SAM Acquires 3-GIS and SSP Innovations, Expanding Into GIS Consulting and AI-Enabled Software. November 9, 2026 Updated November 9, 2026 SAM acquires 3-GIS and SSP Innovations, adding utility GIS consulting and enterprise network software to a business built on land and aerial surveying, lidar, and inspection. The Austin, Texas-based company announced the deal on November 5, 2026. The announcement did not include financial terms. What the acquisition adds. SAM says combining its surveying, lidar, inspection, and utility engineering services with the two companies' capabilities will let it support customers across the infrastructure lifecycle, from planning and design through construction, operations, and modernization. SAM President and CEO Chris Solomon said the additions "strengthen our ability to serve critical infrastructure markets." SSP Innovations: utility GIS consulting. SSP Innovations is an Esri Platinum Partner focused on utility GIS consulting, implementation, and data services. According to the announcement, it has completed more than 100 major transformation projects across North America. That work includes GIS deployments, Esri Utility Network migrations, and operational technology integrations across GIS, EAM, WMS, and ADMS platforms. 3-GIS: enterprise network software. 3-GIS provides cloud-native software for telecommunications, electric, and gas networks. Its platform connects planning, design, asset inventory, and operations around a shared source of network data. Through the 3-GIS | Expansion Kit, operators can extend the platform with AI-enabled tools to build functionality for their own requirements. Patrick Vardeman, CEO of both SSP Innovations and 3-GIS, said joining SAM gives the companies a chance to build on their momentum and keep advancing their solutions for the organizations that rely on them. Why it matters for geospatial data. Lidar and aerial survey data typically move into GIS and asset management systems after collection. For readers who collect or use that data, the deal links data capture more closely with the systems utilities use to put it to work. KippsDeSanto & Co. served as exclusive financial advisor to SSP Innovations and 3-GIS. About SAM. SAM is an independent provider of geospatial and inspection services to utility, transportation, and critical infrastructure customers, with roots dating to 1994. Its services include land and aerial surveying, subsurface utility engineering, construction and asset inspection, and digital data management. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, SAM has more than 1,800 employees. Learn more at sam.biz. Get Lidar News in your inbox. Weekly updates on lidar tech, geospatial industry news, case studies, and product reviews. Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Lidar News

Helping utilities succeed with Esri Utility Network: SSP Innovations honored at 2025 IMGIS Conference. December 8, 2025 - Keith Freeman SSP Innovations received the 2025 IMGIS Electric and Gas Innovation Award at the Esri Infrastructure Management and GIS (IMGIS) Conference, held October 28 - 30 in Palm Springs, California. The award recognizes SSP's innovative work helping utilities adopt the Esri Utility Network through its SSP Accelerate program, an end-to-end framework that streamlines data readiness, migration, and implementation. By reducing risk and improving data quality, the approach helps electric, gas, and water or wastewater utilities modernize faster and with greater confidence. As utilities face growing pressure to integrate new technologies, improve resilience, and deliver better customer outcomes, SSP provides the trusted expertise to make transformation achievable. Through consulting, implementation, and long-term support, SSP aligns people, processes, and platforms to deliver measurable business value. "This recognition validates the work we do every day to help utilities gain clarity, build confidence, and drive results through GIS," said Darrell Rhodes, General Manager of SSP Innovations. "Our SSP Accelerate framework is one example of how we guide utilities through change with strategy, structure, and purpose." Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, recognized SSP as one of only eleven partners to receive a 2025 IMGIS award. These honors celebrate organizations that apply ArcGIS technology in innovative ways to solve complex infrastructure challenges. Migrate to Esri Utility Network in under six months.