Australian-based, yet a truly multinational business, GroundProbe evolved from an industry-funded PhD project at the University of Queensland in 1993 to the leading global technology leader it is today.
In 1997, the Australian Coal Association Research Program provided funding to the university to focus the development of this project, specifically the real-world application of the university’s radar technology in detecting slope failures that did not require physical access to slope walls, and provided real time monitoring in a broad range of conditions.
The patented Slope Stability Radar (SSR) was commercialised in 2001 coinciding with the inception of the GroundProbe brand.
Following the global expansion of the GroundProbe business with offices opening around the world; 2006 saw the launch of the first iteration of the SSR with the SSR-X (now known as the SSR-XT).
The SSR-FX, our specialised broad-range monitoring solution, was launched in 2014; along with a bigger and better version of our slope monitoring software, SSR-Viewer 8.
In 2015, GroundProbe launched a slope stability monitoring solution designed for long-range monitoring, the SSR-SARx. The release of the SSR-SARx allowed GroundProbe to be the only company in the world to offer all radar technology solutions – 3D Real Aperture, 2D Real Aperture and 2D Synthetic – meaning GroundProbe now offers a range of slope monitoring solutions to meet all customers’ needs.
In 2017, GroundProbe launched the GML, an industry-disrupting underground monitoring solution developed specifically for geotechnical convergence monitoring. Taking the best of radar – namely its precision – and adding it to the benefits of laser, the GML broadens GroundProbe’s product offerings.
In 2018, GroundProbe was purchased by Orica. The integration of GroundProbe’s market leading technologies will help consolidate Orica’s position as the industry leader in digitally-enabled solutions to the mining industry, and strengthen our existing presence in the large and high growth mining and civil monitoring markets.
The GMS, our long-term, background monitoring solution, was also launched in 2018. The GMS is GroundProbe’s second laser-based solution and monitors vast mine areas for long periods of time of many months to many years. It specialises in background monitoring in open cut pits and highly vegetated slopes, and detecting and measuring deformation on tailings dams, dumps and cuttings.
GroundProbe rounded out 2018 with the launch of SSR-Viewer 9 and the SSR-Omni. The SSR-Omni is the market leader for full-coverage, high-resolution, real-time monitoring. Merging the best of radar technology with superior-resolution imaging, GNSS and a weather station, the SSR-Omni is a premium, fit-for-purpose monitoring solution and GroundProbe’s most sophisticated system to date.
Alongside Nitro Consult, GroundProbe became a part of Orica Monitor, a business stream dedicated to providing monitoring solutions to the mining and civil customers globally.
Data aggregation software MonitorIQ was subsequently the first product launched by Orica Monitor, and the latest to join Orica’s suite of digital technology solutions. Designed and developed by GroundProbe, the single-dashboard data aggregation software gathers and visualises all information from on-site sensors in the same way, on the one screen.
The SSR-Agilis – GroundProbe’s tactical, highly-mobile monitoring solution – was launched in 2020. Built on GroundProbe’s latest SSR platform, it’s the fifth addition to our industry-leading suite of Slope Stability Radars.
Today, GroundProbe provides monitoring solutions to both open-cut and underground mines, has customers in over 30 countries, supported by offices in Australia, the Americas, Asia and Africa, and currently employs over 240 staff and 60 support technicians, globally.
Rio Tinto, BHP, Anglo American and Vale are amongst some of GroundProbe’s global blue-chip mining customers.
GroundProbe has also continued to heavily invest in research and development to deliver market-leading innovative solutions to ensure it has both a strong technical focus and a customer solutions-centred culture, with all of products supported by a broad portfolio of patents and intellectual property.
GroundProbe has received national and international recognition awards for its intuitive product design, innovation, growth and industry excellence.
