State Office for Basic Geo Information Saxony

What State Office for Basic Geo Information Saxony does

GeoSN — full legal name Landesamt für Geobasisinformation Sachsen — is the upper state surveying authority (obere Landesbehörde) of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, operating under the Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Regionalentwicklung. Headquartered at Olbrichtplatz 3 in Dresden since 1945 (building originally constructed 1875-76, fully renovated 2013), the agency employs approximately 250 staff and exercises specialist supervision over 13 lower surveying authorities and more than 80 publicly appointed surveying engineers (ÖbVI) in Saxony's three-tier surveying administration. Its statutory mandate covers the official geodetic reference system, the land cadastre (ALKIS), topographic mapping (ATKIS), and statewide geodata infrastructure coordination under the Sächsisches Geodateninfrastrukturgesetz.

The technology portfolio centers on official geobase data and services: SAPOS satellite positioning via a network of six particularly stable ground-based GNSS reference stations; digital orthophotos at 20cm resolution produced on a biennial cycle across 16 aerial photography lots; digital terrain and landscape models; the ALKIS property cadastre; BORIS property valuation information system; and the Geoportal Sachsenatlas with GeoBAK e-government base component delivering WMS/WFS services via open OGC standards. Recent platform additions include the Digitaler Zwilling Sachsen (launched September 2025) — a statewide digital twin integrating 3D city models and real-time geodata — and the KI-basierte Waldanalyse (launched June 2026 with M.O.S.S. GmbH), an AI-based forest specialist twin using the DeepTrees convolutional neural network on orthophotos for individual tree identification and NDVI vitality monitoring. The agency also participated in a Bund-Länder initiative using AI-agent ensembles for metadata quality improvement.

GeoSN is funded entirely through the Saxon state budget as part of the Geschäftsbereich of the supervising ministry — no commercial revenue model applies. Services are statutory and delivered free of charge to Saxon ministries, municipalities, lower surveying authorities, ÖbVI, and citizens through official channels, a physical consulting and sales office at the Dresden headquarters (selling topographic, historical, geological, and environmental maps), and self-service online portals. The President, Ronny Zienert (since 01.01.2023), oversees operations; the agency holds no external shareholders, venture capital, or private equity.

Name

State Office for Basic Geo Information Saxony

Legal name

Landesamt für Geobasisinformation Sachsen

Website

https://geosn.sachsen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Short description

GeoSN (Landesamt für Geobasisinformation Sachsen) is the upper state surveying authority of the Free State of Saxony, employing ~250 staff to operate the official geodetic reference system, ALKIS property cadastre, SAPOS satellite positioning, and statewide geodata infrastructure including the Digital Twin of Saxony, serving Saxon ministries, municipalities, ÖbVI, and citizens.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Geospatial Information Services

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

akta.pro primary industry

Geospatial Data Management & Enterprise GIS (Geodatabases, Web GIS, Spatial Analytics) (EUAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms (BPAMANAK), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Remote Sensing & Geospatial Vision (satellite/drone imagery) (HDAAAEAL), Remote Sensing & GIS Timber Measurement Services (AFAMAIAI), Location Intelligence, Analytics & Geospatial BI (BPAMANAE)

Keywords

• Geoinformation services
• Land surveying
• Cadastral mapping
• Satellite positioning
• Digital cartography

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Sector Funding: As an upper state authority (obere Landesbehörde) of the Free State of Saxony and part of the Geschäftsbereich of the Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Infrastruktur und Landesentwicklung, GeoSN is financed through the Saxon state budget. Services to public administration, ÖbVI, and citizens are statutory and publicly funded. No commercial revenue model applies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

GeoSN operates as the upper state surveying authority of Saxony, providing authoritative geobase data and geoinformation infrastructure for the Free State. Its core offerings include official land cadastre data (ALKIS), real-time satellite positioning (SAPOS), digital orthophotos, digital terrain and landscape models, property valuation data (BORIS), and the Geoportal Sachsenatlas e-government platform, with the new Digital Twin of Saxony integrating these for planning, climate adaptation, and digital administration.

