The "Green Data: Geographic Information-Based Solutions for Digital Transformation in Forestry Workshop" will be held at Kastamonu University on December 8-9, 2025. 

The event, held at the Kastamonu Technopark Ilgaz Conference Hall, is organized by the University's Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Application and Research Center and supported by the Forestry and Nature Tourism Specialization Coordination. 

The workshop aims to comprehensively address the contributions of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies to the monitoring, protection, planning, and sustainable management of forest resources, thru collaboration between academia, the public sector, and the private sector. The event, which addresses critical topics such as spatial data management, lidar technologies, artificial intelligence-supported analyses, data sharing, and institutional integration, brings together academics from forestry faculties across Türkiye, experts from relevant public institutions, and industry representatives.

In his speech, Assoc. Prof.Dr.  Aktürk emphasized that digital tools and spatial data are needed more than ever to manage forest resources effectively, quickly, and holistically. He stated that the joint study, conducted in collaboration with four different forestry faculties, would make significant contributions to the development of sustainable policies.

Stating that a data-driven approach is no longer an option but a mandatory component of sustainable forest management, Assoc. Prof.Dr. Aktürk said, "Institutions and organizations that analyze, transparentize, and make geographical data sustainable in the data age have the power to change the game in many areas, from forest management to combating climate change, from disaster risk reduction to nature tourism." 

Following Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aktürk, Akın Kısa, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Geographic Information Systems at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, provided information to the participants about the structure and working areas of the institution. He stated that the general directorate, established in 2011, aims to organize, standardize, and make accessible the data produced by public institutions and local governments through a single channel.

Dr. Kısa stated that the legislative studies conducted between 2015 and 2017 established important standards regarding how data will be obtained and managed, and emphasized that producing transparent and accessible data is a fundamental goal. 

Dr. Kısa said that, highlighting the importance of human resources in data management, stated, "Having qualified experts to manage the data is just as critical as collecting it. Our efforts to raise awareness on this issue in Türkiye are ongoing," They also stated that they are open to cooperation with all institutions and organizations, especially forestry faculty students, and invited participants to the General Directorate. 

Following Dr. Kısa, Professor Ayhan Ateşoğlu, Head of the Department of Geodesy and Cadastre at Bartın University's Faculty of Forestry, took the floor and stated that today's tracking technologies, high-resolution satellite systems, drone-based observation mechanisms, and artificial intelligence-supported analyses have brought about a radical transformation in forest management. Emphasizing the need for proper planning and effective utilization of technologies by institutions, Ateşoğlu stated that these technologies, supported by scientific approaches, form the basis of sustainable forest policies. 

Following the opening remarks, a pre-assessment survey was administered to the participants. The subsequent session titled "Sustainable Forest Management in Spatial Technologies" was chaired by Prof. Dr. Arif Oğuz Altunel. During the session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Can Vatandaşlar presented "The Historical Development of GIS and Remote Sensing in Forestry in Türkiye," outlining the evolution of these technologies. Assoc. Prof.Dr. Uzay Karahalil, with his presentation titled "Current Data Sources and New Horizons for Use in Forestry," evaluated the application areas of new data sources. The session delved into the role of spatial technologies in sustainable forest management and technology-driven planning approaches in detail.

On the second day of the workshop, Prof. Dr. Ayhan Ateşoğlu will chair the session titled "New Generation Technologies and Inter-Institutional Collaborations." In his presentation titled "Following the Earth: Spatial Data Production with Digital Observation Technologies and Nature-Based Solutions," Prof. Dr. Ateşoğlu will discuss the contributions of new digital observation technologies to nature-based applications. 

In the continuation of the session, Assoc.Prof. Dr. Celalettin Duran, Assoc.Prof. Dr. Emre Aktürk, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Alper Bulut will provide comprehensive evaluations on the application areas of new-generation observation technologies, data production processes, artificial intelligence-supported analysis models, and cloud-based solutions. Panelists will also present sample applications related to data sharing and corporate integration models. All session outputs will be compiled by the workshop moderators to prepare a comprehensive "Results and Evaluation Report."

The study titled "Allium sativum L. Essential Oil-Loaded Bi-functional Sodium Alginate Film as a Postoperative Adhesion Prevention Barrier," developed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. G. Ülke Çalışkan, a member of Kastamonu University İhsangazi Vocational School, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nuray Emin, a faculty member at our University's Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, and our graduate student Havva Yazar, have been registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. 

Sodium alginate film structures developed within the scope of the project, supported by TÜBİTAK ARDEB-1001, demonstrated a high success rate in preventing postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions. The registered biomaterial can be applied in various fields, including health sciences, biomedical engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, bioengineering, food science, and agriculture. The invention in question offers an innovative biomedical solution developed to prevent adhesions that can form after surgery. Combining the biofunctional properties of Allium Sativum L. (garlic) essential oil with the biocompatible structure of a sodium-alginate film enables the development of a new generation barrier material suitable for medical interventions.

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, stated that the completion of the patent process contributed to our University's scientific production capacity and made the following assessment:

"The development of domestic and innovative biomaterials by our University's researchers adds great value to both the scientific world and our country's technological independence goals. Converting our regional treasures, such as Taşköprü Garlic and İnebolu algae, into scientific production is fully aligned with our vision of developing value-added products, which we, as a university, prioritize. I congratulate all our academics and researchers who contributed to this success."

Kastamonu Education and Research Hospital (KEAH), in collaboration with Kastamonu University Faculty of Medicine, has achieved another success in cardiac surgery. The first minimally invasive (small incision) heart bypass surgery was successfully performed at KEAH.

This modern surgical method, performed through a small incision between the ribs without cutting the breastbone (sternum), offers significant advantages for patients. This technique allows for a reduction in pain, an accelerated healing process, and a shorter hospital stay. This way, patients can return to their daily lives quickly. 

The operation was performed by a team consisting of Dr. Assoc. Prof. Güler Gülsen Ersoy and Dr. Assoc. Prof. Nurcan Ayabakan Eski from the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at our University's Faculty of Medicine, along with Op. Dr. Burak Bozkurt. The minimally invasive bypass technique, previously only available in large cities, can now be safely performed in Kastamonu as well. With this development, patients gained access to advanced cardiac surgery services in their own cities. 

It was stated that the health condition of the 64-year-old patient, M.N., who underwent surgery, is progressing well, and that he was discharged after undergoing check-ups. With the implementation of minimally invasive surgery, the aim is for citizens to access modern medical services without having to travel to other provinces for such treatments.