Custom Geospatial Software
ArcGIS Pro add-ins, QGIS plugins, and full-stack web mapping applications built around your science workflow — from single-researcher field tools to continental-scale analysis platforms.
North Arrow Research
Geospatial tools and expertise for conservation at any scale.
Who We Are
North Arrow Research is a small, specialist firm based in British Columbia, Canada, with over 14 years building geospatial software exclusively for environmental conservation. We partner with federal agencies, universities, and NGOs to deliver tools and infrastructure that scientists trust and practitioners rely on — from a researcher's laptop to continental-scale cloud platforms.
Learn more about us →What We Do For You
Cloud Architecture & Automation
Cloud systems sized for science — not over-engineered, not expensive to run. We design parallel model execution pipelines, data warehouses, and automated workflows that don't require a dedicated ops team.
Data Architecture & Management
Geospatial databases built to last, optimized for your science and not shaped by arbitrary software constraints. PostgreSQL/PostGIS, DynamoDB, GraphQL APIs, and purpose-built data models designed for longevity and discoverability.
Our Tools & Platforms
Riverscapes Data Exchange
Store, curate, share and discover geospatial data related to rivers. The exchange incorporates our WebViewer interactive web mapping interface for viewing data without the need for desktop GIS software. A minimal metadata standard is all that is required to make data compatible with the warehouse.
Learn more
Cybercastor
Provision and manage millions of parallel model runs. Cybercastor handles job queuing, log file management and execution all cost-effectively and reliably performed in the cloud. Integrates with the Riverscapes Data Exchange to leverage existing data, or use APIs with external systems.
Learn more
Riverscapes Reports
Petabyte scale reporting of river health for tens of millions of riverscapes across North America and New Zealand. Draw or upload areas of interest to generate professional, curated reports with graphics and tables summarizing hundreds of available river metrics.
Learn more
Cross Section Viewer
Manage and visualize river transect data using a simple data model that accommodates most types of survey data. Interactive tools include areal, profile and longitudinal plots as well as several geomorphic calculations that would typically take a user a considerable amount of time to produce.
Learn more
INSTAR
Geospatial database and laboratory software for tracking taxonomic identification of macro invertebrate organisms. Cloud-based, INSTAR provides a secure GraphQL API and R Package for data retrieval and analysis.
Learn more
GCD
The Geomorphic Change Detection (GCD) is an ArcGIS AddIn or standalone software for quantifying the difference between raster datasets while taking uncertainty into account. Originally designed for differences in Digital Elevation Models (DEM) the GCD can measure change between any two raster datasets.
Learn moreOur Clients
Have a project in mind?
Whether you're ready to scope a solution or just beginning to think through your options, we'd love to hear what you're working on.
Get in touch →