CompassData
CompassData is a privately held geospatial data company that collects and validates high-accuracy Ground Control Points for satellite, aerial, drone, and LiDAR applications, serving federal agencies and aviation, energy, utilities, transportation, and renewable energy clients globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CompassData does
CompassData, Inc. is a privately held geospatial data company founded in 1994 and headquartered in Englewood, Colorado (Denver Tech Center area). The company specializes in collecting and validating high-accuracy Ground Control Points (GCPs) used to georeference satellite imagery, aerial and drone data, and LiDAR point clouds for GIS applications. Its core asset is an archive of 80,000+ photo-identifiable GCPs collected across 100+ countries, supplemented by a vetted global survey partner network that enables custom on-the-ground data collection. Quality processes are anchored by ISO 9001:2015 and FAA DO-200A certifications, and the company maintains dedicated GCP clusters at 1,100+ airports worldwide.
The product portfolio spans four revenue streams. First, archive GCP data sold as downloadable Esri Shapefiles or Google Earth KML/KMZ files across five accuracy tiers (Quality-0 through Quality-4). Second, custom GCP survey services deployed globally by expert teams for satellite/aerial photogrammetry, LiDAR calibration, drone/UAV mapping, and remote sensing validation. Third, proprietary software tools (CompassAA™ for orthophoto horizontal accuracy, CompassTA™ for LiDAR/DEM elevation accuracy, and CompassVV) sold on annual subscriptions with 14-day trials, producing standardized RMSE, CE90, CE95, and NSSDA error statistics. Fourth, broader data acquisition services including aerial, drone, LiDAR, satellite imagery, and mobile mapping. The registered RSGCP® (Remotely Sensed Ground Control Points) product extends capability into politically sensitive or inaccessible regions using SAR and high-resolution imagery, avoiding field deployment.
Commercially, CompassData operates enterprise field sales, inside sales, and event-driven go-to-market motions targeting federal agencies (USGS, FEMA, NOAA, NASA), aviation, oil & gas, utilities, transportation, and renewable energy customers. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with pay-as-you-go data sales, annual software subscriptions, and multi-year government contracts. Federal contracting is supported by Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification and Denver WBE/SBE/DBE certifications. Leadership includes CEO Kate Schlatter, founder Brant Howard (of the Compass Family of Companies, which also includes CompassCom and CompassDrone), EVP Hayden Howard, and VP Philipp Hummel.
CompassData firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CompassData
- Legal name
- CompassData, Inc.
- Website
- https://compassdatainc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CompassData is a privately held geospatial data company that collects and validates high-accuracy Ground Control Points for satellite, aerial, drone, and LiDAR applications, serving federal agencies and aviation, energy, utilities, transportation, and renewable energy clients globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CompassData industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geospatial Survey & Data Services
- NAICS
- Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Remote Sensing & Imaging (Satellite, UAV/Drone, Aerial, Multispectral/Hyperspectral) (AFAGALAC), Field Mapping, GIS & Remote Sensing Analytics (AFAAAFAB)
Keywords
Where CompassData is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CompassData business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ground Control Points Data Sales: Off-the-shelf GCP archive data sold as downloadable files (Esri Shapefiles, Google Earth KML/KMZ) with various quality tiers. Customers purchase access to existing GCP data or commission new custom collections. Revenue is project-based and varies by geographic coverage and accuracy requirements.
- Custom GCP Survey Services: Bespoke ground control point collection services deployed globally by expert survey teams for specific project requirements. Covers satellite and aerial photogrammetry, LiDAR calibration, drone/UAV mapping, and remote sensing validation projects.
- Software Licenses (CompassAA™ and CompassTA™): Verification and validation software tools sold as licenses for QA/QC workflows. Includes installation kits, demonstration data, and subscription renewals for ongoing software support and updates.
- Imagery and LiDAR Data Acquisition: Acquisition services for aerial imagery and LiDAR datasets using aircraft, drone, and mobile systems as a complement to GCP solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ground Control Points with varying accuracy classifications |
| Subscription | Annual | CompassAA and CompassTA software subscriptions |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional survey technician positions |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
CompassData product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CompassData is a geospatial solutions company that collects, validates, and delivers high-accuracy Ground Control Points (GCPs) and related imagery, LiDAR, satellite, and mobile mapping data for GIS, remote sensing, and photogrammetry applications. Its core offerings include a commercial archive of 80,000+ GCPs across 100+ countries, custom ground survey services worldwide, aerial/drone/satellite/LiDAR/mobile data acquisition, and proprietary QA/QC software tools (CompassAA and CompassTA) for orthophoto and elevation accuracy verification.
Product overview
CompassData offers a comprehensive geospatial data portfolio centered on its flagship Ground Control Points (GCPs) archive of 80,000+ high-accuracy survey points collected globally. The core product offering is complemented by data acquisition services for Aerial/Drone Imagery, LiDAR, Satellite Imagery, and Mobile Mapping. Two proprietary software tools—CompassAA for horizontal accuracy verification of orthophotos and CompassTA for elevation data and LiDAR validation—round out the product suite. Additional products include Airport Imagery Archive, Custom Basemaps, Off the Shelf Imagery, and specialized Remotely Sensed Ground Control Points (RSGCP) for remote areas. The company positions itself as a one-stop provider covering data collection, validation, and delivery across multiple platforms and formats.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CompassAA: GIS tool to verify the accuracy and quality of orthophotos and field data for independent QA/QC.
