ESRGC

What ESRGC does

ESRGC (Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative) is a GIS and geospatial-services organization operating as a formal outreach entity of Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland. Founded in 2004 as a joint initiative between Salisbury University and three Maryland regional councils (Mid-Shore, Tri-County/Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, and Upper Shore), the cooperative delivers spatial analysis, data development, web mapping, and decision-support tools primarily to government agencies at municipal, county, regional, state, and federal levels, with secondary work for non-profits and the private sector.

The organization's product portfolio centers on the Delmarva Index data repository, statewide Maryland LiDAR processing and distribution (including DEM, hillshade, slope, and point cloud products), coastal flood and sea-level change modeling, the Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer, Historic Coastal Mosaics, the Critical Area Mapping Manager for the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission, the Just Communities fair-housing viewer, the Rural Maryland Outlook Power BI dashboard, and a forestry industry resource suite (StoryMap, Hub, and Forest Inventory Viewer). Supporting service lines include GIS analysis and geoprocessing automation, web development and data visualization, FAA Part 107-compliant sUAS/drone aerial data collection, and a GIS Circuit Rider program placing staff with local jurisdictions. Underlying technology is built on the ESRI ArcGIS suite (ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps, Survey123, Experience Builder, StoryMaps, Dashboards, Hub), with ArcGIS REST Services endpoints providing programmatic access to flooding, imagery, LiDAR, and historic datasets.

The business model is dominated by grant and contract revenue. The primary funding stream is the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) routed through the three regional council partners, supplemented by task-order contracts with Maryland state agencies (DNR, MD State Highway Administration, MD DoIT, DHCD) and interagency project work. A small ancillary revenue stream comes from the sale of printed 24"x36" legislative and congressional district maps at $35 each ($55 laminated) plus shipping. The cooperative's ~9-11 staff operate under the governance of Salisbury University, with several team members also serving as adjunct faculty in SU's geography and GIS programs, and the organization sustains a workforce-development pipeline that has trained 127+ interns since inception.

Name

ESRGC

Legal name

Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative

Website

https://esrgc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ESRGC is a Salisbury University-affiliated GIS cooperative that builds geospatial data products, web mapping applications, and decision-support tools for Maryland state, regional, and local government agencies, funded primarily through regional council grants and state contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geospatial Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG Data Platforms, Controls & Audit Readiness (Data quality, internal controls) (EUAHAJAN), Alternative Data Providers (Web, Satellite, Geolocation, ESG Signals) (FSAFAIAH), ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

Keywords

• Geographic information systems
• Geospatial data services
• LiDAR processing services
• Web mapping applications
• SUAS drone services

Headquarters

HQ city

Salisbury, MD - Maryland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Project Funding: Primary funding through Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF), government contracts, and project-based partnerships with state and local government agencies including Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland State Highway Administration, and regional councils.
2. Data and Product Sales: Revenue from sale of printed maps ($35 each or $55 laminated, plus shipping) and potentially data distribution services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ESRGC provides GIS consulting, geospatial data processing (including LiDAR, parcel mapping, environmental, and coastal datasets), custom web mapping application development, and sUAS/drone aerial services. Its work is delivered primarily to public-sector clients in Maryland and the broader Mid-Atlantic region, with special emphasis on coastal resilience, sea-level rise and flooding analysis, natural resources, forestry, housing, and community planning.

Product overview

ESRGC is an outreach cooperative of Salisbury University offering a portfolio of GIS services, web applications, and data distribution products. The core offerings include the Delmarva Index data repository, LiDAR products and processing services, flood modeling tools (Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer, Sea Level Change scenarios), Critical Area Mapping Manager, Just Communities Viewer, Historic Coastal Mosaics, and Housing Study tools. Supporting services include Geographic Mapping and Analysis, Web Development and Data Visualization, and SUAS (drone) Services. Data distribution occurs through ArcGIS REST Services endpoints. The organization provides GIS Circuit Rider programs offering on-site support to regional governments, and specialized tools like the Rural Maryland Outlook Power BI dashboard and Maryland Forest Inventory Resource Viewer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Delmarva Index
• Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer
• LiDAR Products and Services
• sUAS (Drone) Services
• Critical Area Mapping Manager
• GIS Circuit Rider Program
• Web Development and Data Visualization Services
• Geographic Mapping and Analysis Services
• Just Communities Viewer
• Shaped by Storms (Historic Coastal Mosaics) Viewer
• Lead Nursing Forward Website
• Housing Study Tools
• ArcGIS REST Services
• Rural Maryland Outlook Dashboard
• Maryland Forestry and Wood Product Resources Hub
• Legislative and Congressional District Maps
• Tax Ditches and Public Drainage Associations Data
• Sea Level Change, Nuisance Flooding, and Hurricane Scenario Maps

