Bridging the Land Administration Gap: The Critical Role of Global Geospatial Companies

In an era defined by climate disruption, mass displacement, and mounting socio-economic inequality, secure land tenure remains one of the most pressing — yet under-addressed — development challenges.

A digital land surface visualisation generated using Esri’s ArcGIS platform, highlighting spatial data across Europe and North Africa. Such geospatial tools are pivotal in modern land administration—enabling governments and development actors to map, analyse, and manage land more equitably and sustainably amid growing climate and urbanisation challenges. (Photo: Esri)

Across many regions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, millions live without formal documentation or legal recognition of the land they occupy. These tenure insecurities are compounded by conflicts, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and underfunded land governance systems.

While multilateral institutions, governments, and civil society have historically led the charge in addressing these challenges, the private sector — geospatial technology companies in particular —has emerged as an increasingly vital partner in modernising land administration systems and expanding tenure security for vulnerable populations.

At the forefront of this movement are industry leaders such as Esri, Trimble, Fugro, Hexagon, and Airbus Intelligence, whose technologies are now reshaping how land is mapped, managed, and protected. Their role — once peripheral to policy dialogue — has become pivotal in tackling the complexities of climate resilience, sustainable urbanisation, post-disaster reconstruction, and land rights documentation.

Past Contributions: Laying the Groundwork

For decades, Esri’s ArcGIS platform has supported land administration initiatives globally — helping governments digitise land records, visualise spatial data, and engage communities in participatory mapping. In Rwanda, for instance, Esri technology played a critical role in supporting one of Africa’s most ambitious land tenure regularization efforts, reaching over 10 million parcels.

Trimble has provided surveying and GPS tools for national cadastral systems and is known for collaborating with agencies in countries like Ghana and the Philippines. Their Landfolio platform has been used to streamline land administration workflows and increase transparency.

Fugro has offered aerial survey and 3D mapping services to support post-conflict and post-disaster land reconstruction in parts of Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Hexagon (through Leica Geosystems) has been a key provider of advanced photogrammetry and LiDAR tools crucial for terrain mapping and urban planning.

Current Initiatives: Technology Meets Policy

Many geospatial firms are now deepening their engagement with international development agencies, humanitarian actors, and governments through public-private partnerships (PPPs). Trimble, Esri, and Hexagon all work alongside the World Bank, UN-Habitat, and FAO on flagship land governance programs.

The World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. — a central player in global land governance efforts. Through partnerships with geospatial firms and national governments, the Bank supports innovative, fit-for-purpose land administration programs that aim to close the tenure gap and build climate-resilient, inclusive societies.

Esri has partnered with UN-Habitat’s Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) and the Stand for Her Land campaign to provide spatial tools that support women’s land rights and slum upgrading. Their tools are also used in natural disaster response and displacement tracking in coordination with humanitarian agencies.

Trimble continues to improve parcel-based data systems and has contributed to open-source mapping initiatives that allow for low-cost deployment in fragile contexts.

The Private Sector’s Expanding Role

Amidst the growing evidence of donor fatigue and major funding cuts — particularly from the United States, historically one of the largest supporters of land programmes — corporate actors will be increasingly called upon to bridge financial and technical gaps.

What might that look like in practice? The first and most obvious shift is likely to be a more formalised role in supporting fit-for-purpose land administration models — those that prioritise affordability, flexibility, and local community engagement. This could involve scalable solutions using drones, mobile GPS units, and cloud-based mapping platforms.

Secondly, geospatial firms could offer technology licensing, training, and capacity-building packages at reduced costs for governments and NGOs operating in fragile or post-disaster settings.

Companies can furthermore consider expanding their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments to explicitly include land tenure security and equitable land access within their social impact portfolios. The same applies to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs that might otherwise focus narrowly on environmental sustainability or education.

A Call for Global Coordination

Yet the private sector cannot and should not be expected to lead on its own. International institutions such as the World Bank, United Nations, and African Union must take the lead in convening coalitions that include geospatial firms, national governments, civil society, and affected communities.

Through multi-stakeholder platforms such as the Global Donor Working Group on Land, the World Bank Land Conference, and regional forums on sustainable urbanisation, space must be created for private-sector input not just as service providers — but as strategic partners in land governance.

Professional networks like the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and GEO can help standardise best practices, while think tanks and academic centres translate technological interventions into evidence-based policy recommendations.

Looking Ahead: Climate, Conflict, and the Urgency of Land Data

As the effects of climate change intensify — whether through rising sea levels, drought, or extreme storms — secure land rights will be essential for enabling relocation, protecting vulnerable communities, and ensuring compensation for displaced persons.

In this context, geospatial companies are uniquely positioned to contribute to early warning systems, climate adaptation planning, and the mapping of customary lands that may otherwise be overlooked in legal frameworks. Their tools can empower Indigenous communities, protect biodiversity corridors, and unlock climate finance where land documentation is a prerequisite.

The stakes have never been higher. For millions living without tenure, mapping is more than measurement — it is recognition, justice, and opportunity.

At LPN Global, we believe that bridging the land administration gap requires bold collaboration. Geospatial leaders must be at the table — not only as innovators but as agents of inclusion and accountability.