EMerald Geomodelling AS

What EMerald Geomodelling AS does

EMerald Geomodelling AS is a Norwegian technology company founded in 2009 as a spin-off from the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) that combines helicopter-based airborne electromagnetic (AEM) geoscanning with proprietary machine learning algorithms to produce continuous 3D subsurface ground models for infrastructure, mining, and geological hazard projects. The core EMerald Geomodelling platform integrates sparse geophysical and geotechnical data (electrical resistivity from SkyTEM surveys, boreholes, CPTUs, geological maps) using artificial neural networks and other ML methods to deliver probabilistic models of bedrock depth, soil/material classification, quick clay occurrence, and geological interfaces with quantified uncertainty.

The company operates a project-based professional services model in which it conducts airborne surveys (often via helicopter), processes the data with its ML pipelines, and delivers 3D ground models that integrate with downstream engineering tools such as Leapfrog. Customers are predominantly enterprise and government infrastructure owners, railway operators, hydropower operators, and mining companies; named clients include Nye Veier, Bane NOR, NVE, NHIDCL, Vale S.A., RUMO Logística, First Quantum Minerals, E-CO Vannkraft, SN Power, and Kuniko. Documented outcomes include 250M NOK in savings on a single Nye Veier highway project, 30-33% drilling reductions, 2-3.5x fewer required boreholes in early project phases, and the ability to map 500 km of ground conditions in three days.

EMerald monetizes through engagement-based project fees rather than disclosed pricing tiers, with international delivery capability via Oslo headquarters, technical offices in Brasilia and Belo Horizonte, and senior market representation in India. Marketing is primarily earned: peer-reviewed publications, conference participation (including CEO presence on the EAGE board), and engineering trade press. In March 2026, Xcalibur Smart Mapping acquired EMerald to expand its airborne geophysics footprint into infrastructure, with EMerald now operating within Xcalibur's Environment & Development interpretation division.

Name

EMerald Geomodelling AS

Legal name

EMerald Geomodelling AS

Website

https://emerald-geomodelling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

EMerald Geomodelling AS, founded in 2009 as an NGI spin-off and now part of Xcalibur Smart Mapping, combines airborne electromagnetic geoscanning with proprietary machine learning to deliver 3D subsurface ground models that reduce drilling and geological risk for infrastructure, mining, railway, hydropower, and hazard-assessment customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical Ground Modeling Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Support Activities for Mining (213), Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)

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

Mine Surveying & Geospatial Services (Survey, Drone/LiDAR, GIS, Grade Control) (IMAKAKAK), Geotechnical, Hydrogeological & Seismic Engineering (Slope Stability, Ground Support, Dewatering) (IMAKAOAN), Seismic & Geoscience Services (Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation) (EUALABAK), Tunneling & Underground Geotechnics (Ground Treatment, Support, NATM/SEM Interfaces) (IMAFAOAJ)

Keywords

• Airborne geophysical surveys
• 3D ground modeling
• Subsurface geotechnical analysis
• Machine learning geophysics
• Infrastructure ground investigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ground Investigation Modelling Services: Project-based professional services for infrastructure projects. EMerald conducts airborne geoscanning surveys and delivers 3D ground models to customers for use in planning and construction. Projects are typically engagement-based with specific deliverables for individual infrastructure projects. Revenue is generated through project fees for survey execution, data processing, and model delivery.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EMerald Geomodelling delivers 3D subsurface ground models for large infrastructure projects by combining helicopter-based airborne electromagnetic (AEM) geoscanning with proprietary machine learning algorithms. The company provides end-to-end project services including survey execution, data processing, and model delivery, reducing drilling requirements by 30-70% and saving up to 250 million NOK per major project. Specialized offerings include bedrock surface modeling, quick clay identification, volumetric material analysis, tailings storage facility modeling, and interface detection for mining applications.

