What TCarta does

TCarta Marine, LLC (operating as TCarta) is a Denver-headquartered geospatial firm founded in 2008 that delivers satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) and earth observation analytics for coastal and shallow-water environments. Its core capability extracts water depth and seafloor characteristics from multispectral satellite imagery using proprietary workflows that combine physics-based radiative transfer algorithms with machine learning, validated against NASA ICESat-2 space-based LiDAR bathymetric soundings. The company supplements its optical SDB pipeline with SAR imagery (Capella Space), hyperspectral data (Pixxel), and auxiliary sensors from ESA Sentinel-2, Maxar/Vantor WorldView, Planet Labs, and UAV platforms, with outputs delivered in IHO-compliant formats including S-57 ENCs, S-100 series, and S-102 bathymetric surfaces.

The product surface spans data products (Global SDB at 10m, custom SDB up to 1m, ICESat-2 soundings, Marine Basemaps, Bathy Model 30m/90m DEMs, Topographic-Bathymetric Models, S-102 Bathymetric Surfaces), solution services (Blue Carbon Mapping, Water Quality Monitoring, SAR Shoreline and Intertidal Mapping, Seagrass and Mangrove Mapping, Seafloor Feature and Hazard Detection, Coastal Activity Reports, Raster Nautical Charts), the Trident Tools SDB Software (an ArcGIS Pro-based toolbox for autonomous SDB production), and a tiered training curriculum (1-day, 3-5 day, and 1-week custom programs). Approximately one-third of the world's coastlines have been mapped by TCarta using SDB.

The business model combines one-time data licensing, project-based solution services, and software licensing (Trident Tools single-seat, academic, and enterprise tiers). Distribution is overwhelmingly direct sales to government hydrographic offices, defense and intelligence agencies (including the NGA), and enterprise clients in marine/coastal sectors, supplemented by GSA Schedule access, prime/sub-contractor relationships with firms such as IIC Technologies, and a self-service ArcGIS-based Product Catalog. TCarta serves five horizontal segments: National Interests / Government Defense (primary), Energy & Mining, Infrastructure & Engineering, Resources & Monitoring, and Marine Electronics. Geographic presence spans the United States (Denver HQ), Canada (Vancouver, est. 2022), the Caribbean (Kingston, Jamaica, est. 2019), and the United Kingdom (London), with active engagements across the Pacific Islands, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Arctic. The company has been funded exclusively through non-dilutive grants (NSF SBIR ~$985K across 2017-2019 and NGA Accelerator $100K in 2022) with no institutional venture capital identified.

Name

TCarta

Legal name

TCarta Marine, LLC

Website

https://tcarta.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TCarta Marine provides satellite-derived bathymetry and earth observation analytics that turn multispectral satellite imagery into IHO-compliant coastal and shallow-water intelligence for government hydrographic offices, defense agencies, and marine enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geospatial & Earth Observation Analytics

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Data Integration, ETL & Interoperability (APIs, Standards, Data Pipelines) (EUAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Satellite-derived bathymetry
• Earth observation services
• Marine geospatial intelligence
• Coastal mapping data
• Seafloor classification mapping

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Data Products: Sale of off-the-shelf and custom satellite-derived bathymetry data products including Global SDB (G-SDB) at 10m resolution, high-resolution custom SDB at up to 1m resolution, ICESat-2 soundings, Bathy Models (30m/90m global DEM), marine basemaps, and seafloor classification maps. Products are delivered in GIS-ready formats including GeoTIFF, S-57, S-100 (HDF5), and S-102 formats.
2. Solution Services: Custom solution services including Blue Carbon Mapping, Water Quality Monitoring, SAR Shoreline Mapping, Coastal Monitoring, Seagrass/Mangrove Mapping, Seafloor Feature Detection, Topographic-Bathymetric DEMs, and Satellite Reconnaissance Charts. Billed per project or engagement, often to government agencies and enterprise clients.
3. Trident Tools SDB Software: Licensing of ArcGIS Pro-based Trident Tools SDB Software. Available as single seats, academic licenses, or enterprise licenses delivered as .exe with email/virtual support and instructional manuals.
4. Training Programs: Fee-based training programs including 1-day overview courses, 3-5 day technical training programs, and 1-week custom project-based training. Includes certificate of completion and demo software licenses. Offered on-site or virtually to international hydrographic offices and universities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TCarta provides high-precision satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) and earth observation analysis services for coastal and shallow-water environments. The company produces GIS-ready bathymetric data products, customized hydrographic solution services, the Trident Tools SDB software toolbox for ArcGIS Pro, and training programs for hydrospatial professionals. Its offerings leverage multispectral, hyperspectral, SAR, and ICESat-2 space-based LiDAR data combined with proprietary AI/ML and physics-based algorithms to deliver IHO-compliant bathymetric products in S-57, S-100, and S-102 formats.