Product overview

The State Office for Basic Geo Information Saxony (GeoSN) operates as the upper state authority in Saxony's three-tier surveying administration, providing a comprehensive geoinformation infrastructure built around its core Geoportal Sachsenatlas platform and GeoBAK e-government base component. The portfolio centers on authoritative geobase data including Digital Orthophotos (DOP), Digital Terrain Models (DGM), Digital Landscape Models (DLM), and ALKIS property cadastre managed at state level. Satellite positioning services (SAPOS) deliver real-time GNSS corrections for precision applications, while BORIS provides standardized property valuation data. The Digital Twin Saxony initiative represents the latest platform evolution, integrating foundational geodata with specialized sector applications like the AI-powered Digital Forest Specialist Twin for automated forest monitoring. Products are distributed through the Geoportal Sachsenatlas web interface, direct data services (WMS/WFS), and a physical consulting/sales office at Olbrichtplatz Dresden.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Geoportal Sachsenatlas: Central e-government portal for publishing and using Saxon geoinformation, accessible at geoportal.sachsen.de.
• GeoBAK
• BORIS
• SAPOS
• ALKIS
• Digitaler Zwilling Sachsen
• GeoSN-SchulApp

Products and services

• Geoportal Sachsenatlas
• GeoBAK (E-Government Basiskomponente Geodaten)
• SAPOS (Satellitenpositionierungsdienst)
• Digitale Orthophotos (DOP)

Quantifiable outcome

• Full aerial photography coverage of Saxony renewed every 2 years with 8 lots per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VertiGIS GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 6 November 2025GeoSN signed a five-year contract with VertiGIS in November 2025, guaranteeing software provision (EVB-IT Überlassung) through 2030. The partnership provides the GIS software platform underpinning the Geoportal Sachsenatlas and ALKIS applications, continuing a longstanding collaboration.
• M.O.S.S. Computer Grafik Systeme GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborative pilot project to develop an AI-based forest analysis digital twin (Digitaler Fachzwilling). M.O.S.S. contributed the DeepTrees deep learning framework that automatically identifies individual trees from GeoSN's 20cm-resolution orthophotos, enabling single-tree identification, vitality monitoring, and change detection for climate-resilient forest management.
• Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation Schleswig-HolsteinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Schleswig-Holstein's surveying authority on metadata quality improvement, as part of a federal-state initiative using ensembles of AI agents to improve existing metadata and simplify creation of new metadata records.
• Esri DeutschlandcoreTechnology or IntegrationLongstanding strategic partner providing GIS software and co-hosting the annual Digitaler Zwilling Sachsen specialist event. In February 2025, GeoSN, Esri Deutschland, and Gymnasium Dresden-Plauen signed a memorandum of understanding for school cooperation to digitalise education using geoinformation technology.
• Landesbetrieb Geoinformation und Vermessung HamburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaxon and Hamburg counterparts in digital twin development, exchanging experiences on urban digital twins, planning transparency, and citizen participation at the Czech-German Geospatial Meeting in Prague.
• Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Infrastruktur und Landesentwicklung (SMIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoSN's parent ministry and strategic partner for all major initiatives including the Digital Twin of Saxony, SAPOS expansion, and geodata infrastructure development. The ministry's Department 4 (Landesentwicklung, Vermessungswesen), Reference 42 (Geobasisinformation und Vermessung), holds top-level authority over surveying matters.
• Hamburg, Freie und Hansestadt (Urban Data Platform)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean partnership on digital twins between Hamburg, Saxony, and the Czech Republic, exchanging best practices on urban data platforms, digital twin standards, and cross-border cooperation.
• EUSPA (European Union Agency for the Space Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoSN and Hamburg delegation visited EUSPA in Prague to discuss integration of space data (Galileo, Copernicus) into geoinformation systems, digital twins, and digital administration — highlighting the role of satellite data in digital transformation.
• Sächsische Agentur für Strukturentwicklung GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on youth outreach events such as 'Frühschicht für meine Lausitz' and school workshops, where GeoSN promotes the GeoSN-SchulApp and geodata education to young people in structural development regions.
• Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBKG presented the heavy rain hazard map for Saxony together with SMEKUL and GeoSN. GeoSN also co-presented the Digitaler Zwilling Deutschland at a parliamentary event in the German Bundestag alongside BKG.
• buildingSMART Deutschland - Regionalgruppe SachsenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoSN actively participates in buildingSMART Regionalgruppe Sachsen events on BIM and infrastructure, discussing standardisation, IFC standards, and integration of BIM models with geobase data and the Digital Twin of Saxony.
• HTW Dresden (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual study partnership: HTW Dresden provides the academic component (B.Eng. Geomatik) while GeoSN serves as the practical partner for surveying modules, practical semesters, project work, and bachelor theses.
• Thüringer Landesamt für Bodenmanagement und Geoinformation (TLBG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding joint exhibition partnership at the Leipzig Book Fair (Leipziger Buchmesse), where GeoSN and TLBG jointly present geodata and surveying topics to a broad public audience.
• Gymnasium Dresden-PlauenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn February 2025, GeoSN, Esri Deutschland, and Gymnasium Dresden-Plauen signed a memorandum of understanding for school cooperation to make lessons more digital using geoinformation, with the GeoSN-SchulApp and GIS-based learning tools.
• Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr (BMDV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oberprüfungsamt (upper examination office) for technical traineeship at BMDV in Bonn administers the state examination for GeoSN's Referendare (career training candidates). BMDV also participated in opening the GeoIT Days 2026.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Esri Deutschland: Leading GIS software vendor and strategic partner of GeoSN. While not a public-sector peer, Esri Deutschland is the technology backbone for the Digital Twin of Saxony and comparable state digital twin projects, making it a key ecosystem participant.
• M.O.S.S. Computer Grafik Systeme GmbH: German geospatial software vendor and co-developer of the DeepTrees AI framework used by GeoSN for the AI-based forest analysis. As a specialized vendor for cadastre and geospatial data management, it is an ecosystem enabler for GeoSN's AI and digital twin capabilities.
• VertiGIS GmbH: GIS software provider under a five-year contract (2025–2030) supplying the platform underpinning Geoportal Sachsenatlas and ALKIS applications. A core technology infrastructure partner comparable in role to a managed-platform vendor in a private-sector context.

