LiDAR Drone Market - By Component (Laser Scanners, Navigation and Positioning Systems, Cameras), By LiDAR (Topographic, Bathymetric), By Drone, By Range (Short Range, Medium Range, Long Range), By End-user & Forecast, 2024 – 2032

LiDAR Drone Market Size

LiDAR Drone Market was valued at USD 183.4 million in 2023 and is estimated to register a CAGR of over 19% between 2024 and 2032. The growing demand for precision mapping and surveying is expected to drive the market growth.
 

As industries such as construction, mining, agriculture, and urban planning require more accurate and detailed geographical data, this technology offers capabilities for capturing high-resolution, three-dimensional topographic information. Its ability to provide precise elevation data and create detailed 3D models makes it crucial for tasks such as land surveying, infrastructure assessment, and environmental monitoring. To meet the growing demand for LiDAR drones, major market players are launching new solutions in the market.  
 

For instance, in February 2024, Wingtra announced the launch of an innovative LIDAR drone solution. The new LIDAR payload integrates the efficiency, ease of operation, and high accuracy of the WingtraOne GEN II drones with the Wingtra-engineered LIDAR sensor. This technology offers 3 cm vertical accuracy and 60 m flight height. The surge in demand for precise mapping and surveying solutions propels the growth of the market and emphasizes its crucial role in modern data acquisition and analysis.
 

Moreover, the growing adoption of these drones in agriculture is significantly driving market growth. Precision agriculture, which aims to optimize field management and resource use, increasingly relies on detailed, accurate data to enhance crop yield and efficiency. These drones provide high-resolution topographic data that helps farmers map soil variations, monitor crop health, and manage irrigation systems more effectively. This technology helps in identifying issues such as nutrient deficiencies, water stress, and pest infestations with greater accuracy. To gain business capabilities several market players are focusing on strategic initiatives.
 

For instance, in May 2024, DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations Limited and Airbots Aerospace Technologies Private Limited announced a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This collaboration aims to assist joint efforts in the drone industry, with a strong focus on the agricultural sector. Furthermore, the growing usage of LiDAR drones in agriculture is propelling market growth, reflecting the sector's shift towards precision and efficiency in farming practices.
 

While drone technology is rapidly evolving, governments prioritize addressing privacy and safety concerns. The global surge in LiDAR drone production and adoption faces challenges, due to stringent regulations worldwide, primarily driven by security and privacy concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. has been reluctant to approve commercial drones in the U.S., leading to restrictions on activities such as photography, surveys, security, and scientific observations using civilian drones. Similarly, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) review the utilization of commercial drones based on different sizes and types of model aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to ensure the safety of operators and owners. These regulatory measures highlight the ongoing challenge of balancing technological advancement with public safety and privacy.
 

LiDAR Drone Market Trends

Innovations such as improved flight stability, extended battery life, and enhanced payload capacities make it feasible to integrate advanced LiDAR sensors into drones. These technological enhancements enable drones to perform more complex and detailed surveys, improving data accuracy and operational efficiency. Modern drones equipped with high-performance processors and advanced sensors can collect and process large volumes of LiDAR data quickly, supporting applications ranging from precision agriculture to urban planning. This evolution in drone capabilities enhances the utility and appeal of drones and reduces operational costs, making them more accessible to a broader range of industries.
 

To develop advanced LiDAR drones market players are focusing on mergers and acquisition of technology providers in the market. For instance, in August 2022, AeroVironment, Inc. acquired Planck Aerosystems, Inc. a provider of unmanned aircraft navigation solutions. The acquisition helped the company to speed the development of advanced autonomy capabilities for its unmanned aircraft systems. The continuous advancements in drone technology are projected to drive further growth in the market by expanding their applications and improving overall performance.
 

LiDAR Drone Market Analysis

Based on LiDAR, the market is categorized into topographic and bathymetric. In 2023, the topographic segment accounted for a market share of over 75%. Topographic LiDAR offers accurate and three-dimensional representations of land surfaces, which is essential for several applications such as construction, urban planning, and environmental management. As industries require precise and comprehensive data for planning and development projects, the need for detailed terrain information has surged. Its ability to capture details of the land’s elevation, contours, and features assists in creating digital elevation models (DEMs) and conducting land surveys. The increasing demand for precise terrain mapping drives the growth of topographic LiDAR systems, emphasizing its crucial role in modern land and infrastructure management.
 

