Surveying and Mapping Services
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 7,000 surveying and mapping service providers collect data to determine property boundaries and create maps of the Earth’s surface, including the sea floor. The processes of surveying and mapping involve measurement, documentation, and representation of the Earth’s features. Surveying is used for land planning and development, construction, infrastructure planning, real estate transactions, environmental management, navigation, and geographical analysis. Determining the boundaries, elevation, and topography of an area is critical in construction work.
Dependence on Construction and Real Estate Industries and Economic Conditions
Demand for surveying and mapping services is driven primarily by the construction and real estate industries, which are cyclical and affected by changes in economic conditions.
Drones and UAVs
The use of aerial drones and uncrewed or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is growing as surveyors look for ways to cut costs and operate more efficiently.
Industry size & Structure
The average surveying and mapping company operates out of a single location, employs about seven workers, and generates about $1 million annually.
- The surveying and mapping industry consists of over 7,000 firms that employ over 53,000 workers and generate over $7 billion annually.
- The industry is fragmented with the top 50 companies accounting for about 33% of industry revenue.
- Firms that generate less than $1 million account for over 70% of the industry. Firms that generate $5 million or more account for more than 45% of the industry revenue.
- Surveying and mapping firms are primarily local businesses; most companies are small, independent operators that serve a limited geographical market. Larger firms have a regional or multi-state presence. Major engineering and construction companies, like Dewberry and Stantec, provide surveying and mapping as part of their comprehensive services.
- Independent surveying firms may consist of a single licensed land surveyor and an assistant. Mid-size firms employ teams of five to 50 workers overseen by one to two licensed surveyors and may offer related professional services. The largest firms manage 50 to 1,000 employees and work in multiple states.
Industry Forecast
Surveying and Mapping Services Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Apr 14, 2025 - Construction Planning Drops
- The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) decreased by 6.9% in March 2025 to 205.6 (2000=100), down from the revised February reading of 220.9. The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which has been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. On a monthly basis, the commercial planning component declined by 7.8%, and institutional declined by 5%. Dodge’s associate director of forecasting, Sarah Martin, said, “Increased uncertainty around material prices and fiscal policies may have begun to factor into planning decisions throughout March. While planning data has weakened across most nonresidential sectors this month, activity remains considerably higher than year-ago levels and still suggests steady construction activity in mid-2026.”
- Higher home prices could weaken demand for new homes, as a lack of affordability was a significant headwind for the US housing market before tariffs added additional uncertainty, according to ABC News. On April 9, the Trump administration paused its reciprocal tariff agenda for 90 days for most countries but left in place a baseline 10% import duty on all countries except China, which faces total tariffs of 145%. Canada and Mexico are not subject to the new 10% baseline tariffs, and goods trading under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement will remain duty-free. Key home-building materials, including gypsum from Mexico and Canadian lumber, avoided additional levies. However, tariffs are expected to increase prices for other housing inputs, including steel, aluminum, copper, and home appliances. Before Trump’s tariff pause, a UBS analyst estimated that reciprocal tariffs could add about $6,400 to the cost of building the average house.
- North American construction and engineering spending in 2025 is expected to grow by 2% after increasing an estimated 7% in 2024, according to FMI’s second-quarter 2025 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. Nonbuilding construction will lead growth in 2025, supported by solid public funding commitments with bipartisan support. Water projects will lead infrastructure spending growth in 2025 with a rise of 8%, followed by power (6%), sewage and waste disposal (6%), and highway and street (2%). Single-family construction spending is forecast to rise by 3% in 2025, but headwinds include higher costs due to materials tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and a lack of affordability. A recent jump in new apartment supply and unfavorable cost conditions will reduce multifamily spending by 12% in 2025. Nonresidential building construction spending will be flat in 2025, as steady growth in segments including amusement and recreation, educational, transportation, and communication will be offset by weakness in lodging and commercial.
- Soon after taking office, President Trump issued an executive order called “Unleashing American Energy” that included an order to pause and review funding processes that some legal experts suggest will likely have ramifications for the Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), according to Construction Dive. Many stakeholders found the order's wording unclear, prompting the Office of Management and Budget to issue a memo limiting the funding pause to programs the original order termed as part of the “Green New Deal.” Even with the clarifying memo, experts suggest the order could stop obligated funding for infrastructure projects that are already underway. The order has faced court challenges, and some legal experts suggest it may take months to understand the repercussions of Trump’s order fully. At the end of 2024, about $294 billion in funding authorized under the IIJA remained unspent.
Get A Demo
Vertical IQ’s Industry Intelligence Platform
See for yourself why over 60,000 users trust Vertical IQ for their industry research and call preparation needs. Our easy-to-digest industry insights save call preparation time and help differentiate you from the competition.
Build valuable, lasting relationships by having smarter conversations -
check out Vertical IQ today.