Total Station Market

Total Station Market Outlook (2023–2033)

Global demand for total stations accounts for a market value of US$ 2.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to increase at 6.3% CAGR over the next ten years. By the end of 2033, the global total station market is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 4.25 billion.

A total station is a device that is capable of measuring vertical and horizontal angles, elevations, and distances in topographic applications. This type of surveying equipment is extensively used in design surveys, mining surveys, forensic investigations, infrastructure surveys, etc. Total station theodolite (TST) is preferred over other land surveying equipment owing to its versatility and several advantages that make it a suitable choice for various applications.

Some of the advantages associated with the use of total stations are:

• High measurement accuracy.
• Less time is required for fieldwork.
• Fast and accurate calculation of coordinates and the equipment is also capable of making automatic corrections for pressure and temperature changes.
• Easy and fast-changing of contour and scales.
• Elimination of manual errors in readings and recordings.
• Easy integration of computers to create maps and contour plotting.

An increasing number of new construction projects being launched to support infrastructure development activity across the world are expected to boost shipments of total station machines over the coming years. Increasing urbanization, growing world population, modernization of the construction industry, growing demand for efficiency and accuracy in surveying, and increasing scope of application of total stations in several industry verticals are other aspects that could potentially uplift sales of electronic total stations throughout the forecast period.

On the contrary, the high costs of total station devices and the availability of other construction equipment are anticipated to have a restraining effect on overall market development going forward. Moreover, the lack of skilled professionals to operate these advanced total station machines is also expected to hamper total station sales over the next ten years.

A more detailed account of all drivers, challenges, restraints, and opportunities that govern market development at present and across the forecast period has been listed in this revised total station market research analysis by Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider.

Report Attributes	Details
Total Station Market Size (2023)	US$ 2.3 Billion
Projected Market Value (2033F)	US$ 4.25 Billion
Global Market Growth Rate (2023–2033)	6.3% CAGR
Dominant End-use Vertical (2023–2033)	Construction
Manual Segment Revenue Share (2023)	~30%
Key Companies Profiled	Topcon Corporation Suzhou FOIF Co. Ltd. Hexagon AB KOLIDA TJOP Trimble Inc. STONEX Srl South Group Boif Changzhou Dadi Surveying Science & Technology Co. Ltd. EIE Instruments Sanding

How Could Construction Start-ups Drive Total Station Demand?

“Construction Equipment Rental Start-ups to Boost Sales of Total Stations in Future”

Construction equipment is usually priced high and this makes it inaccessible to users with low budgets and this is where the construction equipment rental companies step in and offer cost-effective solutions. Equipment rental services are highly popular in the construction industry as they reduce the need for huge capital and still get the work done efficiently.

New companies are redefining the equipment rental business by creating new solutions that offer services faster and more efficiently to help maximize productivity. These companies also offer land surveying equipment and heavy construction machinery at low costs and are also improving their operational speed to beat conventional rental companies in the marketplace.

• In October 2022, YardLink, a construction equipment rental start-up based in the United Kingdom announced that it had raised US$ 17.5 million in a Series A funding round. The finance round was led by Beringea and the capital was intended to be used for business expansion.

Start-ups are also offering unique repair and breakdown solutions for construction equipment and changing the way construction and surveying industries operate.

• In November 2022, Gearflow, a Chicago-based start-up announced that it had raised US$ 5.5 million in new funding led by Brick & Mortar Ventures, a venture capital firm interested in construction start-ups. The company raised this capital for its platform which aims to reduce delays and equipment breaks in the construction industry by connecting companies with part vendors directly.

Which Regional Market Should Total Station Suppliers Target?

“Asia Pacific to Account for Substantial Demand for Total Stations”

Infrastructure development has become a prime focus for emerging economies in the APAC region and this is a key prospect that is predicted to promulgate total station sales in the future. Growing urbanization and industrialization, increasing population, supportive government initiatives for infrastructure development, rising investments in the construction sector, and growing focus on rural area development are some other factors that could potentially uplift shipments of total stations over the coming years.