Product overview

EMerald Geomodelling AS is a technology company offering an integrated ground modeling solution combining airborne geoscanning and proprietary machine learning algorithms. The core EMerald Geomodelling™ platform processes geophysical data (from helicopter-based electromagnetic surveys), geotechnical data, and geological information to produce 3D subsurface models. The portfolio includes specialized offerings for bedrock surface modeling, quick clay identification, volumetric material analysis, and tailings storage facility assessment. The platform enables infrastructure projects to reduce ground investigation costs by 30-70% while improving geological risk assessment through quantified uncertainty outputs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMerald Geomodelling Ground Modeling Platform The core platform that integrates geophysical, geotechnical, and geological data using proprietary machine learning algorithms to produce accurate 3D subsurface models for infrastructure projects. Provides full coverage ground models with quantified uncertainty for risk-informed decision making.
• Airborne Geoscanning Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves 250 million NOK per major highway project (Nye Veier case)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Xcalibur Smart MappingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Xcalibur Smart Mapping acquired EMerald Geomodelling in March 2026 as part of strategic expansion into infrastructure market. EMerald integrated into Xcalibur's Environment & Development interpretation division. Acquisition reinforces Xcalibur's position in airborne geophysics and Earth Intelligence technologies while providing EMerald access to global technology platforms (XENAI, TEMPEST AEM, LiDAR systems).
• Smart Exploration Research Centre (Uppsala University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026EMerald Geomodelling became a LREE-level Friend of the Smart Exploration Research Centre at Uppsala University. This partnership provides access to the Centre's research network and positions EMerald to contribute expertise in advanced geophysical modeling and AI-driven interpretation to sustainable mineral exploration research.
• Eurostars (European funding)minorOthers · 18 September 2020European funding program that awarded €1.6M to the AGAVE project consortium for developing drone-based geotechnical investigation systems. EMerald and partners received Eurostars funding for 30-month development project.
• SkyTEM SurveyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partnership with SkyTEM of Denmark resulting in new generation geoscanner (SkyTEM Diamond system). SkyTEM provides the airborne electromagnetic survey equipment while EMerald provides data processing and machine learning interpretation. Long-term collaboration including AGAVE project and joint technology development.
• AGAVE Project Consortium (SkyTEM, SDU, NGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundbreaking collaboration project with SkyTEM, Southern Danish University (SDU), and Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) to propel the future of geomodelling through innovative technology development. Eurostars funding of €1.6M secured for drone-based geotechnical investigation development.
• Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMerald was spun out of NGI and maintains close collaborative relationship. NGI board member (Kristoffer Skjolden Skau) serves on EMerald board. EMerald has worked as NGI subcontractor on projects. Ongoing collaboration facilitates international project opportunities through NGI's global reputation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seequent (Leapfrog): Seequent's Leapfrog is the 3D geological modeling platform tightly integrated with EMerald's deliverables. Both companies serve mining and infrastructure customers with subsurface visualization, making Leapfrog a complementary but overlapping technology stack.
• SkyTEM Surveys: SkyTEM develops and operates the helicopter-based airborne electromagnetic (AEM) systems that EMerald depends on for data acquisition. The two firms have a long-standing co-development partnership (including SkyTEM Diamond), making SkyTEM both a critical supplier and a closely aligned peer in the AEM-to-ML interpretation workflow.
• Sander Geophysics: Sander Geophysics provides high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys (magnetic, electromagnetic, radiometric) used in mineral exploration and geological mapping. It is a direct peer in airborne EM data acquisition, comparable to SkyTEM in EMerald's workflow.

Broad incumbents

• WSP: WSP is a global engineering consultancy with deep infrastructure and ground-engineering practices. It serves the same enterprise and government clients and could either partner with EMerald for specialized interpretation or compete for full-scope ground-investigation mandates.
• Multiconsult: Multiconsult is a leading Norwegian engineering consultancy offering geotechnical, geological, and infrastructure advisory services. It competes for the same infrastructure-owner projects and could in-source capabilities overlapping with EMerald's.
• CGG (Compagnie Générale de Géophysique): CGG is a global geoscience technology company providing airborne geophysics, seismic, and subsurface imaging services. It competes with EMerald/Xcalibur in large-scale geophysical surveys, especially for mining and natural-resource exploration.
• Norconsult: Norconsult is a major Nordic engineering consultancy providing geotechnical, surveying, and infrastructure design services. It serves overlapping customers in the public infrastructure market and is a potential partner or competitor depending on engagement structure.
• Xcalibur Smart Mapping: Xcalibur is the parent company that acquired EMerald in March 2026, providing airborne geophysics, LiDAR, and Earth Intelligence platforms (including TEMPEST AEM and XENAI). It is the closest strategic incumbent and now the principal channel for EMerald's global scaling.
• Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI): NGI is the parent organization from which EMerald was spun out and remains a key subcontractor partner. NGI delivers broader geotechnical and geoscience services globally and competes for the same infrastructure-owner engagements while leveraging EMerald's specialized interpretation.

Regional players

• Arctic Geophysics: Arctic Geophysics is a Nordic-focused airborne geophysics company offering EM, magnetic, and radiometric surveys. It is a regional peer in the same Scandinavian market where EMerald has strong government and infrastructure customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 EMerald Geomodelling AS