Based on the drone, the LiDAR drone market is divided into fixed-wing and rotary-wing. In 2023, the rotary-wing segment accounted for USD 114 million in market revenue. Rotary-wing drones offer efficient maneuverability and stability features, which help in capturing detailed data in complex and confined environments. Their vertical movement features enable them to survey complex terrains and structures such as dense forests, urban landscapes, and intricate infrastructure. These features are essential for tasks that require high-resolution data and detailed 3D mapping.
 

The market players operating in the industry are focusing on securing funding from various venture capital companies to develop new technologies for drones, helping market growth. For instance, in July 2022, Wonder Robotics announced that it raised around USD 4 million under its latest funding round from Elron Ventures. This is expected to help the company to launch new drone solutions. The rotary-wing drone's adaptability and precision contribute to its increasing adoption, driving market growth by meeting diverse surveying requirements.
 

In 2023, North America had a significant share of the LiDAR drone market with around 35% of the market share. The expansion in infrastructure and urban development across the region is propelling the market growth. As the government invests in modernizing infrastructure and planning new developments, there is an increasing demand for precise and detailed data to guide these projects. For instance, in June 2024, U.S. Transportation received USD 1.8 billion from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. This investment has been planned for the development of 148 projects across the country. LiDAR drones are essential for capturing high-resolution topographic and structural information, which supports tasks such as land surveying and construction planning. The rapid growth in urban areas, coupled with the need for accurate assessments of existing infrastructure, fuels the demand for advanced LiDAR technology.
 

Moreover, several countries in Europe such as the UK, Germany, Italy, and France are increasingly focusing on sustainability and environmental protection, necessitating detailed and accurate data to manage natural resources. LiDAR drones offer precise mapping and data collection capabilities that are crucial for tracking deforestation, assessing flood risks, and managing wildlife habitats. Additionally, countries in Asia Pacific invest in modernizing their transportation networks, urban landscapes, and utilities. This technology offers accuracy in topographic mapping and surveying, essential for planning and executing large-scale infrastructure projects. Their ability to capture high-resolution, three-dimensional data makes them crucial for tasks such as road construction, flood modeling, and city planning. Furthermore, the integration of LiDAR technology with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhances project planning and management, driving further adoption.
 

LiDAR Drone Market Share

Ouster and Microdrones dominate the market with around 15% market share in 2023. Ouster focuses on integrating high-resolution LiDAR sensors into drones, leveraging its advanced digital LiDAR technology to offer superior performance. Additionally, the company focuses on forming strategic partnerships and collaboration with technology partners.
 

Microdrones focuses on delivering comprehensive solutions that include hardware, software, and support, catering to industries such as surveying, project mapping, and construction. The company further involves in robust training programs and customer service, ensuring clients can maximize the utility of their systems.
 

LiDAR Drone Market Companies

Major players operating in the LiDAR drone industry are:

• Draganfly
• Microdrones
• Ouster
• Phoenix LiDAR Systems
• Quantum Systems
• RIEGL
• SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd
• UMS Skeldar
• Wingtra
• YellowScan
   

LiDAR Drone Industry News

• In June 2024, Kudan Inc. announced the incorporation of Kudan’s Lidar SLAM technology into the Terra Lidar Dual. The integration of UAV laser and SLAM technology enables development with minimal equipment and initial cost and enables SLAM to measure overhangs, under bridges, and other areas.
   
• In April 2024, Inertial Labs partnered with Sony to develop an advanced LiDAR system with the Airpeak drone. The collaboration aims to enhance the capabilities of drones in several applications, including surveying, mapping, and cinematic videography.
   

The LiDAR drone market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) and shipment (units) from 2021 to 2032, for the following segments:

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Market, By Component

• Laser Scanners
• Navigation and Positioning Systems
• Cameras
• Others

Market, By LiDAR

• Topographic
• Bathymetric

Market, By Drone

• Fixed-wing
• Rotary-wing

Market, By Range

• Short range
  • Fixed-wing
  • Rotary-wing
• Medium range
  • Fixed-wing
  • Rotary-wing
• Long range
  • Fixed-wing
  • Rotary-wing

Market, By End-user

• Aerospace & Defense
• Construction
• Forestry & Agriculture
• Transportation
• Mining
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Netherlands
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • ANZ
  • Rest of Asia Pacific 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America 
• MEA
  • UAE
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Rest of MEA