The 10th Symposium on Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (UZAL-CBS 2026) opened at the Prof. Dr. Osman Turan Culture and Congress Center. Hosted by KTU Department of Geomatics Engineering in collaboration with Istanbul Technical University (ITU), the event brought together academics, researchers, public officials, and students to discuss recent developments in remote sensing and geographic information systems.

The opening ceremony was attended by KTU Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Bünyamin ER, representatives of local and national institutions, university administrators, academics, and students.

New Disaster Research Institute to Support Disaster Management

Speaking at the opening ceremony, our Acting Rector, Prof. Dr. Bünyamin ER, began by expressing his sympathy for those affected by severe weather conditions in Istanbul. He highlighted the importance of geographic information systems and remote sensing in disaster preparedness and response. He also noted that KTU's recently established Institute of Disaster Research would support field studies and help turn scientific findings into practical solutions for society.

Our Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Temel VAROL, emphasized the need for interdisciplinary approaches to today's environmental and urban challenges. He also expressed his pleasure in hosting the symposium, drawing attention to KTU's long-standing academic experience in engineering and related fields.

Turning Data into Meaningful Knowledge

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra TUNÇ GÖRMÜÅž, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee, emphasized that while space technologies now allow us to observe nearly every part of the Earth, the real challenge lies in understanding the information they provide. She explained that the goal was not simply to collect more data, but to turn that data into scientific knowledge and, ultimately, benefits for society.

Following the opening speeches, the symposium continued with its invited speaker sessions.

Dr. Atilla YILMAZ, a researcher at the TÜBÄ°TAK Polar Research Institute, delivered the first invited presentation, titled "Polar Regions and Remote Sensing Studies." He discussed the importance of the Arctic and Antarctic regions to the global climate system, the effects of climate change in these areas, and research conducted during national scientific expeditions using satellite observations, ground measurements, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The program also included presentations by Prof. Dr. Taşkın KAVZOĞLU on "New Horizons in Monitoring the Climate Crisis: GeoAI" and Prof. Dr. Alin ACHIM from the University of Bristol on "Model-Based Machine Learning for Compressive SAR Imaging," scheduled for later sessions.

116 Papers Across 18 Sessions

Running from October 15 to 17, 2026, UZAL-CBS 2026 will feature 116 research papers, including 98 oral presentations and 18 posters, across 18 sessions held in three parallel conference rooms. The symposium cover a wide range of topics, including AI-assisted remote sensing, disaster management, smart cities, landslide risks in hazelnut-growing areas, and forest fire monitoring.

 

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