What hydroGEOPHYSICS does

hydroGEOPHYSICS (HGI) is a privately-held geophysical consulting firm headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, that has operated continuously since the early 1990s delivering non-invasive subsurface imaging and characterization services. The company's core offering is project-based professional consulting using a portfolio of 2D, 3D, and 4D geophysical methods — including electrical resistivity tomography, seismic refraction/reflection, induced polarization, magnetotellurics, nuclear magnetic resonance, airborne and time-domain electromagnetics, ground penetrating radar, gravity, and magnetics — to map subsurface features for clients in mining, environmental remediation, leak detection, geotechnical engineering, groundwater, oil and gas, and archaeology. HGI maintains three specialized sub-brands: HGI Leak Detection (proprietary water-puddle method for pinhole detection in HDPE geosynthetic liners), Heap Solutions (heap leach pad characterization and enhanced copper recovery), and Dam Assessment (seepage mapping and internal integrity evaluation for earthen dams).

Revenue is generated through customized, quote-based professional service engagements sold via a consultative sales motion; pricing is project-specific and not publicly disclosed. The firm is led by CEO Susan Brendel and CTO Dr. Dale Rucker (editor of the Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics), and operates a second office in Seattle opened in 2014 to serve Pacific Northwest clients including the Hanford Department of Energy nuclear site. In 2023 HGI became a subsidiary of RMA Companies, operating alongside portfolio companies while retaining its specialized brand and service portfolio.

Name

hydroGEOPHYSICS

Legal name

hydroGEOPHYSICS Inc.

Website

https://hgiworld.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

hydroGEOPHYSICS is a Tucson-based geophysical consulting firm providing 2D/3D/4D subsurface imaging, liner leak detection, heap leach characterization, and dam assessment services to mining, environmental, government, and infrastructure clients using electrical, seismic, and electromagnetic methods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geophysical Consulting Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seismic & Geoscience Services (Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation) (EUALABAK), Active Leak Detection & Acoustic Surveying (Ground Mics, Correlators, Hydrophones) (EUANAKAA), Hydrogeologic Characterization & Aquifer Testing (Pumping/Slug Tests) (EUAHAFAB), Geotechnical Site Investigation & Engineering Geology (Borings, Lab Testing) (EUAHAFAE), Geotechnical, Hydrogeological & Seismic Engineering (Slope Stability, Ground Support, Dewatering) (IMAKAOAN)

Keywords

• Geophysical consulting
• Subsurface imaging
• Leak detection services
• Mining exploration
• Environmental geophysics

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Geophysical Consulting Services: HGI provides specialized geophysical consulting services across multiple industries including mining, environmental, geotechnical, groundwater, oil and gas, and archaeological sectors. Services include subsurface characterization, leak detection, plume mapping, heap leach monitoring, and infrastructure assessment. Revenue is generated through project-based professional service engagements with customized solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

hydroGEOPHYSICS (HGI) is a geophysical consulting firm that provides 2D, 3D, and 4D subsurface imaging and characterization services using methods such as electrical resistivity, seismic, electromagnetic, magnetotellurics, induced polarization, ground penetrating radar, gravity, magnetic, and NMR surveys. The firm delivers non-invasive subsurface investigations for mining, environmental, geotechnical, groundwater, oil & gas, and archaeological clients, supplemented by specialized brands for liner leak detection (HGI Leak Detection), heap leach characterization (Heap Solutions), and earthen dam assessment (Dam Assessment).

Product overview

hydroGEOPHYSICS (HGI) is a geophysical consulting firm providing high-quality subsurface imaging and characterization services for over 30 years. The company's offerings are organized around its core geophysical consulting brand supplemented by specialized divisions: HGI Leak Detection (liner leak location technology), Heap Solutions (mining-focused heap leach services), and Dam Assessment (dam integrity evaluation). The main service portfolio spans environmental services (brownfield, plume mapping, ARD, landfill), geotechnical services (void detection, depth to bedrock), groundwater services, mining services, site clearance, and oil & gas applications. These services are delivered through a comprehensive portfolio of geophysical methods including electrical resistivity, seismic, induced polarization, magnetotellurics, NMR, electromagnetic, magnetic, GPR, and gravity surveys, deployed in 2D, 3D, and 4D configurations. HGI is now a member of RMA Companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heap Solutions: Specialized brand focused on heap leach characterization, enhanced recovery, and mining services for mine operators, supervisors, and metallurgists.
• HGI Leak Detection
• HGI Dam Assessment