Development of smart city projects in countries such as India and China is expected to open up new avenues of opportunities for established as well as new total station companies across the forecast period. Also, China and India are estimated to be the most lucrative markets in this region over the next ten years through 2033.

Country-wise Insights

How are Total Station Companies Faring in North America?

“United States & Canada to Be Highly Opportunistic Markets”

Rapid adoption of advanced technologies in Canada and the United States is expected to bolster demand for total stations and create a highly attractive growth scope for total station manufacturers in the North American region.

Increasing use of total station devices in the transportation industry, a growing number of construction projects, increasing population, and high availability of advanced surveying equipment are other factors that are predicted to uplift total station shipments in these North American countries throughout the forecast period.

Growing availability of skilled professionals and increasing new total station survey equipment product launches are also expected to benefit market development in Canada and the United States through 2033.

How Will Total Station Sales Fare in Japan?

“Increasing Reconstruction Activity in Japan Opening Up New Avenues for Business”

In the past decade, reconstruction activity in Japan has surged at a notable pace owing to the organization of the Tokyo Olympics and the Great East Japan Earthquake. Japan has a highly lucrative construction sector which has a notable contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country and hence this prospect makes it a highly remunerative market for total station instruments.

Advancements in the construction industry and growing investments in the modernization of infrastructure are other factors that are anticipated to boost sales of electronic total stations in the country through 2033. Moreover, increasing spending on construction research and development is also projected to potentially boost market evolution trends over the next ten years.

Will Investing in European Countries Be Profitable for Total Station Vendors?

“Increasing Use of Total Station Machines in Agriculture Sector”

Farmers in Europe are adopting advanced technologies and instruments to optimize agricultural output and this trend is expected to primarily influence total station sales in the region over the coming years. Electronic total stations are used to measure the farmland and optimize the deployment of machinery for the complete land to increase productivity and lower costs.

Increasing investments by the government to boost housing infrastructure, growing demand for renovation and modernization of old buildings, and growing demand for housing in rural areas are other factors that are slated to bolster total station shipments in European countries going forward.

Category-wise Insights

What Type of Total Stations are Preferred?

“Robotic Total Stations are Highly Popular”

Based on product type, the market for total stations is segmented into manual and robotic.

Robotic total stations are becoming highly popular and being preferred by several users across the world owing to their high accuracy and efficiency as compared to manual systems. The high costs of robotic total station theodolite are balanced out by its cost-efficient and time-saving operational features. Increasing proliferation of technology in almost all walks of life and this is also expected to bolster sales of robotic total stations across the forecast period.

Integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in robotic total station machines is also projected to open up new opportunities for total station manufacturers going forward.

Competitive Landscape

Leading total station providers are launching new products to increase their sales potential and drive revenue generation capacity.

• In September 2022, SingularXYZ, a company focused on high-precision GNSS PNT technology announced the launch of its new TS1000 total station. The new total station can be connected with SingularPad field surveying software which creates a smooth and fluent experience for users.
• In March 2022, Leica Geosystems, a leading manufacturer of surveying equipment announced the launch of Leica AP20 AutoPole. The product is an innovative solution to create autonomous workflows for Leica’s existing line of total stations through next-generation tilt compensation and unique target identification.
• In February 2021, Trimble Inc., a leading industrial technology company specializing in construction equipment announced the launch of Trimble SX12, a brand-new scanning total station. The new survey instrument has features such as high-power laser point, high-resolution, and complex 3D modelling among other advanced features.

Key Segments Covered in Total Station Industry Research

• By Product Type :

  • Robotic
  • Manual

• By Voltage Rating :

  • Less than 1.5 V
  • 1.5 V – 2 V
  • Above 2 V

• By End-use Vertical :

  • Construction
  • Mining
  • Agriculture
  • Transportation
  • Utilities
  • Oil & Gas
  • Forensic Investigation
  • Other Verticals

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • APAC
  • MEA