Drone Bridge Inspection Services Market

Drone Bridge Inspection Market Outlook (2023 to 2033)

The global drone bridge inspection market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 118.0 million in 2023 and accelerate at a CAGR of 21.4% to top US$ 996.0 million by 2033.

Drone bridge inspection services form a total of 2% of the global drone service market which is around US$ 6.6 billion in 2022.

Report Attributes	Details
Market Size (2022A)	US$ 118.0 Million
Estimated Market Value (2023E)	US$ 143.3 Million
Forecasted Market Value (2033F)	US$ 996.0 Million
Global Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	~21.4% CAGR
North America Market Share (2022)	~37.0%
East Asia Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	~22.3% CAGR
United States Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	~21.5% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	ABJ Drones; Aerial Robotix; AERIUM Analytics; Aeroview Services; Artrabia; Astral Aerial Solutions; AUAV; Avian UAS; Applied Technical Services, LLC; CANARD Drones; Celestis; Drontek Aerial Solution; DDC Smart Inspection; Dronegenuity; IR Aerials; Tarillo Vue Aerial Photo

Improved cost saving and workers safety

Drones are cost-effective solutions over the traditional approach of inspecting bridges. With the help of drones, engineers can examine the hardest-to-reach sections of the bridge from a distant location without interrupting traffic. Whereas, in traditional bridge inspection, specialized & expensive gears, ladders, and lifts are required for both over the side and underside bridge inspection.

Therefore, drones are adopted by engineers this day to inspect & monitor the condition of the bridge without spending much on inspection gear and have a complete outlook of the bridge which is inaccessible in the traditional method.

As per the studies of the Federal Highway Administration, bridge inspection conducted via traditional methods cost about US$ 4500-10,000 per bridge. With the inspection of the bridge with drones, this cost could be reduced to 75%. This results in promising factors towards the cost-effectiveness of drone utility in bridge inspection.

Bridge inspection services are quite riskier where workers have to inspect the bridge constructed on seas and high-speed rivers. Also, the risk of falling from the bridge with uncertain condition is associated with the traditional approach of bridge inspection services. Also, the traditional method of inspection could be riskier for bridge users too. Therefore, drones are gaining popularity among engineers to inspect bridges with increased consumer and workers safety. This factor is escalating the demand for the bridge inspection service market in the forthcoming period.

• Short Term (2023 to 2026): In the short term, increasing the development of infrastructure and bridge construction in developed and developing economies is stimulating the demand for market growth.
• Medium Term (2026 to 2029): Technological development in drones regarding bridge inspection will be a major factor escalating the demand for drone bridge inspection services worldwide.
• Long Term (2029 to 2033): Government initiative towards bridge development over a specific period and rising urbanization & residential sector growth will be major factors that escalate the global drone bridge inspection service market.

As per Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the drone bridge inspection market registered a CAGR of 9.3% during the historic period 2018 to 2022. The market was about US$ 118.0 million in 2022 and is expected to rise with a CAGR of 21.4% during 2023 to 2033.

The above given image depict the expected total addressable market value of drone bridge inspection services market in 2023 which is US$ 143.3 billion. Road bridges are expected to hold leading share of 71.0% in global drone bridge inspection market.

Key factors stimulating the drone bridge inspection services market

“Increased bridges development and risk of bridge collapse”

The bridges are an essential component of an economy’s infrastructure, offering pivotal access between cities & regions, goods to market, people to goods and services, and many more. With increasing urbanization and population, expansion in residential spaces has stimulated the worldwide development of bridges.

Government authorities worldwide conduct bridge inspections in a particular time frame to take care of public safety. This factor is stimulating the demand for drones to inspect many bridges remotely with faster and more excessive time efficiency by eliminating further worker recruitment.

Natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, fire, and other factors could weaken the bridge and may result in bridge's collapse. Owing to this factor demand for bridge inspection services is expected to have substantial demand in the forthcoming period. Also, the demand for these services is projected to rise with the growing old bridge infrastructure.

Also, engineers along with bridge inspection officers are appointed drone bridge inspection service providers to monitor the bridge construction work is been conducted according to industrial standards and precision.

“Technological advancement in drone bridge inspection services”

The significant advancement in drone technology utilized for inspection services is a major factor attributing to the market growth. Drones this day are comprised of advanced technologies like drone inspection software in analytics, 3D imaging, artificial intelligence, and other tools which is beneficial for engineers to obtain essential information and identify faults in the bridge like spalls, cracks and others.

With the advent of benefits associated with drones, engineers can access images and inspect bridges with comprehensive accuracy & efficiency. With AI and drone software solutions, a 3D model of bridge infrastructure could be prepared which can help engineers to compare bridge design, and identify faults along with the future development and projects of bridge construction.