Broad incumbents

• Bayerisches Landesamt für Digitalisierung, Breitband und Vermessung: Bavaria's state agency for digitization, broadband, and surveying. The largest and most digitized German state surveying authority, providing a benchmark for digital cadastre, ATKIS, and 3D building models closely comparable to GeoSN's portfolio at greater scale.
• LGL Baden-Württemberg (Landesamt für Geoinformation und Landentwicklung): Baden-Württemberg's state agency for geoinformation and land development. Comparable scope as an upper surveying authority with cadastral, ATKIS, and digital twin responsibilities, and a peer level reference for state-level geodata services in Germany.
• Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG): Germany's federal agency for cartography and geodesy. Unlike GeoSN, BKG operates at the national level and co-developed the heavy rain hazard map and the Digital Twin Deutschland with GeoSN; it is the federal equivalent providing cross-state coordination and standards.
• Bezirksregierung Köln - Geobasis NRW: North Rhine-Westphalia's geobasis division within the Cologne district government. Operates the largest state-based geodata infrastructure in Germany with SAPOS, ALKIS, 3D, and INSPIRE portals directly parallel to GeoSN's portfolio, at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Landesbetrieb Geoinformation und Vermessung Hamburg: Hamburg's state surveying and geoinformation authority. Directly comparable to GeoSN as a federal-state geoinformation agency with a digital twin (Urban Data Platform) and cadastre responsibilities, and explicitly exchanged best practices with GeoSN on digital twins at the Czech-German Geospatial Meeting.
• Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation Schleswig-Holstein: Schleswig-Holstein's state surveying and geoinformation office. Twin public-sector agency to GeoSN, actively collaborating on AI-agent ensembles for metadata quality improvement within a federal-state GDI initiative.
• Thüringer Landesamt für Bodenmanagement und Geoinformation (TLBG): Thuringia's state authority for land management and geoinformation. Long-standing joint exhibition partner with GeoSN at the Leipzig Book Fair, mirroring its mandate as the upper surveying authority in a neighboring federal state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FreistaatSachsen
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMRsachsen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/staatsbetrieb-geobasisinformation-und-vermessung-sachsen
• Instagraminstagram.com/smrsachsen

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about State Office for Basic Geo Information Saxony