Utility Locator Market Size (2024 - 2029)

Utility Locator Market Analysis

The Utility Locator Market size is estimated at USD 0.91 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 1.25 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 6.56% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Utility Locating uses technology such as ground penetrating radar to locate pipes, cables, and other service infrastructure under the surface of a site. Utility Locators can also chart where underground cables and pipes are so that damage to these things can be avoided and planned around during excavation. Standard underground utilities include gas lines, water pipes, and telephone lines. These utilities are a vital part of the infrastructure, and the need for them to remain undisturbed is paramount.

• Factors such as increased real-time detection of leakages, inspections, monitoring of underground utilities, stringent government policies to locate underground utilities before excavating and construction activities, and the development of technologically advanced tools are driving the utility locator market's growth.
• For instance, over the past few years, the subsurface utility engineering (SUE) industry has developed innovative ways of tackling the challenges of locating underground utility infrastructure. Geophysical technologies like electromagnetic locators and ground-penetrating radars are used alongside non-technical means, like historical records, to gather sufficient subsurface infrastructure information.
• Furthermore, the expanding use cases and technological developments are also encouraging the vendors to develop innovative solutions and launch them in the market. For instance, in May 2023, Vermeer Corporation developed the new GPS-enabled Verifier G3+ utility locator. Designed to deliver accuracy, optimized connectivity, and intuitive controls, the new utility locator from the company pairs with smartphones using the G3+ Map mobile app to plot location information, including current index, depth, GPS data, device name, utility type, and the operator who performed the work.
• Additionally, several international projects such as the high-speed rail line in Indonesia for USD 5.5 billion, the high and semi-high-speed rail and bullet train projects in India, and construction projects across various countries are expected to continue to drive the demand for utility locating solutions drastically in the coming years, driving the growth of the studied market.
• However, the equipment's high possession and maintenance costs and lack of expert skills can limit the future utility locator market's growth. Nevertheless, factors such as the growing demand for real-time utility locating tools and services and deteriorating infrastructure will provide abundant opportunities to the players in the market.
• Macroeconomic factors such as economic growth, recession, etc., play a crucial role in the growth of the studied market. These factors significantly influence the value and volume of investments in new construction and utility projects, which are among the primary end-users for utility locators. For instance, the looming threat of recession in the North American region may have a restraining impact on the growth of the studied market.

Utility Locator Industry Segmentation

A utility locator identifies, locates, and protects underground utilities by completing tasks such as studying utility maps and performing online investigations, physically walking around the area to look for signs of utilities, using equipment to locate and map out cables, pipes, and other underground elements, and overseeing safe digging practices to protect utilities and those on site.

The Utility Locator Market is segmented by offering (equipment, services), by target (metallic utilities, non-metallic utilities), by techniques (electromagnetic field, ground penetrating radar), by application (oil and gas, electricity, transportation, water, and sewage, telecommunications), and by geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.