Tripod-Mounted 3D Laser Scanner Market

Market Overview

The global tripod-mounted 3D laser scanner market is valued USD 882.9 million in 2019 and will depict a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period 2019-2026.

A tripod-mounted 3D laser scanner is a type of laser scanner used for terrestrial scanning applications. 3D laser scanners are standalone instruments placed on a three-legged platform. These scanners are mostly used for the outdoor and indoor operations where the scanners provide three-dimensional (3D) geometry of building structures and terrains. Once the scanner captures the layout, data points are generated with the help of software, providing comprehensive information about the terrain and structure. Tripod mounted 3D laser scanners find applications in topography, architecture and construction, archaeology and cultural heritage, forestry, and heavy construction, among others.

Segmental Analysis

Outdoor Segment to Dominate the Tripod-Mounted 3D Laser Scanner Market by Type

Outdoor scanners are primarily used for surveying, forestry, archaeology, and cultural heritage and civil infrastructure, among other terrestrial scanning applications. In large-scale civil infrastructure projects such as the construction of dams, airports, highways, and flyovers, mapping plays a vital role. Outdoor 3D laser scanners are preferred over indoor 3D laser scanners to overcome challenges pertaining to stability, complex geometry, dust, uneven surfaces, and heights. The outdoor type segment is expected to dominate the tripod-mounted 3D laser scanner market during the forecast period.

Indoor 3D scanners are used in industrial applications such as process automation and monitoring, collision avoidance, bulk material measurement, and obstacle detection. These scanners offer enhanced features such as precision-ranging techniques based on echo digitization, online waveform processing, and multiple-time-around processing, which are largely used for topography and mining applications.

Direct Channel vs. Distribution Channel

In the direct channel, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) offer their products directly to end-users without the involvement of third-party distributors. The direct channel accounts for a relatively lower share compared to the distribution channel, since tier 1 companies, despite their strong regional presence, offer products through subsidiaries, and services are offered through third-party distributors. The direct channel is expensive at the initial stage, and the capital investment associated with offering services is significantly high.

The distribution channel refers to third-party distributors that market OEMs’ products to end-users. In simpler terms, these distributors act as intermediaries and perform most of the distribution functions; they act as system integrators, Value-Added Resellers (VARs) and service providers. Third-party distributors offer product-related services to end-users, which include professional services such as integration, installation, maintenance, and other support services.

Architecture & Engineering & Industrial Monitoring Segments to Account for Significant Value Shares

The architecture and engineering segment accounts for the largest value share in the tripod-mounted 3D laser scanner market by application. Government initiatives encouraging highly sustainable infrastructure projects such as highways, ports, irrigation dams, port, and canal tunnels, and other construction projects predominantly drive the growth of the segment. Monitoring applications for industrial sectors such as energy and utility, discrete manufacturing, and other process manufacturing industries are considered in the industrial monitoring segment.

Prominent Applications in Mining Sector

Mining firms struggle with space constraints and accessibility challenges in the extracting process. Despite the use of existing advanced legacy systems, professional miners are unable to identify hazardous sites in mines. The adoption of 3D laser scanners offers advanced graphical underground mapping techniques that help professional miners work in cramped areas. It also enables miners to identify sensitive areas. The adoption of scanning technology offers highly accurate data for inspection and modeling measurements required in the manufacturing of metal components.

Subsea & Others Segments by Application to Register Moderate Growth

The subsea segment, which covers applications in the marine and shipbuilding industry, is expected to register a moderate growth rate during the forecast period. The others segment comprises water and wastewater treatment, telecommunication, and media and entertainment applications. Adoption of 3D laser scanners in water and waste management offers reliable, high-quality data, and accurate 3D models for the scanning of structural columns, beams, pipes, conveyors, and large bore pipes.

North America to Dominate the Global Tripod Mounted 3D Laser Scanner Market throughout the Forecast Period

North America accounted for the largest market share globally in 2018 and is expected to retain its market position throughout the forecast period. The adoption of tripod-based 3D laser scanners, coupled with point cloud technology, is anticipated to gain huge traction among industrial plants, particularly in energy and utility, oil and gas, and industrial manufacturing sectors. Companies such as Matrix Technologies, Inc. have adopted point cloud technology and offer related professional services in various industries such as oil and gas, mining, and energy and utility.

Use of Laser Scanning Techniques in Archaeological Applications to Drive Market Growth in Europe

In Europe, the U.K. accounted for the largest value share in 2018 and is expected to dominate the regional market in the coming years. Germany, on the other hand, is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the Europe tripod-mounted 3D laser scanner market. Industrial applications and the increasing inclination among non-profit organizations to adopt advanced laser scanning techniques for archaeological applications drive market growth in Europe.

Favorable Government Initiatives to Drive Rapid Growth in India’s Tripod Mounted 3D Laser Scanner Market &, In Turn, Propel the APAC Market

In Asia-Pacific, China accounted for the lion’s share in 2018 and is expected to dominate the regional market in the coming years. India, on the other hand, is expected to be one of the fastest-growing markets. Increasing government initiatives spurring the development of smart public infrastructure in emerging economies such as China, India, and Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, are driving the growth of the tripod-mounted 3D laser scanner market in Asia-Pacific.

The Middle East, Africa, and Latin America Tripod Mounted 3D Laser Scanner Markets

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other developed economies of the Middle East are pegged to be high potential markets, owing to their abundant oil reserves. Laser scanning is used in various oil and gas applications such as reverse engineering, quality control, and quality assurance, non-destructive testing (NDT) for oil and gas, and maintenance repair and overhaul.

Advancements in LiDAR technology and their integration with tripod-mounted laser scanners are expected to provide an impetus to the Latin American market. Domestic companies such as ESTEIO S.A, GEOID Ltda, LACTEC, Terra Drone Corp., and VIGEA are increasingly adopting integrated technologies for highly dense forestry and geo-surveying applications.

Recent Developments

• In 2018, the Joint Research Centre's European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA) developed an innovative 3D laser scanning technology that allows damaged historical monuments to be restructured into their original form.
• The Zoller and Frohlich (Z+F) 5010 series engineering laser scanner were used at rock art sites of Kakadu, Australia, to capture high precision data at a very short range.
• The rapid development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and India’s infrastructure projects such as Sagarmala Programme, Bharatmala Pariyojana, and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link are driving the demand in the respective countries.
• In July 2018, Riegel Laser Measurement GmBH partnered with CPE Tecnologia, a Brazil-based distributor, to commercialize the RIEGL VZ-2000i, a terrestrial laser scanner in Brazil. The tripod-mounted scanner is expected to provide highly accurate measurement for various applications such as archaeology and culture, topography and mining, civil engineering, and surveying in open-pit mining.