- CompassTA
- CompassVV
Products and services
- Ground Control Points (GCPs)
Quantifiable outcome
- Quality-0 GCPs achieve 1-5cm horizontal and vertical accuracy
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CompassData
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CompassData technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
CompassData partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE)coreCompassData participates in the annual JACIE Workshop organized by USGS and federal agencies to evaluate and enhance commercial remote sensing imagery capabilities, data quality, and calibration methods. This collaboration positions CompassData as a trusted contributor to federal imagery standards.
- EsricoreCompassData is an official Esri partner participating in the Esri Partner Conference and Esri User Conference. The partnership focuses on integrating ground control points with Esri's ArcGIS platform, enabling seamless workflow for GIS professionals using CompassData data within the Esri ecosystem.
- United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)coreCompassData participates in the annual GEOINT Symposium hosted by USGIF, engaging with geospatial intelligence professionals, government officials, and industry innovators to discuss advancements in geospatial technology, AI, and national security applications.
- MAPPScoreCompassData is an active member of MAPPS, the association for geospatial firms. Participation in MAPPS Winter Conference, Federal Programs Conference, and other events demonstrates commitment to industry advocacy and federal market engagement.
- Colorado Solar and Storage AssociationminorCompassData participates in Solar Power and Energy Storage Mountain West conference, supporting the renewable energy sector's geospatial data needs for solar farm and energy storage facility planning.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CompassData competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NV5 Geospatial (formerly Quantum Spatial): NV5 Geospatial provides end-to-end geospatial data acquisition, analysis, and remote sensing services for federal, state, and commercial clients. Directly comparable as a geospatial services firm offering LiDAR, aerial imagery, and remote sensing validation across aviation, government, and infrastructure verticals.
- Woolpert: Woolpert is an architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) firm offering aerial imagery, LiDAR, surveying, and GIS services to government and commercial clients. Directly comparable as a multi-disciplinary geospatial services provider with strong federal contracting presence and similar technology stack.
- AAM Group: AAM Group is an Asia-Pacific geospatial services firm specializing in aerial surveying, LiDAR, and mapping for government and infrastructure clients. Comparable as a mid-sized geospatial data acquisition specialist with similar service offerings, though operating primarily in different geographies.
Broad incumbents
- Fugro: Fugro is a global geo-data specialist providing site characterization, survey, and geospatial services for offshore, infrastructure, and energy markets. Comparable as a geoscience services incumbent with broader geographic reach and deeper resources, though operating at larger scale than CompassData.
- Hexagon (Leica Geosystems): Hexagon's Geosystems division (including Leica Geosystems) is a leading provider of surveying, geospatial, and reality-capture hardware and software. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering integrated solutions where CompassData competes, but with vastly larger scale and bundled offerings.
- Trimble: Trimble provides GNSS, surveying, mapping, and geospatial software solutions for construction, agriculture, and government markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent in geospatial positioning and surveying, with overlapping capabilities in accuracy validation and reference data.
- Maxar Technologies: Maxar operates high-resolution satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence services for defense, government, and commercial markets. Comparable as a major provider of satellite imagery and geospatial products that depend on the kind of GCP accuracy CompassData supplies, though at much larger scale.
Emerging players
- Nearmap: Nearmap provides high-resolution aerial imagery and geospatial data as a subscription service for construction, government, and insurance markets. Comparable as a provider of aerial-derived geospatial data with recurring revenue model, though without CompassData's ground-truth accuracy specialization.
- Cyient: Cyient provides geospatial, engineering, and IT services including remote sensing analytics, LiDAR processing, and GIS solutions for aerospace, defense, and utilities. Comparable as a services firm offering remote sensing analytics with global delivery capability, though operating more as a system integrator.
Others
- Esri: Esri is the dominant GIS software platform provider (ArcGIS) and an official partner of CompassData. Comparable as an ecosystem player whose platform integrates CompassData's GCP products, representing both a distribution channel and adjacent capability rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CompassData social profiles
Digital presenceCompassData compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CompassData financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CompassData leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CompassData funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CompassData M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CompassData
What does CompassData do?
CompassData is a geospatial solutions company that collects, validates, and delivers high-accuracy Ground Control Points (GCPs) and related imagery, LiDAR, satellite, and mobile mapping data for GIS, remote sensing, and photogrammetry applications. Its core offerings include a commercial archive of 80,000+ GCPs across 100+ countries, custom ground survey services worldwide, aerial/drone/satellite/LiDAR/mobile data acquisition, and proprietary QA/QC software tools (CompassAA and CompassTA) for orthophoto and elevation accuracy verification.
Is CompassData a public or private company?
CompassData is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was CompassData founded?
CompassData was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CompassData based?
CompassData is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does CompassData make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ground Control Points Data Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom GCP Survey Services, software Licenses (CompassAA™ and CompassTA™) and imagery and LiDAR Data Acquisition.
Who are CompassData's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NV5 Geospatial (formerly Quantum Spatial), Woolpert and AAM Group. Broad incumbents are Fugro, Hexagon (Leica Geosystems), Trimble and Maxar Technologies. Emerging players are Nearmap and Cyient. Esri is listed as an others.
Does CompassData have an API?
No public API is recorded for CompassData.
What industry is CompassData in?
CompassData's product category is Geospatial Survey & Data Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAKAD, Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing), with a secondary code of AFAGALAC, Remote Sensing & Imaging (Satellite, UAV/Drone, Aerial, Multispectral/Hyperspectral). Its NAICS code is 54137.