Sol Concept

What Sol Concept does

Sol Concept is a privately held French geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological engineering consultancy founded in 1987 and headquartered in Sisteron. Operating under the legal entity 'Sol Concept' (SIRET 44500965700021, capital social €84,000), the firm delivers on-site studies, laboratory analyses and expert reports for construction projects, building pathologies and natural-risk assessments, with all geotechnical missions executed under the NF P94-500 standard.

The firm's service portfolio spans soil studies (missions G1, G2, G5), foundation reconnaissance and control, building expertise (crack, infiltration and ground-movement diagnostics), hydrogeological studies (water resource, drainage, well protection), geophysical investigations (seismic refraction, Schlumberger sounding), and natural-risk cartography (PPRn). A proprietary piece of equipment, the GRIZZLY® combined heavy dynamic penetrometer and drill mounted on a tracked all-terrain carrier, enables in-house soil sampling and penetrometer testing compliant with NF P 94-115 and NF EN ISO 22476-2. In-house laboratory capability covers blue value, Atterberg limits, water content, sedimentometry, granulometry, and oedometer swelling pressure. Engineering calculations rely on the GEOSTAB, GEOMUR and GEOSPAR software suite for slope stability, retaining walls and nailed walls.

Commercially, Sol Concept operates a direct field-sales model with engineering consultants dispatched from three regional offices — Sisteron (Agence Durance Ubaye Alpes), Miscon near Die (Agence Drôme Ardèche Rhône), and Aix-en-Provence (Agence Provence et Corse) — covering the PACA and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions. Revenue is generated through professional-services, quote-based engagements (no public pricing) to four customer segments: individual homeowners (Particuliers), architects/engineers/construction professionals (Professionnels), local governments and departmental councils (Collectivités), and state agencies (Services de l'État). Demand drivers include regulatory construction studies (loi ELAN), CAT NAT sécheresse claims tied to clay shrink-swell (RGA) episodes, and municipal natural-risk prevention plans. Customer acquisition relies on professional referrals, the corporate website, scientific publications and a consumer-facing book ('Faire construire sa maison sans risque'). Leadership is anchored by Managing Partner (Gérant) Georges Henri Ducreux, recognized as a pioneer of the clay-hazard cartography methodology adopted by BRGM across French departments.

Name

Sol Concept

Legal name

Sol Concept

Website

https://solconcept.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sol Concept is a French geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological engineering consultancy founded in 1987, delivering soil studies, building diagnostics, hydrogeology and natural-risk mapping for individuals, professionals, municipalities and state agencies across PACA and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes from three regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical Engineering Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Geotechnical engineering
• Soil investigation studies
• Hydrogeological consulting
• Building diagnostic services
• Foundation reconnaissance

Headquarters

HQ city

Sisteron

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Geotechnical Studies and Consulting: Professional consulting services including soil studies (G1, G2), geotechnical diagnostics (G5), hydrogeological studies, building diagnostics, foundation control, and natural risk assessments. Services are project-based and delivered by engineers with customized reports and recommendations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sol Concept is a French geological, geotechnical, and hydrogeological engineering consultancy that performs on-site soil studies, foundation reconnaissance, post-disaster building diagnostics (G5 mission), hydrogeological assessments, geophysical investigations, and natural risk mapping. Services include dynamic penetrometer testing and drilling with the proprietary GRIZZLY® machine, in-house laboratory soil analysis, fissure monitoring, and engineering reports with technical recommendations. The firm operates through three regional offices (Sisteron, Aix-en-Provence, Miscon) and dispatches engineering consultants to project sites across the PACA and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of southeastern France.

