As part of the research project “Classification of Geographical Names in the Ganja–Dashkasan Economic Region (the cities of Ganja and Naftalan, and the administrative districts of Dashkasan, Goranboy, Samukh, and Goygol) According to Their Origins” (2026–2027), another field expedition has been carried out.

The expedition, conducted from 19 to 23 June 2026, was organized to study one of the priority areas of Azerbaijani geographical science-toponymy-with the aim of investigating the origins of regional geographical names and systematizing them. The field study was conducted by Natig Babayev, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Geopolitics and Economic Geography, PhD in Geography, Associate Professor, and Nazim Garayli, Chief Specialist of the Data and Analytics Office.

During the expedition, field observations were carried out in various settlements of Ganja City and the Samukh District. Meetings were held with local residents, intellectuals, and elderly community members. These discussions provided valuable information on the historical origins of geographical names used in the region, their semantic characteristics, folk etymological interpretations preserved in local memory, and the changes these names have undergone over time.

Within the framework of the research, a comprehensive database was compiled covering oikonyms (settlement names), hydronyms (names of water bodies), oronyms (names of relief features), microtoponyms, and other categories of geographical names. Several local geographical names that had not been documented in previous studies were identified and introduced into the preliminary scientific record. Their geographical coordinates were verified, and the necessary data for future mapping activities were collected.

One of the key objectives of the expedition was the integration of the collected data into a digital environment. For this purpose, the field materials are being systematically processed in electronic format, adapted for Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and incorporated into a unified digital toponymic database. In addition, analyses of the spatial distribution of toponyms, the identification of their distribution areas, and the preparation of datasets for future analytical research are currently underway.

The research makes a significant contribution to the study of Azerbaijan’s historical and geographical heritage, the enrichment of the national toponymic database, and the preservation of the country's geographical names.