EQUATERRE

What EQUATERRE does

EQUATERRE is a French geotechnical and hydrological engineering firm founded in 1995 and headquartered in Meythet (Annecy). The company delivers soil investigations, static penetration testing (pénétromètre statique), laboratory analysis, foundation and retaining-structure design, slope stabilization, and hydrological services to construction stakeholders across residential, commercial, industrial, civil engineering, and natural-risk segments. Notable technical capabilities include the proprietary Cyclical Reload Penetration Test (CRPT) co-developed with Laboratory 3SR de Grenoble and EDF-CIH, Vibro-CPT methodology for soil liquefaction assessment, and an all-terrain static penetrometer adapted to varied site contexts. Operations extend across more than ten regional agencies and subsidiaries in France plus Switzerland and Luxembourg.

The firm operates a multi-subsidiary platform: EQUATECH.R&D handles research and doctoral programs; EQUATERRE TP (created 2021) addresses public works and road engineering; DIMENSIONS.EXE provides calculation and structural design; R.N.A.C specializes in natural risks; Géo-Logis serves private individuals; and the Hydrology Department (created 2016) covers water-related risk management. Customers span large enterprises including Club Med, Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Bouygues Immobilier, Nexity, Kaufman & Broad, Louis Vuitton, NTN-SNR, and CERN, alongside mid-market developers and individual homeowners.

EQUATERRE generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts, with standard terms including a 30% minimum deposit at signing, 30-day payment terms on stage completion, and quote validity of three months. Distribution is direct via the regional agency network, supported by academic and trade-event marketing (Solscope, JNGG), and the firm carries RC Pro/Décennale insurance with SMABTP covering up to €26M building and €6M civil engineering project costs. Ownership is concentrated among founders and internal stakeholders with no disclosed external investment.

Name

EQUATERRE

Legal name

SAS EQUATERRE

Website

https://equaterre-geotechnique.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EQUATERRE is a French geotechnical and hydrological engineering firm founded in 1995 that delivers soil investigation, penetration testing, foundation design, and natural-risk services to construction developers, public authorities, and private individuals across France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK), Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)

Keywords

• Geotechnical engineering services
• Hydrological engineering services
• Soil investigation
• Foundation design consulting
• Construction site investigations

Headquarters

HQ city

Annecy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Geotechnical Engineering Services: Professional services including soil studies, geotechnical investigations, laboratory analysis, and engineering consulting for construction projects. Operates on project-based pricing with 30% deposit and balance payment upon completion of project stages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EQUATERRE provides geotechnical and hydrological engineering services for construction projects, including soil analysis, static penetration testing, borehole investigations, laboratory testing, foundation design, slope stabilization, soil reinforcement, micropile installation, and judicial expertise. The firm operates through regional offices and specialized subsidiaries (Equaterre TP, Dimensions.exe, EQUATECH.R&D, Géo-Logis, R.N.A.C) to deliver these services to construction companies, developers, public authorities, and private individuals across France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

Product overview

EQUATERRE is a geotechnical and hydrological engineering firm founded in 1995, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized as a core engineering platform supplemented by specialized subsidiaries. The company's primary offerings include Ingénierie Géotechnique (geotechnical engineering) and Ingénierie Hydrologique (hydrological engineering), with judicial expertise services. EQUATERRE operates through multiple specialized subsidiaries: EQUATECH.R&D (R&D and innovation), Géo-Logis (private construction projects), Equaterre TP (works and roads), Dimensions.exe (calculations and design), and manages specialized departments including R.N.A.C (Natural Risks Associated with Constructions). Services span technical offerings such as micropiles, retaining structures, and soil reinforcement, organized into project categories covering small residential developments through complex civil engineering works, all supported by on-site investigations using penetrometers, borings, and laboratory testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EQUATECH.R&D: R&D subsidiary dedicated to innovation in geotechnical engineering, partnership with laboratory 3SR of Grenoble and EDF-CIH engineering center
• R.N.A.C
• DIMENSIONS.EXE
• Géo-Logis
• EQUATERRE TP

