Market Trends of Europe Commercial Drones Industry
Construction Segment is Dominate Market Share During the Forecast Period
The proliferation of drones has revolutionized the operational processes in Europe's construction industry. Drones have been rapidly replacing traditional land-surveillance methods, as they significantly reduce labor and time to capture the necessary data while eliminating the scope of human error. Drones are being increasingly utilized to perform visual inspections of high-risk areas of a construction site. The efficiency of on-site communication and management is bolstered by the ability to collect real-time drone data. Drones also help engineers and surveyors inspect high-rise structures and visualize project progress through aerial shots. Drones also provide site managers with an overview of potential issues and facilitate critical decision-making to streamline operations at a construction site.
Drones have also gained popularity in the mining industry due to their excellent data collection capability, safety, and improved productivity. In August 2023, Field Group selected Alva Industries for the ATLUS X60 electric propulsion system to increase the safety and efficiency of infrastructure inspection due to the product’s exceptional performance, reliability, and long lifetime. Field Group placed a sizeable initial purchase for installing the systems on the UAV fleet. With the implementation of LiDAR or laser scanning sensor payloads, drones started providing detailed digital models of landscapes, vegetation, buildings, and other assets. These factors are anticipated to propel the segment's growth in the coming years.
European companies are developing drones with Lidar for various applications, including construction. For instance, in February 2024, Wingtra launched its latest LIDAR drone solution. This solution combines the efficiency of WingtraOne GEN II drones with a state-of-the-art LIDAR sensor engineered by Wingtra. As a result, users can now capture data in a simplified and repeatable manner. Furthermore, the LIDAR payload offers a comprehensive solution that can be employed throughout the entire project lifecycle, from the initial discovery phase to project implementation and ongoing infrastructure maintenance. Such developments are expected to drive the demand for the segment in the market during the forecast period.
United Kingdom to Witness Highest Growth During the Forecast Period
The UK has been one of the leading countries in developing and adopting drone technology for commercial use. According to a report by PwC, the UK drone industry could contribute up to USD 44 billion to the UK economy by 2030, creating over 600,000 jobs and saving USD 17 billion in costs across various sectors.
Several companies, such as Amazon Prime Air, Wing, Skyports Drone Services, and Manna, have been testing and piloting drone delivery services in the UK. These services aim to provide fast, convenient, and low-carbon delivery of goods, such as groceries, medicines, and parcels, to customers’ homes or designated locations. For instance, in October 2023, Amazon Air announced that it had launched ultra-fast drone deliveries in the UK and other major countries. Amazon customers in the UK will soon have the option to deliver their packages by drone beginning in late 2024. The company plans to use the MK 30 drone, which is quieter, smaller, and lighter than previous models.
Apart from drones used for logistics and deliveries, drones help farmers improve crop management and yield by providing data on soil health, plant growth, pest infestation, irrigation, and fertilization. Drones can also perform tasks such as spraying pesticides, seeding, and harvesting. For instance, in January 2023, Drone maker XAG announced that the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had given operational authorization to its agricultural spraying aircraft P40 and V40. The drone’s other possible applications include plant protection spraying, fertilizer spreading, and broadcast sowing.
Furthermore, various police forces in the UK routinely use drones equipped with high-definition cameras and night vision or thermal imaging capability to conduct multiple police activities. For instance, in September 2023, the government of the UK released a survey report on the usage of drones in law enforcement. It stated that various police forces in the UK use drones for applications such as monitoring significant incidents and events, traffic management, searches for missing people, monitoring crime scenes, and surveillance of suspects. Such developments and usage of drones in various applications are expected to support the growth of the drone market in the United Kingdom during the forecast period.
