Established in 1996, the Spatial Technologies Industry Association (STIA) is dedicated to increasing the participation of commercial geospatial technology companies in public policy decision-making, the legislative process, and regulatory actions that directly affect the vitality and success of the geospatial industry in the United States.
STIA supports public policy that expands opportunities for government to utilize commercial geospatial technologies that enable more informed decision-making, greater efficiency, increased accountability, better management, and improved services for citizens - geo-information government.
The STIA believes that the industry's growth and prosperity can be enhanced by:
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Significantly increasing public sector investment in commercial geospatial technologies and spatial data.
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Building awareness among key public policy decision makers about the advantages of geo-government.
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Establishing data standards widely supported by industry.
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Promoting standards for open and interoperable GIS and IT systems.
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Creating more incentives for private-public sector "win-win" partnerships.
Since the association's inception, more than 100 companies have participated in informational forums, educational events, and public policy development efforts sponsored by STIA. These activities have helped to build understanding between government and industry about the operation of the commercial market place - how public sector actions affect the industry's bottom line.
During the past 30 years, geospatial technologies have evolved greatly from government defense, intelligence, scientific research programs; academic research; and public and private sector projects to mainstream enterprise solutions that are mission critical for governance and commerce in the 21st Century. The rise of geo-information commerce will be one of the important factors contributing to future increases in productivity and economic growth in America and around the globe.
Geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, and spatial data are converging in widely used computing technologies. This integration is being driven by improvements in computer hardware as well as advances in database, web, and communications technologies.
As commercial firms develop and deploy integrated geospatial technologies, increasingly they are encountering government programs, regulations, and legislative provisions that affect their success in the market place.
The STIA is the voice and champion of industry while representing the interests of its member companies in the public policy arena.
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