QGIS User Conference and Contributor Meeting 2025
This past week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the QGIS User Conference and Contributor Meeting in the beautiful city of Norrköping, Sweden. The event was held at the Visualization Center C, Cnema, and Campus Norrköping of Linköping University—an inspiring venue rich in industrial heritage and scenic waterways that provided the perfect backdrop for collaboration and innovation.
Learning and Networking at the QGIS User Conference
The QGIS User Conference spanned two days of engaging presentations, insightful panel discussions, and hands-on workshops, bringing together professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts from the geospatial community. Some standout moments included:
🎓 Ujaval Gandhi's QGIS Expressions Masterclass, which offered deep insights into powerful expressions for spatial analysis.
💡 A panel discussion on the future of QGIS, exploring advancements and challenges that lie ahead for the open-source GIS platform.
🖼️ The exhibitions at the Visualisation Center C, providing a fascinating blend of technology and storytelling through geospatial visualization.
The conference fostered meaningful discussions and invaluable networking opportunities, reinforcing the strength and collaborative spirit of the QGIS community.
Hands-On Exploration: Hydrological Analysis in QGIS
One of my personal highlights was leading a workshop on hydrological analysis tools in QGIS on the 3rd day of the conference. Together, we delved into powerful functionalities from PCRaster, GRASS, WhiteboxTools, and SAGA, exploring practical workflows that enhance catchment hydrology analysis. For those who couldn't attend, the materials are freely accessible via GIS OpenCourseWare here.
Contributing to the QGIS Ecosystem
Following the conference, the QGIS Contributor Meeting provided a space to work alongside fellow contributors to enhance the platform. Throughout the two days, I had the privilege of engaging in multiple projects:
🗺️ Expanding the QGIS Resources Hub by adding Map Gallery and Processing Scripts as new resource types, with the help of Lova Andriarimalala. Explore the updated hub here.
🛠️ Fixing bugs in the QGIS Hub plugin with Ismail Sunni, Ronit Dinesh Jadhav, and Lova Andriarimalala, improving resource updates and ensuring seamless Processing Scripts installation. Expect a more refined experience in the next release, and stay tuned for a follow-up video on my YouTube channel!
📢 Integrating a geofenced news feed for FOSS4GNL, in collaboration with Raymond Nijssen, making regional announcements visible directly in QGIS for Dutch and Flemish users.
📜 Enhancing the QGIS Certification Programme with Kurt Menke, processing applications while identifying key improvements to streamline certification workflows.
Looking Ahead
As I wrap up this inspiring week in Norrköping, I am grateful for the connections made, the knowledge exchanged, and the contributions accomplished. It's truly motivating to see the power of open-source collaboration in action.
I eagerly anticipate future gatherings, including FOSS4G Europe and next year's QGIS User Conference and Contributor Meeting in Switzerland! A heartfelt thank you to the organizers for their efforts in creating such a well-run and memorable event.
