Aerial Imaging Market size surpassed USD 3 billion in 2022 and is projected to record 22% CAGR during 2023 to 2032

Aerial Imaging Market Size
Aerial Imaging Market size exceeded USD 3 billion in 2022 and is expected to register 22% CAGR from 2023 to 2032.

Aerial imaging technology has made pivotal uses in defense and the military. Aerial imaging platforms like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and camera systems onboard aircraft provide top-level aerial monitoring that makes significant military functions possible, including mission simulation, air-defense planning, and mission planning. Innovation in drone technology and communication has helped various armed forces around the world to keep watch over ground movements across borders and high-risk areas without necessarily having to deploy soldiers.

One of the primary hindrances to the growth of the aerial imaging industry is stringent regulation over the use of UAV platforms. Aviation authorities in most countries have close control over the utilization of drones through policies for such operators and manufacturers. For example, in the U.S., if a person has to utilize a drone for commercial use, then they are required to obtain a certificate from the FAA. There are also a series of commercial flying regulations that must be adhered to. Such rules may impact industry growth.

Aerial Imaging Market Report Attributes
Report Attribute Details
Base Year 2022
Aerial Imaging Market Size in 2022 USD 3 billion
Forecast Period 2023 to 2032
Forecast Period 2023 to 2032 CAGR 22%
2032 Value Projection USD 28 billion
Historical Data for 2018 to 2022
No. of Pages 300
Tables, Charts & Figures 344
Segments covered Platform, Imaging, Application, End-use
Growth Drivers
Escalating usage of aerial imaging in defense applications
Escalating cases of natural disasters
Continued innovation in aerial camera systems
Venture capital investment in aerial camera technology
Pitfalls & Challenges
Privacy and security issues
Restrictive aviation regulatory policies
What are the opportunities in this market to grow?

Aerial Imaging Market Analysis
The revenue from the fixed-wing aircraft segment of the industry was worth more than USD 400 million in 2022. Increasing the requirement to increase the fleet of the air force would drive the demand for these aircrafts. For decades, fixed-wing manned aircraft are utilized for aerial imaging applications across diverse air force application fields, including research purposes, surveillance & monitoring, geospatial mapping and conservation. The pictures taken by these planes have diverse application in defense, military and several other industries.

Oblique aerial imaging market is likely to see close to 25% growth from 2023 to 2032. Oblique imaging is more favorable compared to vertical imaging technology in terms of enhanced subject view. The technology is rapidly gaining popularity in a variety of civil and mapping applications due to the arrival of airborne digital multi-camera systems. It becomes easy for non-professional users to relate to the captured subjects as well, thus promoting its widespread use.

Know more about the leading segments defining this market

Urban planning segment aerial imaging industry share is forecast to surpass USD 5 billion in 2032. Urban planning sector growth is being fostered by government initiatives that provide support for the development of smart cities and growing digitization in various industries. UAVs are expected to become increasingly involved in smart city infrastructure for civil control security, management of traffic and populations, control of agriculture and the environment, and coordination across disparate heterogeneous systems.

Find out about the dominant segments influencing this market

Asia Pacific aerial imaging market is expected to witness 25% growth rate up to 2032. The use of drones in construction, agriculture, government, disaster management and defense is a key driver of the regional growth. Developments in sectors such as agriculture, crisis management and defense are driving the extensive use of drone technology.

Aerial Imaging Market Share

Some of the leading companies in aerial imaging business landscape include

• Cyberhawk Innovations
• Aeroptic LLC.
• Cooper Aerial Survey
• Digital Aerial Solutions
• DroneDeploy
• AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.
• Eagle View Technologies
• Fugro NV
• Wingtra
• Getmapping Plc
• Google (Alphabet)
• Kucera International
• Airobotics
• Landiscor
• Hoverfly technologies
• NearMap Ltd
• Precision Hawk
• AeroVironment Inc.
• DJI Technology Co., Ltd.
• Sanborn Map Company, Inc.

These players are placing a strong emphasis on integrating cutting-edge capabilities into their imaging platforms through high-end analytics and image processing technologies.