LizardTech

Software DevelopmentOregon, United States51-200 Employees

LizardTech (now part of GeoWGS84 Corp) is a software company specializing in the management, compression, and distribution of high-resolution geospatial imagery and LiDAR data. Founded in 1992 in Seattle, the company is best known for creating the MrSID (.sid) file format, an industry-standard for compressing massive aerial and satellite images without losing visual quality. 

Corporate Status & Ownership (2025)

Current Owner: As of November 30, 2025, LizardTech was acquired by GeoWGS84 Corp from Extensis (a Monotype company).

Historical Timeline:

1992: Founded to commercialize multiresolution image compression research from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
2018: Formally merged with Extensis to integrate geospatial tech with digital asset management.
2024: Extensis and the LizardTech portfolio were acquired by Monotype.
2025: GeoWGS84 Corp acquired the full LizardTech suite to focus on AI-driven geospatial innovation. 

Core Technologies and Products

LizardTech's software suite is designed to handle "massive" datasets (gigabytes to terabytes) with high speed and efficiency. 
MrSID (Multiresolution Seamless Image Database): A powerful wavelet-based image format that allows for instant viewing of large images without full decompression.
GeoExpress: The primary application used for creating MrSID files and JPEG 2000 imagery. It enables users to compress, crop, and reproject geospatial data.
GeoViewer: A free GIS viewer (with a "Pro" version) used to open and explore raster imagery, LiDAR point clouds, and vector overlays.
Express Server: A server-side solution for high-speed distribution and streaming of geospatial imagery over networks and the internet.

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