U.S. Remote Sensing Technology Market (By Technology: Active Remote Sensing, Passive Remote Sensing; By Application; By Platform) - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Revenue, Regional Outlook and Forecast 2023-2032

The U.S. remote sensing technology market was estimated at USD 5.02 billion in 2022 and it is expected to surpass around USD 12.79 billion by 2032, poised to grow at a CAGR of 9.80% from 2023 to 2032.

Key Pointers

• The passive remote sensing segment accounted for the largest market share of over 59% in 2022 
• The military and intelligence segment accounted for the largest market share of nearly 33% in 2022. 
• The aerial systems segment accounted for the largest market share of over 70% in 2022.

Report Scope of the U.S. Remote Sensing Technology Market

The wide applicability of remote sensing technology in sustainable development, disaster management, environmental degradation, and natural resource management are major factors expected to drive the growth of the U.S. market for remote sensing technology. Remote sensing technology aids in gathering information about an object, land, or area at a great distance. This information is later used to study and in the development processes like soil, forestry, geology, and agriculture.

The U.S. is a major producer of soybean and corn, with production standing at 4.44 billion bushels and 15.1 billion bushels in 2021, an increase of 7% and 5% compared to 2020. Also, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed 5.4% to U.S. gross domestic product in 2021. This high crop production in the country indicates heavy farming/agriculture activities, which is responsible for increasing the demand for smart solutions such as remote sensing technology that aid in precision farming.

Remote sensing technology helps farmers understand crop type classification, assess crop growth and estimate the yield of crops. Thus, increasing adoption of remote sensing technology in the agriculture sector for determining crop conditions, crop damage, mapping of soil characteristics, and mapping soil management practices is an important factor expected to drive the growth of the U.S. remote sensing technology market.

Wildfire is one of the prominent disturbance factors in the most vegetative zone throughout the U.S. Also, wildfires can be a threat to property and humans. According to the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), in 2022, 52% of the nationwide acreage burned by wildfires was on federal lands. The below table represents the annual fires and acres burned in the U.S.

According to the data published by National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), there was a noticeable increase of above 80% in the number of wildfires in the U.S. This increasing wildfire calls for remote sensing technology that aids in fire danger prediction, fire detection, and fire control. With the help of remote sensing technology, several pre-fire conditions, such as fuel moisture and surface temperature, can be monitored.

Thus, increasing demand for smart remote sensing solutions from the forestry industry is expected to support the growth of the target market. Likewise, increasing demand for remote sensing technology from the geology and forestry industry for determining vegetation density, biomass estimation, and minerals exploration, among others, is another factor expected to support the growth of the market. Major challenges such as handling large volume data and complex data format & processing faced by users are lowering its adoption and further challenging the growth of the remote sensing technology market. However, the service provider's approach toward providing real-time data processing is expected to generate new opportunities in the market.

Technology Insights

The passive remote sensing segment accounted for the largest market share of over 59% in 2022 and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR over the forecast period. Most passive systems for remote sensing applications operate in the electromagnetic spectrum's thermal, visible, infrared, and microwave ranges. Also, to monitor and assess the Earth's surface features, passive remote sensing technology examines the sunlight reflected from the Earth's surface. Since the technology delivers high-quality satellite photos, numerous applications for Earth observation rely on it.

The active remote sensing segment is expected to grow at a considerable CAGR over the forecast period. Active remote sensing technology is frequently used to assess the topography of oceans, ice, and forests, among others. Active sensors allow measurements to be taken at any time, irrespective of the time of day or season. They can be used to better regulate how a target is lighted or to examine wavelengths that are insufficiently offered by the Sun, such as microwaves.

Application Insights

The military and intelligence segment accounted for the largest market share of nearly 33% in 2022. Military decision-makers rely on remote sensing technologies to provide precise information about the target location, the vicinity of civilian areas, weather information, and terrain analysis. Moreover, the increasing need for battlefield management, which involves integrating, tracking, and processing data to improve the effectiveness of command and control in military operations, is expected to drive the segment’s growth. The way wartime fights are organized has transformed due to the use of remote sensing technology. For digital mapping, planning of combat operations, and command control, the military commander in a conflict uses spatial data and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies.

The disaster management segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. Natural disasters occur frequently due to events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods. Remote sensing can support risk reduction operations by locating risk areas related to floodplains, coastal erosion and inundation, and active faults. Determining the location and scale of actual incidents can also be used to validate hazard models. Distant sensors can detect the onset of an earthquake by providing essential information to estimate the locations that will be impacted.

Remote sensing technology is crucial in emergency mapping to facilitate a simple and rapid catastrophe response. The emergency crew uses the massive, widespread, and fast data provided by the sensors to organize their rescue operation. The use of remote sensing in damage assessment and recovery following a disaster can transform how disasters are managed completely. It can offer precise, timely details regarding the degree of damage, the type of debris present, and the quantity of resources required for an effective recovery.

Platform Insights

The aerial systems segment accounted for the largest market share of over 70% in 2022. The aerial systems segment is expected to witness considerable growth owing to the factors such as the increasing adoption of drones and UAVs for aerial mapping, which lowers costs and facilitates the collection of data more quickly. Additionally, drones can deliver extremely precise data for surface mapping in locations that are not reachable by satellites.

For instance, in March 2023, Cloudeo, a geospatial solutions provider, announced a partnership with Globhe, a drone-as-a-service company, to expand its range of geospatial products on the Cloudeo marketplace. In addition to satellite and aerial solutions, the partnership included drone data for Cloudeo geospatial offerings. along with user workflows and applications, the partnership also included integrating Globhe drone data and services into answer. Cloudeo's API-based solution for risk evaluation and damage assessment.

The satellite segment is anticipated to register a considerable CAGR over the forecast period. The satellite segment growth in the U.S. can be attributed to the growing number of Earth observation projects undertaken by major space agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The increasing usage of satellite-based photographs for weather forecasting is another factor anticipated to fuel the segment’s growth. Satellites are the most prominent space platforms for remote sensing to collect data from across the globe and track changes in the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land. They are also used in national security and catastrophe management.

U.S. Remote Sensing Technology Market Segmentations:

By Technology 

• Active Remote Sensing
• Passive Remote Sensing

By Application 

• Agriculture & Living Resources
• Military & Intelligence
• Disaster Management
• Infrastructure
• Weather
• Others

By Platform 

• Satellite
• Aerial Systems