A UNIQUE underground mapping solution has been borne out of a partnership between Winnington Hall-based Geoterra and a French firm.

Geoterra, the UK’s market-leader in subsurface laser scanning, has joined forces with France-based Flodim, award-winning developers and providers of underground cavity services.

The partnership will execute specialist underground investigation projects in the UK and Ireland

While Geoterra brings its unique capabilities in the surveying of dry voids, cavities and abandoned mines using the C-ALS laser scanning system, Flodim adds pioneering underground cavern technology for the investigation of the condition of submerged or gas filled cavities up to depths of 5500 metres.

Mark Hudson, Geoterra MD, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with an industry-leader such as Flodim. Flodim’s highly specialised underground sonar surveying services adds a real competitive edge to our ground investigation service offering and strengthens our current services to clients in the mining, minerals and civil engineering sectors in particular, where synergies between the two firms are apparent.”

Jean-Paul Crabeil, Flodim CEO, said: “We have experienced rapid growth in the last year and through this new partnership with Geoterra, we are well positioned to offer a much broader range of ground investigation services and mobilise teams across the UK and Ireland. The partnership with Geoterra makes perfect sense; both companies bring their own unique capabilities in underground investigations to offer a strong client proposition."

“We have seen an increase in potential work opportunities as clients become better informed about the dangers and risks associated with the possible failure or collapse of underground workings, and the many costs, time and safety benefits of the modern surveying technology and practices we use."

Mark added: “We are also able to combine our terrestrial laser scanning and UAV LiDAR scanning to then monitor any surface settlement that may occur in areas which may to be subject to voids and sinkhole collapses."

Consulting engineers will benefit from experience and expertise in laser scanning voids, cavities, shafts and abandoned mines to create 3D models of subsurface conditions.