What Mapware does

Mapware is a U.S.-based aerial intelligence company that builds integrated hardware, software, and services for converting drone and crewed-aircraft imagery into survey-grade 3D maps, point clouds, and orthomosaics. The company's core technology is a cloud-based, GPU-accelerated photogrammetry platform backed by a 2,500+ teraflop proprietary data center, which it complements with a family of NDAA-compliant Precision Observation Device (POD) hardware systems — the iXM POD and P5 POD for crewed-aircraft mapping and the stratospheric Balloon POD for persistent ISR — plus a flight-planning mobile and web app called Mapware Fly and a professional data-capture services arm. Mapware monetizes through cloud software subscriptions, direct hardware sales of POD systems (FAA- and EASA-approved with STCs for Cessna 172/182/206), and custom geospatial data-collection services, distributed via enterprise field sales to defense, utilities, environmental, public safety, and infrastructure customers alongside a self-serve free-trial channel for individual users. The customer base includes the U.S. Air Force (under a $6M SBIR Phase II B award), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Comcast, Belfor, PwC, and municipal public-safety agencies. Mapware operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Robotic Services, Inc., is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, with a corporate office in Washington D.C., and maintains 11-50 employees.

Name

Mapware

Legal name

Mapware, Inc.

Website

https://mapware.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mapware provides cloud-based photogrammetry software and FAA-approved POD hardware systems that convert drone and crewed-aircraft imagery into 3D maps and ISR products, serving defense, government, utilities, and infrastructure customers in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Intelligence Software

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Drone/UAV Data Capture & Processing Software (AFAAAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

3D Vision, Depth Sensing & Point Cloud Analytics (HDAAAEAK), Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO)

Keywords

• Aerial photogrammetry software
• Drone mapping solutions
• Precision observation devices
• Aerial intelligence platform
• Geospatial data processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Cloud Software Subscriptions: Mapware offers cloud-based photogrammetry software on a subscription basis with automatic renewal terms. The platform processes aerial imagery and generates 3D maps, point clouds, and orthomosaic images. Subscriptions are available with various billing terms including annual and monthly options.
2. Hardware POD Systems: Mapware manufactures and sells Precision Observation Device (POD) hardware systems including iXM POD, P5 POD, and Balloon POD. These are multi-sensor aerial mapping platforms for crewed aircraft that capture high-precision geospatial data. Systems are FAA and EASA approved.
3. Professional Services: Mapware provides expert imagery and data collection services including flight planning, automated data collection, real-time field insights, and quality control and validation. Services are customizable to customer requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mapware provides an integrated aerial intelligence platform that combines cloud-based, GPU-accelerated photogrammetry software with a family of proprietary POD (Precision Observation Device) hardware systems (iXM POD, P5 POD, Balloon POD) to capture and process aerial imagery from drones and crewed aircraft. The software converts raw imagery into 3D maps, point clouds, and orthomosaic images at terabyte-to-petabyte scale, and the company supplements this with expert data collection services and the Mapware Fly flight planning application for defense, environmental, utilities, and public safety customers.

Product overview

Mapware is a unified aerial intelligence platform combining cloud-based photogrammetry software with a family of hardware POD (Precision Observation Device) products. The core software platform processes aerial imagery into 3D maps, point clouds, and orthomosaics using GPU-accelerated cloud processing. This is complemented by three hardware POD systems: the iXM POD (multi-sensor RGB/NIR mapping), P5 POD (single-camera Phase One mapping), and Balloon POD (stratospheric ISR platform). Services include expert data collection, flight planning, and quality control. The company also offers a mobile flight controller application called Mapware Fly. The ecosystem serves defense, utilities, environmental, and infrastructure industries with solutions spanning data capture, processing, and analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• POD (Precision Observation Device): A fully enclosed and self-contained multi-sensor mount designed to transform crewed aircraft into advanced aerial mapping systems
• iXM POD
• P5 POD
• Balloon POD
• Mapware Fly

