The achievements of the EU-funded INTEGRAL project were successfully presented at the 6th Congress on Geographical Information Systems and Spatial Analysis in Agriculture and Environment, held in Athens, Greece, on 19–21 May 2026.
The Congress was organized by the GIS Research Unit of the Agricultural University of Athens and Hellas GIS.
Maria Bezerianou, National Technical University of Athens, presenting at the Congress (Source: GIS Unit, Agricultural University of Athens)
Over its 36-month implementation period (February 2023 – January 2026), the INTEGRAL project aimed to strengthen the capacity of four universities in Lao PDR for agricultural resilience, supporting the country's adaptation to climate change. This goal was pursued through two main dimensions: the use of intelligent geotechnologies (integrating mapping, earth observation, GIS and AI) and the introduction of hybrid and student-centered learning methods.
The presentation highlighted the project's significant impact, achieved through the successful cooperation of universities from Europe and Lao PDR, as well as key stakeholders active in Laos.
Project results included four new courses on intelligent geotechnologies and their application to climate-resilient and adaptive agricultural practices, four equipped geotechnology laboratories, the training of more than 380 university staff, students and stakeholder staff, and the implementation of a methodological crop-type mapping framework. Furthermore, the project's communication and dissemination activities reached more than 800 stakeholders in Laos and more than 7,000 internationally.
The project has led to the establishment of the National Network for Geotechnology Information Sharing for Climate Change Adaptation in Lao PDR, which will ensure the sustainability of project outcomes in the years to come.
Our contribution (in Greek):
Bezerianou, M., Tomai, E., Kokla, M., Tsihrintzis, V., Karakizi, C., Darra, A., Mansourian A., Poussart J.-N., Phasouysaingam A., Chanthavong I., Somsivilay P., Manivanh N., Khamphila K., Kavouras, M. (2026).
Strengthening the Resilience of Agriculture to Climate Change through Education in Geospatial Technologies in Lao People's Democratic Republic.
6th Congress on Geographical Information Systems and Spatial Analysis in Agriculture and Environment, Athens, Greece, 19-21 May 2026 (pdf)
Video of our presentation in Congress Session VII "Geoinformatics in Society, Health and Policy".