Born Geospatial.
An unmatched history of geospatial leadership.
Sanborn created its first maps in 1866 and has been pioneering new ways and new ideas for portraying and working with mapped data in the geospatial industry ever since. Step back in time with us.
Founding Vision. 1866 – 1900
Daniel Alfred Sanborn founded the “D. A. Sanborn National Diagram Bureau” in 1866 in New York City to produce detailed atlases and building maps for the fire insurance industry.
Shortly after founding, Sanborn developed and copyrighted a key of specialized map symbols that have perpetuated up to the present.
The level of detail at the building and neighborhood level provided insurance underwriters invaluable assistance to understand risk from a knowledge of the use, construction, contents, and surroundings of buildings.
The company initiated the use of “pasters” or corrections that updated building information that could be pasted into printed maps in bound volumes, thus enabling customers to keep maps up to date without having to purchase complete re-issued volumes.
By 1884, the company had accomplished the publication of four thousand maps and covered 120 cities. The national coverage was anchored by offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Early 20th Century Expansion and Standardization
In 1906-7, with the purchase of land in North Pelham, NY, a modern fireproof building was erected where the majority of publishing operations could be consolidated, giving Sanborn control over the entire production lifecycle. Sanborn became one of the world’s largest consumers of the paper types used in its map printing and publishing operations.
By Sanborn’s 50th anniversary in 1916, the scope of mapping had grown to more than 8,000 maps including 280 cities. The post WWI building boom spurred demand, and the uses of the Sanborn Maps expanded beyond fire insurance underwriting to municipal planning and assessing, real estate, banking, industrial, and market research.
By Sanborn’s 60th anniversary in 1926, map production was 13,000 maps with coverage of nearly every town with a population greater than 1,000 inhabitants and 365 large cities with bound volumes of maps.
Mid-century Dominance and New Product Lines
By the mid-1960s, Sanborn was mapping virtually every town in the United States with a population greater than 2,000 and had reached a total of more than 11,000 communities mapped and updated as often as once a year.
In part in response to modernization of the fire insurance industry and the decrease in demand for cartographic products for insurance underwriting, Sanborn had also added to its core products; Sanborn was mapping additional data and creating new maps for different audiences concerned with municipal planning and utilities, including:
- Land use studies for planning departments, with details depicting neighborhood classification and zoning.
- Utility maps of service areas and distribution facilities for water and electric distribution.
- Tax maps with details of property dimensions and property reference numbers.
- Spot surveys for areas affected by natural or manmade disasters.
- A variety of specialty mapping and planning services, including traffic, housing condition, and population studies.
This cover of a 1960’s brochure represents a graphic symbol of Sanborn Services – creation of order out of chaos – the gathering and portrayal of factual data.
During WWII Sanborn provided valuable mapping services to the US Army mapping US ports and facilities. During this time, the Sanborn building in Pelham was secured and guarded to protect the sensitive mapped data.
The Pivot to New Technologies and Digital Geographic Data.
Sanborn maintained its record of being an innovative leader and pioneer with an accelerated adoption of new technologies that began in the 1970s. Sanborn began incorporating aerial photography into its mapping processes, which allowed for a new level of precision for mapping urban areas. Sanborn transitioned its hand and printed map production methods to digital mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This shift allowed for more efficient map production, storage, and distribution.
Sanborn also invested in its own collection platforms, built up a fleet of airplanes, cameras, and sensors, and expanded its data collection and processing capabilities for the development of highly accurate terrain and high-definition mapping products, photogrammetry services, and data storage, processing, and visualization.
Sanborn also invested in strategic relationships with technology firms, notably becoming partner number 125 to Esri.
Reimagining the Role of the Mapping Company.
During these decades, Sanborn established itself as a leader in GIS and photogrammetry, and the shape and character of the modern Sanborn Map Company began to take shape. Sanborn now offers custom in-house software, cartography, image processing, mapping, and database analysis. And with these capabilities, Sanborn positioned itself to serve a wide range of customers needing geospatial solutions for disaster response, state and local government planning and analysis, public works and public safety, transportation, resource and environmental management, and more.
The last of the Sanborn municipal maps was delivered to New York City during this period. Because of the detailed and historical information they contain, Sanborn Maps have been archived in the Library of Congress and in libraries and archives across the country.
Pioneer of Comprehensive Geospatial Solutions.
In 2022, under the leadership of President and CEO, John Copple, Sanborn acquired Applied Geographics, Inc. (AppGeo), a firm with a 30+ year history of geospatial IT consulting, analytics, custom application development, and strategic planning.
- The acquisition of AppGeo expands and deepens Sanborn’s commitment to an integrated and comprehensive approach to Geospatial Solutions that meets the information needs of government and business in all sectors.We’ve added “geospatial” to our logo to mark this moment in our storied history. Sanborn is and will continue to be an innovator and leader in the creation and use of geospatial data and solutions.
- John Copple
President and CEO 
The Sanborn insight is that organizations need to combine data, technology, strategy, and support to establish successful geospatial programs.
