Surveying & Mapping Services in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: July 2024
NAICS 54137Revenue
$10.7bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
67,791
Businesses
17,405
Wages
$X.Xbn
Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry analysis
Surveyors and mappers displayed significant revenue volatility during the current period. Revenue plunged during COVID-19 after social distancing regulations swept away surveying capacity in 2020. A major decline in nonresidential construction spurred by work-from-home policies also negatively affected the industry. Revenue recovered as the economy emerged from the pandemic, spurred by exploding residential construction in 2021 that resulted from record-low interest rates. Investment from the commercial sector also expanded because of soaring corporate profit. As the Federal Reserve has raised the cost of borrowing to combat high inflation, homebuying and existing home improvements have declined, severely inhibiting demand from the residential sector and causing revenue to fall in 2022. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has pumped millions of dollars into surveying and mapping services. Select companies have scored big in highway construction, civil engineering, mineral surveying and geospatial data processing contracts. Since government agencies and many businesses have been flush with cash because of this law, revenue grew in 2023 despite high interest rates. Overall, revenue for surveying and mapping companies in the United States is anticipated to creep upward at a CAGR of 0.5% during the current period, reaching $10.7 billion in 2024. This includes a 4.1% jump in revenue in that year.
Trends and Insights
- The industry displayed significant revenue volatility during the current period. Surveyors and mappers' performance suffered during COVID-19, but revenue soared amid the pandemic recovery as demand from the residential and nonresidential sectors was robust.
- Cadastral and property line surveying map boundaries for plots of land, often for new home construction. Rising interest rates have curbed the housing market and hindered demand for these services.
- Infrastructure investment in the geographically expansive West and Southwest aims to connect major cities. Governments often fund these projects, spurring demand for the industry's services in these two regions.
- Educational and licensing requirements for mappers and surveyors, along with high wage costs, increase barriers to entry. Capital costs often aren't a problem for potential entrants because surveyors and mappers don't need to invest in plants and equipment.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $10.7bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
COVID-19 created severe disruptions for surveyors and mappers
- When the pandemic hit, state and local governments enforced new regulations such as social distancing rules and mask mandates. These restrictions made in-person surveying and mapping projects much more difficult in 2020, contributing to a big drop in revenue.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Demand from the commercial and government sectors will remain solid
- Despite current economic challenges relating to high inflation, rising interest rates and recessionary fears, GDP growth will be solid during the outlook period.
Biggest companies in the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
David Evans And Associates, Inc. | 106.4 | 8.8 | 8.3 | |
Nv5 Global, Inc. | 48.2 | 4.0 | 8.3 | |
ELM LLC | 15.8 | 1.3 | 8.3 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 9 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cadastral, property line and boundary surveying , Construction surveying and Topographical and planimetric surveying and mapping. Cadastral, property line and boundary surveying is the largest segment of the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US.
Trends and Insights
The housing market drives cadastral and property line surveying
- Cadastral and property line surveying map boundaries for plots of land, typically to prepare for new home construction. Small and large cadastral surveying comprises more than one-quarter of revenue.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Geophysical Services in the US
Complementors
- Land Development in the US
- Architects in the US
- Engineering Services in the US
International industries
- Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada
- Surveying and Mapping Services in Australia
- Architectural and Design Services in New Zealand
- Consultant Engineering Services in the UK
- Consultant Engineering Services in Ireland
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry perform surveying and mapping services on the surface of the earth, including the sea floor. These services include surveying and mapping areas above or below the earth's surface, such as creating view easements or segregating rights in parcels of land by building underground utility easements, which give certain rights to real property without possessing it.
What's included in this industry?
Topographic surveying and mapping servicesPlanimetric surveying and mapping servicesHydrographic and bathymetric surveying and mapping servicesBoundary, property line and cadastral surveying and mapping servicesSubdivision layout and design servicesConstruction surveying servicesGeodetic surveying and ground control support servicesProviding geospatial processing servicesProviding engineering servicesProviding landscape architecture servicesCompanies
David Evans And Associates, Inc.Nv5 Global, Inc.ELM LLCPurchase this report to view all 9 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
SURVEYINGCADASTRAL SURVEYINGCARTOGRAPHYHYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYINGPHOTOGRAMMETRYIndustry Code
NAICS 54137 - Surveying & Mapping Services in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The industry displayed significant revenue volatility during the current period. Surveyors and mappers' performance suffered during COVID-19, but revenue soared amid the pand...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Cadastral and property line surveying map boundaries for plots of land, often for new home construction. Rising interest rates have curbed the housing market and hindered dem...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Infrastructure investment in the geographically expansive West and Southwest aims to connect major cities. Governments often fund these projects, spurring demand for the indu...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Educational and licensing requirements for mappers and surveyors, along with high wage costs, increase barriers to entry. Capital costs often aren't a problem for potential e...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Major player David Evans and Associates Inc. (DEA) recently acquired CHS Engineers, LLC, a civil engineering company in the Pacific Northwest that provides water management s...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of David Evans And Associates, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Nv5 Global, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of ELM LLC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 6 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for David Evans And Associates, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Nv5 Global, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for ELM LLC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 6 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The industry receives assistance from various private and public sources. For example, The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) provides advocacy and surveying g...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Average wages peaked in 2021 as demand for the industry's services soared during the pandemic recovery. Wages' revenue share has still crept downward during the current perio...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States is $10.7bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in 2024?
There are 17,405 businesses in the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Surveying & Mapping Services market in United States are David Evans And Associates, Inc., Nv5 Global, Inc. and ELM LLC
What does the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US in United States include?
Topographic surveying and mapping services and Planimetric surveying and mapping services are part of the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is David Evans And Associates, Inc..
How competitive is the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Surveying & Mapping Services in the US industry in United States.