The integration of advanced technologies could enhance inspection procedures by creating many photos and videos with significant faults in the bridge to the user which are even invisible to the human eyes. Also, it converts these images into professional inspection reports with automated analyzing. Owing to this reason, the demand for drone bridge inspection service providers is rising worldwide.

What factor can hamper the development of drone bridge inspection service market?

“Dearth of skilled professionals to guide drone for inspection”

Drone inspection industry is required pilot or skilled professional to operate drone in various conditions. With the growing popularity of drones worldwide in every industry vertical, drones inspection industry is expected to seek demand for skilled operators or pilot. Lack of unskilled professionals in the drone inspection industry is restraining the market growth.

Developing economies with lower technological development are observed with insufficient technical institute to provide education or courses regarding drone & how to operate them. Similarly, the factor is supported by lower government initiatives towards establishing institutes & providing education regarding skill developments for drone operation.

Bridges are constitute of various critical design, patterns and technicalities are complex to inspect easily. In this matter concern, highly skilled & well knowledgeable person is required who understand the technicality of bridge design and also drone operation. Lack of professionals occupying brief knowledge about the profession is expected to restrict the market growth in the forthcoming period.

Country-wise Insights

Why is United States a huge market for drone bridge inspection services?

The United States is a mature marketplace for drone inspection service market. Drones utilities are highly commercialized in the region for various utilities. The registration of drones is growing at a significant pace in the region which is one of the major factors attributing to the drone bridge inspection market growth. At the beginning of 2022, it has been observed that in the United States about 900,000 drones were registered of which about 37.7% includes commercial ones.

Favourable government authorities' move towards the utility of drones in infrastructure inspection is likely to exhibit the demand for drone bridge inspection services in the region. In August 2022, US Senate launched the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) Act which is focused on increasing the utility of drones in the region for infrastructure inspection and investment in the next-generation workforce.

Moreover, the region is substantially focused on infrastructure development and restoration of older infrastructure. With the increased government focus on this sector, demand for drone bridge inspection services is expected to have substantial demand in the forthcoming period.

How is China’s drone bridge inspection market faring?

China is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Due to the increasing population and rising urbanization in the country, substantial spending on infrastructure development in been observed. China invests about 15% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in infrastructure development, which is likely to exhibit the demand for the drone inspection industry.

Whereas, the country observed incremental growth in road bridge production. In China, the number of Road bridges was about 961,100 which is expected to be an increase of 48,300 over the year 2020. From 2010, the country observed an increase of nearly 45% in bridge development. Owing to these factors, the Chinese drone bridge inspection market is assumed to be highly fragmented & expected to rise with a potential growth rate in the forthcoming period.

Category-wise Insights

Road Bridge to exhibit leading share in drone bridge inspection market

Road bridge inspection accounts for about 71.0% of the total share of the drone bridge inspection market. With the increasing urbanization & population growth, the residential sector has observed tremendous growth in development worldwide.

Road bridges are essential for an economy to eliminate increasing traffic jams, liking regions and cities, people to essential services, and many more. Therefore, routine inspection of bridges is essential to avoid disruption in these processes and take care of people’s safety.

Stringent regulations like National Bridge Inspection Standards to inspect Highway Bridge in a particular time duration are another factor attributing to the demand for drone bridge inspection services for road bridges. Where, Inspections utilize these drones to inspect and monitor, the true condition of the Road Bridge in a fast, efficient, and accurate way. Additionally, Road bridges over rivers and seas are prone to floods and other calamities that required to have a timely inspection, escalating the demand for drone bridge inspection service market.

Competitive Landscape

Key market players in drone bridge inspection market are ABJ Drones, Aerial Robotix, AERIUM Analytics, Aeroview Services, Artrabia, Astral Aerial Solutions, AUAV, Avian UAS, CANARD Drones, Celestis, Drontek Aerial Solution, DDC Smart Inspection, Dronegenuity, Applied Technical Services, LLC, IR Aerials and Tarillo Vue Aerial Photo.

The market of drone bridge inspection services is highly competitive & challenging for service providers. Bridge inspection is one of the major concerns & responsibilities of the government, therefore approvals regarding offering these services seek government permission, and companies are required to comply with various regulations. However, government agencies are highly benefited from increasing the utility of drones for bridge inspection, resulting in further development of services in the forthcoming period. For instance,

• In October 2021, The New York State Thruway Authority has announced to introduction pilot program in partnership with New York-based non-profit NUAIR using drone technology. The initiative is focused on inspecting bridges, pavements, and others with the help of drones with increased efficiency & safety.
• In August 2022, an agency of the New South Wales Government called Transport for NSW has taken the responsibility of inspecting and maintaining Australia’s iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and other 6,000 bridges in the States.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the provider of drone bridge inspection market positioned across regions, revenue growth, and service offering expansion, in the recently published report.

Segmentation of the Drone Bridge Inspection Market

• By Type :

  • Road Bridge
  • Railway Bridge

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Oceania
  • Middle East & Africa