Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: August 2024
NAICS 54137CARevenue
$1.8bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XX.Xbn
Employees
9,079
Businesses
1,734
Wages
$XXX.Xm
Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada industry analysis
The Surveying and Mapping Services industry in Canada has weathered uncertain conditions as downstream industries including residential, commercial, industrial construction and government authorities, fared with volatility brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry's performance is largely tied to developments in residential and nonresidential construction markets, which fuel both private- and public-sector spending.As Canadian oil, gas and mining companies cut back spending on exploration and development projects in response to falling commodity prices, and construction stalled in resource-rich provinces, demand for surveying and mapping services for these projects fell. While growth from the residential construction market helped offset some losses, rising interest intended to offset rising inflation have hampered residential demand. Thus, even as energy prices came roaring back, many surveyors saw a reduction in demand. Over the five years to 2023, industry revenue has been contracting at a CAGR of 1.7% and is expected to reach $1.7 billion, including an expected drop of 3.2% over the current year.The return to growth of downstream construction markets will likely keep industry demand afloat moving forward. In addition to solid demand from industrial building construction as commodity prices remain high, housing market expansion will stimulate demand for cadastral, property line and construction surveying. The continued adoption of new technology will also enable companies to realize new efficiencies and improve the quality of their services, expanding sizable profit margins further. Industry revenue is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 1.2% to $1.8 billion over the five years to 2028.
Trends and Insights
- The COVID-19 pandemic created volatility across surveyors’ downstream markets. In addition to a decline in commodity prices that reduced need from commercial customers, efforts to combat inflation have hurt housing demand.
- The housing market drives cadastral, property line and boundary surveying. The cyclical nature of residential property markets creates volatile conditions for surveyors that depend on housing, many of whom are small and work regionally.
- Both Quebec and Ontario have a large number of surveyors. The large populations of each province drive companies’ location, although Ontario’s share of establishments outstrips its population share because of its lower population density.
- The highly fragmented nature of the industry limits competitive pressures. Services must be performed on site, reducing the ability of companies to work at scale.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.8bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Fluctuations in commodity prices have created volatile conditions for surveyors
- The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an initial, sizable decline in commodity prices. This prompted Canadian oil, gas and mining companies to reduce expansion plans and demand for the survey and mapping services.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Elevated commodity prices will likely provide continued opportunities for surveyors
- Although commodity prices will temper moving forward, they will remain elevated. As prices remain high, companies in energy industries will invest in new projects.
Biggest companies in the Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
JD Barnes Limited | 57.5 | N/A | N/A | |
WSP Global Inc. | 31.3 | N/A | N/A | |
SNC-Lavalin Group | 27.9 | N/A | N/A |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cadastral, property line and boundary surveying, Geodetic surveying, thematic and orthophoto mapping and aeronautical and Topographic, planimetric, hydrographic and bathymetric surveying and. Cadastral, property line and boundary surveying is the largest segment of the Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada.
Trends and Insights
The housing market drives cadastral, property line and boundary surveying
- Cadastral, property line and boundary surveying is directly correlated to the health of residential property markets.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Geophysical Services in Canada
Complementors
- Architects in Canada
- Engineering Services in Canada
International industries
- Surveying & Mapping Services in the US
- Surveying and Mapping Services in Australia
- Architectural and Design Services in New Zealand
- Consultant Engineering Services in the UK
- Consultant Engineering Services in Ireland
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry perform surveying and mapping services of the surface of the earth, including the sea floor. These services may include surveying and mapping areas above or below the surface of the earth, like the creation of view easements or segregating rights in parcels of land by creating underground utility easements, which give certain rights to real property without possessing it.
What's included in this industry?
Aerial surveying servicesCadastral surveying servicesAerial photography servicesGeodetic surveying services on a contract or fee basisGravimetric surveying servicesLand surveying servicesMap preparation servicesNon-geophysical mining surveying servicesNon-geophysical hydrographic and oceanographic surveying servicesPhotogrammetry seismic surveying services on a contract or fee basisCompanies
JD Barnes LimitedWSP Global Inc.SNC-Lavalin GroupPurchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
CADASTRAL SURVEYINGCARTOGRAPHY HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYINGPHOTOGRAMMETRY TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYPLANIMETRIC MAPBATHYMETRIC CHARTGEODETIC SURVEYTHEMATIC MAPORTHOPHOTOIndustry Code
NAICS 541370 - Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The COVID-19 pandemic created volatility across surveyors’ downstream markets. In addition to a decline in commodity prices that reduced need from commercial customers, effor...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The housing market drives cadastral, property line and boundary surveying. The cyclical nature of residential property markets creates volatile conditions for surveyors that ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Both Quebec and Ontario have a large number of surveyors. The large populations of each province drive companies’ location, although Ontario’s share of establishments outstri...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each province in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
The highly fragmented nature of the industry limits competitive pressures. Services must be performed on site, reducing the ability of companies to work at scale.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The industry is highly fragmented, with few large players. Typically, surveyors and mappers compete in local and regional markets, limiting opportunities for scaling services...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of JD Barnes Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of WSP Global Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of SNC-Lavalin Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for JD Barnes Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for WSP Global Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for SNC-Lavalin Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors serves as the national licensing body for surveying and mapping professionals. The industry is the largest of all industry bodies in...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Services are dependent on highly specialized employees and advanced technologies, creating wide margins for surveyors. Despite volatile market conditions, profit margins have...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Assets (2017-2022)
- Liabilities (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Canada include:
- Statistics Canada
- Industry Canada
- Canadian Business Patterns
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada in 2024?
The market size of the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada is $1.8bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada industry in 2024?
There are 1,734 businesses in the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Surveying & Mapping Services market in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Surveying & Mapping Services market in Canada are JD Barnes Limited, WSP Global Inc. and SNC-Lavalin Group
What does the Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada include?
Aerial surveying services and Cadastral surveying services are part of the Surveying & Mapping Services industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Surveying & Mapping Services in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in Canada is JD Barnes Limited.
How competitive is the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Surveying & Mapping Services industry in Canada.
