Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the mining industry. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked earth exploration startups.
Global Startup Heat Map: 5 Top Earth Exploration Startups
The 5 earth exploration startups you will explore below are chosen based on our data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and relevance of technology, among others. This analysis is based on the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering over 1.3 million startups & scaleups globally.
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the 5 earth exploration startups & scaleups our Innovation Researchers curated for this report. Moreover, you get insights into regions that observe a high startup activity and the global geographic distribution of the 601 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.
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Bedrock Ocean Exploration – Seafloor Exploration
The seafloor remains a largely unexplored domain. However, startups are set to change that with the introduction of remotely or autonomously operated submarines and other underwater vehicles. This is particularly crucial to identify mineral resources, oil & gas reserves, and sites for communication cables, drilling platforms, and other structures. Seafloor exploration also helps study the impact of fisheries and offshore waste disposal.
Bedrock Ocean Exploration, a US-based startup, uses autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to create a detailed topography of the ocean floor. The AUVs capture its geological data, as well as identify unexploded ordnances. The solutions are applied to enable ocean-based renewable energy, cable laying, and hydrogen production facilities.
Stratolloon – Geospatial Analytics
The growth in geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite technologies have led to a boom in geospatial analytics solutions. These solutions integrate satellite imagery with local data from a wide range of channels to spot geospatial patterns. Moreover, geospatial analytics help businesses visualize how something has changed over days, months, or years. Among other use cases, it helps mining companies and utilities identify ideal dig sites.
Spanish startup Stratolloon offers a cloud-based analytics platform for spatial and satellite data. The platform analyzes natural phenomena, land-use monitoring, and atmospheric parameters, including air pollutants. The startup’s solution surveys large areas for applications in agriculture, insurance, energy, and logistics. The platform also helps governments measure the impact of climate change, monitor critical infrastructure, and deliver smart city initiatives.
RagnaRock Geo – Seismic Data
Seismic surveys allow geophysicists to look under the surface of the land, as well as seafloor. These surveys employ seismic pulses and monitor how they are picked off after bouncing off from subsurface structures. The process generates a large number of images – too many to be analyzed manually. Startups leverage analytics and artificial intelligence to process seismic data and identify the type and location of subsurface structures.
Based in Norway, RagnaRock Geo uses AI to interpret seismic data. The AI takes a volumetric approach to generate predictions, assisting the geophysicists to better understand the seismic cube. The startup’s multi-purpose AI engine predicts faults, facies, and horizons.
Open Ocean Robotics – Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV)
A better understanding of the open oceans is important for many sectors, including shipping, oil & gas, and other offshore applications. It also helps governments better assess the impact of and tackle climate change. To this end, research vessels conduct a wide range of hydrographic, oceanographic, fishery, and polar studies. Now, startups use autonomous boats to make open ocean exploration more efficient and get results in real-time.
Canadian startup Open Ocean Robotics deploys USVs to collect real-time ocean information. Data Xplorer, the startup’s solar-powered USV, is capable of traveling autonomously for months at a time. The USV integrates a range of oceanographic and environmental sensors that measure parameters like solar intensity, wind speed, fish stock populations, chlorophyll, and dissolved oxygen. The startup’s USVs detect oil spills, replace research vessels, and find fuel-efficient routes for shipping.
Atomionics – Mineral Exploration
As the demand for minerals grows, companies are now turning to deeper deposits. Mineral exploration is challenging as it is incredibly difficult to get a clear picture of the underground. Further, structures like dense rocks and sinkholes often threaten underground infrastructure or make exploration sustainable. To this end, startups are working on quantum sensing and other technologies that help in the precise identification of mineral deposits.
Atomionics is a Singaporean startup that develops sensors based on atom interferometry. The startup’s gravimeter, Gravio, offers high imaging resolution, precision, and sensitivity in discovering underground structures. The solution makes surveying more cost-effective by charting a time-efficient tunnel path. Gravio also improves the safety of underground infrastructure and finds the precise location of hydrocarbons and mineral deposits.
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