Products and services

• Leak Detection & Liner Leak Location Non-invasive leak detection services for ponds, pipelines, tanks, and dams/embankments, featuring the proprietary water puddle method that locates pinhole-sized leaks in HDPE geosynthetic liners with average survey speed of 1000 m² per hour per operator. Operated under the HGI Leak Detection sub-brand and validated through federal testing.
• Environmental Services Subsurface investigations and contaminant plume mapping for environmental remediation, including brownfield assessment, plume mapping, acid rock drainage (ARD) characterization, and landfill characterization. Targeted at environmental consultants, government agencies, and remediation project managers.
• Geotechnical Services Geophysical characterization for civil engineering projects, including rippability analysis, void detection, depth to bedrock, engineering construction support, and concrete inspection. Provides pre-construction subsurface information for design, planning, and operation of structures.
• Mining Services Innovative geophysical consulting for the mining industry, including heap leach characterization, mineral exploration, and enhanced metal recovery. Operated primarily through the Heap Solutions sub-brand and targeted at mine operators, metallurgists, and exploration teams.
• Groundwater Services Groundwater resource characterization including basin delineation, fracture mapping, karst investigation, salt water intrusion assessment, aquifer characterization, and managed aquifer recharge studies for water utilities, municipalities, and hydrogeology consultants.
• Site Clearance Services Non-invasive geophysical methods using magnetic, electromagnetic, and ground penetrating radar to locate and map buried infrastructure and objects in brownfield sites, including pipeline and underground storage tank (UST) detection.
• Oil and Gas Services Large-scale exploration surveys using gravity, magnetics, and 2D seismics to understand subsurface rock layers and identify potential reservoirs, plus enhanced oil recovery support and brine and wastewater spill characterization.
• Archaeological Services Non-invasive archaeological surveys and subsurface feature detection with over 15 years of experience, providing cost-effective site characterization without excavation for archaeologists, cultural resource managers, and research institutions.
• Geohazard Characterization Geophysical characterization of geohazards to support infrastructure planning, mining operations, and risk assessment for engineering and resource clients.
• Dam Assessment Services Geophysical technologies to help dam owners assess the internal integrity of earthen dams, including seepage mapping and dam monitoring using complementary tools to map, track, and monitor water movement within large structures. Operated under the HGI Dam Assessment sub-brand.
• Heap Solutions (Mining/Heap Leach Sub-brand) Specialized mining division providing geophysical and hydrogeological technologies for heap leach characterization, enhanced recovery, and addressing mining challenges for mine operators, supervisors, and metallurgists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average survey speed of 1000 m² per hour per operator for bare liner leak detection
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RMA Companiesparent companyOthersHGI is now a proud member of RMA Companies. RMA Companies is the parent organization for HydroGEOPHYSICS, providing corporate affiliation and operational integration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: SGS provides inspection, verification, testing, and certification with significant geophysical and mineral exploration services. It serves many of the same mining, environmental, and infrastructure clients as HGI but at a much larger, diversified scale.
• Stantec: Stantec is a global engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with practices in geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology, and contamination assessment — overlapping with HGI's environmental, geotechnical, and groundwater service lines.
• WSP: WSP is a global engineering consultancy with strong geotechnical, environmental, and earth sciences practices (including the legacy Golder Associates). It competes with HGI on environmental site assessment, groundwater, and geotechnical projects but operates at much larger scale across more geographies.
• Ramboll: Ramboll is an engineering, architecture, and consulting company with significant environmental and geotechnical practices across Europe and North America — competing with HGI on environmental site investigation, groundwater, and infrastructure projects.
• Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech is a global consulting and engineering firm with deep environmental, water, and geotechnical practices — directly comparable to HGI's environmental services (plume mapping, ARD, brownfield) and geotechnical offerings, but at far greater scale.
• CGG (Compagnie Générale de Géophysique): CGG is a global geoscience company providing seismic acquisition, processing, and reservoir characterization to the oil & gas industry. While much larger and O&G-focused, it overlaps with HGI on geophysical subsurface imaging and reservoir/EOR support.

Others

• Arcadis: Arcadis is a global design and consultancy firm with significant environmental and water practices — overlapping with HGI on brownfield assessment, plume mapping, and remediation support across mining and industrial clients.

Direct peers

• Zonge International: Zonge International provides geophysical services and equipment for electrical resistivity, IP, CSAMT, MT, and TEM surveys — directly overlapping HGI's core electrical and electromagnetic methods for mining, environmental, and groundwater clients.
• Itasca Consulting Group: Itasca provides numerical modeling and consulting for geotechnical, hydrogeological, and mining applications. It overlaps with HGI on mining heap leach characterization, slope stability, and subsurface flow modeling for the same mining and infrastructure clients.
• Piteau Associates: Piteau Associates specializes in mining geotechnics, hydrogeology, and slope stability consulting. It is a direct peer in HGI's mining-vertical services, particularly heap leach characterization, slope failure risk, and mine dewatering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuCtSSNk_tGLc_dzX4J78vw
• Facebookfacebook.com/hydrogeophysics.inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hydrogeophysics-inc.
• Xx.com/hgi_geophysics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about hydroGEOPHYSICS