Product overview

TCarta provides a comprehensive hydrospatial ecosystem integrating high-quality data products, customized solution services, specialized Trident Tools software, and expert training programs. The core offering is Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB) — high-resolution coastal and shallow water intelligence extracted from multispectral satellite imagery using proprietary AI/ML and physics-based approaches. Supporting data products include Seafloor Classification & Benthic Mapping, Satellite Reconnaissance Charts (S-57/S-100 ENCs), Marine Basemaps, Bathy Model (global DEM), Topographic-Bathymetric Models, ICESat-2 Bathymetric Soundings, and S-102 Bathymetric Surfaces. Solution services span environmental monitoring (Blue Carbon Mapping, Water Quality Monitoring, Seagrass Mapping, Mangrove Mapping, Coastal Monitoring), coastal analysis (SAR Shoreline Mapping, SAR Intertidal Zone Mapping, Water Body Tracking), and marine safety (Seafloor Feature and Hazard Detection, Raster Nautical Charts, Coastal Activity Reports). Trident Tools SDB Software is the ArcGIS Pro-based toolbox enabling autonomous SDB production. International Training & Capacity Building programs (1-Day, 3-5 Day, 1-Week Custom, SDB Integration Training) provide technical skills transfer. The integrated suite transforms satellite data into actionable marine intelligence across National Interests, Energy & Mining, Infrastructure & Engineering, Resources & Monitoring, and Marine Electronics markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trident Tools: Specialized ArcGIS Pro-based toolbox that enables hydrospatial professionals to autonomously produce and validate high-precision satellite-derived bathymetry.

