Utility Locator Market to Generate $1,315 Million Revenue by 2030

The utility locator market size is expected to advance at a CAGR of 5.9% during 2022–2030, to reach USD 1,315 million by 2030.

The rising awareness of preventing underground utility damage, rapid infrastructure development and maintenance, and technological advancements in utility location equipment would propel the market growth in the coming years.

Utility locators are essential to identify and gain a know-how of the cables, pipes, wires, and other structures present underground. Through the actual identification of utility lines, such as water pipes, telephone cables, gas lines, and sewer lines, present underground, accidents and damage to them can be avoided. Once identified, such pieces of infrastructure are marked with paint or flags, so that during any activity, such as digging and construction, the chances of them getting damaged are mitigated.

Utilities are an essential component of the infrastructure; hence, a combination of various advanced tools and technologies are used for locating those buried in the ground, for mitigating the risk of damage to them and ensuring the safety of people. Depending upon the size of the site, availability of tools, and other factors, mapping can be completed in a couple of days.

The metallic as well as non-metallic lines that are buried several inches underground can be identified and mapped. Additionally, several advanced methods and techniques are now available that are comparatively more accurate and efficient than the traditional techniques.

Asia-Pacific Region Is Expected To Witness Fastest Growth in Years To Come

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6%, which would be the highest, during the projection period. The growth of the utility locator market of the region can be primarily attributed to the rapid infrastructure development. The governments of developing nations are investing in residential and commercial infrastructure projects to cater to the basic needs of their citizens.

For instance, China is investing in infrastructure projects related to transportation and water supply & management, including underground water tunnels. In the same way, Japan is investing heavily in infrastructure construction and upgradation, India is planning to invest for achieving sustainable development objectives, and South Korea has been investing in highway and road networks and planning to put in more money in a wastewater treatment plant. These investments are necessary for the economic development of these countries and the region overall.

Inaccurate data regarding the structures present underground is one of the major factors that lead to utility damage. Most of the time, the data is outdated or missing for a particular site. These factors subsequently cause delays in construction projects that are essential for economic development in the region. To secure the utility lines during digging or excavations, as well as construction over a site, locators are essential. The absence of accurate markings can increase the risk of accidents and, subsequently, serious injuries to the people residing nearby and workers near the site.

The water & sewage vertical is expected to contribute significantly to the market growth in the APAC region. This can be attributed to the increasing pace of urbanization in the region and, subsequently, the growing need for potable water and sanitation. Proper water supply & management and the prevention of damage to the water utility structures present underground are important, especially while new infrastructure is being built.

Some of the major companies operating in the utility locator market are Radiodetection Ltd., Guideline Geo, Ridge Tool Company, Ditch Witch, Leica Geosystems AG, Vivax-Metrotech Corp., 3M, USIC, multiVIEW Locates Inc., Ground Penetrating Radar Systems LLC, GSSI Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., McLaughlin Group Inc., and Maverick Inspection Ltd.