URISA

What URISA does

URISA, now operating as the Geospatial Professional Network (GPN), is a U.S.-based non-profit professional membership association founded in 1966 and headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois. The organization serves GIS (Geographic Information Systems) practitioners across government, private-sector, and academic settings, offering a portfolio of community, education, certification, and career-development programs rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include the flagship GIS-Pro Conference, the GIS Leadership Academy and Advanced GIS Leadership Academy multi-day training programs, regional conferences (LEAP, GIS/ValTech, CalGIS), the GPN Learning Annex online education platform, webinars and workshops, and the GISP professional certification administered through wholly-owned subsidiary GISCI. Additional programs include the Vanguard Cabinet for young professionals (35 and under, established 2011), a Mentoring Network, a Career Center, the GISCorps volunteer/humanitarian program (also a wholly-owned subsidiary), publications including the GIS Salary Survey and GIS Code of Ethics, and a regional chapter network for local engagement.

The business model is a multi-stream membership and event organization. Revenue is generated through individual and organizational membership subscriptions (recurring), conference and event registration fees (GIS-Pro, LEAP, GIS/ValTech, CalGIS, GLA/Advanced GLA), fee-based educational programs and certification prep, and sales of publications and research resources (one-time/licensed). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: self-serve membership registration through thegpn.org, regional chapters as local distribution, and an Educational Partner Directory extending reach through approved trainers. Marketing relies on organic social (LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky), email newsletters, content marketing, and in-person events. Governance is by an elected Board of Directors with a stated 2026 election slate and a Vanguard Cabinet serving as an advisory body for young professionals; the organization maintains a partnership ecosystem anchored by Esri as a core strategic sponsor alongside 24+ technology, consulting, and implementation partners (Planet Labs, NearMap, CycloMedia, Skyline Software Systems, CoreLogic, GeoDecisions, among others). In 2025, the organization rebranded from URISA to Geospatial Professional Network to broaden its identity beyond urban/regional information systems and reflect the evolution of the geospatial profession.

Name

URISA

Legal name

Urban and Regional Information Systems Association

Website

https://urisa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

URISA, now the Geospatial Professional Network (GPN), is a U.S. non-profit professional membership association founded in 1966 that provides education, certification, conferences, and community programs for GIS professionals across government, private sector, and academia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association — Geospatial/GIS

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Information Technology & Software (EDAAAPAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Class & Webinar Marketplaces/Directories (EDAFAIAE), GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms (BPAMANAK)

Keywords

• GIS professional association
• Geospatial education training
• GIS professional certification
• GIS conferences events
• Geospatial community networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Plaines

HQ country

United States

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 Fees: Individual and organizational membership subscriptions providing access to professional development, networking, resources, and member benefits
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from GIS-Pro Conference, LEAP Conference, GIS Leadership Academy, Advanced GIS Leadership Academy, workshops, and other educational events
3. Educational Programs: Fee-based professional education and training programs including certification preparation and specialized GIS training
4. Resource Publications: Sales of publications, research papers, GIS salary surveys, and other professional resources

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

URISA/GPN is a non-profit professional membership association for the GIS/geospatial community, selling individual and organizational memberships and delivering a portfolio of paid services: flagship conferences (GIS-Pro, LEAP, GIS/ValTech, CalGIS), multi-day leadership training academies, professional certification (GISP via subsidiary GISCI), workshops, online learning through the GPN Learning Annex, webinars, and resource publications. It operates as a community platform supporting GIS practitioners across government, private enterprise, and academia through chapters, committees, mentoring, and the Vanguard Cabinet for young professionals.

