# Who takes map layers, aerial imagery and spatial data for…

> 4 of the 5 firms we read list maps, aerial imagery, 3D or other spatial data as something they take; newest read 28 October 2026.

Sell Map Data to AI · https://sellmapdatatoai.com/datasets/map-data-buyers/ · computed 2026-10-28

**Firms naming spatial data:** 4 of 5 firms (8 web pages read; 18 named).

## The answers, question by question

- **Way it acquires spatial data:** hosts a catalogue where capture firms list and sell their data 3, licenses layers or imagery straight from the firm that captured them 2
- **Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named:** names maps, geospatial, aerial, 3D or spatial data 4, varies 1
- **Spatial data it describes taking:** stated 4, not stated 1
- **Where a capture firm signs up:** stated 4, not stated 1
- **What it says on rights and permissions:** not stated 3, stated 2

## Every firm

| Firm | Way it acquires spatial data | Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named | Spatial data it describes taking | Where a capture firm signs up | What it says on rights and permissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARTO | hosts a catalogue where capture firms list and sell their data | names maps, geospatial, aerial, 3D or spatial data | Looking for new channels for your data products? Look no further. | Become a data partner Looking for new channels for your data products? | Some data providers offer different types of licenses and different pricing options if… |
| Opendatabay | hosts a catalogue where capture firms list and sell their data | names maps, geospatial, aerial, 3D or spatial data | Find commercially licensed datasets for AI training and LLM fine-tuning | not stated | not stated |
| Protege | licenses layers or imagery straight from the firm that captured them | names maps, geospatial, aerial, 3D or spatial data | not stated | Become a data partner Become a data partner | not stated |
| Shutterstock | licenses layers or imagery straight from the firm that captured them | varies by document | Models across architecture, furniture, vehicles, fashion, tools, toys, nature, and more. | Tell us about your content library. We’ll follow up to discuss next steps. | All assets are rights-cleared and contributor-permissioned for AI training and… |
| UP42 | hosts a catalogue where capture firms list and sell their data | names maps, geospatial, aerial, 3D or spatial data | Multispectral satellite Learn more Aerial Learn more SAR Learn more Elevation Learn more… | Need help choosing the right data? Get in touch | not stated |

