Airborne LiDAR Market

Market Overview:

The global airborne LiDAR market size reached USD 912.6 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 2,592.0 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% during 2025-2033. The growing application in the agriculture industry, increasing demand for detecting phytoplankton fluorescence and biomass in the ocean surface, and rising use in the defense industry represent some of the key factors driving the market.

Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) refers to the remote sensing technique that is designed to obtain three-dimensional (3D) data about the surface of the earth and the target object. It comprises laser scanners, inertial navigation systems, cameras, global positioning systems (GPS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, and micro-electromechanical systems. It is available as airborne topographic LiDAR and airborne bathymetric LiDAR. It offers greater efficiency, provides image acquisition, and assists in gathering accurate spatial data. It allows scientists and mapping professionals to easily examine natural and manmade environments while providing accuracy, precision, and flexibility. It also aids in mapping wide areas in a short time with precise measurement. Besides this, it is not affected by any geometrical distortions, such as angular landscape, as compared to other kinds of data collection methods. It is widely utilized for corridor mapping, seismology, and exploration and detection. As a result, airborne LiDAR is employed in the aerospace, defense, agriculture, mining, and transportation industries across the globe.

Airborne LiDAR Market Trends:

At present, the rising demand for airborne LiDAR in the defense industry to reduce the deaths in the war field, increase the accuracy of operations, and protect perimeters represents one of the key factors supporting the growth of the market. Besides this, the growing utilization of airborne LiDAR in the agriculture industry for the analysis of yield rates, crop scouting, and seed dispersions is offering a positive market outlook. Additionally, there is a rise in the need to know about the exact depth of the ocean surface to locate any object in the case of a maritime accident and for research purposes. This, coupled with the increasing utilization of airborne LiDAR for calculating phytoplankton fluorescence and biomass on the ocean surface, is propelling the growth of the market. Apart from this, the rising demand for airborne LiDAR in forest management and planning around the world is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors. Moreover, the increasing demand for 3D imaging in spatial surveys and corridor mapping is positively influencing the market. In addition, the growing utilization of airborne LiDAR in road and highway construction activities is contributing to the growth of the market. Furthermore, the rising adoption of airborne LiDAR in spacecraft and fighter jets for advanced security and 3D mapping is strengthening the market growth.

Key Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global airborne LiDAR market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on type, component, platform, application and end user.

Type Insights:

• Airborne Topographic LiDAR
• Airborne Bathymetric LiDAR
   

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the airborne LiDAR market based on the type. This includes airborne topographic LiDAR and airborne bathymetric LiDAR. According to the report, airborne topographic LiDAR represented the largest segment.

Component Insights:

• Laser Scanners
• Inertial Navigation Systems
• Camera
• GPS and GNSS Receivers
• Micro-Electromechanical Systems
   

A detailed breakup and analysis of the airborne LiDAR market based on the component has also been provided in the report. This includes laser scanners, inertial navigation systems, camera, GPS and GNSS receivers, and micro-electromechanical systems. According to the report, laser scanners accounted for the largest market share.

Platform Insights:

• Fixed Wing Aircraft
• Rotary Wing Aircraft
• UAVs
   

A detailed breakup and analysis of the airborne LiDAR market based on the platform has also been provided in the report. This includes fixed wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft, and UAVs. According to the report, fixed wing aircraft accounted for the largest market share.

Application Insights:

• Corridor Mapping
• Seismology
• Exploration and Detection
• Others
   

A detailed breakup and analysis of the airborne LiDAR market based on the application has also been provided in the report. This includes corridor mapping, seismology, exploration and detection, and others. According to the report, corridor mapping accounted for the largest market share.

End-User Insights:

• Aerospace and Defense
• Civil Engineering
• Forestry and Agriculture
• Transportation
• Archaeology
• Mining Industry
   

A detailed breakup and analysis of the airborne LiDAR market based on the end-users has also been provided in the report. This includes aerospace and defense, civil engineering, forestry and agriculture, transportation, archaeology, and mining industry. According to the report, aerospace and defense accounted for the largest market share.

Regional Insights:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others
• Middle East and Africa
   

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, North America (the United States and Canada) was the largest market for airborne LiDAR. Some of the factors driving the North America airborne LiDAR market included the increasing utilization in surveying and mapping applications, rising application in agriculture observation and forest monitoring, presence of major developers of the technology, etc.

Competitive Landscape:

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the global airborne LiDAR market. Competitive analysis such as market structure, market share by key players, player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided. Some of the companies covered include AAM a Woolpert company, Airborne Imaging Inc, Firmatek, Fugro, Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB), Merrick & Company, Phoenix LiDAR Systems, RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH, Surveying and Mapping LLC, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Trimble Inc., Velodyne Lidar Inc., YellowScan, etc. Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.

Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the global airborne LiDAR market performed so far, and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the global airborne LiDAR market?
• What is the impact of each driver, restraint, and opportunity on the global airborne LiDAR market?
• What are the key regional markets?
• Which countries represent the most attractive airborne LiDAR market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the type?
• Which is the most attractive type in the airborne LiDAR market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the component?
• Which is the most attractive component in the airborne LiDAR market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the platform?
• Which is the most attractive platform in the airborne LiDAR market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the application?
• Which is the most attractive application in the airborne LiDAR market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the end-user?
• Which is the most attractive end-user in the airborne LiDAR market?
• What is the competitive structure of the global airborne LiDAR market?
• Who are the key players/companies in the global airborne LiDAR market?
   

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the airborne LiDAR market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global airborne LiDAR market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the airborne LiDAR industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.