As part of its Statistical Experience Sharing Webinar Series, SESRIC will organise a webinar titled “Integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into Population and Housing Censuses: Latest Trends” on 30 April 2026, in collaboration with the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), with the participation of representatives from National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and relevant institutions of OIC Member Countries.

The webinar aims to provide a platform for discussing the latest international standards, methodological developments, and country practices concerning the integration of GIS and geospatial information into population and housing censuses, with a particular focus on digital mapping, geocoding, GNSS-enabled field operations, Earth observation data, geospatial quality assurance, and the dissemination of geospatially enabled census outputs.

The Webinar will cover the following topics: 

• international standards and frameworks for integrating geospatial information into population and housing censuses;
• digital census mapping and geospatial infrastructure, including enumeration area delineation and geocoded address and building data;
• the use of GNSS, satellite imagery, Earth observation data, and geoportals in census field operations and quality assurance;
• dissemination of geospatially enabled census outputs, including small-area statistics, common geographies, and grid-based products; and
• regional and national experiences from OIC Member Countries in integrating GIS into censuses and household surveys.

The webinar is being organised in line with the resolutions adopted during the 14th Session of the OIC-StatCom, as well as those adopted during its preceding sessions, which underscored proposals aimed at further advancing National Statistical Systems (NSS) in OIC Member Countries. In this regard, the relevant resolutions recognised the importance of geospatial technologies and electronic data-collection tools for censuses and surveys, encouraged experience-sharing and practical cooperation among OIC Member Countries, including, where feasible, the temporary sharing of devices, and called for continued cooperation with international organisations in preparation for the forthcoming census rounds.

Representatives from NSOs, as well as relevant regional and international organisations, are expected to participate in the webinar.

For more information on the SESRIC Statistical Experience Sharing Webinar Series, please visit: https://www.oicstatcom.org/webinar-series.php