Products and services

• Mapware Photogrammetry Software Cloud-based photogrammetry platform that ingests aerial imagery from drones and crewed aircraft and generates 3D maps, point clouds, and orthomosaic images using GPU-accelerated parallel processing. Targets enterprise, government, defense, utilities, environmental, and individual drone operator customers who need survey-grade outputs at terabyte-to-petabyte scale without on-premise infrastructure.
• iXM POD FAA- and EASA-approved multi-sensor aerial mapping platform featuring dual Phase One iXM-GS120 cameras (RGB and NIR) for high-resolution mapping, vegetation analysis, and wide-area capture. Mounts on crewed aircraft without modifications and is targeted at defense, utilities, and environmental organizations needing versatile multi-sensor imagery.
• P5 POD Single-camera aerial mapping system built around the Phase One P5 imaging platform with lightweight carbon fiber composite construction. Converts crewed aircraft, including FAA Supplemental Type Certificate-approved Cessna models, into aerial mapping platforms via toolless mounting, serving surveying, mapping, and defense customers.
• Balloon POD Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) system built on a specialized stratospheric balloon platform integrating Phase One high-resolution imaging, Trimble positioning, and Starlink connectivity. Designed for long-duration overwatch at altitudes up to 85,000 feet and targeted at defense and security customers needing wide-area, persistent ISR.
• Capture Services Professional geospatial data collection service covering flight planning, automated data capture, real-time field insights, and quality control and validation. Customizable per customer and targeted at organizations that need survey-grade aerial data captured on their behalf without standing up their own drone operations.
• Mapware Fly Flight controller mobile and web application for planning UAV flight missions, navigating to locations, defining flight areas, automatic photo capture, and providing safety features for drone operations. Distributed via the Apple App Store and Google Play and targets individual drone operators and enterprise pilots running Mapware capture missions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Data center capable of 2,500+ teraflops, ranking among top 100 supercomputers globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Phase OnecoreTechnology or IntegrationPhase One provides high-resolution imaging platforms integrated into Mapware's POD hardware systems. The iXM POD features Phase One iXM-GS120 cameras with 300mm RSM lens specifically designed for high-altitude mapping. The P5 POD uses Phase One P5 ultra-high-resolution camera. Balloon POD integrates Phase One P5 or iXM-GS120 high-resolution imaging platforms.
• TrimblecoreTechnology or IntegrationTrimble Applanix AP+18 GNSS-inertial positioning system is integrated into the Balloon POD for geolocation accuracy and operational stability. This positioning technology enables precise altitude and location data for stratospheric intelligence operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trimble: Trimble is a major geospatial hardware and software incumbent serving surveying, construction, and agriculture. Already a Mapware partner (Applanix positioning in Balloon POD) but also competes in mapping software, GNSS positioning, and drone integration.
• DJI: DJI is the dominant consumer and professional drone manufacturer globally. While DJI's products are increasingly restricted in U.S. federal use due to NDAA concerns, DJI's DJI Terra and FlightHub software offerings overlap with Mapware's photogrammetry and fleet management products.
• Esri (ArcGIS Drone2Map / Site Scan): Esri is the dominant GIS platform incumbent, with drone mapping products (ArcGIS Drone2Map, Site Scan) that overlap Mapware's photogrammetry offerings. Esri serves enterprise and government geospatial customers with a much broader analytics portfolio.

Direct peers

• senseFly (Parrot): senseFly (owned by Parrot) manufactures professional fixed-wing drones and photogrammetry solutions for surveying, mapping, and agriculture. Comparable end-to-end offering combining drone hardware with mapping software.
• Delair: Delair provides professional fixed-wing UAVs and aerial intelligence solutions for surveying, mapping, and inspection. Comparable business model combining hardware and analytics software for enterprise and government customers.
• Pix4D: Pix4D is the most direct competitor in cloud-based photogrammetry software, processing drone and aerial imagery into 3D maps, point clouds, and orthomosaics. Both companies serve surveying, mapping, construction, and inspection customers with subscription-based processing platforms.
• DroneDeploy: DroneDeploy is a leading cloud drone mapping platform offering photogrammetry, 3D modeling, and analytics for construction, agriculture, and inspection use cases. Directly comparable SaaS business model and target customer segments with significant enterprise traction.
• PrecisionHawk: PrecisionHawk provides drone-based data analytics and aerial intelligence solutions for utilities, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection. Comparable end-to-end drone-to-insight stack with both software and services offerings.

Emerging players

• Phase One: Phase One provides high-resolution aerial imaging cameras and is a Mapware technology partner, but also offers its own aerial mapping solutions through iX Suite and PAS systems. Comparable imaging payload expertise with partial overlap in end-to-end mapping.
• Skydio: Skydio manufactures autonomous drones with strong computer vision capabilities for inspection, mapping, and public safety applications. Comparable AI-driven aerial intelligence positioning with a U.S.-manufactured, NDAA-compliant product line favored by federal buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mapwareai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mapware

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mapware