## The sentence each answer rests on (40)

- CARTO, [CARTO Data Observatory](https://www.carto.com/data-observatory), read 2026-10-28, Way it acquires spatial data: "Our Data Observatory is a one-stop shop for geospatial datasets"
- CARTO, [CARTO Data Observatory](https://www.carto.com/data-observatory), read 2026-10-28, Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named: "Our Data Observatory is a one-stop shop for geospatial datasets, allowing users to get the location data they need fast"
- CARTO, [CARTO Data Observatory](https://www.carto.com/data-observatory), read 2026-10-28, Spatial data it describes taking: "Looking for new channels for your data products? Look no further."
- CARTO, [CARTO Data Observatory](https://www.carto.com/data-observatory), read 2026-10-28, Where a capture firm signs up: "Become a data partner Looking for new channels for your data products?"
- CARTO, [CARTO Data Observatory](https://www.carto.com/data-observatory), read 2026-10-28, What it says on rights and permissions: "Some data providers offer different types of licenses and different pricing options if their data is going to be used only within a CARTO application or exported into other technologies"
- Opendatabay, [Opendatabay, data marketplace](https://www.opendatabay.com), read 2026-10-08, Way it acquires spatial data: "Buy, sell, or exchange AI-ready data in 3 simple steps"
- Opendatabay, [Opendatabay, data marketplace](https://www.opendatabay.com), read 2026-10-08, Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named: "Text · Image · Audio · Video · Code · Agentic Trajectories · 3D Spatial · Tabular · Time-series"
- Opendatabay, [Opendatabay, data marketplace](https://www.opendatabay.com), read 2026-10-08, Spatial data it describes taking: "Find commercially licensed datasets for AI training and LLM fine-tuning"
- Opendatabay, [Opendatabay, data marketplace](https://www.opendatabay.com), read 2026-10-08, Where a capture firm signs up: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-08 (10,788 characters) is silent on this.
- Opendatabay, [Opendatabay, data marketplace](https://www.opendatabay.com), read 2026-10-08, What it says on rights and permissions: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-08 (10,788 characters) is silent on this.
- Protege, [Protege, for data providers](https://withprotege.ai/data-provider), read 2026-10-08, Way it acquires spatial data: "Protege works with data and content providers across domains"
- Protege, [Protege, for data providers](https://withprotege.ai/data-provider), read 2026-10-08, Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named: "Audio & Speech Spatial & Physical Other Domains"
- Protege, [Protege, for data providers](https://withprotege.ai/data-provider), read 2026-10-08, Spatial data it describes taking: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-08 (21,248 characters) is silent on this.
- Protege, [Protege, for data providers](https://withprotege.ai/data-provider), read 2026-10-08, Where a capture firm signs up: "Become a data partner Become a data partner"
- Protege, [Protege, for data providers](https://withprotege.ai/data-provider), read 2026-10-08, What it says on rights and permissions: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-08 (21,248 characters) is silent on this.
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing), read 2026-10-27, Way it acquires spatial data: "We can identify, source, curate, and license datasets across Shutterstock’s content and broader data ecosystem to align to your exact use case."
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing), read 2026-10-27, Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named: "3D objects and assets for spatial, simulation, and physical-world applications."
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing), read 2026-10-27, Spatial data it describes taking: "Access hundreds of millions of images, videos, audio files, 3D assets, and other content from Shutterstock’s global collection."
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing), read 2026-10-27, Where a capture firm signs up: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-27 (8,297 characters) is silent on this.
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing), read 2026-10-27, What it says on rights and permissions: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-27 (8,297 characters) is silent on this.
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing, 3D and spatial](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/3d-&-spatial), read 2026-10-27, Way it acquires spatial data: "All assets are rights-cleared and contributor-permissioned for AI training and commercialization."
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing, 3D and spatial](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/3d-&-spatial), read 2026-10-27, Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named: "Shutterstock's 3D & Spatial AI datasets give you access to one of the largest licensed collections of 3D models and photorealistic renders"
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing, 3D and spatial](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/3d-&-spatial), read 2026-10-27, Spatial data it describes taking: "Models across architecture, furniture, vehicles, fashion, tools, toys, nature, and more."
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing, 3D and spatial](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/3d-&-spatial), read 2026-10-27, Where a capture firm signs up: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-27 (4,650 characters) is silent on this.
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock data licensing, 3D and spatial](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/3d-&-spatial), read 2026-10-27, What it says on rights and permissions: "All assets are rights-cleared and contributor-permissioned for AI training and commercialization."
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock Data Partner Network](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/data-partner-network), read 2026-10-27, Way it acquires spatial data: "Explore Shutterstock’s Data Partner Network to license your content for AI training"
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock Data Partner Network](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/data-partner-network), read 2026-10-27, Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named: "What type of content do you control (select all that apply)"
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock Data Partner Network](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/data-partner-network), read 2026-10-27, Spatial data it describes taking: "Tell us about your content library. We’ll follow up to discuss next steps."
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock Data Partner Network](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/data-partner-network), read 2026-10-27, Where a capture firm signs up: "Tell us about your content library. We’ll follow up to discuss next steps."
- Shutterstock, [Shutterstock Data Partner Network](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/data-partner-network), read 2026-10-27, What it says on rights and permissions: "Retain ownership and control"
- UP42, [UP42 geospatial platform](https://up42.com/), read 2026-10-28, Way it acquires spatial data: "Search available geospatial data from different providers."
- UP42, [UP42 geospatial platform](https://up42.com/), read 2026-10-28, Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named: "Search, task, process, and manage EO data from leading providers through one platform."
- UP42, [UP42 geospatial platform](https://up42.com/), read 2026-10-28, Spatial data it describes taking: "Multispectral satellite Learn more Aerial Learn more SAR Learn more Elevation Learn more Lidar"
- UP42, [UP42 geospatial platform](https://up42.com/), read 2026-10-28, Where a capture firm signs up: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-28 (4,407 characters) is silent on this.
- UP42, [UP42 geospatial platform](https://up42.com/), read 2026-10-28, What it says on rights and permissions: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-28 (4,407 characters) is silent on this.
- UP42, [UP42 data partners](https://www.up42.com/marketplace), read 2026-10-28, Way it acquires spatial data: "We've built the world’s most extensive ecosystem of Earth observation data and processing algorithms for our users."
- UP42, [UP42 data partners](https://www.up42.com/marketplace), read 2026-10-28, Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named: "Access data from aerial sensors, including planes and drones."
- UP42, [UP42 data partners](https://www.up42.com/marketplace), read 2026-10-28, Spatial data it describes taking: "Capable of resolutions up to 1 cm, with data from Vexcel, Hexagon, IO Aerospace, Bluesky, Getmapping, and Globhe."
- UP42, [UP42 data partners](https://www.up42.com/marketplace), read 2026-10-28, Where a capture firm signs up: "Need help choosing the right data? Get in touch"
- UP42, [UP42 data partners](https://www.up42.com/marketplace), read 2026-10-28, What it says on rights and permissions: Not addressed: the web page read on 2026-10-28 (3,729 characters) is silent on this.

## Read and set aside

- [License My Data](https://licensemydata.com/): set aside so each buyer sits on one board across this batch (difference M1, 2026-10-28): this organisation names no map, geospatial or spatial data and is read on selljobrecordstoai.com's board or another site's instead
- [Troveo: business data](https://www.troveo.ai/business-data): set aside so each buyer sits on one board across this batch (difference M1, 2026-10-28): this organisation names no map, geospatial or spatial data and is read on selljobrecordstoai.com's board or another site's instead
- [Nyne: sell your company data](https://nyne.ai/sell-company-data/): set aside so each buyer sits on one board across this batch (difference M1, 2026-10-28): this organisation names no map, geospatial or spatial data and is read on selljobrecordstoai.com's board or another site's instead
- [DataDeals: sell your company data](https://datadeals.ai/sell-your-data): set aside so each buyer sits on one board across this batch (difference M1, 2026-10-28): this organisation names no map, geospatial or spatial data and is read on selljobrecordstoai.com's board or another site's instead
- [micro1: data partnerships](https://www.micro1.ai/data-partnerships): set aside so each buyer sits on one board across this batch (difference M1, 2026-10-28): this organisation names no map, geospatial or spatial data and is read on selljobrecordstoai.com's board or another site's instead
- [Mercor Data](https://mercor.com/data): set aside so each buyer sits on one board across this batch (difference M1, 2026-10-28): this organisation names no map, geospatial or spatial data and is read on selljobrecordstoai.com's board or another site's instead
- [Esri ArcGIS Marketplace and partners](https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis-marketplace/overview): Esri's partner finder: it lists partners who sell services and products to ArcGIS users, not a door for an owner to license map data
- [Polyshares: data licensing](https://polyshares.com/data-licensing): set aside so each buyer sits on one board across this batch (difference M1, 2026-10-28): this organisation names no map, geospatial or spatial data and is read on selljobrecordstoai.com's board or another site's instead
- [Maryah: business data licensing](https://maryah.ai/business-data): set aside so each buyer sits on one board across this batch (difference M1, 2026-10-28): this organisation names no map, geospatial or spatial data and is read on selljobrecordstoai.com's board or another site's instead
- [ShareCafe: Aerometrex AI data deals](https://www.sharecafe.com.au/2026/06/17/aerometrex-inks-key-data-deals-with-ai-innovators/): a news report of Aerometrex licensing its aerial and LiDAR catalogue to two AI companies: a dated deal, admitted as evidence of demand, not a buyer's own page

## Methodology

Each firm's own geospatial marketplace, spatial data licensing and partner pages were read through estate-fetch and stored whole (sha256 on every row). For every web page, five questions were answered from its own words: way it acquires spatial data, whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named, spatial data it describes taking, where a capture firm signs up, what it says on rights and permissions. Every stated answer carries the sentence it rests on, checked against the stored text; 'not stated' means the web page read does not address the question. A firm with several web pages reads 'varies' where they disagree. 5 firms, 8 web pages.

## Sources

- [Shutterstock data licensing: 3D and spatial](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/3d-&-spatial) (read)
- [Shutterstock data licensing](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing) (read)
- [Shutterstock Data Partner Network](https://www.shutterstock.com/data-licensing/data-partner-network) (read)
- [Protege: for data providers](https://withprotege.ai/data-provider) (read)
- [License My Data](https://licensemydata.com/) (not-terms)
- [Troveo: business data](https://www.troveo.ai/business-data) (not-terms)
- [Nyne: sell your company data](https://nyne.ai/sell-company-data/) (not-terms)
- [Opendatabay](https://www.opendatabay.com) (read)
- [DataDeals: sell your company data](https://datadeals.ai/sell-your-data) (not-terms)
- [micro1: data partnerships](https://www.micro1.ai/data-partnerships) (not-terms)
- [Mercor Data](https://mercor.com/data) (not-terms)
- [CARTO Data Observatory](https://www.carto.com/data-observatory) (read)
- [Esri ArcGIS Marketplace and partners](https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis-marketplace/overview) (not-terms)
- [UP42 geospatial marketplace](https://up42.com/) (read)
- [UP42 marketplace catalogue](https://www.up42.com/marketplace) (read)
- [Polyshares: data licensing](https://polyshares.com/data-licensing) (not-terms)
- [Maryah: business data licensing](https://maryah.ai/business-data) (not-terms)
- [ShareCafe: Aerometrex AI data deals](https://www.sharecafe.com.au/2026/06/17/aerometrex-inks-key-data-deals-with-ai-innovators/) (not-terms)

## Cite or embed

- 4 of the 5 firms we read list maps, aerial imagery, 3D or other spatial data as something they take; newest read 28 October 2026.
- Way it acquires spatial data, by firm: hosts a catalogue where capture firms list and sell their data 3 of 5, licenses layers or imagery straight from the firm that captured them 2 of 5 (5 firms, read 28 October 2026).
- Whether maps, imagery or spatial data are named, by firm: names maps, geospatial, aerial, 3D or spatial data 4 of 5, varies 1 of 5 (5 firms, read 28 October 2026).
- Spatial data it describes taking, by firm: stated 4 of 5, not stated 1 of 5 (5 firms, read 28 October 2026).
- Where a capture firm signs up, by firm: stated 4 of 5, not stated 1 of 5 (5 firms, read 28 October 2026).
- What it says on rights and permissions, by firm: not stated 3 of 5, stated 2 of 5 (5 firms, read 28 October 2026).

Cite as: "Who takes map layers, aerial imagery and spatial data for AI training", updated 2026-10-28, https://sellmapdatatoai.com/datasets/map-data-buyers/.

CSV: https://sellmapdatatoai.com/datasets/map-data-buyers.csv
JSON: https://sellmapdatatoai.com/datasets/map-data-buyers.json
Embed (plain HTML, static link back): see https://sellmapdatatoai.com/datasets/map-data-buyers/#lead