Our History
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.
In 2017, GroundProbe launched the GML, allowing entry into the underground mining sector. Its launch saw GroundProbe’s technology offering extend into LiDAR.
In 2018, GroundProbe was purchased by Orica. The integration of GroundProbe’s market-leading technologies consolidates Orica’s position as the industry leader in digitally-enabled solutions to the mining industry.
The GMS, a long-term, background monitoring solution and GroundProbe’s second laser-based solution, was also launched in 2018.
GroundProbe rounded out 2018 with the launch of SSR-Viewer® 9 and the SSR-Omni, GroundProbe’s high resolution, premium radar offering.
Alongside Nitro Consult, GroundProbe became a part of Orica Digital Solutions, 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.
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.
In 2021, GroundProbe launched RGR-Velox – a military-precision reactive monitoring and alarming system designed to detect, track, and alarm on moving geohazards in real-time.
It’s GroundProbe’s first product release in reactive monitoring, with the company now offering both predictive and reactive monitoring technologies.
In 2022, GroundProbe released MonitorIQ® Desktop, MonitorIQ® Enterprise, BlastVision®, and Precision Atmospherics®.
MonitorIQ® Desktop is the natural evolution of SSR-Viewer® and has absorbed all the safety-critical functionalities, features, and tools incorporated into our long-running data analysis software.
MonitorIQ® Enterprise is a single-dashboard data aggregation software that gathers and visualises all information from on-site sensors, ensuring users spend less time collecting data and more time analysing data. All of GroundProbe’s safety-critical features and tools have been absorbed into MonitorIQ® Enterprise, including MonitorIQ® Desktop – now a tab in MonitorIQ® Enterprise.
BlastVision® provides actionable insights from blast activity that can be used to make informed decisions, ultimately driving productivity, improving safety and helping control the impact of blasting on the surrounding environment.
Precision Atmospherics®, a key feature of MonitorIQ® Desktop, is a revolutionary atmospheric correction algorithm that distinguishes and significantly reduces the noise from Slope Stability Radar (SSR) data, inherently caused by changing atmospheric conditions.
In 2023, GroundProbe was proud to announce it was now a part of Orica Digital Solutions as a key pillar of Orica Digital’s Measure and Monitor solutions.
In 2024, Orica purchased Terra Insights, a comprehensive platform of geotechnical, structural, and geospatial monitoring technology, along with purpose-built data delivery solutions.
In October, Orica Digital Solutions launched its Geosolutions group, which included GroundProbe, RST Instruments, Measurand, 3vGeomatics, Syscom Instruments, and NavStar. At this time, the Terra Insights brand was officially retired.
Geosolutions brings together six of the world’s leading monitoring brands to provide everything from sensors to services.
In 2024, GroundProbe also commenced a new collaboration with Trimble®, enabling customers to easily buy Trimble® monitoring solutions, including total stations, 3D laser scanning systems, and software, through GroundProbe.
This partnership allows our customers to access best-in-class integrated sensors, software, and services through one global network, supported by Trimble’s® extensive distribution network for local inventory and efficient local repairs and maintenance.
Today, GroundProbe has customers in over 35+ countries, supported by offices in Australia, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Rio Tinto, BHP, Anglo American, and Vale, are amongst some of GroundProbe’s global customers.
GroundProbe continues to invest heavily in research and development to deliver innovative, market-leading solutions 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.