Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Mapping Market Report 2025

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.02 billion in 2024 to $1.15 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing demand for topographic surveys, rising adoption in forestry management, growing interest in precision agriculture, expansion of mining and quarrying activities, and increasing use in flood risk assessment.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.81 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1%. This projected growth is driven by expanding investments in intelligent infrastructure developments, rising utilization in emergency response and recovery, growing requirements for high-resolution mapping capabilities, broader adoption in urban development planning, and an increasing emphasis on environmentally sustainable practices. Key anticipated trends include enhancements in LiDAR sensor technology, progress in autonomous drone flight systems, emergence of cloud-based data processing solutions, advancements in compact drone payload designs, and AI integration for autonomous mapping workflows.

The increasing infrastructure development projects are expected to drive the growth of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market going forward. Infrastructure development projects refer to the planning, constructing, and improving essential physical structures such as roads, bridges, railways, airports, power grids, and water systems that support economic growth and public well-being. The rise in infrastructure development projects is due to the growing need for modern urban facilities and resilient public utilities to support expanding populations and economic growth. UAV LiDAR systems are crucial in infrastructure development projects by providing fast, precise, and detailed mapping and surveying solutions. They are used to create accurate 3D models of construction sites, terrain, and existing structures, enabling planners and engineers to assess the landscape and design infrastructure more effectively. For instance, in February 2024, according to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, a UK-based government agency, the planned investment in major infrastructure and construction projects in the UK for 2024-25 stands at $201.52 billion (£164 billion), marking an increase over the previous year and reflecting strong economic momentum. Over the next decade, total investments in the sector are projected to range between $858.1 billion (£700 billion) and $953.25 billion (£775 billion), indicating sustained long-term growth and development. Therefore, increasing infrastructure development projects is driving the growth in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market.

Leading players in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) LiDAR mapping market are innovating with advanced solutions such as collision-tolerant drones equipped with LiDAR sensors, aimed at enhancing indoor 3D mapping in complex or restricted spaces. These drones are specifically designed to operate safely in confined and GPS-denied environments while collecting real-time, high-definition 3D spatial data using simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques. For example, in August 2022, Flyability, a drone manufacturer based in Switzerland, introduced the Elios 3 - the first-ever collision-tolerant drone to feature a LiDAR sensor. The Elios 3 incorporates the Ouster OS0-32 LiDAR sensor along with FlyAware SLAM technology, enabling the generation of live 3D models during flight. Integrated with Inspector 4 software and GeoSLAM’s post-processing solutions, this system delivers high-precision mapping and inspection in areas hazardous or inaccessible to people. This technological breakthrough greatly improves safety, operational efficiency, and automation in industrial inspections, aligning with Industry 4.0 initiatives.

In January 2022, MDE Services Group Limited, a UK-based company specializing in aerial digital twin solutions, acquired GeoCue Group Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The purpose of the acquisition is to strengthen mdGroup’s capabilities in drone-based geospatial analytics by leveraging GeoCue’s extensive knowledge in LiDAR and photogrammetry software. GeoCue Group Inc., based in the U.S., is recognized for its hardware and software offerings that support high-accuracy LiDAR and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) LiDAR mapping applications.

Major players in the unmanned aerial vehicle (uav) light detection and ranging (lidar) mapping market are Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Hexagon Aktiebolag, Trimble Incorporated, Leica Geosystems Aktiengesellschaft, Faro Technologies Incorporated, Microdrones GmbH, Westwood Professional Services Incorporated, RaSmith Incorporated, Delair Société par Actions Simplifiée, Firmatek Limited Liability Company, Phantom Artificial Intelligence Incorporated, LeddarTech Incorporated, South West Surveys Limited, Quanergy Systems Incorporated, Innoviz Technologies Limited, YellowScan Société par Actions Simplifiée, Dielmo Three Dimensional, Phoenix LiDAR Systems Incorporated, Quantum-Systems GmbH, Aeva Technologies Incorporated.

North America was the largest region in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping is a form of remote sensing technology that utilizes drones fitted with LiDAR sensors to generate highly detailed and accurate 3D maps of the Earth's terrain and man-made structures. This technology finds broad application in fields like land surveying, forestry management, infrastructure inspection, and environmental monitoring by enabling swift, efficient, and precise collection of spatial data from aerial platforms.

The primary applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping include 3D visualization, digital twin creation, vegetation mapping, contour mapping, and volumetric analysis. 3D visualization involves the creation of digital three-dimensional images or models that represent physical or conceptual objects, settings, or datasets, aiding in easier analysis and interpretation. The UAV types employed in this process are fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and hybrid unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), each utilizing different LiDAR technologies such as airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and mobile light detection and ranging (LiDAR). Levels of automation range from fully automated and partially automated to manual, addressing the needs of industries such as agriculture, construction, forestry, mining, and environmental monitoring.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market statistics, including the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping industry's global market size, regional shares, competitors with the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market share, detailed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping industry. This unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as glacier and snowfield monitoring, coastal and riverine mapping, archaeological and heritage site documentation, and power line and utility corridor mapping. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market includes sales of products such as LiDAR sensors, UAV platforms (drones), onboard data storage systems, global positioning system and inertial measurement unit components, and mapping software. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values and are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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