Market Highlights 

The aerial imaging market was valued at US$ 2.9 billion in 2021 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.1% from 2022 to 2028, reaching US$ ~10.1 billion.

Aerial Imaging Market CAGR

2022-2028

CAGR OF

13.1%

Aerial Imaging Market

The COVID-19 pandemic took a major impact on the global aerial imaging market. Due to supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, most major drone and UAV manufacturers have experienced a delay in new product deliveries. The financing sources set aside for research and development as well as the industry's adoption of cutting-edge technologies have been impacted by the epidemic in the aerial photography sector. A number of challenges were seen in 2020 and the early part of 2021, including production concerns and low demand for new drones and UAVs in the face of stringent lockdown protocols. However, it is projected that the post-pandemic demand for aerial imagery will rise dramatically due to the growing use of aerial photography and analytics in a number of end-use verticals.

Using cameras installed on various types of vehicles, such as airships, balloons, vehicle-mounted poles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), parachutes, aircraft, kites, and helicopters, aerial imaging is the process of collecting images of the ground. Aerial imaging is used in many fields, including risk reduction, resource planning, mapping, research and excavation, security and surveillance, urban planning, engineering, farming management, and tourism.

The use of aerial imaging services has increased as a result of its many applications, which include photogrammetric surveys, topographic map production, environmental research, surveillance, and more. The market is expected to grow in the next years due to the expansion of application areas in several verticals, such as forestry, energy & resources, civil engineering, and agriculture. Furthermore, factors that are expected to promote market expansion include the surge in demand for a variety of commercial applications, the use of aerial imaging technology in the construction of 5G network infrastructure, and an increase in demand for aerial imaging in catastrophic risk reduction and prevention. However, it is anticipated that market expansion will be constrained by stringent national security regulations from the government, erroneous image data collection, and growing concerns about drone cyber-security.

Aerial Imaging Market

By Application

Geospatial Mapping

Disaster Management

Energy and Resource Management

Surveillance and Monitoring

The Market will Grow

At the CAGR of:

13.1%

The Forecast Market

Size for 2028 in USD:

$10.1B

Aerial imaging technology provides valuable remote sensing data with topographical information that illustrates changes in soil, climate, vegetation, forest cover, water coverage, and other aspects. It also allows one to observe the effects of climate change. When shooting aerial photos from above, the camera is positioned as low as feasible. For mapping purposes, overhead images are often used because they are taken vertically downward. Overhead aerial imagery has been utilized to create complex, digitally upgraded maps and charts. Experts map the land use, climate, and geographic data on the surface of the Earth using aerial photography. The growing need for remote sensing and mapping, together with the latest technical advancements like GIS, UAVs, and cloud computing, will drive the market for overhead aerial imaging over the forecast period.

With a personal aerial mapping system—a hardware and software combination—an operator may carry out aerial mapping and survey small areas. It analyzes field-based overview maps, higher-quality 3-D surface height models, and actual orthophotos. Unlike traditional methods, PAMS enables quick and easy functioning, meaning that one operator can handle it all. Over time, this results in time and cost savings. In addition, PAMS has a number of advantages over traditional aerial imaging, such as the ability to operate in cloud-free conditions, which lessens its dependence on the weather. It can actually be easily checked as luggage into a small car or a passenger plane.

Recent years have seen a number of directives and investments in the sector that should expand the market as a whole. Among them are: 
• The real estate and construction sectors are using aerial images more frequently to get a better picture of a property and its surroundings. Standalone photos of a property are no longer important because drones and UAVs yield better results. Due to the expanding real estate industries in Asia and Africa, aerial imagery is in high demand. Property owners may be able to boost market demand and increase the visibility of their property with the aid of aerial images. It also provides prospective clients with a creative and affordable choice.

• In 2020, global military spending reached about $2 trillion, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary contributors to the rise in military spending are the US, China, Russia, India, Japan, and South Korea. Numerous countries have also increased their military budgets. For example, Russia plans to boost its military spending by 2.5% to $61.7 billion in 2020. Thus, it is anticipated that increased military spending across several countries would support market growth.

Market Segments

The market is divided into segments based on applications, including urban planning, energy and resource management, geospatial mapping, monitoring, and surveillance.

The government, military and defense, energy, agriculture and forestry, media and entertainment, civil engineering, and other sectors make up the end user segmentation of the market.

Aerial Imaging Market

By End-User

XX%

Government

Military and Defense

Energy

Agriculture and Forestry

2.9

Total Market Size

USD (Billion), 2022

13.1%

CAGR

2022 - 2028

The aerial imaging market is divided into fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, drones, and other types of equipment based on the platform. 
Geographically speaking, North America is expected to continue to dominate the aerial imaging market for the duration of the projected period. The growing application of aerial imaging across sectors is the main driver of market expansion. Aerial imaging (ISR) has been used in the fields of catastrophe risk management, archeology, mapping, media, military and security, building and development, and tourism. There are various ground-based applications for aerial imaging as well.

Aerial Imaging Market

By Region

The Market will Grow

At the CAGR of:

13.1%

The Forecast Market

Size for 2028 in USD:

$10.1B

In addition, during the course of the forecast period, Asia Pacific is anticipated to have the highest growth in the aerial imaging market. Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, are meant to be utilized for productive commercial applications; however, the images they capture could be abused. Potential robbers might electronically watch banks, government buildings, parks, or educational institutions using online aerial and satellite photographs. It's possible that national security is in danger. More people use aerial imaging in the Middle East and Africa than in South America.

Key Players

In the aerial imaging market, there is fierce competition. The state of the sector and government assistance have a direct impact on the companies' growth. Based on the quality and level of penetration in both target and emerging markets, these companies set themselves apart with their aerial imagery. Additionally, a few recent large mergers and acquisitions in the sector have had a big impact on the competitive dynamics. As an illustration: 
• For example, in December 2019, the Australian aerial mapping company Nearmap Ltd. paid US$ 3.5 million to acquire Pushpin, a U.S.-based corporation. 
• For instance, in December 2018, EagleView Technologies Inc. acquired Spookfish, a company that specialized in aerial imaging. 
These mergers and acquisitions have had an impact on the competitive landscape as a whole.

The leading companies in the aerial imaging market are as follows: 
• Digital Aerial Solutions (DAS), LLC
• EagleView Technologies, Inc.
• Fugro N.V.
• Aerial Imaging Productions, LLC
• Blom Norway AS
• Cooper Aerial Surveys Co.
• Global UAV Technologies Ltd
• Kucera International
• Google, Inc.
• NRC Group ASA
• GeoVantage, Inc.
• Landiscor Real Estate Mapping
• Nearmap Ltd 

Aerial Imaging Market Scope: