Groundradar

What Groundradar does

Groundradar is a privately held Canadian geophysical services firm founded in 1990 by Dr. Jan Francke, headquartered in Toronto with staffed operations in Canada, the UK, Brazil, Jamaica, Indonesia, India and Australia and a network of regional representatives across Latin America, Europe, Africa, SE Asia and the Indian Ocean. The firm specializes in applying ground penetrating radar (GPR) to deep mineral exploration and geotechnical investigations where conventional consumer-grade GPR (penetration typically under 15-50 m) and electrical resistivity surveys are insufficient or uneconomic.

Its core technology is the proprietary UltraGPR system, a sub-4 kg wireless (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi) deep-penetrating radar using real-time full waveform capture with stacking of 32,000-64,000 times, achieving 80-100+ metre imaging in suitable environments at 10-15 km/day. The portfolio is rounded out by Air-Radar (a 370 g drone-mounted 100 MHz GPR), MineVue (a shielded 40 MHz ATEX-approved system for coal mines), MapRad (a 5-30 MHz magnetic-antenna GPR in joint development with Australian partners for lunar, mineral and cross-hole monitoring use cases), and an affiliated borehole radar via Helix Geotech. Data is processed and visualized in the proprietary Groundradar Studio viewer and delivered to clients through the Geolitix cloud platform.

Groundradar earns revenue primarily from professional services — direct GPR surveys conducted by its own staff — supplemented by managed processing and 3D modelling for clients who acquire their own data using Groundradar-supplied equipment, and by transport-cost-only trial surveys (roughly 20 per year, converting at a stated 75% success rate). Customers are enterprise mining operators (nickel laterite, bauxite, iron ore, mineral sands, alluvials, lithium pegmatites, coal), geotechnical engineering firms, and archaeology/special-project clients. The firm has executed surveys on more than 100 deposits across six continents, with hundreds of kilometres surveyed per month and over 300,000 miles of staff travel annually.

Name

Groundradar

Legal name

Groundradar

Website

https://groundradar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Groundradar is a Toronto-based private geophysical services firm that applies proprietary deep ground penetrating radar (UltraGPR and related systems) to mineral exploration, geotechnical engineering and archaeology projects for enterprise clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geophysical Survey Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Support Activities for Mining (2131)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382)

akta.pro primary industry

Mineral Exploration & Geoscience Services (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Resource Modeling) (IMAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB), Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG)

Keywords

• Ground penetrating radar services
• Deep mineral exploration
• Geotechnical subsurface imaging
• Geophysical survey services
• Drone mounted GPR

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. GPR Survey Services: Groundradar conducts GPR surveys using their proprietary technology, with staff based in Canada, UK, Brazil, Jamaica, Indonesia, India and Australia. Survey costs are among the lowest of any geophysics, often a fraction of hiring local contractors even including airfares. Survey speeds of 10-15 km/day enable rapid coverage.
2. Data Processing and Modelling: For larger projects, Groundradar provides equipment at no cost to qualified clients who acquire their own data. Groundradar then receives data nightly and provides editing, processing, interpretation and modelling within a few days turnaround time. This model lowers survey costs and logistical complexity for customers.
3. Trial Survey Services: For new project sites where Groundradar does not have nearby data, trial surveys are offered on a transport cost-only basis (reduced to single airfare from nearest base). This at-cost trial approach reduces client risk when testing new technology. Groundradar undertakes approximately 20 such trials annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Groundradar provides specialized ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey services for deep mineral exploration and geotechnical applications globally. The company designs and manufactures its own proprietary deep GPR systems (including UltraGPR, Air-Radar, MineVue) and deploys them directly or through qualified regional partners to image the subsurface to depths exceeding 80–100 metres. Services span field data acquisition, processing, interpretation, and 3D modelling for mining exploration (nickel laterite, bauxite, iron ore, mineral sands, alluvials, lithium pegmatites), geotechnical engineering (void detection, bedrock profiling), and archaeology/special projects.

Product overview

Groundradar offers specialized ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey services rather than product sales. The company's portfolio centers on its proprietary UltraGPR flagship deep radar technology, supplemented by Air-Radar (drone-mounted GPR), MineVue (shielded low-frequency GPR), MapRad (magnetic antenna GPR in development), and consumer-grade systems from third-party manufacturers. Groundradar provides end-to-end services including data acquisition, processing (via proprietary Groundradar Studio and Geolitix cloud platform), interpretation, and 3D modeling for resource exploration (nickel laterite, bauxite, iron ore, mineral sands, alluvials, lithium pegmatites), geotechnical applications (void detection, bedrock profiling, lake/river profiling, seismic static corrections), and archaeology/special projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UltraGPR: Proprietary deep ground penetrating radar technology offering the deepest penetration of any radar system available, capable of imaging depths exceeding 80 metres in suitable environments.
• Air-Radar
• MineVue
• MapRad
• Groundradar Studio