Products and services

• Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB) High-resolution water depth model generated from multispectral satellite imagery using proprietary AI/ML and physics-based approaches, validated against NASA ICESat-2 sensor to meet IHO specifications. Serves hydrographic offices, defense agencies, and coastal engineering firms.
• Seafloor Classification & Benthic Mapping High-resolution seafloor classification service using machine learning models to identify benthic features such as coral, seagrass, and mangroves from multispectral and hyperspectral satellite imagery. Targets environmental agencies and conservation organizations.
• Satellite Reconnaissance Charts Custom, fit-for-purpose IHO-compliant S-57 and S-100 series ENCs using Earth Observation hydrospatial datasets to infill depth and shoreline data gaps in marine environments. Available as off-the-shelf and custom charts.
• Marine Basemaps GIS-ready global bathymetry layers providing a visual backdrop for cartographic applications, planning, and decision-making, derived from multi-source Bathy Model integrating SDB, nautical charts, sonar, and LiDAR data.
• Bathy Model Global digital elevation model of the seafloor available in 30m or 90m resolution, integrating digitized nautical charts, sonar, LiDAR, SDB, altimetry, and seismic data. Continually updated.
• Topographic-Bathymetric Models Seamless land-to-sea digital elevation models integrating SDB with terrestrial DEMs to provide a holistic view of the littoral zone for coastal engineers and disaster preparation.
• ICESat-2 Bathymetric Soundings High-accuracy seafloor elevation points derived from space-based LiDAR using a proprietary deep learning model applied to NASA ICESat-2 data, providing global bathymetric validation and an alternative SDB source.
• S-102 Bathymetric Surface IHO-defined S-102 product stacking bathymetric grid with pixel-per-pixel uncertainty for seamless S-100 ENC integration, providing high-resolution continuous chart products for hydrographically sparse regions.
• Blue Carbon Mapping Multi-sensor seafloor classification approach quantifying carbon sequestration across seagrass, mangroves, and salt marsh ecosystems using hyperspectral, multispectral, and SAR satellites for environmental and climate applications.
• Water Quality Monitoring Satellite-based service providing daily water clarity and algal concentration trend information including turbidity, secchi depth, chlorophyll-a, suspended particulate matter, and dissolved organic matter from high-resolution optical imagery.
• Mangrove Mapping Remote sensing analysis identifying mangrove extent, density, species type, and health using a multi-sensor approach combining SAR with multispectral and hyperspectral optical imagery.
• Seagrass Mapping High-resolution benthic mapping identifying seagrass extent, density, and health at resolutions as detailed as 30 cm using custom sensor fusion combining multispectral and hyperspectral data.
• Coastal Monitoring Shoreline and coastal bathymetry mapping over time using satellite imagery to quantify changes, identify erosion/accretion patterns, and monitor benthic habitats and water quality.
• SAR Shoreline Mapping Service extracting precise shoreline data from SAR imagery to define the land-water interface, monitoring erosion and accretion with continuous coastal change records for resilience planning.
• SAR Intertidal Zone Mapping SAR-based service that defines intertidal zone boundaries, providing high water line and low water line delineation and identifying topographical changes in intertidal flats.
• Water Body Tracking Space-based multi-temporal monitoring service quantifying changes in surface area, water levels, and storage volume for inland and coastal water bodies using SAR and satellite imagery.
• Seafloor Feature and Hazard Detection Identification service using high-resolution MSI and SAR to locate and characterize submerged or surfaced obstacles, shipwrecks, and navigational hazards in shallow waters.
• Raster Nautical Charts Official digital nautical charts and ENC data sourced from IHO Member States including British Admiralty, delivered in georeferenced raster or PDF format for marine navigation.
• Coastal Activity Report Comprehensive intelligence summary monitoring human and environmental changes across areas of interest using multitemporal satellite data to synthesize coastal dynamics.
• Trident Tools SDB Software Specialized ArcGIS Pro-based toolbox enabling hydrospatial professionals to autonomously produce and validate high-precision satellite-derived bathymetry, including BAG Creator, Glint Correction, Machine Learning Tool, Band Ratio Tool, and QAQC Statistics Tool. Licensed to enterprise, government, and academic users.
• Satellite Mapping Training Program (3-5 Day) Comprehensive multi-day technical training covering end-to-end SDB production and validation, from imagery selection and pre-processing to ICESat-2 integration and Trident Tools software operation.
• Satellite Mapping Training Program (1 Day) One-day intensive course providing technical foundation in satellite-derived bathymetry and marine remote sensing fundamentals, workflows, and data validation.
• Satellite Mapping Training Program (1 Week Custom) Custom project-based intensive training resulting in space-based solutions and data production for an organization's area of interest, moving through the entire SDB production pipeline.
• SDB Integration Training Training focused on the fusion of satellite-derived bathymetry with traditional sonar and LiDAR datasets to eliminate data gaps and create seamless seafloor models using vertical datum transformations and cross-platform calibration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 95% classification accuracy for seafloor habitat mapping
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Integration3 records