The completeness of Sanborn’s approach and the skills and experience of its staff allow it to address the many complexities and choices that arise in evaluating, combining, designing, purchasing, integrating, implementing, and maintaining modern geospatial systems, technology, and data.
Today’s complex challenges require comprehensive geospatial solutions.
Sanborn specializes in harnessing cutting-edge geospatial technology to deliver data-driven insights for smarter decision-making. Our innovative solutions integrate advanced GIS, multiple sources of data, and AI-powered analytics to help businesses and governments optimize their operations, manage resources, and plan for the future. Whether it’s asset management, urban planning, environmental monitoring, or infrastructure development, Sanborn provides timely, precise location intelligence that empowers our clients to make informed, strategic choices with confidence.
- The world has discovered the importance of geospatial data, and our job is to help you to put those data to work. We’ve built a 21st century capability to create the exact geospatial data and solutions you require. And we go further, providing the strategic plans, staffing, technical advice, and managed services needed so you can design, implement, and sustain your geospatial programs.
- John Copple
CEO, The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. 
We built Sanborn just for you.
Introducing our divisions.
Mapping Division
Sanborn’s airplanes, vessels, drones, and vehicles are equipped with the latest sensors for orthoimagery, oblique imagery, lidar, and sonar collection. With the latest software and AI/ML methods, Sanborn transforms spatial data into 2D and 3D maps – elevation, natural resources, High Definition transportation roadways and infrastructure, 3D models and digital twins of buildings, facilities, and cities – that meet national standards and customer specification. Secure and high-performance storage and streaming options, and data visualization tools, round out the offerings.
- The Mapping Division provides the foundational data needed to drive analysis and insight in almost any sector of the economy. With our own acquisition platforms and sensors, we offer customers the flexibility to acquire the data they need at the frequency they need it and to their specification.
- Shawn Benham
Director, Sanborn 
AppGeo Division
Spatial analysis by our data scientists is complemented by custom applications from our development team and innovative Software as a Service (SAAS) solutions. Tying it all together is our specialization in enterprise GIS strategic planning to set the vision and ensure ROI. Your team also benefits from geospatial IT services for integration, data management, and process automation. Our ongoing managed services help you build sustainable programs.
- The Applied Geographics Division helps you plan, build and use the right combinations of geospatial technologies for analysis and visualization. We also pay attention to the human dimension – strategy, collaboration, and coordination. We’re not satisfied unless the systems we build are useful, usable, and used widely.
- Michele Giorgianni
Director of Consulting Services, AppGeo Division 
Sanborn Spatial Intelligence Division
Our partnerships with leading companies enable us to provide you with access to the latest developments and offerings in the marketplace across a wide spectrum of data, mapping software, and cloud platforms. We offer technical expertise so your solutions are successful, and value-added reselling so you get exactly what you need at the best price. Our customers benefit from our trained staff and accreditation and experience working with all the major software, data, and platforms that are shaping the direction of geospatial technology.
- The breadth of our strategic partnerships with the industry’s leaders sets us apart. We’re able to advise on each of these platform and data options at a deep technical level so you can purchase and use them with confidence.
- Mo Khollman
Vice President and General Manager, Spatial Intelligence Division 
Sanborn Geophysics
Sanborn Geophysics is a whole geophysical service provider: equipment sales and support, survey design, and high-quality data acquisition. We provide advanced high resolution data products for use in interpreting and mapping minerals and energy resources in the subsurface.
- Clients can rely on our ability to integrate and service all the components of their geophysical data collection systems. Complicated, expensive, and risky multi-vendor coordination and system integration for each survey project is a thing of the past with Sanborn Geophysics on your team.
- Sandip Goswami
Managing Director, Sanborn Geophysics ULC 
Onsite Services Division
We provide qualified expert staff that can work onsite to support your mission. We provide you with the flexibility to staff up and embed resources into critical projects at critical moments, on short or long term assignments. All aspects of vetting qualified staff and their management are provided.
- We’ve perfected the art of finding qualified geospatial analysts and software engineers for all kinds of positions and assignments. Our onsite, staff augmentation services make it easy for you to build out your team with experienced GIS professionals in a flexible manner with minimal overhead.
- Barb Emery
Vice President Federal Programs, Sanborn 
Contact Us
Office Locations.
Click on an office location to start a conversation.
Connect with the Colorado office.
Colorado Springs, CO
Corporate Headquarters
305 S. Rockrimmon Blvd, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Phone: 1.866.726.2676
Connect with the Ontario office.
Ontario, Canada
Sanborn Geophysics
Sanborn Geophysics ULC
5448 Timberlea Blvd., Unit 1
Mississauga, ON L4W 2T7
Phone: 365.300.3312
Connect with the North Carolina office.
North Carolina
600 Towne Centre Blvd
Suite 401
Pineville, NC 28134
Phone: 704.347.4552
Connect with the Massachusetts office.
Massachusetts
33 Broad Street
4th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617.447.2400
Connect with the Texas office.
Texas
Suite 135 at 7500 Rialto Boulevard, Building 2
Austin, Texas 78735