Products and services

• Resource Exploration Services Project-based GPR survey services for mineral exploration companies, producing high-resolution subsurface profiles and 3D models for resource definition, volume calculation, ore body shape determination, paleochannel mapping, canga mapping, and pegmatite body visualization using UltraGPR and complementary radar systems. Delivered worldwide by Groundradar staff and regional partners, with optional trial surveys at transport-cost only for new project sites.
• Geotechnical Services GPR survey services tailored for geotechnical engineering applications including karstic void detection, limestone cavity mapping, abandoned tunnel/working detection, bedrock profiling, lake and river profiling, railway ballast investigations, and seismic static corrections. Includes ATEX-approved MineVue surveys for coal mine abandoned workings detection.
• GPR Data Processing and Modelling Services Editing, processing, interpretation and 3D modelling of GPR data with few-day turnaround. For qualified clients with larger projects, Groundradar supplies equipment at no cost so the client can acquire its own data; Groundradar receives data nightly and produces processed sections, interpretation and 3D models delivered through the Geolitix cloud platform and viewed in Groundradar Studio.
• Archaeology and Special Projects Services Specialized GPR survey and custom radar system services for archaeological target mapping and unusual one-off tasks where conventional multichannel GPR systems are unsuitable due to terrain, vegetation, or size constraints. Includes both field deployment and processing/interpretation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Penetration depths of 80-100+ metres achievable in suitable environments with UltraGPR versus typical 15-50 metre limits of consumer-grade systems
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and innovation.

• Neo Geo GeotecnologiaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Provides local support and project coordination for Groundradar services in South America.
• International Geophysical TechnologyregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Madrid, Spain. Provides local support and project coordination for Groundradar services in Europe.
• Core GeophysicalregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Perth, Australia. Provides local support and project coordination for Groundradar services in Australia.
• Stratagem974regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Reunion Island, France. Provides local support and project coordination for Groundradar services in Indian Ocean region.
• PT Geo SearchregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Jakarta, Indonesia. Provides local support and project coordination for Groundradar services in Southeast Asia.
• SubterraregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Buenos Aires, Argentina. Provides local support and project coordination for Groundradar services in Argentina.
• Regional Representative - South AfricaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Johannesburg, South Africa. Provides local support and project coordination for Groundradar services in Southern Africa.
• Helix GeotechcoreTechnology or IntegrationGroundradar is closely affiliated with Helix Geotech, the foremost borehole radar (BHR) technology provider globally. Helix's BHR technology is slimline (32 mm), completely self-contained with no umbilical cord to surface, and can withstand depths of over 3000 m for specialized applications.
• MapRad Development Partners (Australian partners)innovationStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development project with Australian partners to develop next-generation low-frequency GPR using magnetic antennas for deep penetration. Project aims to invent and commercialize small 5-30 MHz antennas for lunar exploration, mineral exploration and permanent cross-hole monitoring applications.
• GeolitixcoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud-based software platform for secure delivery and visualization of geophysical data. Groundradar delivers processed geophysical data to clients through Geolitix platform.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• ABEM (Guideline Geo): Manufacturer of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) systems, the principal alternative geophysical method Groundradar explicitly compares itself against. Comparable as a subsurface imaging vendor addressing similar mining and geotechnical customers with a complementary, not overlapping, technology stack.
• SkyTEM Surveys: Provider of airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys widely used in mineral exploration, groundwater mapping, and geotechnical baseline studies. Comparable to Groundradar in target customers and mining exploration use cases, with airborne rather than ground-based acquisition.
• Phoenix Geophysics: Provider of induced polarization (IP) and magnetotelluric (MT) surveys for mineral exploration worldwide. Comparable in mining exploration geophysics services targeting similar base and precious metal customers, with a different subsurface measurement modality.

Direct peers

• Sensors & Software: Canadian manufacturer of GPR systems used in shallow subsurface investigations; Groundradar itself operates a fleet of Sensors & Software consumer-grade systems for shallow work, and Sensors & Software is a direct comparand in the GPR market with overlapping mining and geotechnical customers.
• ImpulseRadar: Swedish GPR equipment manufacturer focused on real-time sampling technology for utility, geotechnical, and mining applications. A direct comparand to Groundradar's flagship UltraGPR at the technology and customer-segment level, and one of the systems in Groundradar's consumer-grade fleet.

Broad incumbents

• CGG (Viridien): Global geoscience and geophysical services major with multi-method subsurface imaging capability for mining and resource exploration. Comparable in mining geophysics service delivery and customer base, though CGG is a large, multi-method incumbent versus Groundradar's GPR specialization.
• Fugro: Global geotechnical and subsurface investigation services firm with extensive mining, infrastructure, and energy projects. Comparable in geotechnical service delivery, geographic footprint, and enterprise customer access, though Fugro is a much larger, diversified incumbent versus Groundradar's GPR-specialized model.
• GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems Inc.): US-based incumbent manufacturer of GPR equipment with broad utility, infrastructure, and archaeological applications. Comparable to Groundradar in target customers and GPR market positioning, though GSSI is an equipment vendor rather than a deep-GPR service specialist.
• Mala GeoScience: Sweden-based GPR and geophysical instrument manufacturer (part of Guideline Geo) producing commercial GPR systems that compete at the shallow-to-mid depth tier. Groundradar explicitly operates Mala systems in its consumer-grade fleet, making Mala a comparable equipment-side peer.

Others

• Zonge International: US-based geophysical services and equipment provider specializing in electrical and electromagnetic methods for mineral exploration and geotechnical investigations. Comparable as a contract geophysical services firm addressing overlapping mining and groundwater customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Groundradar