Products and services

• Ingénierie Géotechnique (Geotechnical Engineering) Core geotechnical engineering services including soil analysis, foundation design, site investigations using static penetrometers, borings, and laboratory testing for construction projects. Targeted at construction companies, developers, and public authorities.
• Ingénierie Hydrologique (Hydrological Engineering) Hydrological engineering services covering surface water management, rainwater drainage systems, retention structures, regulatory compliance, and geopedological studies for non-collective sanitation. Targeted at construction and infrastructure projects.
• Expertise Judiciaire (Judicial Expertise) Judicial and expert witness services supervised by Pierre Riegel, providing geotechnical diagnostics and assessments for amicable or legal procedures, insurance claims, and dispute resolution.
• EQUATECH.R&D Research and development subsidiary focused on innovation in geotechnical engineering, developing new in-situ testing methods and managing doctoral research programs.
• Géo-Logis Subsidiary specializing in construction project services for private individuals (homeowners), leveraging EQUATERRE group's geotechnical and hydrological resources.
• Equaterre TP Subsidiary dedicated to public works (Travaux Publics) and road engineering, offering soil analysis, feasibility studies, reuse methods, mechanical soil diagnostics, road diagnostics, georadar diagnostics, and road/earthwork engineering with a road laboratory.
• Dimensions.exe Calculation and design subsidiary providing slope stability verification, nailed wall facing design, structural load calculations, retaining structure design, complex geotechnical analysis, foundation design, reinforced concrete and steel structure modeling, and execution plan development.
• R.N.A.C (Risques Naturels Associés aux Constructions) Department specializing in natural risks associated with construction, addressing slope instabilities, rock instability analysis, cliff stabilization, clay shrinkage-swelling risks, seismic risks, and instrumentation and monitoring of phenomena.

Quantifiable outcome

• Soil liquefaction risk assessment using innovative Vibro-CPT technology provides more reliable ground deformation predictions

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Laboratory 3SR de GrenoblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEQUATECH.R&D, the R&D subsidiary of EQUATERRE, collaborates with the prestigious Laboratory 3SR de Grenoble on research programs including development of the Cyclical Reload Penetration Test (CRPT) and soil liquefaction assessment methods. This partnership combines academic research with industrial application for innovation in geotechnical engineering.
• EDF-CIH (Centre d'Ingénierie Hydraulique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EDF-CIH for the development of innovative geotechnical methods including the Vibro-CPT technology for soil liquefaction assessment. Combines expertise in hydraulics and geotechnical engineering.
• EQUATECH.R&DcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D subsidiary dedicated to innovation in geotechnical engineering. Coordinates research programs, manages doctoral theses, and develops proprietary technologies including the CRPT test for soil characterization.
• Dimensions.execoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSubsidiary specialized in geotechnical calculations and structural design, providing independent engineering studies for talus stabilization, retaining structures, foundations, and construction plans.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hydrogéotechnique: French firm combining geotechnical engineering with hydrological and environmental services - closely matching EQUATERRE's dual geotechnical + hydrological positioning across multiple French regions.
• Fondasol: Major French geotechnical engineering company with nationwide agency network providing soil investigation, foundation studies, and environmental services - directly comparable in service mix and geographic distribution to EQUATERRE.
• Géotec: One of France's largest independent geotechnical engineering firms, offering soil studies, foundation design, and laboratory testing across multiple regional offices - directly overlapping with EQUATERRE's core service portfolio and customer segments.
• Sols Etudes (Sol-Etab): Mid-sized French geotechnical engineering firm specializing in soil studies, geophysics, and laboratory testing for construction - directly comparable regional player with similar service offering.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas Construction: Construction division of the global TIC giant providing geotechnical, foundation, and construction quality services in France - competing for similar building-construction study mandates, though embedded within a much larger inspection/certification business.
• Fugro France: French subsidiary of global geotechnical and geo-data specialist Fugro, offering site investigation, laboratory testing, and geophysical surveys - comparable technical capabilities with penetration testing and in-situ characterization matching EQUATERRE's CRPT/Vibro-CPT approach.
• Setec: Major French multi-disciplinary engineering firm with a significant geotechnical and infrastructure practice - overlapping on technical consulting for complex construction and civil engineering projects.
• Ginger Group (Solen / CEBTP): Large French engineering group combining geotechnical (Solen), construction materials testing (CEBTP), and environmental services with broader portfolio - overlapping with EQUATERRE on core geotechnical offerings but operating at significantly greater scale.
• Egis Géotechnique: Geotechnical and geophysics division of the major French engineering group Egis, providing ground engineering services for infrastructure and buildings - comparable in service scope but embedded within a much larger diversified engineering firm.

Others

• Solscope: Organizer of the leading French geotechnical industry trade show where EQUATERRE maintains visibility - included as an ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, given its events/community role rather than service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-equaterre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries14 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 EQUATERRE