The underground utility mapping market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The market size for underground utility mapping has seen a swift expansion in the last few years. The market is projected to increase from $1.13 billion in 2024 to $1.26 billion in 2025, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%.
The surge in growth during the historical span is a result of technological progression, escalating urbanization, rigorous government directives, the expansion of infrastructure development initiatives, and a heightened awareness about safety and damage avoidance.
The underground utility mapping market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• Significant expansion is projected in the underground utility mapping market size over the next several years. There will be an upswing to $1.91 billion in 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.0%.
This projected growth during this period is due to factors like the implementation of sophisticated mapping technologies, increased smart city initiatives, a surge in the requirement for efficient utility management techniques and the amalgamation of artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as an increase in investments for maintaining underground infrastructure. Key trends for the period forecasted include the adoption of cloud-based solutions, greater utilization of drones for surveying, a concentration on sustainable infrastructure procedures, the impact of the rise of 5G technology on utility networks, and the introduction of augmented reality in the field of utility mapping.
The surge in construction endeavors is predicted to boost the expansion of the underground utility mapping market in the future. Construction, which involves the creation or assembly of structures, infrastructure, or facilities based on specific plans and designs, is witnessing an uptick due to factors like urbanization, population expansion, infrastructural development, and real estate investment. Precise mapping aids construction crews in determining the position of subterranean utilities such as water conduits, gas pipelines, and electric cables. This data is crucial to evade unintended damage during digging, guarantee safety, and circumvent expensive repairs. For instance, the Office for National Statistics, a government agency in the UK, reported in November 2023 that the construction sector saw a significant rise in new project output, rocketing by 15.8% in 2022, and reaching a noteworthy landmark with the overall value hitting $165.5 billion (£132,989 million). Consequently, the burgeoning construction activities are propelling the growth of the underground utility mapping market.
The underground utility mapping market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Component Type: Solutions, Services
2) By Technology: Electromagnetic (EM), Magnetic, Sonic Or Acoustic, Ground Penetration Radar, Live Line Detector, Robotic Crawler, Other Technologies
3) By Application: Positioning, Identification, Detection
4) By End-Use: Oil And Gas, Defense, Telecommunication, Electricity And Drainage, Railways, Other End Uses
Subsegments:
1) By Solutions: Geophysical Mapping Solutions, Gis-based Mapping Solutions, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Solutions, Electromagnetic Induction Solutions, 3D Mapping And Visualization Tools
2) By Services: Surveying And Mapping Services, Data Collection And Analysis Services, Consultation And Planning Services, Installation And Integration Services, Support And Maintenance Services
Leading businesses in the underground utility mapping industry are introducing innovative products utilizing high-end technologies such as real-time kinematics (RTK) technology to obtain an advantage in the market. RTK technology is an advanced GPS rectification process that hones satellite data to provide exceptionally accurate results in real time. For example, in November 2023, UK-based Radiodetection, a company specializing in designing, manufacturing, and marketing devices to detect and maintain underground pipes and cables, unveiled the RD8200SG. This is a precise multifunction cable and pipe identification device integrating RTK technology. The tech boosts the precision of underground utility mapping and smoothes out work procedures by offering immediate, actionable data. Robust enough to function in both active urban areas and on challenging rural terrain, the RD8200SG ensures high levels of accuracy in utility detection and mapping. The use of RTK technology improves the precision and also promotes safer work conditions by reducing the likeliness of unintentional utility strikes.
Major companies operating in the underground utility mapping market report are:
• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M)
• Hexagon AB
• Trimble Inc.
• Topcon Corporation
• Leica Geosystems AG
• Bentley Systems Incorporated
• Ground Penetrating Radar Systems LLC
• Plowman Craven Limited
• IDS GeoRadar s.r.l.
• AirX Utility Surveyors Inc.
• Geophysical Survey Systems Inc.
• Guideline Geo AB
• Vivax Metrotech Corporation
• Sensors & Software Inc.
• Radiodetection Ltd.
• Diversified Underground Inc.
• Landscope Engineering Ltd.
• Maverick Inspection Ltd.
• ProStar GeoCorp. Inc.
• US Radar Inc.
• multiVIEW Locates Inc.
• Geotec Surveys Limited
• Subsurface Utility Imaging LLC
• Stoner & Associates Inc.
• Geospatial Corporation
• Asian Contec Ltd (Stanlay)
• Red Laser Scanning Ltd.
• GeoModel Inc.
North America was the largest region in the underground utility mapping market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the underground utility mapping market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.