4 - 5 November 2025, Portorož

We kindly invite you to the international conference organised by the Slovenian Water Agency in the framework of the Green Slovenian Location Framework (SLO4D) project.  

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At the expert conference there will be domestic and international experts who will present the latest trends, cutting technologies and current challenges in digitalization of water management. Innovative solutions and practical experience, which co-create this strategically important field, will be presented.

The main aim of this expert meeting is to encourage the international exchange of knowledge, good practices and innovative approaches in digitalization of water management.

The main topics of the conference are:
  • Digital solutions in water management in European countries and in activities of international commissions for transboundary river basin commissions
  • Digitalisation supporting management of extreme events
  • IT solutions for maintaining and managing water infrastructure
  • User-friendly IT solutions
  • Data spaces and artificial intelligence
 
The conference will be held in Slovenian and English, and simultaneous interpreting will be provided.
 
Registration for the conference is possible until all vacancies are filled or until 26 October 2025 respectively. For additional information, please contact us by email at slo4d.drsv@gov.si.

ABOUT US

The Slovenian Water Agency (DRSV) is a body within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning which performs professional, administrative and development tasks in the field of water management in accordance with the valid legislation.


The system of integrated water management is organised on three levels:

  • the national level, where key policies and strategic directions are set,
  • the regional level, by river basins, allowing adjustments to the specific characteristics of individual areas,
  • the local level, where specific measures and activities are implemented.

 

At the Agency, we provide opportunities for the efficient implementation of public services, investment management, as well as support in cooperation with different experts and stakeholders, which are included into water management.

International Conference: Water Management in the Digital Age


As part of the Green Slovenian Location Framework (SLO4D) project, we are organising the international conference Water Management in the Digital Age: Opportunities and Challenges.


The project SLO4D (2022–2026) is implemented in the partnership with:


The main aim of the project is to achieve horizontal digital integration of spatial management, water, nature, the environment and real estate.

For the Slovenian Water Agency (DRSV) it is particularly important to ensure that water management procedures are connected with those of spatial planning and civil engineering. Equally crucial are the renovation of information systems and the digitalisation of procedures, which will enable more efficient, transparent and modern water management.


The project is included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan and financed from the funds of European Union, the budget of the Republic of Slovenia and the Climate Change Fund.

PROGRAMME

PROGRAMME

4 Nov 2025

9:00 - 10:00

Registration (Grand hotel Bernardin)

10:00 - 11:00

Welcome Speeches
  • Jože Novak, Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Ksenija Klampfer, MSc, Minister, Ministry of Digital Transformation of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Urška Hočevar, Director, Slovenian Water Agency

11:00 - 11:20

Green Slovenian Location Framework Project (SLO4D)
  • Green Slovenian Spatial Framework: A Bridge Between Blue and Green
    Erna Flogie Dolinar, MSc, Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia

11:20 - 12:00

Coffee Break

12:00 - 12:40

Information Systems Supporting Water Management Policy
  • Data on Water as Support in Decision-Making Processes, Policy and Public Information – European and National Perspective
    Lidija Globevnik, PhD, Director-General, Water Directorate, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia
  • The Need for Effective Information Solutions for the Management, Protection and Use of Water in Slovenia
    Stanka Koren and Urška Kušar, Water Directorate, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia

12:40 - 14:10

Information Systems for Management of Processes
  • eVode Information System
    Peter Kolenko, Head of the Green Slovenian Location Framework Project (SLO4D) at the Slovenian Water Agency, Slovenian Water Agency
  • Geo Slovenija
    Matej Sotlar, MSc, Head of Geoinformation Project Group, Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Horizontal Digital Connection in the SLO4D Project
    David Fenko, CTO, Solvix d.o.o. and Andrej Mesner, Director, Igea d.o.o.
  • Integration of the Spatial Information System with External Systems
    Tomaž Grilj and Damjan Doler, PhD, Spatial Information System Sector, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia

14:10 - 15:40

Lunch

15:40 - 16:20

Transboundary River Basins
  • Information Systems at the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River: DanubeGIS, DanubeHIS and JDS
    Alex Höbart, Technical Expert - Information Management and GIS, Permanent Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
  • Strengthening Preparedness and Resilience on the Climate Shocks in the Transboundary Context through the Sava Flows Forecasting and Warning System,
    Jovana Rašeta Bastić, Deputy Secretary for Integrated River Basin Management and Water Planning, Secretariat of the International Sava River Basin Commission 

