Our engineers understand coordinate systems, spatial indexing, and the performance patterns that make location queries fast. We’ve built mapping features, field apps, and spatial backends across PostGIS, Leaflet, and Mapbox. You get GIS expertise without hiring a specialist full-time.
GIS Development for Location-Aware Apps
Add maps, geocoding, and spatial analysis to your applications with backends that handle complex location queries.
👋 Talk to a GIS expert.
Trusted and top rated tech team
Location data is harder than it looks
Adding a map to your app seems simple until you need spatial queries that perform, coordinate systems that don’t break at edge cases, and location data that stays accurate across devices. We build GIS features with proper spatial indexing, projection handling, and backends that return results fast even with millions of coordinates.
Our capabilities include:
- Custom mapping and visualization features
- Spatial database design with PostGIS
- Geocoding and reverse geocoding integration
- Route optimization and distance calculations
- Field data collection apps
- Location-based search and filtering
Who we support
Spatial development is its own specialty. We work with teams adding their first map feature and companies scaling location data they’ve outgrown.
Product Teams Adding Location Features
You're building maps, location search, or geofencing into your product but nobody on your team has worked with spatial data before. PostGIS syntax is unfamiliar, coordinate projections are confusing, and performance degrades as location data grows.
Operations Teams Needing Field Apps
Your crews work in the field and need mobile apps that capture GPS coordinates, display assets on maps, and sync data when connectivity drops. Off-the-shelf tools don't fit your workflows, and custom development requires GIS expertise you don't have.
Companies With Location Data at Scale
You have millions of coordinates across fleets, assets, or customer addresses. Queries that worked with thousands of records now timeout, and your current architecture wasn't designed for spatial workloads.
Ways to engage
We offer a wide range of engagement models to meet our clients’ needs. From hourly consultation to fully managed solutions, our engagement models are designed to be flexible and customizable.
Staff Augmentation
Get access to on-demand product and engineering team talent that gives your company the flexibility to scale up and down as business needs ebb and flow.
Retainer Services
Retainers are perfect for companies that have a fully built product in maintenance mode. We'll give you peace of mind by keeping your software running, secure, and up to date.
Project Engagement
Project-based contracts that can range from small-scale audit and strategy sessions to more intricate replatforming or build from scratch initiatives.
We'll spec out a custom engagement model for you
Invested in creating success and defining new standards
At Curotec, we do more than deliver cutting-edge solutions — we build lasting partnerships. It’s the trust and collaboration we foster with our clients that make CEOs, CTOs, and CMOs consistently choose Curotec as their go-to partner.
Helping a Series B SaaS company refine and scale their product efficiently
Why choose Curotec for GIS development?
1
Extraordinary people, exceptional outcomes
Our outstanding team represents our greatest asset. With business acumen, we translate objectives into solutions. Intellectual agility drives efficient software development problem-solving. Superior communication ensures seamless teamwork integration.
2
Deep technical expertise
We don’t claim to be experts in every framework and language. Instead, we focus on the tech ecosystems in which we excel, selecting engagements that align with our competencies for optimal results. Moreover, we offer pre-developed components and scaffolding to save you time and money.
3
Balancing innovation with practicality
We stay ahead of industry trends and innovations, avoiding the hype of every new technology fad. Focusing on innovations with real commercial potential, we guide you through the ever-changing tech landscape, helping you embrace proven technologies and cutting-edge advancements.
4
Flexibility in our approach
We offer a range of flexible working arrangements to meet your specific needs. Whether you prefer our end-to-end project delivery, embedding our experts within your teams, or consulting and retainer options, we have a solution designed to suit you.
GIS capabilities for location-aware apps
Custom Mapping & Visualization
Display assets, routes, and boundaries on interactive maps with layers, filters, and styling that match your application's design and user needs.
Spatial Database Design
Structure location data with proper geometry types, spatial indexes, and query patterns that scale without performance degradation.
Geocoding & Address Handling
Convert addresses to coordinates and coordinates to addresses with validation, fuzzy matching, and fallback providers when primary services fail.
Route Optimization & Distance
Calculate distances, travel times, and optimal routes that account for real road networks, traffic patterns, and vehicle constraints.
Field Data Collection
Capture GPS coordinates, photos, and form data in the field with offline support and sync logic that handles spotty connectivity.
Geofencing & Location Triggers
Define geographic boundaries that trigger alerts, automate workflows, or filter data when assets or users enter or exit specified areas.
Tools and technologies for GIS development
GIS Platforms & Desktop Tools
Our engineers use enterprise and open-source GIS platforms for spatial analysis, data preparation, and cartographic output.
- ArcGIS Pro — Esri’s desktop platform for spatial analysis, cartographic production, and data management with extensive geoprocessing tools and enterprise integration
- QGIS — Open-source desktop GIS with plugin ecosystem for visualization, analysis, and data editing across vector and raster formats
- ArcGIS Online — Cloud-based mapping platform for hosting spatial data, building web maps, and sharing geographic content across organizations
- GRASS GIS — Open-source platform for geospatial analysis, image processing, and spatial modeling with command-line and scripting support
- SAGA GIS — Open-source system focused on terrain analysis, hydrology modeling, and raster processing for environmental and scientific applications
- Google Earth Pro — Visualization tool for KML data, historical imagery, and 3D terrain with measurement and annotation capabilities
Web Mapping Libraries & APIs
Curotec builds interactive maps using client-side libraries that render layers, handle user interactions, and display data.
