Built and Natural Environment Consulting Market Size & Share 2023 to 2032
Market Size by Service Type (Urban & Regional Planning, Architecture & Design, Civil Engineering, Environmental & Sustainability, Landscape Design, Sustainability & Green Building, Geospatial & GIS), Application, End User.
Report ID: GMI7144
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Published Date: October 2023
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Report Format: PDF
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Authors:
Preeti Wadhwani, Aishvarya Ambekar
Built and Natural Environment Consulting Market Size
Built And Natural Environment Consulting Market size was valued at USD 63.8 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 5.5% by 2032 due to the rapid pace of urbanization.
Built and Natural Environment Consulting Market Key Takeaways
Market Size & Growth
Key Market Drivers
Challenges
As more people flock to urban areas, the demand for infrastructure, real estate, and sustainable urban development will skyrocket. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 57% of the world's population resides in urban areas. This statistic highlights the ongoing trend of global urbanization with many people living in cities and metropolitan regions. Consulting firms specializing in architecture, engineering, and environmental sciences play a pivotal role in planning, designing & managing these urban transformations. Moreover, urbanization leads to increased regulations and compliance requirements, necessitating the expertise of consultants to navigate through complex zoning laws, environmental impact assessments, and sustainable building practices.
The rising service demand from the infrastructure and real estate sectors is a significant factor driving the industry gains. These sectors require expertise in urban planning, architectural design, and environmental sustainability. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, the construction market is expected to reach USD 1.42 trillion by 2027. Under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), infrastructure projects with a combined value of USD 1.3 trillion are in their various stages of implementation. These projects encompass a wide range of sectors including transportation, energy, and urban development, aiming to bolster the country's infrastructure and promote economic growth & development.
Evolving environmental regulations and sustainability standards present challenges in the market. As standards change, consulting firms must stay updated, thus incurring additional costs. Meeting stringent regulations and sustainability criteria can be complex & costly.
COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the market as it led to project delays, cancellations, and a decrease in client budgets. Social distancing measures disrupted on-site work, affecting project timelines. Moreover, uncertainty in the economic environment caused clients to reassess their construction & infrastructure plans.
Built and Natural Environment Consulting Market Trends
The rising emphasis on sustainable and green design & construction practices is a prominent trend in this market. With the growing awareness of environmental issues, clients are prioritizing eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible projects. This trend is driving consulting firms to provide expertise in green building practices, renewable energy integration, and environmentally sustainable urban planning. As regulatory requirements and consumer preferences align with sustainability, consulting firms are adapting to offer innovative solutions for designing & constructing eco-conscious infrastructure.
The emergence of smart cities is a notable trend in the built and natural environment consulting market. Smart cities leverage technology & data to enhance urban living, improve infrastructure, and optimize resource usage. Consulting firms are instrumental in helping cities implement smart initiatives, from intelligent transportation systems to efficient energy management, thus meeting the evolving needs of urban populations for sustainable, interconnected & efficient urban environments. For instance, in June 2023, Toyota Mobility Foundation, in partnership with Challenge Works and World Resources Institute, initiated a USD 9 million Global City Challenge, spanning three years, to promote safe, inclusive & sustainable innovation in urban mobility.
Built and Natural Environment Consulting Market Analysis
Based on service type, the market is divided into urban & regional planning, architecture & design, civil engineering, environmental & sustainability consulting, landscape design, sustainability & green building consulting, and geospatial & GIS consulting. The civil engineering segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 7% by 2032. As infrastructure needs expand globally, the demand for civil engineering expertise in the designing & managing of critical projects, such as transportation, water resources, and urban development, increases. Consulting firms specializing in civil engineering offer innovative solutions to address urbanization, climate resilience, and sustainable infrastructure.
Based on end user, the built and natural environment consulting market is categorized into government & municipalities, private sector, nonprofit & environmental organizations, and individuals. The private sector segment was valued at over USD 27 billion in 2022. Private entities are increasingly investing in infrastructure & real estate projects, propelling the need for planning, design, and sustainability consulting services. The progression of this segment is being driven by the active involvement of the private sector in urban development, property construction, and sustainability initiatives.
