Magnitude Surveys

What Magnitude Surveys does

Magnitude Surveys Ltd is an independent UK-based archaeological geophysics consultancy headquartered in Bradford, founded in 2015 by Graeme Attwood, Chrys Harris, and Finnegan Pope-Carter. The firm designs, manufactures, and deploys bespoke geophysical survey systems and software to identify and map subsurface archaeological features, buried hazards (UXO, voids, sinkholes, underground storage tanks), and near-surface environmental conditions for planning, construction, environmental, and heritage clients. Its methodology spans magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic conductivity, earth resistance, earth resistivity tomography, magnetic susceptibility, and aerial techniques (photography, videography, photogrammetry, multispectral imaging), all deployable in hand-pulled, motorised, or towed configurations.

The company sells project-based, quote-priced professional services across the UK, working alongside major archaeological contractors (Brython, Cotswold, York, Oxford Archaeology) and serving enterprise clients including AECOM, Arcadis, ARUP, Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Jacobs, Mott MacDonald, British Solar Renewables, National Grid, Network Rail, Anglian Water, Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon, the National Trust, and the Universities of Reading and Nottingham. Pricing is bespoke by project requirements, site conditions, and survey techniques, with the firm positioning itself as providing independent, unbiased advice; it is a CIfA Registered Organisation, ISO 9001/14001/45001 accredited, and a member of FAME and the Council for British Archaeology.

Magnitude Surveys has grown organically from 3 to over 50 employees over ten years — operating with no external institutional funding or parent-company ownership — and claims to be the largest independent provider of Archaeological Geophysical surveys in the UK, with approximately 60,000 hectares surveyed cumulatively. Its go-to-market is sales-led, direct project engagement initiated via a 'Get a quote' web form, supplemented by LinkedIn/Facebook/X presence, industry open days, and a 9-month CIfA-approved Graduate Archaeological Geophysics Scheme that functions as both a training product and talent pipeline.

Name

Magnitude Surveys

Legal name

Magnitude Surveys Ltd

Website

https://magnitudesurveys.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Magnitude Surveys is an independent UK archaeological geophysics consultancy that designs, manufactures, and deploys bespoke magnetometry, GPR, and remote sensing survey systems for heritage, construction, energy, and utility clients, and is self-described as the largest independent provider of such surveys in the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geophysical Survey Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAKAKAA

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

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Mining Services & Contracting (Exploration, Drilling, Blasting, Mine Operations)

SECONDARYEUAHAFAE

Geotechnical Site Investigation & Engineering Geology (Borings, Lab Testing)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Site Assessment & Hydrogeology (Groundwater/Geotechnical)

SECONDARYAFAMAIAI

Remote Sensing & GIS Timber Measurement Services

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Log Sorting, Scaling & Timber Cruising Services

Keywords

• Archaeological geophysics surveys
• Environmental site investigation
• Subsurface hazard mapping
• Remote sensing surveys
• Geophysical consultancy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bradford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Archaeological Geophysics Survey Services: Project-based fees for tailored geophysical surveys across UK and beyond. Services include archaeological surveys, environmental geophysics, hazard identification, and community outreach. Pricing appears quote-based with specific project requirements determining cost.
2. Training Services: Full in-house training programme on all aspects of Archaeological Geophysics, adapted for community and educational projects. Also offers structured 9-month Graduate Archaeological Geophysics Scheme approved by CIfA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Magnitude Surveys is an independent archaeological geophysics consultancy that designs, manufactures and deploys bespoke geophysical and remote sensing survey systems to deliver tailored site investigations. Core service lines are Archaeological Surveys, Environmental Geophysics, Hazard Identification, and Community Outreach and Training, supported by techniques including magnetometry, GPR, electromagnetic conductivity, earth resistance, ERT, magnetic susceptibility, aerial photography, photogrammetry and multispectral imaging. The CIfA-approved Graduate Archaeological Geophysics Scheme provides structured 9-month professional training.

