IGRSM 2026 marks 30 years of geospatial leadership

The 13th IGRSM International Conference & Exhibition on Geospatial and Remote Sensing (IGRSM 2026) brought together Malaysia’s geospatial community and international participants at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, on 5–6 August 2026.

Organised by the Institution of Geospatial and Remote Sensing Malaysia (IGRSM) under the theme “Geospatial Intelligence for a Sustainable Future,” the conference was particularly significant as IGRSM celebrated 30 years since its establishment in 1995.

IGRSM 2026 attracted 192 registered participants, comprising 52 speakers and 140 non-presenting participants/listeners. The programme included three special sessions with six presentations and 11 parallel sessions comprising 51 presentations. The conference exhibition brought together 16 sponsors and exhibitors, providing a platform for interaction between technology providers, government, academia, researchers and geospatial professionals.

Opening Ceremony

The conference was officially opened by Dato’ Gs. Haji Azlikamil bin Napiah, Director-General of the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), representing YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation.

The ceremony began with a welcome address by Professor Sr. Gs. Dr. Abdul Rashid Mohamed Shariff, President of IGRSM and Organising Chair of IGRSM 2026, followed by an address by YBhg. Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohamed Sadullah, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Delivering the opening address on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister, Dato’ Azlikamil congratulated IGRSM on three decades of contribution to geospatial and remote sensing knowledge, professional expertise, industry networks and Malaysia’s wider geospatial ecosystem.

He highlighted the transformation of geospatial technology from its traditional mapping role into a strategic national capability supporting development planning, public asset management, national security, environmental stewardship, disaster resilience and public-service delivery. Remote sensing, GIS, GNSS, artificial intelligence, big-data analytics and Earth observation, he noted, are increasingly enabling governments to make more accurate, timely, predictive and evidence-based decisions.

The opening address also emphasised the importance of greater integration, accessibility and responsible sharing of geospatial information, accompanied by strong governance relating to data integrity, cybersecurity, privacy, transparency, ethical use and national sovereignty. Dato’ Azlikamil further stressed the importance of collaboration between government, academia, industry and the research community, as well as regional cooperation in addressing challenges such as climate change, transboundary haze, maritime security and environmental degradation.

UPM and IGRSM: Three Decades of Partnership

The conference also highlighted the close relationship between IGRSM and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

In his address, UPM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohamed Sadullah congratulated IGRSM on its 30th anniversary and recognised its role over three decades in connecting academia, government, industry and the professional community through conferences, publications, technical activities and international collaboration.

UPM has played an important role in IGRSM’s development. Through the support of the university, particularly its Faculty of Engineering and Geospatial Information Science Research Centre (GISRC), IGRSM has grown from its beginnings in 1995 into a prominent Malaysian professional institution dedicated to geospatial and remote sensing.

Today, IGRSM has an established international presence through conferences, scientific publications, professional cooperation and partnerships, while seeking to remain a constructive, balanced and inclusive voice in discussions concerning the future of Malaysia’s geospatial ecosystem.

The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted UPM’s own multidisciplinary geospatial capabilities. These extend across engineering, forestry and environment, agriculture, computer science and other areas, where remote sensing, GIS, Earth observation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and advanced environmental modelling are increasingly integrated.

His message captured one of the central ideas emerging from IGRSM 2026: geospatial science is no longer confined to one discipline but has become an enabling technology across many areas of research, economic activity and national development.

Thirty Years of IGRSM

In his presidential address, Professor Abdul Rashid reflected on IGRSM’s journey from 1995 to 2025 and its role in advancing remote sensing, GIS, Earth observation and the broader geospatial sciences.

Looking towards the next 30 years, he stressed that the future of geospatial development should be founded on partnership, inclusiveness and collaboration rather than being defined by any single technology, institution or profession.

A significant part of his address focused on the future governance of Malaysia’s geospatial ecosystem.

Professor Abdul Rashid recalled the National Geospatial Master Plan (NGMP), developed between June 2016 and May 2018 through extensive engagement involving government agencies, universities, industry, professional bodies and stakeholders from across the geospatial community.

IGRSM called for the Government to consider reactivating and updating the NGMP and establishing the National Geospatial Council envisaged under that framework.

The proposed council, IGRSM argued, could provide an inclusive national platform bringing together government, academia, industry and professional organisations to provide strategic leadership, strengthen coordination, minimise overlapping responsibilities and guide the coherent development of Malaysia’s geospatial sector.

