Drone-Assisted Urban Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Mapping Market Report 2025

The drone-assisted urban light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.36 billion in 2024 to $1.61 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18%. The growth during the historical period was driven by rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, the need for disaster management, demand for accurate topographical data, and environmental monitoring.

The drone-assisted urban light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.08 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7%. The growth during the forecast period is expected to be driven by increasing disaster frequency, a focus on environmental sustainability, urban planning needs, the expansion of remote sensing in cities, and the demand for real-time survey data. Key trends in this period include vertical take-off LiDAR drones, AI-based point cloud processing, integration of bathymetric LiDAR, growth in micro-mapping drones, and the adoption of cloud-native data pipelines.

The rising frequency and severity of natural disasters are expected to drive the growth of the drone-assisted urban light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market. Natural disasters, including floods, earthquakes, droughts, and storms, cause significant impacts on urban environments. This increase is largely attributed to climate change, which intensifies extreme weather events, and human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and urbanization that amplify their effects. Drone-assisted urban LiDAR mapping provides rapid and highly accurate damage assessment, terrain analysis, and rescue planning after such events, delivering actionable data that supports faster emergency response and recovery. For example, in January 2024, the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reported that in 2022, the country experienced 18 weather and climate disasters each causing over $1 billion in damages, rising to 28 such events in 2023. Consequently, the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters are driving the market growth for drone-assisted urban LiDAR mapping.

Leading companies in the drone-assisted urban light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market are adopting technologies such as cloud-based analytics to improve data processing efficiency and provide faster, more accurate mapping insights. Cloud-based analytics uses remote servers and internet-based software to store, process, and analyze data, enabling quicker computation, easier collaboration, and scalable storage without dependence on local hardware. For example, in July 2025, Wingtra, a Switzerland-based manufacturer, launched the WingtraRay, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone for survey professionals. The system integrates WingtraGround for field data logging and WingtraCloud for cloud-based processing, allowing users to efficiently generate georeferenced orthomosaics, point clouds, and digital surface models. Combining rapid data collection with cloud analytics streamlines urban LiDAR mapping workflows, reduces reliance on local hardware, supports scalable collaborative projects, and enhances decision-making for sectors such as construction, environmental monitoring, and urban planning.

In January 2022, mdGroup SA, a US-based healthcare technology company, acquired GeoCue Group, Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition aims to strengthen mdGroup SA’s capabilities in aerial LiDAR surveying technologies, expand its presence in the U.S. market, enhance technical expertise, and provide a comprehensive solution for professional drone-based surveying and data processing. This enables customers to access advanced hardware and software, streamline workflows, and benefit from the combined innovation and support of two leading companies. GeoCue Group Inc., based in the U.S., specializes in geospatial hardware and software for drone-assisted LiDAR mapping.

Major players in the drone-assisted urban light detection and ranging (lidar) mapping market are SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., Trimble Inc., Leica Geosystems AG, Microdrones GmbH, Teledyne Optech Incorporated, Velodyne Lidar Inc., Ouster Inc., Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc., Innoviz Technologies Ltd., Emesent Pty Ltd., Delair SAS, Exyn Technologies Inc., FlyGuys Inc., Cepton Inc., RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH, YELLOWSCAN S.A.S., FlyPix AI GmbH, Phoenix LiDAR Systems Inc, Geodetics Inc., Fagerman Technologies Inc.

North America was the largest region in the drone-assisted urban 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 drone-assisted urban 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 drone-assisted urban 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 rapid escalation of U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly impacting the construction sector, particularly in materials procurement and project costs. Higher duties on imported steel, aluminum, lumber, and machinery have driven up expenses for builders, contractors, and infrastructure developers, leading to increased project bids and delayed timelines. Construction equipment manufacturers face similar challenges, with tariffs on essential components and raw materials inflating production costs and squeezing margins. Additionally, retaliatory tariffs in international markets have curtailed exports of U.S.-made construction equipment and materials, further affecting profitability. The sector must now prioritize local sourcing, modular construction techniques, and supply chain diversification to control costs and ensure project viability amid ongoing trade uncertainties.

Drone-assisted urban light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping involves using unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with LiDAR sensors to capture high-resolution, three-dimensional data of urban areas. This method measures building structures, vegetation, and terrain accurately by emitting laser pulses and recording their reflections, enabling fast, precise, and comprehensive mapping of complex city landscapes.

The primary components of drone-assisted urban LiDAR mapping include hardware, software, and services. Hardware refers to the physical equipment used to collect accurate 3D urban data. It can be classified by deployment mode, such as on-premises or cloud-based, and is utilized by various end-users, including government agencies, construction, utilities, transportation and logistics, and other sectors.

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The drone-assisted urban light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as aerial surveying, topographic mapping, corridor mapping, bathymetric surveying, terrain modeling and DEM generation, orthophoto and imagery production, and specialized services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The drone-assisted urban light detection and ranging (LiDAR) mapping market also includes sales of geographic information system (GIS) software, computer-aided design (CAD) tools, LiDAR data processing software, three-dimensional (3D) mapping platforms, and urban simulation and modeling 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 that 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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