Juno Maps, a geospatial technology company, has been named a winner of the RISE Riverine Community Resilience Challenge II, an international competition led by RISE Resilience Innovations to accelerate solutions for flood-prone inland communities in western Virginia. The award recognizes Smart Site Plan, Juno Maps' cloud-based platform that helps local governments visualize flood risk, assess vulnerable infrastructure, and collaborate across departments in real time.
According to Dustin Rauch, President & CEO of Juno Maps, the recognition reinforces the company's mission to put powerful data in the hands of those who need it most. "We're excited to partner with Virginia riverine communities and offer a solution that has the potential to save lives and protect infrastructure," Rauch said. As a Challenge winner, Juno Maps will pilot Smart Site Plan in multiple western Virginia municipalities to demonstrate how intuitive geospatial tools can support data-driven resilience planning in high-risk areas.
The RISE Riverine Community Resilience Challenge II, funded by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, supports scalable innovations that strengthen long-term recovery and build resilience to freshwater flooding. "Juno Maps is tackling a real and urgent need, giving communities the tools to see and understand their flood risk before disaster strikes," said Paul Robinson, Executive Director of RISE. "That's why their solution is so compelling. It gives local governments an immediate, easy-to-use way to understand and respond to risk."
Smart Site Plan is designed for accessibility, allowing municipal teams regardless of technical background to collaborate effectively. The platform aims to improve local decision-making by providing clear flood risk data and infrastructure vulnerability assessments. Juno Maps, with offices in Maryland and Valencia, Spain, builds geospatial platforms for cities, utilities, and organizations tackling challenges from infrastructure planning to environmental risk. More information is available at junomaps.com.
The selection of Juno Maps underscores the importance of innovative technology in addressing the growing risks facing inland communities. By piloting Smart Site Plan in high-risk areas, the company hopes to demonstrate measurable real-world impact, helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from flood events more effectively.