Recognising the Multidisciplinary Geospatial Ecosystem

The presidential address also emphasised the diversity of the modern geospatial ecosystem, encompassing remote sensing, GIS, photogrammetry, hydrography, engineering surveying, satellite positioning, UAV mapping, digital twins, underground utility mapping, artificial intelligence, environmental monitoring, spatial data infrastructure and other specialised disciplines.

Hydrography was cited as an important example. As an internationally recognised discipline operating according to International Hydrographic Organization standards, it contributes to navigation safety, maritime transport, ports, offshore development, coastal management, national security and the Blue Economy.

IGRSM acknowledged the contribution of the National Hydrographic Association (Malaysia) (MyNHA) in promoting professional competency within this specialised field.

The broader message was that Malaysia’s geospatial ecosystem is strongest when the distinct expertise and internationally recognised competencies of its different disciplines are respected while opportunities for collaboration are strengthened.

Fourteen Professional Organisations Seek Inclusive Governance

Professor Abdul Rashid also acknowledged the solidarity demonstrated by 14 Malaysian professional organisations which, on 14 October 2024, jointly wrote to the Prime Minister seeking a review of the Licensed Land Surveyors (Amendment) Act 2024 [Act A1730].

The organisations were the Institution of Geospatial and Remote Sensing Malaysia (IGRSM); National Hydrographic Association (Malaysia) (MyNHA); Malaysian Society of Soil Science (MSSS); IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) Malaysia Chapter; Malaysian Society of Agricultural and Food Engineers (MSAE); Institute of Geology Malaysia (IGM); Agricultural Institute of Malaysia (AIM); Institute of Foresters Malaysia (IRIM); International Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM); Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP); Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM); Malaysia BIM Association; Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM); and MySET.

IGRSM expressed hope for continued Government engagement and a comprehensive review that recognises the multidisciplinary nature of the geospatial ecosystem while safeguarding the public interest.

Importantly, the message was framed not as opposition to another profession, but as a call for a balanced and inclusive national framework in which the competencies and contributions of the different professions making up the geospatial ecosystem are appropriately recognised.

IGRSM similarly called for Geospatialists and IGRSM to be consulted and included in any future Mutual Recognition Arrangement involving geomatics, geospatial practice or related professional services, particularly given the potential implications of such arrangements for practitioners, universities, industry and future graduates.

Technology, Knowledge and Collaboration

Beyond professional policy issues, IGRSM 2026 remained fundamentally a scientific and technology conference.

Its technical programme reflected the rapidly expanding reach of geospatial technologies across Earth observation, remote sensing, GIS, artificial intelligence, digital twins, hydrography, smart agriculture, disaster management, environmental sustainability, space technology, spatial analytics and digital transformation.

The accompanying exhibition provided an important industry dimension, with 16 sponsors and exhibitors participating.

They included Axis Gemilang Sdn. Bhd.; Space Tech Accelerator Inc., Japan; GPS Lands (M) Sdn. Bhd.; Remote Sensing of Environment and Disaster Laboratory (RSED), The University of Tokyo; Jurupro Sdn. Bhd.; GIS Innovation Sdn. Bhd.; Institut Penyelidikan Air Kebangsaan Malaysia (NAHRIM); Map Information Systems Sdn. Bhd. (MAPSYS); SurMap Sdn. Bhd.; Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ); MySpatial Sdn. Bhd. & EarthDaily Analytics; Teguh Inovasi (M) Sdn. Bhd. (DronesKaki); Pusat Geospatial Negara (PGN); Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (DOSM); Ground Data Solutions Sdn. Bhd./Map2U Sdn. Bhd.; and Temadigital Sdn. Bhd.

Space Tech Accelerator Inc., Japan, participated as the conference’s Silver Sponsor, reflecting IGRSM 2026’s growing international industry engagement.

Looking Towards IGRSM 2028

The conference concluded not simply by looking back at 30 years of achievement, but by looking forward.

The next IGRSM International Conference & Exhibition on Geospatial and Remote Sensing is planned for 2028, continuing the institution’s biennial international conference series.

The message emerging from Kuala Lumpur was clear: geospatial intelligence will become increasingly central to sustainable development, climate resilience, food and water security, infrastructure, environmental protection, disaster management, the digital economy and national security.

As the UPM Vice-Chancellor aptly expressed in his conference address:

“The future is not only digital. The future is spatial.”

For IGRSM, entering its fourth decade means continuing to build bridges between science and practice, government and industry, Malaysia and the international community—and ensuring that the country’s geospatial future develops through professional excellence, integrity, inclusiveness and collaboration.