Canadian Institute of Geomatics

What Canadian Institute of Geomatics does

The Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG) / Association canadienne des sciences géomatiques (ACSG) is a Canadian not-for-profit professional association that represents all groups in Canada's geomatics community. With over 100 years of operating history, the organization unifies surveying, photogrammetry, remote sensing, GIS, cartography, geodesy, and hydrography practitioners under one umbrella and serves as Canada's national member to the International Federation of Surveying (FIG), the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), and the International Cartographic Association (ICA). It is also a founding member of GeoAlliance. CIG operates through eight regional sections (Champlain, Montreal, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver) plus student and overseas chapters, headquartered at 100 E - 900 rue Dynes Road, Ottawa, Ontario, with a small remote staff led by Office Administrator Emily Davies.

CIG's core offerings are structured around membership tiers (Individual at $140 CAD/year, Student at $50 CAD/year, and Sustaining tiers at Silver/Gold/Platinum ranging from $300 to $1,000+ CAD/year for educational institutions and organizations). Member benefits include free online access to the peer-reviewed Geomatica scientific journal (published via Canadian Science Publishing), a professional certification program, forum and networking access, event discounts, group insurance rates, and job posting services. The organization also administers the Geomatica Award, the President's Citation, the Hans Klinkenberg Memorial Scholarship ($500–$2,000 CAD annually), and the Geographic Education Poster Series for high-school outreach. The underlying platform is Wild Apricot membership software, with member services, certification, events, journal access, and awards delivered through the website and regional branches.

CIG generates revenue primarily through recurring annual membership dues, with non-disclosed contributions from certification, events, and corporate sustaining partnerships. The customer base spans individual professionals, students enrolled in Canadian geomatics programs at institutions such as Université Laval, BCIT, and NSCC COGS, sustaining corporate members across surveying, GIS, aerial imaging, UAV services, and geospatial software (including Esri Canada, PCI Geomatics, Airborne Sensing Corporation, Canadian UAV Solutions, and Underhill & Underhill), and federal partners such as Natural Resources Canada. Governance is provided by an elected Executive Board (President Dr. Yang Gao, President-Elect Dr. Naser El-Sheimy, Vice President Dr. Mir-Abolfazl Mostafavi, Treasurer Dr. Mohammad A. Rajabi) and a network of technical and section committee chairs drawn primarily from Canadian universities.

Name

Canadian Institute of Geomatics

Legal name

Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG) / Association canadienne des sciences géomatiques (ACSG)

Website

https://cig-acsg.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG) is a 100+ year-old Canadian not-for-profit professional association representing surveying, GIS, remote sensing, and cartography practitioners. It serves individual professionals, students, corporate sustaining members, and government agencies through memberships, certification, awards, and the Geomatica journal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADACAF

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Accreditation Bodies (Institutional & Programmatic)

SECONDARYEDADACAG

International/Transnational Accreditation & Recognition Bodies

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Accreditation Bodies (Institutional & Programmatic)

SECONDARYEDAAALAG

Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYEDAAALAF

Engineering & Technical Professions (PE, Engineering CPD)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

Keywords

• Geomatics professional association
• Geomatics certification programs
• Geomatics journal publication
• Geospatial membership network
• Professional association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization generates revenue through annual membership fees at multiple tiers: Individual members ($140/year plus taxes), Student members ($50/year), and Sustaining Members at Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. Sustaining member fees range from $300 for educational institutions to $625 for all organizations (Silver), $1,000 (Gold), with Platinum level pricing not publicly disclosed. Benefits include online access to Geomatica journal, certification programs, event discounts, group insurance, and job posting services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG) is a Canadian not-for-profit professional association that represents the geomatics community, offering individual, student, and corporate sustaining memberships. Members receive access to the Geomatica scientific journal, professional certification, regional events, scholarships and awards, advocacy, and international representation through affiliations with FIG, ISPRS, and ICA.