AI capability10 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCarta is a key partner and data contributor to the Seabed 2030 Project, which aims to produce a complete high-resolution bathymetric map of the world's ocean floor by 2030. TCarta contributes satellite-derived bathymetry data and has delivered SDB training to Seabed 2030 programs including internships co-run with UNH CCOM-JHC and the Marine Institute.
• Esri (Partner Network)coreTechnology or IntegrationTCarta is an Esri Partner Network Member. Trident Tools SDB Software is built to deploy within Esri's ArcGIS Pro environment, and TCarta's data products integrate seamlessly with ArcGIS platforms. TCarta participates in Esri conferences and the Esri Partner Network ecosystem.
• NASAcoreTechnology or IntegrationTCarta leverages NASA's ICESat-2 satellite (ATL23/ATL24 products) to validate SDB results and extract high-accuracy bathymetric soundings using proprietary deep learning models. NASA data is central to TCarta's quality assurance and validation workflow.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdentified as a key partner on TCarta's website. NOAA's Office for Coastal Management (OCM) has utilized TCarta's SDB data in examples of high-resolution topobathymetric models. NOAA represents a key government stakeholder in coastal and marine data.
• NSF / National Science FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSF has supported TCarta through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants beginning in 2017, with focus on scalable SDB technology development. NSF funding has been critical to TCarta's R&D and product development trajectory.
• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected for the NGA Accelerator Program in 2022. TCarta serves as prime contractor for US Government SDB mapping projects. NGA partnership focuses on integrating SDB technology with US government needs for national security applications.
• ESA (European Space Agency)coreTechnology or IntegrationTCarta uses ESA's Sentinel-2 satellite imagery as a primary data source for SDB products and leverages the Sentinel-2 archive for historical trend analysis dating back to 2016.
• VantormajorTechnology or IntegrationListed as a satellite provider partner. Vantor provides very high resolution multispectral satellite imagery used in TCarta's SDB and seafloor classification products.
• Airbus Defence and SpacemajorTechnology or IntegrationListed as a satellite provider partner. Airbus provides very high resolution multispectral satellite imagery used in TCarta's SDB and seafloor classification products.
• Planet LabsmajorTechnology or IntegrationListed as a satellite provider partner. Planet Labs provides PlanetScope 3m and other imagery used for TCarta's SDB products and water quality monitoring. Planet Labs imagery used in OGC demonstrator projects.
• Capella SpacemajorTechnology or IntegrationListed as a satellite provider partner. Capella Space provides SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery used for TCarta's shoreline mapping, intertidal zone mapping, and seafloor feature detection products.
• IIC TechnologiesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIIC Technologies served as Prime Contractor on the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) contract, with TCarta providing SDB data as a subcontractor. This relationship enables TCarta's data to reach government clients through established prime contractor channels.
• University of New Hampshire - Center of Coastal and Ocean Mapping (CCOM-JHC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key partnership and affiliation. TCarta co-runs the Seabed 2030 internship program with UNH CCOM-JHC (now in its 3rd year), supported by GEBCO and the Nippon Foundation. UNH is a key academic partner for TCarta's training and capacity-building programs.
• Marine Institute (Canada)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key partnership. TCarta co-runs a summer internship program for student hydrographers with the Marine Institute (supported by GEBCO and the Nippon Foundation), providing hands-on experience in space-based coastal mapping.
• OYO CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partnership affiliation on TCarta's website, indicating a collaborative relationship in the hydrographic/geospatial domain.
• GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCarta is a partner in the Seabed 2030 Project (a GEBCO-Nippon Foundation initiative) and contributes SDB data directly to GEBCO. The GEBCO cookbook and open-source approaches are used by remote sensing students trained by TCarta.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EOMAP: EOMAP is a German-headquartered specialist in satellite-derived bathymetry and aquatic remote sensing, providing the closest direct competitive overlap to TCarta's core SDB, water quality, and benthic mapping offerings across government and commercial marine customers.
• IIC Technologies: IIC Technologies is a hydrographic survey and geospatial services prime contractor that has worked with TCarta as subcontractor on Canadian Hydrographic Service contracts; it is a direct peer in nautical charting, hydrographic services, and SDB-derived ENC production.

Broad incumbents

• Fugro: Fugro is a global leader in hydrographic, geophysical, and geotechnical surveys serving the same government, offshore energy, and coastal engineering buyers as TCarta, with a much broader portfolio of vessel- and airborne-based survey services overlapping with TCarta's space-based bathymetry.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg Maritime provides hydrographic survey sonars, multibeam systems, and integrated maritime solutions; it overlaps with TCarta across hydrographic data acquisition and IHO-compliant chart production, with overlapping buyers in defense hydrographic offices.
• Esri: Esri is the dominant GIS platform provider and TCarta's core technology integration partner via ArcGIS Pro; while not directly competitive, Esri is a broad incumbent whose partner ecosystem and roadmap decisions heavily influence TCarta's Trident Tools software distribution.
• MDA: MDA operates RADARSAT satellite missions and a broad geospatial information services business; it competes with TCarta for defense and government earth-observation contracts and is investing in next-generation commercial SAR that overlaps with TCarta's SAR shoreline products.
• Maxar Technologies (Vantor): Maxar/Vantor is a leading provider of very high-resolution commercial satellite imagery used by TCarta as an upstream data source; its Intelligence and Space business also competes with TCarta on defense and intelligence hydrographic and geospatial analytics work.
• Planet Labs: Planet Labs operates the largest commercial constellation of Earth observation satellites and supplies daily-coverage imagery that TCarta uses for SDB and water quality products; Planet's analytics platform competes with TCarta in maritime and environmental monitoring use cases.
• Trimble: Trimble provides GNSS, GIS, and geospatial solutions to hydrographic, agriculture, and engineering markets; it is a broad incumbent with overlapping tools in positioning, mapping software, and coastal/survey workflows consumed by the same enterprise customers as TCarta.

Emerging players

• Capella Space: Capella Space provides commercial SAR imagery used by TCarta for shoreline and intertidal mapping; its growing analytics offerings overlap with TCarta's SAR-based coastal change detection and represent an emerging competitor in all-weather maritime monitoring.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tcarta_

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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 TCarta