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Geospatial technology incorporates historical and near-real-time mapping and surveying, remote sensing, aerial photography, global positioning system (GPS), and geographic information system (GIS) data so that downstream providers can offer navigation, connectivity, and location-based services.

While geospatial services revenue dropped at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, government clients continued to invest in critical infrastructure monitoring and healthcare services. GIS mapping and GPS tracking, in fact, quickly demonstrated their value as health officials around the world used both along with specially developed apps to track the virus’s spread, perform contact tracing, and alert people about possible exposure. Esri, for example, created an interactive platform to monitor and track COVID-19 cases and vaccine distribution in real time. Healthcare agencies used ArcGIS Online to track active cases and deaths.

Urban utility system and remote pipeline inspections, digital mapping for public services, disaster response, investigations of the impact of climate change, and the development of fully autonomous vehicles all will rely on geospatial services. Frost & Sullivan estimated global market revenue in 2020 at $33.62 billion and projects a 2.5% compound annual growth rate through 2030. Government/infrastructure, operational and asset management, and natural resource monitoring services will be in highest demand.