Product overview

The Canadian Institute of Geomatics offers a membership-based professional association structure centered around individual, student, and sustaining (corporate) memberships. The core offerings include the Geomatica scientific journal (free online access for members), a professional certification program, and various awards and scholarships including the Geomatica Award, President's Citation, and Hans Klinkenberg Memorial Scholarship. The institute also operates the Geographic Education Poster Series to promote geospatial careers. Member benefits include access to forums, networking, event discounts, and group insurance. CIG serves as the Canadian representative to international bodies (FIG, ISPRS, ICA) and GeoAlliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership
• Student Membership
• Sustaining (Corporate) Membership
• Geomatica Journal
• Certification Program

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Federation of Surveying (FIG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIG serves as the Canadian member to FIG, providing Canadian geomatics professionals access to international standards, best practices, conferences, and professional development opportunities. FIG represents surveying and mapping associations from over 100 countries.
• International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIG maintains membership in ISPRS, connecting Canadian professionals to the international community in photogrammetry and remote sensing. Dr. Naser El-Sheimy received the ISPRS Samuel Gamble Award in 2016.
• International Cartographic Association (ICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIG represents Canadian interests in ICA, the international body promoting the discipline and profession of cartography through conferences, publications, and working groups.
• GeoAlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIG is a founding member of GeoAlliance, a collaborative initiative to strengthen Canada's geomatics sector and coordinate activities across the geospatial community.
• Canadian Cartographic Association (CCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Canadian geomatics. Dr. Julia Siemer served as President of CCA from 2016 to 2018. CCA is one of the sister associations that can submit nominations for the Geomatica Award.
• Canadian Hydrographic Association (CHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization representing hydrographic professionals in Canada. CHA is one of the sister associations eligible to submit nominations for the Geomatica Award.
• Canadian Remote Sensing Society (CRSS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for remote sensing professionals in Canada. CRSS is one of the sister associations eligible to submit nominations for the Geomatica Award and Dr. Jonathan Li serves as Director.
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government department in geomatics sector. NRCan received the President's Citation in 2007/2008 recognizing a longstanding partnership with CIG and innovative support to the public and private sector geomatics community.
• Canadian Remote Sensing Society (CRSS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDescribed as 'sister association' eligible to submit nominations for the Geomatica Award and co-sponsor the annual $600 Geomatica Award production costs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS): ASPRS is the US national professional society for photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geospatial information science. Directly comparable to CIG as a North American discipline-specific association serving overlapping membership and offering certification programs.
• Canadian Cartographic Association (CCA): CCA is a Canadian sister association focused on cartography and geographic information science. Directly comparable to CIG as a Canadian geomatics sub-discipline association, with overlapping membership and collaboration on awards and events.
• Canadian Remote Sensing Society (CRSS): CRSS is the Canadian national society for remote sensing professionals. A sister association to CIG with overlapping membership base and joint involvement in the Geomatica Award, making it a direct peer within Canada's geomatics ecosystem.
• URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association): URISA is a North American association for GIS and geospatial information technology professionals. Comparable to CIG as a membership-based professional association offering training, certification (GISP), and networking across the geospatial discipline.
• Canadian Hydrographic Association (CHA): CHA represents Canadian hydrography professionals and is a CIG sister association eligible to submit Geomatica Award nominations. Directly comparable as a Canadian sub-discipline association within the broader geomatics community.
• Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA): GITA focuses on geospatial infrastructure and utility asset management professionals. Comparable to CIG as a membership-driven geospatial professional association offering training, certification, and networking in North America.

Regional players

• Survey & Spatial NZ (S+SNZ): S+SNZ is the New Zealand national body for surveying and spatial professionals. Comparable to CIG as a national professional association in the same field, serving a different geographic market with similar certification and CPD offerings.
• Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS): AOLS is the provincial regulatory body for land surveying in Ontario with 500+ members. Comparable to CIG as a professional surveying association, though provincial/regulatory rather than national/voluntary, and a member/partner within CIG's ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): RICS is the globally recognized chartered body for surveying and real estate professionals. Comparable to CIG as a global surveying professional association with certification/credentialing and continuing education mandates, but with broader geographic and discipline scope.
• International Federation of Surveying (FIG): FIG is the premier international umbrella body for surveying, of which CIG is the Canadian member. Comparable as a multi-national professional association in the same field, though it operates at an inter-association level rather than directly competing for individual members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Canadian Institute of Geomatics