There are a great many professional associations in the geospatial sector. They provide a great deal of value to the geospatial community and professionals working in that community. The value can be described in terms of professional development, technological and organizational advancement, advocacy, governance, and leadership. The following text explains the various ways in which professional associations provide value to the community.
The geospatial community has grown and evolved tremendously over the past five decades and now includes formal and informal collections of individuals, groups, institutions, and organizations with similar or complementary goals and aspirations connected to the production and use of geospatial data and technology. This entry documents the roles played by professional organizations as well as the private and not-for-profit sectors, and the nature of their interactions and agendas in the coming years.