Six connected QGIS projects/workspaces are documented for economy-level data entry, maintenance and validation.
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING / REGIONAL GIS DATA PLATFORM
Roma Housing Regional GIS Platform
A six-economy housing-data workflow evolved from methodology-specific desktop GIS into a hosted regional spatial platform.
Roma Housing Regional GIS combines six economy-specific QGIS projects, a centralized PostgreSQL database, GeoServer publishing and MapSoft Geoportal with Maps, Dashboards and GeoStories, followed by hosting and support.
Regional scopeData and users documented for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia
Direct clients by phaseRegional Cooperation Council Secretariat (2020 and 2023); Council of Europe (2024)
Documented delivery09.2020 – 09.2024
MapSoft roleDirect contractor/provider across documented phases for QGIS-based software and guidance, data analysis/model extension/migration, economy-specific QGIS projects, PostgreSQL database creation, GeoServer publishing, MapSoft Geoportal deployment, platform management, maintenance, hosting, enhancements, documentation and user support.
Project context
One regional information model, six economy-level data responsibilities
The Housing Mapping Methodology required geographic and descriptive information about Roma settlements with substandard housing conditions to be collected and managed consistently across several Western Balkan economies. The technical challenge was to preserve local responsibility for data while creating a common regional basis for review, analysis, reporting and communication.
Maps, Dashboards and GeoStories are documented as first-class modules of the deployed regional platform.
Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat and Council of Europe across successive documented phases.
Documented delivery evolved from the 2020 methodology/QGIS foundation through 2023 migration to the 2024 regional Web GIS, hosting and support phase.
Translate a housing-mapping methodology into a maintainable regional GIS operating model: structured economy-level editing, normalized central data, Web publication, analytical views and sustained hosting/support for cross-economy use.
Normalize heterogeneous multi-economy spatial/descriptive datasets and preserve distributed data stewardship while creating one central platform for regional analysis, reporting and communication.
Delivery evolution
From methodology translation to a maintained regional platform
The documented engagements form one technical lifecycle rather than an isolated software delivery: QGIS-based methodology support in 2020, data analysis and PostgreSQL migration in 2023, then centralized Web GIS deployment, functional enhancement, hosting and support in 2024.
Methodology-aligned GIS software, manuals and key-user enablement.
Data review, model extension, CRS/encoding normalization, QGIS projects and PostgreSQL conversion.
Central database, GeoServer publishing, Geoportal, dashboards, GeoStories, hosting, maintenance and support.
- 01Translate methodology into adjustable GIS data model
- 02Review submitted files and identify CRS/schema/encoding issues
- 03Normalize data and create QGIS projects per economy
- 04Migrate file-based content into centralized PostgreSQL
- 05Publish spatial data through GeoServer and deploy Geoportal
- 06Configure dashboards, GeoStories and analytical widgets
- 07Operate, maintain, document and support the platform
Operational Web GIS
Maps, Dashboards and GeoStories are first-class parts of the same platform
The deployed Roma Housing Geoportal brings separate map, dashboard and GeoStory catalogues into one regional environment, extending the workflow from desktop GIS to accessible Web GIS services.
MapsDashboardsGeoStories
Expert data workflow
Distributed editing, centralized data engineering
Economy-specific users work through QGIS projects while the shared technical chain normalizes source data, migrates it into PostgreSQL, publishes spatial content through GeoServer and exposes approved information through the MapSoft Geoportal. Older interface views illustrate workflow continuity rather than a specific 2024 software version.
Platform architecture
A managed path from source files to regional spatial intelligence
The documented implementation connects file-based inputs and economy-level QGIS workspaces with a central PostgreSQL database, GeoServer publication and a hosted Web GIS. This preserves local stewardship while providing one regional publication and analysis layer.
01Source files & methodologyshapefiles · documents · spatial/descriptive attributes
→02QGISeconomy-specific editing and validation
→03PostgreSQLcentralized normalized data foundation
→04GeoServerspatial publication
→05MapSoft GeoportalMaps · Dashboards · GeoStories
User enablement & operation
Deployment included documentation, training, hosting, maintenance and support
Delivery included user and adjustment manuals, installation guidance, training, guides and video tutorials, together with hosting, updates, security patches, account management and user support through September 2024. The documented engagements were completed and formally accepted, and use of the regional GIS/Geoportal was confirmed in September 2026.
User, adjustment and installation guidance, guides and video tutorials.
Cloud hosting, updates, security patches and performance improvements.
Account management, issue resolution, data-integration guidance and conference/data-sharing support.
Regional GIS/Geoportal confirmed in use in September 2026; this does not extend the documented MapSoft support period beyond September 2024.
Historical visual context
Earlier Roma GIS material shows the technical lineage before the 2020–2024 delivery phases
Older visuals provide historical context for MapSoft's Roma-housing GIS work, interface evolution and user engagement before the documented 2020, 2023 and 2024 delivery phases.
Historical context: the images in this section illustrate the longer technical continuity of Roma-housing GIS work and sit outside the 2020–2024 delivery phases.
Delivered platform
A complete data-to-publication environment, not only a Web map
QGIS-based housing-mapping software
Methodology-aligned desktop GIS configuration with user/adjustment guidance.
QGIS project environmentEconomy-specific QGIS projects
Separate connected projects for six documented Western Balkan economies.
QGIS · 6 projectsCentral PostgreSQL database
Definitive database assembled from prior backup and submitted economy datasets after model extension and normalization.
PostgreSQLGeoServer spatial publication
Central database content published for Web GIS use.
GeoServerMapSoft Geoportal
Hosted regional platform with Maps, Dashboards and GeoStories.
Web GISAnalytical widgets
Indicators for illegal housing units and settlements at risk of eviction.
Dashboard widgetsHosting, maintenance and support
Cloud hosting, updates, patches, issue resolution, account management, user support and data-sharing assistance through September 2024.
Managed serviceWhat this project proves
MapSoft can evolve a methodology-driven GIS into a maintained multi-economy operational platform
Roma Housing proves MapSoft can evolve a methodology-driven desktop GIS into a regional operational data platform across successive institutional engagements: data-model design, normalization and migration, PostgreSQL, QGIS workspaces, GeoServer publishing, hosted Web GIS, analytics, cloud operation, documentation and support. The technical claim is strong; policy and social outcomes remain outside MapSoft scope.
6 economy-specific QGIS projects3 Geoportal modules: Maps, Dashboards and GeoStories2 international institutional clients across successive phasesPlatform confirmed in use in September 2026
The solution created a managed regional data foundation that combines prior and newly submitted economy datasets, preserves distributed data responsibility through separate QGIS projects/accounts and makes spatial housing information available through maps, dashboards and GeoStories. It supports evidence-based review, policy discussion, monitoring and regional collaboration, but MapSoft is not credited with national housing policy, field data collection or the wider programme's social outcomes.
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