Quantifiable outcome

• 127+ college interns trained and transitioned to GIS workforce since 2004
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Salisbury UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004ESRGC is an outreach entity of Salisbury University. The university provides institutional support, faculty connections, student pipeline for internships, and administrative infrastructure. Many ESRGC staff serve as adjunct faculty in SU's GIS programs.
• Mid-Shore Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding regional council partners. Provides funding through Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) and project support for GIS initiatives serving Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties.
• Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding regional council partners. Provides RMPIF funding and partnership for GIS Circuit Rider Program and housing studies serving Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.
• Upper Shore Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding regional council partners. Provides RMPIF funding for GIS support to local jurisdictions in Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties.
• Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner on Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer and various environmental/resilience projects including State Land Vulnerability Project and forest inventory initiatives.
• Maryland Sea GrantmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer project providing coastal research expertise and funding support.
• Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with DHCD's Division of Just Communities to develop the Just Communities viewer supporting fair housing legislation (HB241/SB308).
• Maryland DoIT Geographic Info OfficecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to deliver expanded access to Maryland's LiDAR resources. ESRGC processes newly collected LiDAR data and publishes DEMs and derivative products statewide.
• Maryland State Highway AdministrationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple task orders for climate change adaptation planning including sea level change scenarios (SHA Task Orders 6, 7, 8), nuisance flooding mapping, and hurricane storm surge analysis.
• Maryland Coastal Bays ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Historic Coastal Mosaics project transforming 1,000+ aerial images into georeferenced mosaics for Ocean City and Assateague Island with public-facing Shaped by Storms viewer.
• Salisbury University School of NursingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on LeadNursingForward.org project with University of Maryland School of Nursing to address nurse and nursing faculty shortage through a career portal and resource website.
• University of Maryland School of NursingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-party partnership with SU Nursing and ESRGC to develop the LeadNursingForward.org web resource for Maryland nursing workforce development.
• Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative (DLLC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Exploring Chicken Farming on Delmarva project with DLLC members including Mountaire Farms to create public education dashboard on the chicken industry.
• FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)coreOthersESRGC operates under FAA Part 107 regulations for commercial sUAS/drone operations. All pilots are Part 107 compliant and fully licensed and insured.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on digitizing soil survey data for Maryland counties to improve data accessibility for GIS projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Merrick & Company: Merrick provides geospatial solutions including GIS, surveying, LiDAR, and mapping services to government and infrastructure clients. Comparable to ESRGC's integrated GIS, LiDAR, and web application service portfolio.
• Woolpert: Woolpert is a major geospatial services firm offering surveying, mapping, LiDAR processing, and GIS consulting to government clients. Directly comparable to ESRGC in core service lines and government-focused delivery model, though operating at national scale.
• Ayres Associates: Ayres Associates is an engineering and surveying firm offering GIS, mapping, and geospatial services to municipal, county, and state government clients. Comparable to ESRGC's GIS Circuit Rider and surveying-adjacent consulting work for regional jurisdictions.
• Sanborn Map Company: Sanborn provides geospatial solutions including aerial imagery, LiDAR, GIS, and data services to government and commercial clients. Comparable to ESRGC in offering integrated geospatial products and services with strong government focus.
• Surdex Corporation: Surdex is a geospatial data services company specializing in aerial mapping, LiDAR acquisition, and orthoimagery production. Comparable to ESRGC's LiDAR processing and sUAS service offerings, particularly for state and local government clients.

Regional players

• KCI Technologies: KCI Technologies is a Mid-Atlantic engineering firm offering surveying, GIS, and environmental services to government and infrastructure clients. Comparable to ESRGC's regional government GIS work but operating across multiple East Coast states.

Broad incumbents

• Fugro: Fugro is a global geo-data specialist providing surveying, mapping, and geospatial services to government and energy clients. Overlaps with ESRGC in LiDAR and geospatial data, particularly for coastal and environmental applications, but at global scale.
• AECOM: AECOM is a global engineering and infrastructure firm with significant geospatial, GIS, and environmental consulting capabilities for government clients. Comparable to ESRGC's environmental and government-focused work but at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• Hexagon Geosystems: Hexagon Geosystems provides surveying, geospatial, and GIS technology solutions globally, including to government clients. Overlaps with ESRGC in serving government GIS needs, but primarily as a technology vendor rather than a services cooperative.
• Michael Baker International: Michael Baker is a large infrastructure and engineering consultancy with a substantial geospatial practice serving federal, state, and local government. Overlaps with ESRGC in government GIS and surveying, but operates as a broad incumbent across many engineering disciplines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esrgc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 ESRGC