North America held a dominant built and natural environment consulting market share of over 35% in 2022. region's evolving infrastructure needs, demand for smart city initiatives, and compliance with environmental regulations are driving consulting services in the region. Additionally, investments in renewable energy and urban development projects contribute to industry gains. For instance, in March 2023, BAES Infrastructure was officially launched as an energy company that specializes in the development, construction, and operation of energy transition projects. The newly formed company will focus on renewable energy, hydrogen infrastructure, low-carbon hydrogen & ammonia projects, and advanced-stage solar development. Its initial assets include Swift Current Energy, OneH2, Bear Head Energy, and other solar projects.
Built and Natural Environment Consulting Market Share
Major players operating in the built and natural environment consulting industry are:
AECOM and Jacobs Engineering Group are dominant players, holding over 10% market share in 2022 in global market due to their expertise, global presence, and diversified service offerings. They provide comprehensive solutions in architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting, addressing complex infrastructure & development projects.
Built and Natural Environment Consulting Industry News
The built and natural environment consulting market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) from 2018 to 2032, for the following segments:
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By Service Type, 2018 – 2032
By Application, 2018 – 2032
By End User, 2018 – 2032
The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:
Research methodology, data sources & validation process
This report draws on a structured research process built around direct industry conversations, proprietary modelling, and rigorous cross-validation and not just desk research.
Our 6-step research process
1. Research design & analyst oversight
At GMI, our research methodology is built on a foundation of human expertise, rigorous validation, and complete transparency. Every insight, trend analysis, and forecast in our reports is developed by experienced analysts who understand the nuances of your market.
Our approach integrates extensive primary research through direct engagement with industry participants and experts, complemented by comprehensive secondary research from verified global sources. We apply quantified impact analysis to deliver dependable forecasts, while maintaining complete traceability from original data sources to final insights.
2. Primary research
Primary research forms the backbone of our methodology, contributing nearly 80% to overall insights. It involves direct engagement with industry participants to ensure accuracy and depth in analysis. Our structured interview program covers regional and global markets, with inputs from C-suite executives, directors, and subject matter experts. These interactions provide strategic, operational, and technical perspectives, enabling well-rounded insights and reliable market forecasts.
3. Data mining & market analysis
Data mining is a key part of our research process, contributing nearly 20% to the overall methodology. It involves analysing market structure, identifying industry trends, and assessing macroeconomic factors through revenue share analysis of major players. Relevant data is collected from both paid and unpaid sources to build a reliable database. This information is then integrated to support primary research and market sizing, with validation from key stakeholders such as distributors, manufacturers, and associations.
4. Market sizing
Our market sizing is built on a bottom-up approach, starting with company revenue data gathered directly through primary interviews, alongside production volume figures from manufacturers and installation or deployment statistics. These inputs are then pieced together across regional markets to arrive at a global estimate that stays grounded in actual industry activity.
5. Forecast model & key assumptions
Every forecast includes explicit documentation of:
✓ Key growth drivers and their assumed impact
✓ Restraining factors and mitigation scenarios
✓ Regulatory assumptions and policy change risk
✓ Technology adoption curve parameter
✓ Macroeconomic assumptions (GDP growth, inflation, currency)
✓ Competitive dynamics and market entry/exit expectations
6. Validation & quality assurance
The final stages involve human validation, where domain experts manually review filtered data to identify nuances and contextual errors that automated systems might miss. This expert review adds a critical layer of quality assurance, ensuring data aligns with research objectives and domain-specific standards.
Our triple-layer validation process ensures maximum data reliability:
✓ Statistical Validation
✓ Expert Validation
✓ Market Reality Check
Trust & credibility
Verified data sources
Trade publications
Security & defense sector journals and trade press
Industry databases
Proprietary and third-party market databases
Regulatory filings
Government procurement records and policy documents
Academic research
University studies and specialist institution reports
Company reports
Annual reports, investor presentations, and filings
Expert interviews
C-suite, procurement leads, and technical specialists
GMI archive
13,000+ published studies across 30+ industry verticals
Trade data
Import/export volumes, HS codes, and customs records
Parameters studied & evaluated
Every data point in this report is validated through primary interviews, true bottom-up modelling, and rigorous cross-checks. Read about our research process →