Headquartered in Cambridge, UK with offices in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway and Scotland 1Spatial was originally formed over thirty years ago by research developments at Cambridge University. Originally named Laser-Scan, the company was initially focused on the scanning of paper maps.

Laser-Scan evolved through the production of software for the management of large, complicated spatial databases. For the software to be effective, Laser-Scan developed the Gothic spatial database system and through this became known as leaders in the field of spatial data topology management.

Laser-Scan expanded both in portfolio and market presence in September 2004, with the acquisition of Sysdeco Kongsberg AS and the responsibility for delivering Ewan Optimal Solutions utility contracts in the UK. The Sysdeco acquisition merged two complementary organisations, which provide advanced flow-line solutions to National Mapping Agencies.

In recent years Laser-Scan has been specialising in spatial data quality management solutions, and has chosen Oracle as a platform for its standards-based software products branded by the ‘Radius’ name. From this Laser-Scan has gained a reputation for being a world leader in spatial data quality control.

In December 2006 Laser-Scan was renamed to 1Spatial to more accurately reflect its expanding position in a changing spatial data marketplace. 

In July 2007 1Spatial increased its global presence with two further acquisitions in Scotland and Ireland. The acquisition of IME UK and Proteus Solutions Ltd further strengthened 1Spatial’s ability to deliver spatial data infrastructures and data quality products. As part of the agreement, IME became 1Spatial Scotland and Proteus formed 1Spatial Ireland. The extensive experience from both IME and Proteus, in the area of CAD/GIS and web-based access to spatial data, brought further expertise to 1Spatial’s growing reputation in the management of large and mission critical spatial databases and associated spatial data quality control.