Ground Science

What Ground Science does

Ground Science Pty Ltd is a privately held Australian environmental engineering firm founded in 2003 by Ernie Gmehling and Chris Senserrick in Thomastown, Victoria. The firm delivers an integrated stack of geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, and NATA-accredited construction materials testing services, with a specialist sports field engineering practice that is recognised as Australia's premier laboratory in that niche. Its core technical platform is a NATA-accredited (No. 15055) laboratory executing over 50 distinct test types across soil, sand, aggregate, source rock, asphalt, and concrete in accordance with AS1289, AS1141, and related Australian Standards, complemented by in-house drilling capability (GT10 rig), nuclear density/moisture gauge radiation monitoring, and Level 1/2 inspection and testing under AS3798.

The business operates on a project-based, quote-driven professional services model, billing per test, per project scope, or under multi-year testing mandates. Customers are predominantly tier-1 and tier-2 construction contractors (CPB, BMD, Decmil, McConnell Dowell, Acciona JV, Civilex, Bitu-mill) on major road, rail, and Level Crossing Removal Program projects, alongside government agencies (VicRoads, City of Melbourne, WDHS) and specialist sports/racing clients (Hong Kong Jockey Club, Racing Victoria, Optus Stadium). Go-to-market is direct enterprise engagement through tendering, repeat mandates, and consultant referrals, with no digital or self-serve motion. The firm holds VicRoads prequalification, runs a wholly-owned regional subsidiary (Ground Science South West) for southwestern Victoria, employs 70+ staff across Thomastown and Lara, and continues to invest in R&D (recycled civil engineering materials with three universities) and equipment, indicating an established, owner-managed SME anchored in regulatory credentials and reputation rather than technology disruption.

Name

Ground Science

Legal name

Ground Science Pty Ltd

Website

https://groundscience.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ground Science is a privately held Australian environmental engineering firm providing NATA-accredited geotechnical, environmental consulting, and construction materials testing services to tier-1 contractors, government agencies, and sports organisations across Victoria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Geotechnical engineering services
• Construction materials testing
• Environmental site assessment
• Sports field engineering
• Contaminated land remediation

Headquarters

HQ city

Thomastown

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Construction Materials Testing (CMT) Services: Project-based testing fees charged for geotechnical testing, earthworks compaction control, aggregate testing, and laboratory analysis on major infrastructure and construction projects. Revenue is earned per project, per test batch, or under contract testing mandates on multi-year projects such as North East Link and Princes Highway duplication.
2. Geotechnical and Environmental Consulting: Fees for geotechnical investigations, environmental site assessments, contaminated land investigations, remediation planning, and ongoing technical consultation throughout design and construction phases. Billed per project scope or retainer for ongoing advisory roles.
3. Sports Field Testing and Design Services: Specialist materials testing and design laboratory test work for turf track profiles, synthetic surfaces, cricket soils, perched water table designs, and equine facilities. Includes material selection and performance benchmarking for major sports stadiums and racing venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ground Science provides geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, NATA-accredited laboratory materials testing, and specialist sports field testing and design services. The firm delivers site investigations, earthworks compaction control, aggregate and concrete testing, contaminated land assessment, and turf/synthetic profile engineering for construction contractors, government agencies, developers, and sports facility operators across Australia.