- Leaflet — Lightweight JavaScript library for interactive maps with a simple API, mobile support, and extensive plugin ecosystem
- Mapbox GL JS — Vector tile rendering library with custom styling, 3D terrain, and smooth animations for high-performance web maps
- OpenLayers — Full-featured JavaScript library for displaying map tiles, vector data, and OGC services with advanced controls
- Google Maps API — Web mapping platform with street maps, satellite imagery, Street View, and Places integration for commercial applications
- CesiumJS — 3D globe and map library for visualizing terrain, buildings, and time-dynamic data in browser-based applications
- Deck.gl — WebGL-powered framework for large-scale data visualization with layers for points, arcs, paths, and geospatial overlays
Spatial Databases & Extensions
We design location backends with spatial database extensions that store geometries, run proximity queries, and index coordinates.
- PostGIS — PostgreSQL extension for spatial data with geometry types, spatial indexing, and hundreds of functions for proximity, intersection, and routing queries
- SpatiaLite — SQLite extension for spatial data in mobile and embedded applications with geometry support and lightweight file-based storage
- MongoDB Geospatial — Document database with 2dsphere indexes and geospatial queries for location data in JSON-based application architectures
- Elasticsearch Geo — Search engine with geo_point and geo_shape types for fast location filtering, bounding box queries, and distance sorting
- SQL Server Spatial — Microsoft’s geometry and geography types with spatial indexes and CLR integration for enterprise Windows environments
- Oracle Spatial — Enterprise spatial extension with 3D support, network data models, raster processing, and integration with Esri products
Geocoding & Location Services
Our developers integrate geocoding APIs that convert addresses to coordinates with validation, accuracy scoring, and fallbacks.
- Google Geocoding API — Address-to-coordinate conversion with global coverage, place details, and autocomplete for user-facing address input
- Mapbox Geocoding — Forward and reverse geocoding with custom data support, batch processing, and permanent geocode storage options
- HERE Location Services — Enterprise geocoding with address validation, routing, fleet management APIs, and global coverage for logistics
- Nominatim — Open-source geocoder built on OpenStreetMap data for self-hosted address lookup without commercial API dependencies
- AWS Location Service — Amazon’s location platform with geocoding, maps, routing, and geofencing integrated with AWS infrastructure
- Pelias — Open-source geocoding engine for self-hosted deployments with support for OpenStreetMap, Who’s on First, and custom data sources
Data Processing & Analysis
Curotec transforms spatial data using libraries that reproject coordinates, process geometries, and prepare datasets.
- GDAL/OGR — Library for reading, writing, and transforming raster and vector geospatial formats with command-line tools and language bindings
- GeoPandas — Python library extending Pandas with spatial operations, geometry columns, and integration with Shapely and Fiona
- Shapely — Python library for geometric operations like buffering, intersections, and unions on planar geometries
- Turf.js — JavaScript library for spatial analysis in the browser or Node.js with functions for measurement, transformation, and classification
- FME — Data integration platform for transforming spatial formats, automating workflows, and connecting GIS systems without custom code
- PyProj — Python interface to PROJ for coordinate transformations, datum shifts, and projection conversions between coordinate systems
Mobile GIS & Field Collection
Our team builds field apps with SDKs that capture GPS positions, display offline maps, and sync data when connectivity returns.
- ArcGIS Field Maps — Esri’s mobile app for field data collection, map viewing, and GPS tracking with offline support and enterprise integration
- Mapbox Mobile SDKs — iOS and Android SDKs for custom maps, offline tile caching, and location tracking in native mobile applications
- Google Maps SDK — Mobile SDKs for Android and iOS with Street View, Places, and directions integration for consumer-facing apps
- QField — Open-source mobile companion to QGIS for field collection with offline editing, GPS support, and project synchronization
- Fulcrum — Field data collection platform with custom forms, photo capture, GPS logging, and cloud sync for inspection workflows
- React Native Maps — Cross-platform mapping component for React Native apps with support for markers, polygons, and custom overlays
FAQs about our GIS development services
How do you handle spatial query performance?
We design spatial indexes, optimize geometry storage, and structure queries to avoid full table scans. PostGIS and other spatial databases are fast when configured correctly, but default setups rarely handle scale well.
Can you add maps to our existing application?
Yes. We integrate mapping libraries and spatial backends into existing codebases. This includes database changes for location storage, API endpoints for spatial queries, and front-end components for map rendering.
What if we don't know which mapping platform to use?
We recommend based on your requirements. Mapbox for custom styling and performance, Google Maps for familiarity and Places data, Leaflet for lightweight open-source needs. Licensing costs and use cases drive the decision.
Do you build offline-capable field apps?
Yes. We build mobile apps that cache map tiles, store collected data locally, and sync when connectivity returns. Offline-first architecture is critical for field crews working in areas with spotty coverage.
Can you migrate us off ArcGIS to open-source?
We migrate from Esri platforms to PostGIS, QGIS, and open-source web mapping. This includes data conversion, query translation, and replicating workflows without the licensing costs.
How do you handle coordinate system issues?
We standardize on appropriate projections, transform incoming data to match, and validate coordinates before storage. Most “wrong location” bugs trace back to projection mismatches or WGS84 assumptions.
Ready to have a conversation?
We’re here to discuss how we can partner, sharing our knowledge and experience for your product development needs. Get started driving your business forward.