Product overview

URISA, now known as the Geospatial Professional Network (GPN), is a professional membership association serving the GIS (Geographic Information Systems) community. Rather than a unified software platform, it offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services including: the annual GIS-Pro Conference as its flagship event; the GIS Leadership Academy and Advanced GIS Leadership Academy as intensive multi-day training programs; regional conferences (LEAP Conference, GIS/ValTech Conference, CalGIS Conference); workshops and online education through the GPN Learning Annex and virtual webinars; professional certification (GISP); the GISCorps volunteer program; the Vanguard Cabinet for young professionals; a Mentoring Network; a Career Center; and publications including the GIS Salary Survey. These offerings provide GIS professionals with education, certification, community engagement, networking, and career development resources across all career stages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual & Organizational Membership Recurring paid memberships in individual and organizational categories that grant access to URISA/GPN benefits, professional development resources, networking, and community programs for GIS professionals.
• GIS Leadership Academy Five-day intensive in-person and virtual training program providing professional development and peer-to-peer interaction for GIS professionals.
• Advanced GIS Leadership Academy Advanced five-day training program for experienced GIS professionals seeking leadership development.
• GIS-Pro Conference Annual flagship conference for GIS professionals providing education, networking, and professional development opportunities.
• LEAP Conference Conference focused on leadership, education, advancement, and professionalism for GIS professionals.
• GIS/ValTech Conference Annual conference combining GIS technology with valuation and technical content for GIS professionals.
• CalGIS Conference Regional GIS conference serving the California geospatial community with education and networking opportunities.
• Workshops Hands-on training sessions covering various GIS topics, skills, and technologies, including pre-conference workshops.
• GPN Learning Annex Online learning platform offering webinars, courses, and educational resources for GIS professionals at all career stages.
• Virtual Education & Webinars Remote learning opportunities including webinars and virtual sessions covering GIS topics, professional development, and industry trends.
• GIS Professional Certification (GISP) Professional certification program administered through subsidiary GISCI that validates knowledge, skills, and competencies of GIS practitioners.
• GIS Salary Survey Compensation research publication providing salary data and insights for GIS professionals across sectors and experience levels.

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EsricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier geospatial software partner and sponsor, appears as a key partner with logo prominently displayed on the Partners section of the website
• GeoDecisionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeospatial consulting and solutions implementation partner
• Pond & CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanning and engineering consulting partner
• CivicMapperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivic technology and GIS consulting partner
• Connected NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadband mapping and digital inclusion partner
• Planning CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban planning and community development consulting partner
• Chiru ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGIS consulting services partner
• Evari GIS ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGIS consulting services partner
• GIS Management ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGIS management and strategy consulting partner
• HopeWorkSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIS for social impact and workforce development partner
• IntegrityminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGIS and IT consulting partner

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trimble: Large geospatial technology vendor with mapping, surveying, and location-based solutions. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the geospatial sector with overlapping customer base of GIS professionals.
• Esri: Dominant GIS software vendor and URISA's Core Strategic Partner. Comparable as a major force in the geospatial ecosystem but operates a commercial software business rather than a member-association model; benchmark for the broader GIS market size and dynamics.

Others

• OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium): International standards organization for geospatial interoperability. Adjacent to URISA's ecosystem as a convener in the GIS community, but focused on technical standards rather than professional development.
• IAAO (International Association of Assessing Officers): Professional association for property assessors that heavily uses GIS technology. Adjacent peer with overlapping use cases (GIS for assessment/valuation, similar to GPN's GIS/ValTech Conference) but distinct professional focus.

Direct peers

• GITA (Geospatial Information & Technology Association): Industry association historically focused on infrastructure and utility GIS professionals. Directly comparable association model serving a specialized GIS community with conferences and education programs.
• AAG (American Association of Geographers): Professional association for geographers and GIS scientists, operating annual conferences, journals, and member services. Directly comparable membership-association model with significant overlap to URISA's GIS Professional community.
• NSGIC (National States Geographic Information Council): Member-based organization coordinating state GIS activities across the U.S. Comparable professional community structure focused on geospatial practitioners, with similar advocacy and knowledge-sharing mandate.
• ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing): Professional society serving the geospatial community with education, conferences, and certification. Highly comparable to URISA/GPN in mission, member base, and professional development model, with overlapping focus on GIS and remote sensing.
• ISPRS (International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing): International professional society for geospatial science with conferences, working groups, and member services. Comparable peer at the global level where URISA operates nationally, providing a benchmark for international expansion potential.
• MAPPS (Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors): Trade association for private geospatial firms, with advocacy, conferences, and member services. Comparable member-driven model serving the geospatial professional community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urisa-international
• Xx.com/urisa
• Facebookfacebook.com/URISA.International

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

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 URISA