The Difference We Make
Why Choose GEOSMART
• South Africa’s most accurate terrain data
• Built on over 30 years of GIS expertise
• Easy integration with your systems and software
• Designed for real-world decision-making
• Proven in national and regional planning projects
• Trusted by government and industry leaders
• Works across infrastructure, energy, agriculture and environment
• Scalable from small sites to national coverage
• Locally built and supported
• Exceptional, personal customer support
Proven Impact
• Powered national planning and infrastructure projects
• Built on long-term academic and industry partnerships
• Trusted by public and private sector leaders
Milestones
2011 — SUDEM Research
Academic groundwork for SUDEM (5m DEM) begins at Stellenbosch University.
2015 — GeoSmart Founded
Company was established by Prof. Adriaan van Niekerk.
2011–2017 — SUDEM Completed
National 5m contour-derived DEM finalised.
2019 — DEMSA2 Released
High-res 2m aerial-derived DTM & DSM launched.
2022–2023 — FHI Developed
Flood Hazard Index v01 created for the national flood risk assessment.
2022 – Present — DEMSA2 Availability Increase
Expanding to national coverage of high-res 2m aerial-derived DTM & DSM. ~92%
2023–Present — API & WebApp
API access and web tools rolled out for client integration.
2025 – Present — Development on Version 2 Flood Hazard Model
National flood risk in-depth model development & Flood Line delineation.
Present — DEMSA2 Availability Increase
Data acquisition and extraction for updated years of DSM & DTM is unway.
Our Story
GeoSmart is a geospatial intelligence company delivering the highest-resolution terrain data available in South Africa, providing exceptional topographic insight to empower data-driven decision-makers across multiple industries.
Founded in 2015, GeoSmart was built on the academic foundation and expertise of Prof. Adriaan van Niekerk, a leading authority in GIS, remote sensing and spatial modelling since 1994, and a professor at Stellenbosch University.
From the outset, our mission has been clear: to connect advanced geospatial science with practical, real-world applications. Through deep expertise in terrain analysis, hydrology and land modelling, GeoSmart has developed a trusted suite of high-resolution elevation models and derived datasets and off-the-shelf products that support:
- Understanding geographic patterns
- Assessing environmental and infrastructure risk
- Supporting informed planning and strategic decision-making
As GeoSmart moves forward, we are strengthening our reach and capabilities through key GIS partnerships within the Agriculture and Built Environment sectors. These partnerships allow us to extend our impact, provide smarter, more integrated solutions, and better serve the evolving needs of our clients.
Today, GeoSmart continues to push the boundaries of geospatial innovation, delivering powerful data, tools and consulting services that help industries unlock deeper insight from the land itself.