/VR methods and techniques
• Open source and open content geovisualisation/AR/VR development
• Novel use cases and applications of geovisualisation/AR/VR, e.g., in the context of metaverse
• Visual analytics for (small and) big data exploration including machine learning and artificial intelligence based methods
• New extended reality tools for exploring phenomena considering dimensions of space, place and time
• New and novel visualisation techniques and tools, e.g., AI/ML based content creation
• Visualisation of heterogeneous geographical data, building information models (BIM), big data sets

WG 6: Human Behaviour and Spatial Interactions

• Novel models for understanding human behaviour
• Challenges and issues in human behaviour uncertainties
• Mechanisms of the interactions between human behaviour and living environments
• New spatial analysis technologies for understanding individual and collective behaviour uncertainties
• Understanding and assurance of spatial data quality of human-generated spatial content
• Methods for visualisation of human behavior
• Strategies for handling geo-privacy and ethical issues
• Spatial behaviour theory of human activity modeling
• Understanding and modelling human behavior

WG 7: Intelligent Systems in Sensor Web and IoT

• Fusion and integration of data from sensors, IoT devices, and crowd sources
• New methods and techniques for analyzing, predicting, and simulating data from sensors
• Ethical use of and trust in data
• Sensor web, IoT, crowdsourcing
• Participatory and intelligent systems for user-centered planning and decision support
• Intelligent use of data from sensors, IoT devices, crowdsourcing, and intelligent/participatory systems
• Implementation of UNs’ SDGs

WG 8: Digital Twins for Mobility and Navigation

• Conceptual frameworks for a digital twin
• Development of algorithms and standards for semantic and topological modelling
• Tracking and data mining for way-finding, traffic monitoring, behavioural control, multi-modal mobility in indoor/outdoor environments
• Digital twins for navigation, location based services and mobility in indoor/outdoor
• Quality of semantic and topological modelling methods, standards and algorithms
• OGC/ISO standards for mobility and navigation
• Adapted mobility and navigation solutions for vulnerable and aging people
• Green and resilient mobility and navigation solutions for sustainable cities

WG 9: Spatially Enabled Urban and Regional Digital Twins

• Artificial intelligence-based methods for real-time data analysis and data fusion
• Innovative geospatial models for building, urban and regional digital twins
• Methodologies for BIM, GIS, sensors, and IoT data integration
• Testing, adapting and development of semantically rich and standardized 3D city models
• Best practices and lessons learned to understand common problems and implement solutions
• Implications associated with the adoption of digital twins in the real-world

WG 10: Applied Spatial Science for Public Health

• Spatial technologies for public health
• Citizen science for the collection of infectious, chronic, and vector-borne diseases
• Spatial statistics for public health
• Multi-dimensional spatial data handling and management
• Mechanism for insights and patterns on multi-dimensional data
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) for hotspot detection and early warning systems
• Dedicated health open GIS resources repositories

WG 11: Cultural Heritage Visualization and Virtual Restoration

• Cultural heritage cognition and conceptual modelling
• Data integration and knowledge discovery
• Deterioration monitoring and assessment of culture heritage
• Deep learning of heritage deteriorations: symptom classification and visualisation
• Dynamic monitoring of heritage deteriorations based on hyperspectral and X-ray techniques
• Evaluation and preventive protection of heritage deteriorations
• Digital twins and virtual restoration of cultural heritage
• Digital storytelling presentation and interpretation of cultural heritage (space, material, value)
• Conservation and sustainable development based on multi-source information fusion
• Digital cultural heritage applications and services

ICWG IV/III: Global Mapping for SDGs

• Scientific and technological challenges in support of SDG monitoring
• Use of geospatial information and earth observation for measuring and monitoring SDGs
• Novel and innovative methods for deriving essential geospatial variables for SDGs
• Geospatial knowledge services and collaborative platforms
• Understanding of the role of geospatial information and earth observation in monitoring SDGs
• Capacity building for monitoring SDGs in developing countries

• State of the art of openness (data, software, infrastructures, standards, policies and initiatives)
• Barriers for the development of open approaches
• Open science and reproducibility of research
• Good practices to adoption and engagement (e.g. capacity building, open competitions, hackathons, etc.)
• Communication and data exchange between stakeholders and practitioners
• Educational and training activities
• Best practices relevant to openness in geospatial and remote sensing

• Advanced Technologies of High Accuracy Indoor Positioning
• Indoor and Outdoor Seamless Positioning
• GNSS+5G Positioning and Communication
• Multi-sensor Integrated·Indoor Outdoor·Positioning·and·Navigation
• Indoor Mobile Mapping
• Underground Space Positioning and Navigation
• Marine Geodetic Positioning and Marine Resilient PNT
• Deep Space Positioning and Autonomous Navigation
• Smart Wearable Positioning
• Visual Perception and Visual Positioning
• Robot Localization and Perception
• LEO Navigation Augmentation
• Human Body Interior Space Navigation and Positioning
• Information Perception, Localization and Semantic Mapping of Underwater Environment
• Location-based Knowledge Mining and Services
• Privacy-preserving Localization and Location-based Service
• New Advances in Ubiquitous Positioning