Product overview

Ground Science is a geotechnical engineering and environmental consulting firm offering a portfolio of integrated services. The core offerings consist of Geotechnical Services (pavement design, subsurface investigations, slope stability, site classifications), Environmental Services (contaminated land investigation, remediation, wastewater management), Laboratory Services (NATA-accredited soil, aggregate, concrete and asphalt testing), and Sports Field Testing Services (turf and synthetic field design, cricket soil testing, equine facilities). These services are delivered through their Melbourne-based team of engineers, scientists, and technicians, with NATA accreditation covering most tests in AS1289 and AS1141 standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Geotechnical Services
• Environmental Services
• Laboratory Services NATA-accredited laboratory testing services covering soil testing, aggregate testing, concrete testing, asphalt testing, and specialist geotechnical testing using AS1289 and AS1141 test methods, with over 50 different types of tests in soil, sand, aggregate, source rock, asphalt, and concrete.
• Sports Field Testing Services
• Earthworks and Construction Materials Testing Construction materials testing (CMT) services for earthworks compaction control, including compaction testing, material compliance testing, Level 1 and Level 2 sampling and inspection per AS3798.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25,000 tests performed across Princes Highway Duplication (3 stages, 3 contractors)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Acciona & Macca JVmajorOthers · 1 September 2024Joint venture awarded Ground Science the geotechnical testing contract for the Northern Package of the North East Link project, a 4-year major infrastructure engagement. The JV comprises Acciona and McConnell Dowell (Macca).
• Victoria UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with Victoria University, City West Water, and Melbourne University to investigate use of shredded tyres, crushed glass, and chipped plastics to create new civil engineering materials for sewer trench backfill. Funded by a Government grant from Sustainability Victoria. The partnership conducted extensive laboratory testing, developed rain-falling compaction techniques, and completed full-scale field trials with scientific instrumentation monitoring over a full seasonal cycle.
• City West WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-research partner in the Sustainability Victoria-funded project investigating recycled civil engineering materials (rubber, glass, plastics) for sewer trench backfill applications. Contributed to the development and field trial of self-compacting blend recipes.
• University of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-research partner in the Sustainability Victoria-funded R&D program to tackle the carbon footprint of civil construction infrastructure expansion using recycled materials. Contributed technical expertise to the investigation of alternative engineering materials.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• WSP: Global professional services firm with substantial Australian geotechnical, environmental, and materials testing operations. Overlaps with Ground Science on infrastructure projects, particularly transport and rail, but serves as a one-stop alternative.
• GHD: Global employee-owned engineering, architecture, and environmental consultancy with significant Australian geotechnical and materials testing practices. Overlaps with Ground Science on major infrastructure projects but operates a much broader services portfolio.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with Australian geotechnical and environmental practices. Engaged on many of the same large Victorian infrastructure programs as Ground Science (North East Link, Level Crossing Removal), typically as prime consultant.
• Aurecon: Global engineering and infrastructure advisory with Australian geotechnical capability. Competes for advisory scope on the same major Victorian infrastructure projects as Ground Science, though as a prime consultant rather than specialist testing subconsultant.
• SMEC: Australian-origin international engineering consultancy with geotechnical and materials testing capability across transport, water, and energy infrastructure. Comparable to Ground Science on major infrastructure testing, with broader geographic distribution.

Direct peers

• Cardno (now Stantec): Australian-origin environmental and geotechnical consultancy with significant presence in contaminated land and infrastructure testing. Directly comparable to Ground Science's environmental services practice, with broader international scale following Stantec integration.
• Douglas Partners: Australian employee-owned geotechnical, environmental, and groundwater consultancy with NATA-accredited laboratories across multiple states. Directly comparable to Ground Science in service mix, target customers, and project-based delivery model, but with broader geographic reach.
• Coffey (Tetra Tech): Long-established Australian-origin geotechnical and environmental consulting firm, now part of Tetra Tech. Comparable to Ground Science in core geotechnical investigation and materials testing, with broader international footprint and parent balance sheet.
• Construction Sciences: Australian construction materials testing and geotechnical firm serving major infrastructure contractors across multiple states. Closest direct competitor to Ground Science in earthworks compaction control, aggregate testing, and Level 1 inspection services.
• Insitu Geotech Services: Victorian-based geotechnical investigation and construction materials testing firm serving similar tier-1 contractors on infrastructure and development projects in the Melbourne region. Closest local competitor to Ground Science in CMT and Level 1 inspection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groundscience

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Ground Science