Product overview

Sol Concept is a geological, geotechnical, and hydrogeological engineering consulting firm offering a comprehensive suite of on-site study and diagnostic services. The core offering comprises soil studies (Études de sols), foundation reconnaissance (Reconnaissance de sols), G5 post-disaster diagnostics, building expertise (crack, infiltration, and ground movement diagnosis), hydrogeological studies, and geophysical investigations. The GRIZZLY FOREUSE specialized equipment enables field soil sampling and penetrometer testing. Services are delivered across three regional agencies (Sisteron, Aix-en-Provence, and Die/Miscon) covering PACA and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions, with all geotechnical missions governed by NF P94-500 standard. The portfolio also includes natural risk cartography for municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Études de sols (Soil Studies) Geotechnical soil studies including subsurface reconnaissance, dynamic penetrometer tests, drilling and sampling, laboratory analyses (blue value, Atterberg limits, water content, sedimentometry, granulometry, swelling pressure at oedometer), and stability analysis for foundations, earthworks, and retaining structures. Delivered for architects, construction companies, individuals, and municipalities.
• Reconnaissance de sols (Foundation Control and Soil Reconnaissance) Foundation control and soil reconnaissance including G2 AVP pre-dimensioning studies, dynamic penetrometer testing with GRIZZLY®, auger drilling, coring, and inclinometric measurements for construction project design and implementation phases.
• Diagnostic G5 Post-disaster geotechnical diagnosis (mission G5) performed after building cracks appear, analyzing soil movement causes such as clay shrinkage-swelling, foundation defects, and natural disasters, with recommendations for reinforcement and repair work. Compliant with NF P 94-500 standard.
• Expert en bâtiment (Building Expertise) Building expertise services covering crack diagnosis (visual gauges and connected sensors), water infiltration diagnosis (drainage, capillary rise, runoff), and ground movement diagnosis (landslides, subsidence, retaining wall failure, rockfall). Field surveys, fissure monitoring, and engineering reports with stabilization recommendations.
• Hydrogéologie (Hydrogeological Studies) Hydrogeological studies covering water research, aquifer development, pumping tests, water quality analysis, drainage solutions, rainwater management, and regulatory documentation including water law dossiers and well protection perimeters.
• Investigations géophysiques (Geophysical Investigations) Geophysical investigations including seismic refraction and Schlumberger electrical sounding, correlated with lithological reconnaissance and field surveys for groundwater research and deep subsurface exploration.
• Cartographie des risques naturels (Natural Risk Mapping) Natural risk mapping services producing hazard, stakes, and PPRn (risk prevention plan) maps for landslides, rockfalls, collapses, sinkholes, and clay-related hazards in southeastern France departments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of studies completed in Southern Alps, Rhône valley, and Provence regions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• CFGI (Confédération Française des Géologues et Ingénieurs)minorOthersProfessional organization logo displayed on website representing the French Confederation of Geologists and Engineers. Membership indicates professional affiliation and adherence to industry standards.
• CFMS (Comité Français de Mécanique des Sols)minorOthersProfessional organization logo displayed on website representing the French Committee of Soil Mechanics. Membership indicates professional affiliation with soil mechanics engineering community.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hydrogéotechnique: Hydrogéotechnique is a French engineering firm focused on water, soils, and the environment, offering hydrogeological studies, geotechnical surveys, and environmental diagnostics. It directly mirrors Sol Concept's combined geotechnical-plus-hydrogeology positioning, with field-to-lab integrated services.
• Fondasol: Fondasol is one of France's leading independent geotechnical engineering firms offering soil studies, foundation design, geophysics, and natural-risk diagnostics. It is directly comparable to Sol Concept on core G1-G5 missions, foundation reconnaissance, and field-investigation services, though operating at a substantially larger national scale.
• Géolithe: Géolithe is a French geotechnical and geological engineering consultancy specialized in mountain and alpine terrain, natural-risk assessment, and slope stability. It is a direct peer to Sol Concept in southeastern France, with overlapping capability in PPRn mapping, landslide diagnostics, and geophysical investigations.
• ERG Géotechnique: ERG Géotechnique is a French geotechnical engineering firm offering G1-G5 missions, foundation studies, and laboratory testing. It is a direct mid-sized peer to Sol Concept with comparable service mix and customer segments (architects, particuliers, collectivités).
• Terrasol (Setec): Terrasol is the geotechnical engineering subsidiary of the Setec group, specializing in soil mechanics, foundation design, and slope stability. It competes with Sol Concept on the higher-end technical consulting and modeling side (retaining walls, nailed walls, GEOSTAB-class calculations) and serves similar architects and maîtres d'œuvre clients.

Broad incumbents

• Ginger CEBTP: Ginger CEBTP is the historical French leader in geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing, part of the broader Groupe Ginger. It overlaps with Sol Concept across soil studies, foundation control, and laboratory testing, but operates as a broad national incumbent with a much wider service portfolio (materials, structures, environment).
• ANTEA Group: ANTEA Group is a major French environmental and geotechnical consultancy offering site assessment, hydrogeology, and soil/groundwater studies. It is a broad incumbent comparable to Sol Concept on the hydrogeology and environmental side, but operates at national scale across water resources, contaminated sites, and regulatory compliance.

Regional players

• Alpes Géo Conseil: Alpes Géo Conseil is a smaller regional geotechnical and geological engineering consultancy based in the French Alps. It is a regional peer to Sol Concept in PACA/Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with similar soil-study and natural-risk offerings but a narrower geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Sol Concept