Underground Utility Mapping Market Analysis

Underground Utility Mapping Market Size

Underground Utility Mapping Market size is anticipated to witness robust growth during 2024 to 2032, owing to increasing adoption in construction and infrastructure projects. The growing development of multiple industries and the surging rate of urbanization are likely to create a broad application scope for underground utility mapping. For instance, in January 2023, the U.S. government announced an infrastructure investment of over USD 1.2 billion from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance discretionary grant program for 9 projects in the country. This is creating more impetus for the adoption of underground utility mapping technology.
 

Moreover, many city planners and governments across the globe are increasingly utilizing advanced underground utility mapping tools to meet the utility and infrastructure demand of their growing urban areas. Initiatives, such as the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) program by the U.K. government for managing and maintaining underground assets efficiently, are also presenting new pathways for the market expansion. However, the high initial investment costs, technical complexities in mapping diverse utilities, regulatory hurdles, and challenges in accessing accurate historical data may impede the industry growth to some extent.
 

Underground Utility Mapping Market Trends

With rapid deployment of new telecommunications networks, including 5G infrastructure, the precise mapping of underground utilities has become crucial to prevent disruptions and ensure efficient installations. Similarly, the renewable energy sector, with the proliferation of wind and solar farms, is requiring accurate mapping for laying transmission lines and connecting to the grid. The ongoing efforts by several major countries worldwide for accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources will surge the demand for sophisticated mapping technologies, further fostering the industry expansion.
 

Underground Utility Mapping Market Analysis

Based on product, the ground penetrating radar (GPR) segment is projected to record substantial growth through 2032. GPR technology is widely used owing to its high level of efficiency and accuracy. In addition, it can differentiate between metallic and non-metallic objects while providing depth, thickness, and dimension estimates for targets. Recent innovations in GPR technology, such as faster processing of large data sets, algorithm improvements, and new hardware with increased sensitivity will also drive the segment growth.
 

In terms of application, the telecommunication segment is estimated to witness high demand between 2024 and 2032, ascribed to growing efforts to bring 5G technology across the globe. The telecom sector is one of the major users of underground utility mapping technology and often uses it to lay down communication lines. Furthermore, the rising government support for the telecom sector will boost the segment growth. For instance, in October 2024, the U.K. government funded the £70 million Future Telecoms Technology Missions Fund (TMF) Program as an initiative of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) R&D program to promote the advancement of technologies essential to future telecom networks, such as 6G.
 

Regionally, the North America underground utility mapping market is expected to see noticeable growth during the forecast timeframe, driven by the surging adoption of 5G networks and the internet. To cite an instance, in February 2023, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) announced that it would invest over USD 63 million to provide high-speed internet access to rural areas, such as Michigan, Mississippi, and others. Furthermore, the consistent developments across the oil & gas sector coupled with the current advancements in electrical infrastructure will accelerate the regional industry expansion.
 

Underground Utility Mapping Market Share

Key underground utility mapping industry players are taking constant efforts to develop advanced mapping technologies while forming strategic partnerships, offering training programs, and advocating for industry standards and best practices to gain competitive edges.
 

Some of the leading companies operating in the underground utility mapping industry include-

• GSSI
• Vivax-Metrotech
• Sensors & Software
• Stanlay
• Diversified Communications
• Enviroscan
• Plowman Craven Limited
• U.S. Radar
• Geotec Surveys, 
• Landscope Engineering Ltd.
   

Underground Utility Mapping Industry News

• In August 2023, ProStar Holdings Inc. successfully integrated its flagship product, PointMan, with Rycom Instruments cable and pipe-finding devices. This helped Rycom Instrument's Pathfinder devices to collect, record, and transmit the exact position of subsurface utilities and pipelines anywhere in the globe using PointMan.

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