Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, September 28-30, st WORKSHOP BALKAN COUNTRIES INTEGRATION INTO GGOS - THE FIRST CIRCULAR -

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1 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, September 28-30, st WORKSHOP BALKAN COUNTRIES INTEGRATION INTO GGOS - THE FIRST CIRCULAR - INSTITUTE OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS VIENNA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY CENTRAL LABORATORY OF GEODESY BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES GEODESY DEPARTMENT SARAJEVO UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING - SKOPJE UNIVERSITY SS CYRIL AND METHODIUS" FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF PRISHTINA GEODESY DEPARTMENT POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA BALGEOS (BALkan GEodetic Observing System)

2 International Organizing Committee Members: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Robert Weber, Austria, Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna Res. Assoc. Dr. Lyubka Pashova, Bulgaria, Central Laboratory of Geodesy, Bulgarian Academy of sciences, Sofia Mr.sc.Dipl. Eng. Medzida Mulic, Prof. Dr. Zlatko Srbinoski, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ismail Kabashi, Prof. Dr. Gezim Gjata, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Geodetic Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Sarajevo Macedonia, Chair for High Geodesy, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Skopje Kosovo, Department for Geodesy, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Prishtine Albania, Department for Geodesy, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic University, Tirana Local Organizing Committee Members: Chairperson and coordinator of the project BALGEOS II: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Robert Weber, Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics, Vienna University of Technology, Austria Members from Faculty of Civil engineering - Skopje, Macedonia: Prof. Dr. Zlatko Srbinoski, srbinoski@gf.ukim.edu.mk Chair for High Geodesy, Assist. M. Sc. Zlatko Bogdanovski, bogdanovski@gf.ukim.edu.mk Chair for High Geodesy, Member from Central Laboratory of Geodesy - Sofia, Bulgaria: Res. Assoc. Dr. Lyubka Pashova, lpashova@clg.bas.bg Member from Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics - Vienna, Austria: M.Sc. Ana Karabatic, anna@mars.hg.tuwien.ac.at

3 INTRODUCTION Chair for High Geodesy of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Ss Cyril and Methodius is placed to host the 1st Workshop of the BALGEOS II (BALkan GEodetic Observing System) project in the city of Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, September 28-30, This is the first Circular and it is provides the information of the conference arrangement including a general description of the city of Skopje, venue information, travel guidelines, grant application, registration and accommodation form. The Circular is being posted at the official website of BALGEOS project: The preliminary agenda will be updated graded in the second Circular. If you have any comments, please contact LOC. OBJECTIVE OF WORKSHOP AND BALGEOS II PROJECT Between July 2008 February 2009 the project "BALkan GEodetic Observing System - a scientific challenge for the Balkan countries (BALGEOS)" proposed by a consortium of Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Macedonia was funded by means of the ASO program supporting Research Cooperation and Networking between Austria and Southeastern Europe. The BALGEOS project was successfully performed and represented a first step forward to integrate the Balkan countries into GGOS. The geodetic community from the Balkan countries made progress towards establishing an infrastructure for geodetic observations required for a wide range of scientific and practical applications on both, the regional and the global scale. Most of the initiatives undertaken in the field of geodesy are the work of individual countries in the Balkans. Based on the established contacts between the partners in the framework of BAL- GEOS project, the new project "BALGEOS II - Balkan countries integration into GGOS" aims to extent and strengthen the quality of regional geodetic collaboration between Austria, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia and Albania to further partners integration into GGOS. The participant countries are presented by their leading Institutes in the field of geodesy. The project approach will increase synergy between the partners, will facilitate the dissemination of know-how and good practice between the partners, will contribute to share information, data and experience in the field of geodetic studies, and enhance the level of science and technology used in the research and university institutions. The gained experience from the co-operation will motivate other Southeast European countries to contribute to this initiative. The objectives of the project include exchange of scientific and educational experience, testing the models for space geodetic observations processing, organization of two workshop for dissemination of know-how and good practice between the part-

4 ners. Special interest will be paid to the existing global, regional and national geodetic networks, their spatial coverage and precision improvements in context of the future integration in the GGOS. Space observation data will be exchanged in order to test different geodetic methodologies and models. All project activities and results will become available to the scientific community on the BALGEOS website ( The webpage will be operated and supported in order to facilitate dissemination of information, project results and available data amongst the participants. LANGUAGE The official language of the first BALGEOS II workshop in Skopje is English. VENUES The workshop will take place at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University "Ss Cyril and Methodius", Partizanski odredi 24, Skopje ( Faculty of Civil Engineering is 1.5 km from the town center. A poster session will be organized if the interest will be shown. REGISTRATION Registration form is attached or can be found on the end of the 1st Circular letter. Please send registration form to the LOC: Prof. Dr. Zlatko Srbinoski, Fax: , srbinoski@gf.ukim.edu.mk No registration fee requested. Deadline for registration: September 10, 2009 Please send your registration form as soon as possible for enabling organization of your stay in Skopje.

