Global Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Growth Opportunities
Advancements in AI Technology Propel UAS Adoption in Infrastructure Inspection
19-Feb-2024
Global
Market Research
This Frost & Sullivan research service is focused on analyzing the segment of infrastructure inspection within the commercial drone market, highlighting the use of drone systems for inspection work, mainly civilian infrastructure, such as bridges, powerlines, and roads.
This study focuses on how current global trends are shaping this market and modifying the ways in which end users are applying drone technology in their inspection workflows. Similar to most commercial segments related to unmanned systems, regulations remain the biggest challenge to growth and the most relevant restraint to the adoption of enhancements in drone technology, mainly related to autonomous workflows. Challenges for drone OEMs relate to the lack of awareness from potential customers about the benefits of drone solutions in their fields, in addition to difficulties in obtaining components to manufacture drone platforms as a direct result from the ongoing trade war between the United States and China.
The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Industry
Disruptive Technologies
- Why: Autonomous drone use cases are gaining notoriety because of technological improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. With these technological enhancements, end users are more willing to distribute additional resources across drone programs with included autonomy features.
- Frost Perspective: The adoption of autonomous drone applications will increase drastically in the next 2 years as users become increasingly aware of their benefits and their impact on operative costs. Adoption, however, will vary based on the infrastructure being inspected because structures such as powerlines require beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) waivers to fully leverage the benefits of autonomy.
Geopolitical Chaos
- Why: The global commercial drone market is heavily concentrated in the hands of Chinese companies, currently holding more than 70% of the global market share. Western governments are looking to become self-reliant in drone technology, boosted by apparent trade disruptions produced by geopolitical clashes.
- Frost Perspective: The global market share of Chinese-made drones is expected to decrease over time as Western governments attempt to develop their own drone production base. This, however, will lead to higher adoption costs because drones produced outside of China tend to have higher costs based on the cost of labor and the import of components.
Competitive Intensity
- Why: Despite drones being around for more than a decade, their use in infrastructure inspection is innovative. Restrictions on the import of Chinese-made drones are creating the opportunity for local companies to enter the market. This is boosted by investments from local governments looking to build a strong industrial base to produce their own drones.
- Frost Perspective: As the market share of Chinese companies decreases, local and Western drone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will start to take a part of the market share. Governments will create several incentives to promote the establishment of drone businesses, such as subsidies and tax incentives.
Research Scope
- The objective of this research is to show how businesses operating in the civilian infrastructure market can leverage drone technology to reduce costs and improve workflows.
- Drones can be used to perform inspection work at a much faster rate than with conventional methods while reducing costs and making the mission safer for workers.
- The data collected by drones can be processed and analyzed faster. Many drone OEMs offer complete unmanned solutions, which include software that can analyze the data collected and build digital maps without any additional input from the operator.
- This segment is one of the most important for the commercial drone market, with almost one-quarter of all drone sales being for this use case.
- Current trends of focus include the rise of AI capabilities and the integration into drone systems, in addition to the acceleration of approvals for waivers and permits.
Growth Drivers
- Autonomous features of drone systems have benefited from improvements in processing technology that, in turn, provide drones with improved autonomy and advanced intelligent data analysis. Issues regarding permits for BVLOS operations and privacy concerns must be addressed to leverage autonomy.
- Regulatory agencies are becoming increasingly aware of the technological improvements in drone systems, helping them make these systems safer to use in public spaces and become more willing to approve the required permits and waivers in a shorter time frame.
- Industry participants are aware of the need for standardization and are actively moving forward to enable widespread standards in their industry. In infrastructure inspection workflows, massive amounts of data are collected and processed, highlighting the need for software tools compatible with all drone systems.
Growth Restraints
- Drone applications throughout the commercial ecosystem are subject to restrictive regulatory frameworks, which limit the potential of drone technology by end users. Current rules require users to obtain lengthy permits to perform BVLOS operations, which are often required to fully inspect infrastructure, such as powerlines.
- Security concerns from policymakers regarding the use of Chinese-made drone systems are driving Western governments to enact rules that may prevent state-funded organizations or public agencies from purchasing and using DJI’s drones, which are currently the most affordable entry point for drone applications in the sector.
- Given the innovative nature of unmanned technology, many businesses performing infrastructure inspections are unaware of the potential economic benefits of implementing unmanned technology into their workflows. Moreover, the high complexity associated with operating these systems discourages inspectors from advocating their use.
Key Competitors by Segment
Multirotor
- Autel Robotics
- Digital Aerolus
- DJI
- Field Group
- Parrot
- Skydio
- Yuneec
- Xer Technologies
Single Rotor
- Schiebel
- UMS Skeldar
Hybrids
- DeltaQuad
- Gadfin
- SenseFly (AgEagle)
- Wingtra
Fixed Wing
- Windracers
Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow?
The Strategic Imperative 8™
The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Industry
Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine™
Research Scope
Growth Drivers
Growth Restraints
Segmentation by Platform Type
Main Areas for Drone Applications in Infrastructure
Types of UAS Implementation Models for Infrastructure Inspection Companies
Representative Drone Infrastructure Inspection Industry Participants
Key Competitors by Segment
Significant Partnerships in the Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Market
Growth Opportunity 1: Data Processing Software for Specific Market Segments
Growth Opportunity 1: Data Processing Software for Specific Market Segments (continued)
Growth Opportunity 2: Automated Drone Infrastructure Inspection Workflows
Growth Opportunity 2: Automated Drone Infrastructure Inspection Workflows (continued)
Growth Opportunity 3: Drone Data Analysis for Predictive Infrastructure Maintenance
Growth Opportunity 3: Drone Data Analysis for Predictive Infrastructure Maintenance (continued)
List of Exhibits
Legal Disclaimer

- Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Growth Opportunities: Growth Drivers, Global, 2024–2028
- Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Growth Opportunities: Growth Restraints, Global, 2024–2028
- Main Demand Areas for Drone Applications in Infrastructure, Global, 2024
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Deliverable Type | Market Research |
---|---|
Author | Juan Perl |
Industries | Aerospace, Defence and Security |
No Index | No |
Is Prebook | No |
Keyword 1 | Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Growth Opportunities |
Keyword 2 | Drone Market Analysis |
Keyword 3 | Drone Inspection Forecast |
List of Charts and Figures | Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Growth Opportunities: Growth Drivers, Global, 2024–2028~ Drone Civilian Infrastructure Inspection Growth Opportunities: Growth Restraints, Global, 2024–2028~ Main Demand Areas for Drone Applications in Infrastructure, Global, 2024~ |
Podcast | No |
WIP Number | KA00-01-00-00-00 |