MAPPS

What MAPPS does

MAPPS (Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors) is a US-based nonprofit professional trade association founded in 1982 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia. It is positioned as the only national association exclusively comprised of private firms in the remote sensing, spatial data, and photogrammetric surveying sectors, serving member firms through networking, technical and professional education, legislative advocacy, public policy representation, Excellence Awards recognition, and formal federal agency liaison committees (with BLM, FEMA, NOAA, USACE, USDA, and USGS) that have operated since 2003.

The organization does not develop software or proprietary technology products; its core service is community and policy infrastructure for the private geospatial industry. Distribution occurs via direct website enrollment, a members-only portal at members.mapps.org, and three annual conferences (Summer, Federal Programs, Winter), supplemented by a tiered Sustaining Partners Program (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) and online storefront transactions for Excellence Awards submissions and PAC donations.

MAPPS generates revenue primarily through recurring membership dues from private photogrammetric surveying firms, with secondary streams from Excellence Awards submission fees ($400.00 USD per submission), Political Action Committee contributions ($100-$2,000 USD), and multi-tier sustaining partner sponsorships from industry vendors and large surveying/engineering firms. Its GTM motion is community-led, and its customer segments are horizontal: private geospatial firms (primary) and federal agencies as liaison partners rather than paying customers.

Name

MAPPS

Legal name

Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors

Website

https://mapps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

MAPPS is a US nonprofit trade association founded in 1982, exclusively representing private photogrammetric surveying and remote sensing firms. It provides member firms with networking, legislative advocacy, federal agency liaison services, an annual Excellence Awards program, and three recurring conferences per year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Reston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MAPPS generates revenue through annual membership fees from private photogrammetric surveying firms and geospatial professionals. Membership provides access to networking, advocacy, education, and industry resources.
2. Excellence Awards Submissions: The organization charges $400.00 USD for Excellence Awards submission fees, providing a recognition platform for member firms' outstanding work in the geospatial industry.
3. PAC Donations: MAPPS PAC accepts contributions ranging from $100 to $2,000, supporting legislative advocacy and political engagement on behalf of the geospatial industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MAPPS is a national professional trade association that provides membership-based services to private photogrammetric surveying and geospatial firms. Its core offerings include annual conferences (Summer, Winter, Federal Programs), an Excellence Awards recognition program, legislative advocacy through the MAPPS PAC, and federal agency liaison committees connecting private sector members with agencies such as BLM, FEMA, NOAA, USACE, USDA, and USGS.

Product overview

MAPPS (Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors) is a professional trade association serving the geospatial industry, not a product company. The organization provides membership services including conferences and events (Summer Conference, Federal Programs Conference, Winter Conference), Excellence Awards programs, legislative advocacy, federal agency liaison committees, and professional development resources for private practitioners in the geospatial community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MAPPS Membership Annual membership in the national trade association for private photogrammetric surveying and geospatial firms, providing access to networking, advocacy, education, federal agency liaison committees, and industry resources.
• MAPPS Annual Conferences (Summer, Winter, Federal Programs) Recurring industry conferences for MAPPS members and partners, providing networking, professional development, and federal agency engagement opportunities. The 2026 Summer Conference, 2027 Federal Programs Conference, and 2027 Winter Conference are currently scheduled.
• Excellence Awards Program Industry recognition program for outstanding achievements by MAPPS member firms in the geospatial industry, with a $400 USD per-submission fee.
• Sustaining Partners Program Tiered sponsorship program (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) for geospatial technology vendors and service firms to support MAPPS conferences, advocacy, and member services while gaining visibility within the MAPPS community.
• Federal Agency Liaison Committees Standing liaison committees facilitating identification, discussion, and cooperative resolution of issues of mutual interest between private geospatial firms and federal agencies (BLM, FEMA, NOAA, USACE, USDA, USGS).
• MAPPS PAC (Political Action Committee) Political Action Committee supporting legislative advocacy and political engagement on behalf of the geospatial industry, accepting contributions from $100 to $2,000.

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, gold, silver and minor.

• WGIplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum level partner in the 2026 MAPPS Sustaining Partners Program, supporting the geospatial industry's premier professional association and its member firms.
• RIEGLplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum level partner providing LiDAR technology expertise to MAPPS member firms through the sustaining partners program.
• Phoenix LiDAR SystemsplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum level partner supporting MAPPS conferences and member services in the geospatial technology space.
• ApplanixgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold level partner in the 2026 MAPPS Sustaining Partners Program supporting geospatial industry events and advocacy.
• Revolution Flight GroupgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold level partner supporting MAPPS Winter Opening Reception and industry programs.
• Vexcel ImaginggoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold level partner providing aerial imaging and mapping technology expertise to MAPPS community.
• MBIgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold level partner in MAPPS sustaining partners program supporting industry events.
• Tetra TechgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold level partner supporting MAPPS through the sustaining partners program for geospatial professionals.
• Eagle MappingsilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner in MAPPS 2026 partner program supporting member services and events.
• DewberrysilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner and NOAA liaison Emily Klipp representing firm in federal agency coordination.
• HexagonsilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner providing geospatial technology solutions to MAPPS member firms.
• McKim CreedsilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner in MAPPS sustaining partners program supporting industry advocacy.
• NV5silverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner with USGS liaison Mike Shillenn coordinating federal agency relations.
• KucerasilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner supporting MAPPS refreshment breaks at Winter and Summer conferences.
• Talos AviationsilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner providing aerial surveying expertise to MAPPS community.
• WoolpertsilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner in MAPPS 2026 sustaining partners program.
• SAMsilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver level partner supporting MAPPS member services and industry events.
• SanbornminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner firm with BLM liaison Jason Caldwell coordinating federal agency liaison activities.
• StantecminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner firm with FEMA liaison Vince DeCamillo coordinating agency liaison committee.
• Prairie EngineersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner firm with USACE Small Business liaison Scott Perkins coordinating federal relations.
• SurdexminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner firm with USDA liaison Brett Thomassie coordinating agricultural geospatial issues.
• Aero-GraphicsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partner firm with USGS liaison Bernie Doud and Bronze partner supporting MAPPS events.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing): The closest direct peer: a national professional society serving the photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geospatial community with conferences, certification, publications, and advocacy — competing for the same member audience as MAPPS.
• URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association): A geospatial professional association focused on GIS and information systems for public-sector and private practitioners, overlapping with MAPPS on education, conferences, and advocacy for geospatial professionals.
• NSPS (National Society of Professional Surveyors): National association representing licensed surveying professionals, with significant overlap in membership base, federal advocacy, and continuing-education programming for the surveying/geospatial community MAPPS serves.
• GITA (Geospatial Information & Technology Association): Industry association focused on geospatial infrastructure for utilities and government, offering education and events comparable to MAPPS for geospatial data practitioners serving infrastructure clients.

Broad incumbents

• AAG (American Association of Geographers): A larger and broader academic and professional geography association that includes geospatial practitioners among its membership, offering conferences, publications, and advocacy that compete for mindshare.

Emerging players

• IAAO (International Association of Assessing Officers): Professional association for property assessment with significant overlap on parcel, cadastral, and geospatial mapping data — a thematic peer where surveying and GIS intersect with assessment practice.
• GIS Certification Institute (GISCI): Organization offering the GISP credential widely held by geospatial professionals, competing with MAPPS-adjacent societies for professionalization influence and member mindshare.
• xyHt: Trade publication and event organizer covering surveying, mapping, and geospatial technology, competing with MAPPS conferences and Excellence Awards for industry visibility.

Others

• Directions Magazine: Long-running geospatial industry media outlet covering GIS, remote sensing, and surveying — adjacent ecosystem participant that competes for industry communication share rather than memberships directly.
• GeoWeek / Diversified Communications: Major geospatial industry conference and exhibition that MAPPS itself participates in; comparable to MAPPS conferences as a convening point for the same private geospatial practitioner audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMupzsF4NasdJPCIm6cgQ8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/MAPPSorg
• Xx.com/mappsorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 MAPPS