Object Vision develops advanced software and spatial modelling solutions that support decision making in complex environments. Our work combines analytical rigour, technical depth, and practical applicability, enabling governments, researchers, and organisations to better understand spatial dynamics and evaluate future scenarios.
Our team brings together expertise in spatial economics, data analysis, modelling, and software engineering. This interdisciplinary foundation allows us to translate scientific insights into robust tools that are used in policy analysis, planning, and research. Reliability, transparency, and methodological quality are central to how we design and develop our systems.
Our main product is the GeoDMS: an open-source framework for efficient spatial data management, fast grid-based calculations and reproducible modelling workflows. The software is used in research, policy analysis and large-scale planning applications.
We support organisations that want to use GeoDMS to implement their own models, datasets and visualizations. All our software is open source, and we actively promote transparent modelling and the use of open data.
Governance
Since the summer of 2025, Object Vision has adopted a distinctive ownership and governance structure. Object Vision B.V. is now fully owned by the Coöperatie Object Vision U.A. Through this structure, ownership and ultimate control reside collectively with the employees of the company.
Membership of the cooperative is directly linked to employment. The members of the cooperative, all of whom are employees, exercise governance through the General Members’ Meeting (ALV), which holds the highest decision-making authority within the cooperative. The board is appointed by and accountable to the members, ensuring that strategic direction, oversight, and governance remain firmly rooted within the organisation itself. This means that the professionals who design, build, and maintain our models and software are not only contributors to the company, but also collectively responsible for its long-term direction. The governance of Object Vision is therefore anchored in shared commitment, continuity, and a strong alignment between the organisation and its team as its members
For clients and partners, our activities and services remain unchanged. The cooperative structure primarily reinforces our long-term perspective, independence, and stability. Decisions are taken with the same focus that characterises our work: careful analysis, technical robustness, and sustainable value creation.
This organisational model reflects how Object Vision has always operated — as a knowledge-driven company where expertise, collaboration, and substantive quality come first.
Our Roots
Beginnings at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
In the 1990s, the Faculty of Economics and Econometrics of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam started a research line on spatial data and GIS.
Within this setting, Maarten began developing software libraries to support network calculations, map algebra, accessibility modelling and other GIS-related tasks used in university research. As PhD a student (Maarten) and employee (Martin) working in this field, we expanded these libraries step-by-step. Over many iterations they evolved into the foundation of what is now the GeoDMS software, optimised for fast grid calculations and large spatial datasets.
Early product development
By the end of the 1990s we started developing one of our first major applications: the Ruimtescanner. This was an important milestone in the evolution of GeoDMS, integrating spatial allocation, scenario analysis and multi-layer data processing. The project demonstrated the value of combining domain knowledge with high-performance modelling software.
Collaboration and growth
In the early 2000s we entered a joint venture with a software company in Haarlem. Locating our office there allowed us to expand the software with a larger team of experienced developers and broaden the range of applications built on top of GeoDMS.
Return to the VU and establishment of Object Vision B.V.
Since 2006 we have been back at the Vrije Universiteit, where our current office is located. Our focus gradually shifted from core software development toward supporting a growing number of applied projects, ranging from land-use modelling and accessibility analysis to environmental assessments and data pipelines. In the same year, the company Object Vision B.V. was formally established. GeoDMS has continued to evolve, with more vector-related operations, improved performance and expanded possibilities for integration with datasets, models and web-based applications.
Expansion
In 2018 our team grew for the first time with the arrival of Jip, who combined his work at Object Vision with a part-time PhD at the university’s department of spatial economics. In 2021 we expanded further with Erik, strengthening both our software development capacity and our modelling ability.
Privacy
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Object Vision B.V.
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam
tel +31-20 5989083
KvK: NL-34236024
VAT: NL815033424B01
IBAN: NL83 RABO 0115 2552 22
Coöperatie Object Vision U.A.
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam
tel +31-205989083
KvK: NL-97627151