Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 24, 2013
The Urban Planning Software industry has enjoyed strong growth over the past five years, despite a recessionary slowdown. Operators in this space offer software that helps public and private investors in expansion planning by providing geographic, traffic flow and population density information. According to IBISWorld industry analyst Nikoleta Panteva, software developers have benefited from rising investment in nonresidential construction, a growing urban population and ongoing product innovation over the period. Although government spending on urban expansion remains weak, private investment is recovering from its recessionary drops. IBISWorld estimates that industry revenue has grown at an average annual rate of 11.6% over the five years to 2013, including a 15.9% jump in 2013 alone, to $764.8 million.
Product innovation has allowed industry players to boost their profit margins during the period. Software upgrades do not require much, if any, additional labor costs. This factor, coupled with the price premiums placed on new products, has aided in profit growth. External competition from free software providers can stifle industry revenue and profitability, however. Universities and other software developers have already introduced such options to the market, limiting operators' potential growth, continues Panteva. The Urban Planning Software industry has a low level of market share concentration. In 2013, the major players are Esri, Autodesk Inc., Trimble Navigation Limited and International Business Machines Corporation. Software development has relatively low startup costs and is highly competitive, making it difficult for any single firm to dominate this industry. In particular, industry operators face competition from free open source software, such as the Urban Network Analysis toolbox developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Additionally, steady demand growth has stimulated a wave of new entrants to this industry. Over the past five years, the number of enterprises has grown at an average annual rate of 6.9%. As a result, market share concentration has decreased.
The industry is projected to realize even stronger revenue and profit increases over the five years to 2018. Downstream demand from public and private urban developers will underpin industry growth. The value of private investment in nonresidential construction is forecast to grow, and state and local government spending will turn around and increase during the next five years. As a result, product innovation will thrive, pushing industry revenue up, as the adoption of urban planning software continues and even becomes mandated by government bodies involved in urban projects. For more information, visit IBISWorlds Urban Planning Software in the US industry report page.
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IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
This industry publishes software for urban planning professionals and municipal land use agencies. Types of software include geographic information system (GIS), computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), and data processing and analytics.
Industry Performance Executive Summary Key External Drivers Current Performance Industry Outlook Industry Life Cycle Products & Markets Supply Chain Products & Services Major Markets Globalization & Trade Business Locations Competitive Landscape Market Share Concentration Key Success Factors Cost Structure Benchmarks Barriers to Entry Major Companies Operating Conditions Capital Intensity Key Statistics Industry Data Annual Change Key Ratios
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Urban Planning Software in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld