New Benefit for USGIF-Accredited Programs: Free Access to Vexcel Imagery and Data

A new benefit of USGIF accreditation gives students no-cost access to Vexcel aerial imagery and geospatial data for teaching and noncommercial research.

As demand continues to grow for professionals with advanced geospatial skills and hands-on experience, USGIF-accredited GEOINT programs have a powerful new resource for preparing the next generation of the workforce. 

Through a new partnership with USGIF member organization Vexcel, all USGIF-accredited universities are eligible to participate in Vexcel’s University Access Program, providing students with free access to high-resolution aerial imagery and geospatial data for not-for-profit research. 

The collaboration is a great example of the public-private-academic partnerships USGIF works to facilitate across the GEOINT community — connecting industry capabilities with education to help develop the talent and skills the community will need for the future. 

For students preparing for careers in geospatial intelligence, the program provides an opportunity to build practical experience with commercial imagery and data before entering the workforce.

Commercial imagery plays an increasingly important role across the GEOINT community. Working with high-resolution aerial imagery, elevation models, and other commercial data can help students connect what they learn in the classroom with the tools, workflows, and challenges they may encounter in their careers.

 “Building the future GEOINT workforce is central to USGIF’s mission, and our members play a direct role in that work,” said Ronda Schrenk, CEO of USGIF. “Vexcel’s commitment gives students at USGIF-accredited universities hands-on experience with the commercial imagery and data increasingly used across the GEOINT community. This is the kind of partnership that strengthens the connection between education and the workforce.”

What the Program Includes

Participating students can access three Vexcel product lines.

Product	Description
Blue Sky & Gray Sky Aerial Imagery	High-resolution ortho, oblique, multispectral, and Gray Sky imagery across the U.S. and beyond
Elevate	Digital surface models (DSM) and digital terrain models (DTM) for elevation analysis
Elements	AI-extracted features and attributes for buildings and properties

Vexcel’s platform supports work across a range of disciplines and applications, including urban analytics, environmental studies, computer vision, and machine learning.

The data is also compatible with QGIS, ArcGIS, Python, and other commonly used tools, allowing faculty, students, and researchers to bring it into their existing coursework and research workflows.

 “Our University Access Program exists to put world-class aerial data in the hands of the people who will shape the future of geospatial work,” said Dan Ackermann, Sr. Director of Demand Generation, Vexcel. “USGIF-accredited universities are preparing the analysts and researchers the GEOINT community will depend on, and we’re excited to support them.”

Learn more about the program on Vexcel’s University Access Program page.

EXPLORE THE UNIVERSITY ACCESS PROGRAM →

Learn About USGIF Accreditation

USGIF accreditation recognizes collegiate GEOINT programs that meet established academic standards and prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed across the GEOINT community.

Interested in bringing your university’s GEOINT program into USGIF accreditation? Accredited programs gain access to opportunities like this one while connecting students, faculty, and institutions more closely with the broader GEOINT community.

LEARN ABOUT ACCREDITATION →

About Vexcel

Vexcel operates the world’s largest aerial imagery program, delivering high-resolution imagery and geospatial data across 45+ countries and territories. Its integrated technology stack combines Vexcel’s UltraCam sensors with a global network of aircraft and collection partners to deliver ready-to-use aerial imagery and geospatial data at unmatched accuracy, resolution, and scale. Vexcel Intelligence builds on this foundation, using AI to make imagery searchable, find objects, and extract information about the real world. Customers across government, insurance, utilities, mapping, and other industries trust Vexcel to understand locations, assess change, and make better-informed decisions. vexceldata.com 

About USGIF

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is dedicated to bringing together government, industry, academia, professional organizations, and individuals to strengthen the GEOINT community, advance the geospatial intelligence tradecraft, and help develop the workforce and capabilities needed to address national security challenges.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation, USGIF advances this mission through education, professional development, accreditation, community engagement, programs, initiatives, and events that connect and strengthen the GEOINT community.

Build the Community. Advance the Tradecraft. Accelerate Innovation.