Esri is expanding its World Imagery basemap with new Airbus high-resolution imagery for cities worldwide. The company announced the expansion during the 2026 Esri User Conference. Esri has reached new agreements with Airbus, Vantor, and Nearmap. These agreements will expand imagery coverage across the World Imagery basemap. The initiative will give ArcGIS users access to newer and more detailed visual data.
Starting in the second half of 2026, Airbus will deliver 30 cm basemap imagery. The coverage will extend across approximately 2,000 cities worldwide. As a result, users can access more current imagery for urban mapping and analysis.
The Airbus high-resolution imagery will offer accurate and consistent visual coverage. It will also provide nearly cloud-free imagery for supported locations. In addition, the imagery will reduce haze and seasonal differences between connected images.
The latest expansion forms part of Esri’s broader World Imagery enhancement program. Esri presented the initiative during the Esri UC Plenary. The company also announced expanded contributions from Nearmap and Vantor.
Airbus Imagery Expands Urban Basemap Coverage
The new Airbus high-resolution imagery will strengthen the visual information available through ArcGIS. The 30 cm imagery will provide detailed views of urban environments. Therefore, organizations can use updated imagery for mapping and location-based analysis.
The new coverage will also support users that require consistent imagery across different locations. Airbus imagery focuses on accuracy and visual consistency. Meanwhile, its nearly cloud-free coverage can improve the usability of basemap imagery.
Esri said the new imagery will provide more current visual context. This capability can support various mapping workflows across multiple industries. Government agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and academic institutions can use ArcGIS for these applications.
Furthermore, the new Airbus high-resolution imagery agreement complements Esri’s existing imagery partnerships. Nearmap and Vantor will also contribute to the broader World Imagery expansion.
Nearmap will provide 20 cm vertical imagery across 200 metropolitan areas. The coverage will span the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Esri will integrate the imagery and update it regularly across these markets.
Nearmap and Vantor Strengthen World Imagery
Vantor will continue supplying the global imagery foundation for World Imagery. The company has committed to additional imagery refreshes for hundreds of cities. It will also upgrade coverage to 15 cm imagery in selected major urban areas.
Together, these updates will broaden the scale and detail of Esri’s imagery services. They will also strengthen the World Imagery basemap across urban and global locations.
The expanded imagery program supports Esri’s wider location intelligence strategy. It gives ArcGIS users access to detailed geographic information for mapping and analysis.
In addition, the new coverage can help organizations work with more current visual information. This can support planning, monitoring, asset management, and other location-based workflows.
“Airbus Defense and Space has been delivering accurate and consistent imagery for more than 35 years and we are excited to take this next step collaborating with them,” said Deane Kensok, chief technology officer for ArcGIS content at Esri. “The enhanced imagery Airbus brings to Esri’s collection of basemap data will better help to support the mapping and analysis workflows of organizations across government, commercial, nonprofit, and academic sectors.”
The expanded World Imagery program marks another step in Esri’s imagery development. Airbus, Nearmap, and Vantor will contribute different forms of high-resolution imagery. Consequently, ArcGIS users will gain broader access to detailed basemap information.
The new Airbus high-resolution imagery will begin reaching users through the World Imagery basemap from the second half of 2026. The expansion will cover approximately 2,000 cities worldwide and enhance Esri’s global imagery offering.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
