Jeff Thurston and Matt Ball give their perspectives on what a national mapping agency is all about. Jeff starts off by defining what a national mapping agency is. He says their primary responsibility is to develop the maps of a country. It is also the agency that is responsible for geodesy, surveying and cartography of a country. They are also responsible for a country's digital databases. Jeff also says that for any country that wants to be in the lead in the future will need to invest in its national mapping agency.

Matt describes how things are changing and how the national mapping agencies have to adapt. This relates to the information that they need to collect and the standards that need to be maintained. He also emphasizes the need for national mapping agencies to collaborate so that the datasets needed for decision making can be provided. The private sector is becoming a major player in the provision of data originally provided by national mapping agencies, which further emphasize the changing role of national mapping agencies.