OPN USA, Inc.
Building the Open Standard for Parcel Identity
Parcel data underpins nearly every modern system—AI, digital twins, utilities, real estate, insurance, immersive environments, and even blockchain registries. Yet the world still relies on legacy, proprietary parcel numbering systems that create silos, fragment data, and prevent real-time interoperability.
OPN USA is leading the creation of a new digital infrastructure layer:
the Open Parcel Number (OPN) Standard, a globally unique, persistent identifier for every parcel boundary and related land record. This standard provides the connective tissue that modern applications require—and that tomorrow’s technologies will depend on.
Why Now
AI, blockchain, and immersive technologies are converging and driving unprecedented demand for parcel data that is accurate, real-time, and universally interoperable. Legacy numbering systems were never designed for this level of connectivity. They slow innovation, create duplication, and force every organization to normalize the same data repeatedly.
The world needs a shared language for parcels—one that works across jurisdictions, industries, and platforms.
The Opportunity
The OPN Standard creates a globally unique, persistent ID for every parcel and keeps it continuously updated through local jurisdictions.
By normalizing parcel data at the source, the OPN Standard delivers:
• Interoperability
A common base layer shared across AI systems, digital twins, insurers, utilities, real estate platforms, and even gaming—without translation, duplication, or loss of accuracy.
• Currency
Jurisdictions can publish parcel splits, joins, transfers, and corrections using a free, lightweight interface, ensuring that parcel data is always up to date.
• Transparency
The standard aligns with FGDC directives and the OGC’s cadaster initiatives, reducing inconsistencies while strengthening trust in land information systems.
Why the OGC
The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is the natural home for this work.
The OGC creates open, non-proprietary standards, not business models.
The OPN Standard is being shaped collaboratively by government, academia, and private industry to ensure it is:
- Globally aligned
- Broadly adopted
- Built for long-term resilience and innovation
Value for Participants
The competitive advantage is not in owning a proprietary parcel identifier—it’s in the solutions, analytics, and customer experiences built on top of normalized parcel data.
By participating in the OPN standard, organizations can:
- Reduce or eliminate costly normalization workflows
- Access current parcel boundaries directly from local jurisdictions
- Unlock new markets in blockchain registries, 3D immersive environments, and AI-driven property intelligence
Our Mission
To define and maintain the trusted, interoperable, open standard that the world will use to identify and connect every parcel—empowering innovation, improving transparency, and providing the foundation for next-generation digital infrastructure.
Join Us
We invite organizations, developers, jurisdictions, and industry leaders to participate in the OPN Standards Working Group within OGC.
Together we will build the interoperable backbone for parcel data worldwide—ensuring that land information is accurate, accessible, and open to all.
About Us
Dennis Klein
Dennis H. Klein is a pioneer in Geographic Information Systems with a 50-year career dedicated to advancing how parcel data and spatial analytics solve real-world problems. Beginning as a community planner, he authored award-winning master plans and later served as San Mateo County’s Chief of Comprehensive Planning, where his transparent, factor-based approach to environmental planning became an early precursor to modern GIS methods. KleinBio
A lifelong innovator, Klein helped migrate GIS from mainframes to the PC era and later founded Boundary Solutions, Inc., launching the first online National Parcel Layer. His work redefining parcel identification through National Parcel Numbers (NPN) positioned BSI as an early contributor to global parcel-ID standards within OGC. Today, his focus remains on creating scalable, globally unique parcel identifiers that power real-time applications across energy, real estate, government, and infrastructure.
Mark Livingston
Mark Livingston is a seasoned executive and CPA with more than 45 years leading start-ups, turnarounds, and closely held businesses. After building a 35-person accounting firm, he transitioned into CEO roles where he became known for creating clarity, aligning stakeholders, and navigating complex or distressed situations with confidence. Mark Livingston Profile2025
He brings deep experience in financial modeling, business processes, and strategic planning, along with a passion for helping entrepreneurial teams define direction and unlock opportunities. Outside of work, Mark is an avid surfer and snowboarder .
Ron Bjork
Ron Bjork has MS and BS degrees in Engineering and Math and significant experience automating complex parcel, mapping, and data-integration workflows. Over a 15-year career supporting organizations such as Samsung, Autodesk, Kaiser Permanente, Google, and Boundary Solutions, he has built and delivered production-grade systems that transform large, heterogeneous geospatial datasets into reliable, usable intelligence. His work spans Python geoprocessing, PostGIS, spatial ETL, visualization, analytics, and mobile platforms.
With advanced academic training in engineering, mathematics, and data science, Ron brings a rare blend of technical depth and practical implementation skill. He has led the development of tools and pipelines that streamline cadastral data management, support digital twins, and power high-volume land-information processing. His expertise directly advances OPN USA’s mission to normalize parcel data and enable interoperable, next-generation geospatial standards.