Product overview

Magnitude Surveys is an independent archaeological geophysics surveying company offering a suite of geophysical and remote sensing survey services. The core offerings include Archaeological Surveys, Environmental Geophysics, Hazard Identification, and Community Outreach and Training. These services are delivered using various survey techniques including Magnetometry, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Electromagnetic Conductivity, Earth Resistivity Tomography, Earth Resistance, Magnetic Susceptibility, Aerial Photography and Videography, Aerial Reconnaissance, Photogrammetry, and Multispectral Imaging. The company designs, manufactures and utilizes its own bespoke geophysical systems and software. Additionally, they offer a 9-month Graduate Archaeological Geophysics Scheme for professional development. The company operates independently and is the largest independent provider of Archaeological Geophysical surveys in the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Archaeological Surveys Tailored geophysical survey programmes for heritage and archaeological projects, delivered for commercial archaeological contractors, heritage organisations and developers planning site investigations. Includes independent advice and daily site updates with preliminary images.
• Environmental Geophysics Near-surface geophysical surveys designed to address targeted environmental questions for environmental consultancies and developers, using the company's full range of bespoke techniques.
• Hazard Identification Detection and mapping of buried hazards such as UXO, voids, sinkholes and underground storage tanks using multiple geophysical methods, for developers and infrastructure operators needing to de-risk sites.
• Community Outreach and Training Workshops, activities and bespoke training on archaeological geophysics for community groups, schools, universities and special interest groups of various ages.
• Graduate Archaeological Geophysics Scheme 9-month CIfA-approved structured graduate programme providing hands-on field experience and technical training to develop graduates into Assistant Archaeological Geophysicists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Surveyed approximately 60,000 hectares to date
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of BradfordcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Active collaboration on archaeological research including joint excavation projects such as the 1904 Bradford Exhibition at Lister Park. The partnership involves students and provides research opportunities while Magnitude surveys the sites.
• Brython ArchaeologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage commercial contractor partner for archaeological projects
• Cotswold ArchaeologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage commercial contractor partner for archaeological projects
• York ArchaeologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage commercial contractor partner for archaeological projects
• Oxford ArchaeologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage commercial contractor partner for archaeological projects
• Fusion JVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint venture partner for construction and development projects
• DigVenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-commercial heritage partner, community archaeology platform
• CIfA (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIfA Registered Organisation and member of FAME. Directors serve on CIfA Advisory Board and Registered Organisation Committee. Graduate programme is CIfA approved.
• FAMEcoreOthersMember of Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers. HR Manager Shanni Chavez-Morris serves as Director of FAME.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy and one of Magnitude Surveys' largest enterprise clients. Comparable as a buyer and adjacent provider of site-investigation services across UK construction and environment work.
• Headland Archaeology: Major UK commercial archaeological services firm with geophysical survey capability within a wider heritage and consulting portfolio. Provides Magnitude's services as part of larger integrated offerings.
• Oxford Archaeology: UK heritage contractor running excavation, environmental and geophysical services. Listed as a partnership channel for Magnitude but also an indirect competitor when bringing survey work in-house for integrated project delivery.
• Ramboll: Global engineering consultancy with significant UK presence (Ramboll shown as a client imagery). Represents the kind of large incumbent that procures archaeological geophysics as part of wider infrastructure projects.
• Cotswold Archaeology: UK heritage contractor with geophysics, fieldwork and consultancy services. Functions as both a partnership counterparty and a partial competitor for archaeological survey work.
• MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology): Large UK archaeological and built-environment consultancy operating geophysical survey teams alongside broader heritage services. Comparable on magnetometry/GPR/ERT deployment for planning-driven projects.
• Wessex Archaeology: Large UK heritage contractor offering fieldwork, environmental services and in-house geophysics. Overlaps with Magnitude across archaeological surveys but competes as a broader heritage solutions provider rather than a pure geophysics specialist.

Direct peers

• SUMO Geophysics: Established UK provider of archaeological and geophysical survey services using magnetometry, GPR and earth resistance. Closest direct competitor to Magnitude Surveys' core UK heritage and near-surface geophysics offering.
• GSB Prospection: Long-standing UK archaeological geophysics firm employing magnetometer, magnetic susceptibility, GPR and earth resistance surveys. Direct peer; notably, Magnitude co-founder Graeme Attwood previously worked at GSB Prospection.
• Tigergeo: Specialist archaeological and environmental geophysics consultancy operating in the UK and Ireland. Comparable boutique provider of magnetometry, GPR, EM and resistivity services to Magnitude's offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MagSurveys
• Facebookfacebook.com/magnitudesurveys
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magnitude-surveys

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Magnitude Surveys