Applications and challenges of geospatial technologies in veterinary medicine

Geospatial technologies are increasingly recognized as critical assets in veterinary medicine, providing robust frameworks for disease surveillance, risk mapping, and informed decision‑making. The objective of this narrative review is to summarize the role of Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning System, and Remote Sensing in advancing veterinary medicine by synthesizing current applications, identifying prevailing challenges, and exploring future prospects. Collectively, these tools enable monitoring of disease dynamics, identification of epidemiological hotspots, outbreak prediction, and integration of spatial and epidemiological datasets to guide targeted interventions. For instance, GIS‑based mapping of Rift Valley fever outbreaks in East Africa has enabled rapid identification of epidemiological hotspots and guided vaccination campaigns, while RS‑derived vegetation indices have successfully predicted tick distribution patterns in southern Africa, improving targeted control strategies. Their utility extends beyond livestock health, contributing significantly to wildlife disease monitoring, zoonotic risk assessment, food safety assurance, and broader veterinary decision processes. Despite such successes, adoption remains limited, hindered by technical/infrastructure barriers, poor data quality, and ethical and policy challenges. In Ethiopia, recent surveys indicate that fewer than 20% of veterinary institutions actively use GIS platforms for routine surveillance, and integration of RS into national veterinary services is still limited to pilot projects. This gap underscores the urgent need for national geospatial data repositories, standardized protocols, and capacity‑building initiatives to ensure equitable access and sustainable utilization. Future opportunities lie in harnessing advances in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and cloud‑based GIS platforms, alongside global collaboration and training programs, to strengthen veterinary epidemiology and surveillance systems. Addressing these challenges will be essential for the sustainable integration of geospatial technologies into veterinary practice, thereby enhancing disease control, safeguarding public health, and supporting livestock productivity.