In the United States the National Spacial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) was created to aggregate the multiple resources already at work capturing geospacial information.  This effort includes data share with government, corporate, and academics.  The governing body, the Federal Geographic Data Committee recognizes the plethora of sources available from which to create more robust maps of information and seeks to leverage the possibilities through the NSDI.

Global Maritime Sensing intends to this same premise with a larger scope – the world’s water area – and to include as many nations as possible to provide the same depth of coverage throughout the world.  The intent is very pointed for GMS – greater Maritime Domain Awareness – and thus greater prospects for safe and peaceful sea operations.