National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center

What National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center does

NEMAC (National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center, also referred to as the National Environmental Mapping and Applications Center) is an applied research center embedded within the University of North Carolina Asheville. Founded in 2003 and operating with 11-50 employees across two Asheville locations — the main campus at Rhoades Robinson Hall and a satellite office at the Hatch Innovation Hub — the center specializes in translating complex environmental science into accessible, actionable formats for non-specialist audiences. Its core offerings span five interconnected service areas: science communication (translating technical research for decision-makers), software tools for decision support, geospatial analysis (spatial pattern discovery and mapping), user research (studying how users interact with environmental data), and data visualization (creating visual representations of complex environmental data).

The center's technology stack is centered on science communication platforms, decision support tools, geospatial analysis systems, and data visualization solutions, with differentiated capabilities in ease of use, interoperability, accuracy, and domain specialization. NEMAC's products are not commercial software; they are project deliverables produced through collaborative research partnerships.

NEMAC's business model is that of a university research center rather than a commercial enterprise. Revenue derives from research grants, contracts, and institutional funding, with no commercial pricing or product sales. The go-to-market motion is partnership-led: NEMAC engages with federal, state, and local government agencies, community organizations focused on environmental and landscape resilience, and research institutions. Marketing is limited to institutional channels — a newsletter, LinkedIn presence, and UNC Asheville's website. The center does not have venture capital, private equity, or independent ownership; it operates as a functional unit of the public university system under the leadership of Director Karin Rogers.

Name

National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center

Legal name

National Environmental Mapping and Applications Center

Website

https://nemac.unca.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NEMAC is an applied research center at UNC Asheville that develops decision support tools, geospatial analyses, user research, and data visualizations to translate complex environmental science for government agencies, community organizations, and research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

NEPA/EA/EIS & Public Consultation (EUAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Data Measurement & IoT/Telemetry Enablement (Energy/Meter/Asset Data Ingest) (EUABAEAI), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Environmental research services
• Geospatial analysis solutions
• Decision support tools
• Science communication services
• Data visualization products

Headquarters

HQ city

Asheville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Contracts: NEMAC operates as a university research center funded primarily through grants, research contracts, and institutional funding rather than commercial product revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

NEMAC is an applied research center at UNC Asheville that translates complex environmental science into data-driven products and decision support tools for government agencies, community organizations, and research institutions. Its core offerings span science communication services, software-based decision support tools, geospatial analysis, user research, and data visualization, all oriented toward enhancing community and landscape resilience. Engagement is delivered through collaborative research partnerships, grant funding, and institutional contracts rather than commercial product sales.

Product overview

NEMAC (National Environmental Mapping and Applications Center) is an applied research center at UNC Asheville that operates as a science translation organization rather than a traditional software product company. The center provides a portfolio of interconnected service offerings centered around science communication and decision support. These include Science Communication Services (translating complex science for decision-makers), Software Tools for Decision Support (innovative data delivery platforms), Geospatial Analysis Services (spatial pattern discovery), User Research Services (understanding user-data interaction), and Data Visualization Products (visual representations of environmental data). The offerings are unified by NEMAC's core mission of bridging science producers and science users to enhance community and landscape resilience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Science Communication Services Communicating and delivering complex science to decision-makers. This service focuses on translating technical scientific information into accessible formats for policy makers and community stakeholders.
• Software Tools for Decision Support Developing innovative ways to deliver complex data and research. These decision support tools are designed to enhance community and landscape resilience by providing actionable insights from environmental data.
• Geospatial Analysis Services Analyzing and discovering geospatial patterns to better understand environmental and landscape dynamics. This involves spatial data processing and mapping to support evidence-based decision making.
• User Research Services Understanding how users interact with the world and the data that explains it. This involves studying user behavior and needs to improve the accessibility and usability of scientific information.
• Data Visualization Products Creating visual representations of complex environmental data to make scientific information more accessible and understandable for diverse audiences.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Union of Concerned Scientists: Science-based non-profit that produces technical analyses and visualizations on environmental issues for policy and public audiences. Comparable in translating environmental science for decision-makers, though with broader advocacy scope.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation non-profit that uses geospatial analysis, decision support tools, and science communication to advance landscape and climate resilience. Comparable in mission around landscape resilience and data-driven environmental decisions, but at vastly larger scale.
• Tetra Tech: Global environmental and engineering consulting firm providing environmental impact assessment, permitting, geospatial analysis, and decision support to federal, state, and commercial clients. Comparable in environmental consulting and data services, but a for-profit commercial incumbent at vastly larger scale.
• ICF International: Global consulting firm with a substantial environmental and climate practice delivering data analytics, geospatial analysis, and decision support to government agencies. Comparable in environmental decision support and science communication for federal clients, but at corporate scale.

Direct peers

• National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR): UCAR-affiliated national research center that translates atmospheric and climate science into models, data, and decision-support tools for government and public stakeholders. Highly comparable as a federally affiliated research center doing environmental science communication and decision support.
• Climate Central: Non-profit that researches and communicates climate science to the public, media, and decision-makers through visualizations, maps, and reports. Direct peer in environmental science communication and data visualization, though national in scope rather than university-affiliated.
• Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI): Non-profit that delivers environmental and energy education to policymakers, with briefings, reports, and visualizations. Comparable as a science communication and capacity-building organization for government decision-makers.
• Yale Program on Climate Change Communication: University-based research program producing studies, visualizations, and public-facing resources on climate change communication. Direct peer in academic environmental science communication and user research for decision-makers.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): Independent non-profit that analyzes climate and energy policy and produces reports and tools for decision-makers. Comparable as a science-to-policy translation organization serving government and stakeholders.
• North Carolina State Climate Office: State-level climate office at NC State that delivers climate data, decision support, and outreach to government and the public in North Carolina. Direct peer as a state university-based environmental data and science communication center, and a likely regional partner/competitor for NEMAC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/81982025
• Xx.com/nemac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center