16:20 - 17:00

Digitalization Examples
  • Water Information System
    Hajrudin Mičivoda, Head of the Water Information System Sector, Sava River Watershed Agency, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Advanced Management of Water-related Data in Germany - Philosophy, Processes, Tools and Product 
    Falk Hilliges, German Environment Agency 

17:00

End of Day 1

18:30

Dinner and Social Event (Hotel Histrion)

5 Nov 2025

8:00 - 9:00

Registration (Grand hotel Bernardin)

9:00 - 10:00

Digitalisation Supporting Management of Extreme Events
  • Web Portal Floods 2023 of the Slovenian Water Agency
    Vesna Kotnik, Slovenian Water Agency 
  • From Monitoring to Response: Remote Sensing Technologies for Natural Disaster Management
    Barbara Žabota, PhD, COO and Project Manager at the Remote Sensing Department, Flycom Technologies d.o.o.
  • Digitalisation Supporting Crisis Management - Challenges and Opportunities for Small Countries
    Liutenant Colonel Urška Brodnik, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia

10:00 - 11:00

Water Infrastructure Management
  • Asset Management, Data and Information at the Water Authority Limburg and the Impact of the Water Crisis 2021
    Enno Kuipers, Senior Advisor Asset Management and Floris Seijben, Advisor Asset Management, Water Authority Limburg, Netherlands
  • Upgrade of the Water Cadastre: Inventory of Water Infrastructure in Slovenia
    Petra Repnik, Slovenian Water Agency

11:00 - 11:30

Coffee Break

11:30 - 12:10

User-Friendly IT Solutions
  • Sound Preparation and Presentation of Data and Information for Different Target Groups
    Gabriele Vincze, MSc, Deputy Head of Expert Team Groundwater, Environment Agency Austria
  • Renovation of the eVode Portal and the Water Atlas GIS Viewer
    Saša Brečko, MSc, Head of IT and GIS Section, Slovenian Water Agency

12:10 - 13:30

Data Spaces and the Use of AI
  • Digitalization and AI in Environmental Protection - Implementations and Challenges at a Ministerial Research Institution in Germany
    Falk Hilliges, German Environment Agency
  • Data Spaces
    prof. Domen Mongus, PhD, University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  • Geospatial Digital Twins
    prof. Anka Lisec, PhD, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
  • The Development of Advanced Satellite and Digital Technologies for Modelling Flood Scenarios
    Neža Kodre, MSc, Director, Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia

13:30 - 15:00

End of Conference and Lunch

4. november 2025

9:00 - 10:00

Registration (Grand hotel Bernardin)

10:00 - 11:00

Welcome Speeches
  • Jože Novak, Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Ksenija Klampfer, MSc, Minister, Ministry of Digital Transformation of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Urška Hočevar, Director, Slovenian Water Agency

11:00 - 11:20

Green Slovenian Location Framework Project (SLO4D)
  • Green Slovenian Spatial Framework: A Bridge Between Blue and Green
    Erna Flogie Dolinar, MSc, Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia

11:20 - 12:00

Coffee Break

12:00 - 12:40

Information Systems Supporting Water Management Policy
  • Data on Water as Support in Decision-Making Processes, Policy and Public Information – European and National Perspective
    Lidija Globevnik, PhD, Director-General, Water Directorate, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia
  • The Need for Effective Information Solutions for the Management, Protection and Use of Water in Slovenia
    Stanka Koren and Urška Kušar, Water Directorate, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia

12:40 - 14:10

Information Systems for Management of Processes
  • eVode Information System
    Peter Kolenko, Head of the Green Slovenian Location Framework Project (SLO4D) at the Slovenian Water Agency, Slovenian Water Agency
  • Geo Slovenija
    Matej Sotlar, MSc, Head of Geoinformation Project Group, Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Horizontal Digital Connection in the SLO4D Project
    David Fenko, CTO, Solvix d.o.o. and Andrej Mesner, Director, Igea d.o.o.
  • Integration of the Spatial Information System with External Systems
    Tomaž Grilj and Damjan Doler, PhD, Spatial Information System Sector, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia

14:10 - 15:40

Lunch

15:40 - 16:20

Transboundary River Basins
  • Information Systems at the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River: DanubeGIS, DanubeHIS and JDS
    Alex Höbart, Technical Expert - Information Management and GIS, Permanent Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
  • Strengthening Preparedness and Resilience on the Climate Shocks in the Transboundary Context through the Sava Flows Forecasting and Warning System, Jovana Rašeta Bastić, Deputy Secretary for Integrated River Basin Management and Water Planning, Secretariat of the International Sava River Basin Commission

16:20 - 17:00

Digitalization Examples
  • Water Information System
    Hajrudin Mičivoda, Head of the Water Information System Sector, Sava River Watershed Agency, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Advanced Management of Water-related Data in Germany - Philosophy, Processes, Tools and Product
    Falk Hilliges, German Environment Agency

17:00

End of Day 1

18:30

Dinner and Social Event (Hotel Histrion)

5. november 2025

8:00 - 9:00

Registration (Grand hotel Bernardin)

9:00 - 10:00

Digitalisation Supporting Management of Extreme Events
  • Web Portal Floods 2023 of the Slovenian Water Agency
    Vesna Kotnik, Slovenian Water Agency
  • From Monitoring to Response: Remote Sensing Technologies for Natural Disaster Management
    Barbara Žabota, PhD, COO and Project Manager at the Remote Sensing Department, Flycom Technologies d.o.o.
  • Digitalisation Supporting Crisis Management - Challenges and Opportunities for Small Countries
    Liutenant Colonel Urška Brodnik, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia

10:00 - 11:00

Water Infrastructure Management
  • Asset Management, Data and Information at the Water Authority Limburg and the Impact of the Water Crisis 2021
    Enno Kuipers, Senior Advisor Asset Management and Floris Seijben, Advisor Asset Management, Water Authority Limburg, Netherlands
  • Upgrade of the Water Cadastre: Inventory of Water Infrastructure in Slovenia
    Petra Repnik, Slovenian Water Agency

11:00 - 11:30

Coffee Break

11:30 - 12:10

User-Friendly IT Solutions
  • Sound Preparation and Presentation of Data and Information for Different Target Groups
    Gabriele Vincze, MSc, Deputy Head of Expert Team Groundwater, Environment Agency Austria
  • Renovation of the eVode Portal and the Water Atlas GIS Viewer
    Saša Brečko, MSc, Head of IT and GIS Section, Slovenian Water Agency

12:10 - 13:30

Data Spaces and the Use of AI
  • Digitalization and AI in Environmental Protection - Implementations and Challenges at a Ministerial Research Institution in Germany
    Falk Hilliges, German Environment Agency
  • Data Spaces
    prof. Domen Mongus, PhD, University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  • Geospatial Digital Twins
    prof. Anka Lisec, PhD, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
  • The Development of Advanced Satellite and Digital Technologies for Modelling Flood Scenarios
    Neža Kodre, MSc, Director, Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia

13:30 - 15:00

End of Conference and Lunch

LOCATION

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE LOCATION

Grand hotel Bernardin, Obala 2, 6320 Portorož

Hotel Histrion, Obala 2b, 6320 Portorož

  • By car:

Take the A1 motorway, exit at Srmin near Koper, continue on the H5, then by Izola switch to Road 111 and follow it to the Portorož exit.

  • By train:

To the train station Koper and continue to Portorož by local bus (train tickets: https://potniski.sz.si/en/)

  • By bus:

To Piran, then continue by local bus to Portorož. The “Mini Bus Piran” runs between the old town centre (Tartini Square) and Portorož, stopping near the hotel (fare: €1). A shuttle bus from Piran to Portorož also takes you close to the hotel. Connections are also available with Arriva buses.

  • By airplane:

The nearest airports are Trieste (TRS), Venice Marco Polo (VCE), Treviso (TSF) and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU). Airport transfers are available with GoOpti, ZUP Transport and the Slovenian bus company Nomago.


PARKING SPACE AND PARKING POSSIBLITIES 


Both hotels have nearby parking facilities. All conference guests will be entitled to free parking. On entering the car park, you will receive a ticket, which must be presented at the hotel reception for validation. Once validated, the ticket exempts you from payment.

 

PORTOROŽ


A small town on the Gulf of Piran, long renowned as a tourist, bathing and health resort. It is inseparably linked with neighbouring Piran, as reflected in their shared history, cultural heritage and tourist development.

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SLOVENIAN COAST


Slovenian coast is offering a wealth of diverse experiences shaped by its rich cultural heritage and the charm of the Mediterranean countryside.

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