5 APPLICATION FOR TRAVEL FUNDS (For colleagues outside the BALGEOS project) Colleagues who are not yet involved in the BALGEOS project but who are interested for the topic of the Workshop are very much welcome to attend our meeting. During the meeting the BALGEOS partner will discus the future collaboration beyond the project and of course that discussion is open for the geodetic experts from neighbouring countries. Unfortunately, because of small budget of the project, accomodation and other cost cannot be covered from the project. Colleagues outside the BALGEOS project can apply only for the traveling cost. Those who are interested should send a request to the project coordinator: Prof. Dr. Robert Weber, robert.weber@tuwien.ac.at ACCOMODATION AND MEALS Various standards of accommodation have been made available in Skopje. Accommodation ranges from tourist class hotels, bed and breakfast, to 5 stars hotel. We recommended good three stars hotel "Ambasador", "Pirinska" Street # 38, 1000 Skopje ( and /skopje-hotels-mk/hotel-ambasador). Situated in the centre between the Russian embassy and the newest orthodox temple Soboren hram, the "Ambasador" is also close to many public institutions. Hotel "Ambasador" is 600 m from Faculty of Civil Engineering and 800 m from city center. The hotel management provides a special offer and discount prices for the BALGEOS Workshop participants. Single room price with breakfast would cost 38 euros/person, and double room price would be 56 euros/room. If you like to make reservation in another hotel in Skopje, please inform LOC. Lunch and coffees will be served for the BALGEOS II Workshop participants at the Faculty of Civil Engineering during the BALGEOS II Workshop breaks. Dinner will give opportunities to try exelent local food and enjoy the atmosphere.

6 TRAVEL INFORMATION LOC kindly asks all participants to send their travel information to: Prof. Dr. Zlatko Srbinoski, Travel by plane The Skopje airport - Alexander the Great ( is located near to the oil refinery OCTA, about 15 km from the town center. There is no shuttle buses and no bus routes in the vicinity of the airport. At various rates, the major hotels and some of the smaller ones offer the airport pick-ups and drop-offs. Otherwise, taxis will take you to town for around 15 euros. BALGEOS workshop participant will be met at the airport by person representing LOC. Travel by train The Skopje railway station is located near to town center (only 1.5 km away). To reach the hotel Ambasador from the railway station in Skopje you can take taxi. Distance from the station to the hotel is aproximately 4 km and taxi will take you around 3 euros. You can be met at the railway station by LOC representative on your demand. Travel by bus The Skopje main bus station ( is located at the same place as the railway station. To reach the hotel Ambasador from the railway station in Skopje you can take taxi. Distance from the station to the hotel is aproximately 4 km and taxi will take you around 3 euros. You can be met at the bus station by LOC representative on your demand. Travel by car Republic of Macedonia have quite good road network with more than 250 km highways. Road conditions have improved and making the driving trough Macedonia safer and more pleasant experience. If you need assistance, please call LOC representative: Prof. Dr. Zlatko Srbinoski, mobile:

7 VISA Republic of Macedonia can only be entered with a valid passport. EU, American and citizens from the former Yugoslav countries do not require a visa to enter the country. Most other countries do need visa and getting one is possible trough the Macedonian Embassies in your respective countries. Visa applicants should consult the Macedonian Embassy in their own countries concerning requirements to travel to Republic of Macedonia. If an invitation letter is need for visas, please inform LOC as soon as possible. Requesting to LOC should include the following information: Name, family name, parents name, date of birth and passport number, Copy of your passport shoving photos and data of issue, and valid visas, Education and name od organisation you belong to, Information about transportation and accomodation. CURRENCY EXCHANGE Denar is the Macedonian currency in use, accepted at regular stores and restaurants. Credit cards (VISA, Master Card, Diners Club, American Express) are accepted at most of hotels, restaurants and shops. You can exchange money at banks and other autorised moneu exchange offices. Official exchange rate is: 1 euro = 61.5 denars. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 19.00, and Sathurday from 8.00 to Cash mashines are available 24 hours per day. SIGHT SEEING AND DAYLY EXCURSION LOC has planned an interesting social program and one day Excursion. The Excursion will take place to the Macedonian pearl - Ohrid, which is a UNESCO heritage ( and In the frame of excursion, LOC has planned visiting EUREF GNSS permanent station in Ohrid.

8 LOCAL ORGANISATION COMMITTEE BALGEOS II Workshop University of Ss Cyril and Methodius, Skopje Faculty of Civil Engineering, Chair for High Geodesy Partizanski odredi 24, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Phone: , fax: , srbinoski@gf.ukim.edu.mk. Web site: lpashova@clg.bas.bg. Web site: REGISTRATION FORM Title: Prof. Dr. Mr. Mrs. First Name: Last Name: Full Adress: Country: Phone: Fax: Affiliation (Company or Institute): Speaker Title of presentation: No Registration fees! Request for Grant application: Yes No How will you probably reach Skopje? by plane by car by bus by train I would like to make reservation for the accomodation in hotel Ambasador: Yes No I would like to participate to daily excursion to Ohrid ( ): Yes No Please send your Registration form to LOC as soon as possible, not late then September 10, 2009.

9 ACCOMODATION FORM PARTNER One: Austria PARTNER Two: Kosovo PARTNER Three: Bulgaria

10 PARTNER Four: Bosnia & Herzegovina PARTNER Six: Albania For colleagues outside the BALGEOS project: Please send your Accomodation form to LOC as soon as possible, not late then September 10, 2009.

11 AGENDA The draft agenda will be updated in the Second Circular, after receiving the participants Registration forms. The final agenda will be updated in final Circular, after receiving the participant's presentations.