LIDAR Drones – Growing Market 

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Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors use light energy, emitted from a laser, to scan the ground and measure variable distances. Compared to other aerial survey methods, drone-based LiDAR collection yields the highest fidelity data. In drone survey missions, the choice between photogrammetry and LIDAR depends heavily on the exact application and operational factors, such as cost and complexity. 

According to a research report and forecast, published by MarketsandMarkets, the global LiDAR Drone Market is projected to grow from USD 133 million in 2020 to USD 392 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 24.2% from 2020 to 2025. 

Key factors fueling the growth of this market are the easing of regulations related to the use of commercial drones in different applications and the growing demand for LiDAR drones for use in corridor mapping and precision agriculture applications.

During 2019, the rotary-wing LiDAR drones segment accounted for a larger share of the LiDAR drone market than the fixed-wing LiDAR drones. According to the report, the growth of this segment can be attributed to the increased flexibility offered by rotary-wing or multi-rotor LiDAR drones. These low-cost drones offer better maneuverability than fixed-wing LiDAR drones.

Moreover, rotary-wing LiDAR drones are highly compatible with short-range and medium-range LiDAR drone systems. This is expected to play a significant role in the growth of the rotary-wing LiDAR drones segment of the market. 

Rotary-wing LiDAR drones are easy to fly. They are suitable for small-scale mapping applications. These drones are capable of collecting highly accurate data, thereby leading to their increased global demand.

In 2019, short-range LiDAR drones accounted for the largest share of the LiDAR drone market. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the increased global demand for short-range LiDAR drones, which are lightweight and offer highly detailed data acquisition. 

From the geographical point of view, the LiDAR drone market in Asia Pacific (APAC) is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2020 to 2025. The growth of the market in this region can be attributed to the rising deployment of LiDAR drones in corridor mapping and geographical surveying applications and increasing focus on the modernization of LiDAR drones.

China, India, and Japan are expected to be the major markets for LiDAR drones in APAC, as developed countries, such as the US, Canada, France, and the UK are expected to increasingly outsource their LiDAR drones to these countries in near future, as reported by finance.yahoo.com.