Exodigo, a start-up combining 3D imaging, sensors and AI, has announced the commercial availability of its nonintrusive subterranean mapping platform for construction, mining and utility companies in the US and Israel.
The Tel Aviv-based firm estimates that every year more than US$100bn (£73m) is spent on unnecessary excavation and drilling in an attempt to avoid hitting gas pipelines, water sources, oil, and other potential hazards hidden beneath the surface.
The use of heavy equipment creates avoidable greenhouse gas emissions and causes spills and explosions that can cost lives, the company said.
Carried by drones or small carts, the Exodigo sensor system is designed to effectively provide 3D subsurface imaging that eliminates the need for exploratory excavation and powers smart drilling and sustainable operations by de-risking the discovery process across industries.
Exodigo added it can rapidly create a digital geolocated, 3D map of buried assets – from man-made pipes and cables to soil layers, rocks, minerals, and even groundwater across any terrain.
It has recently completed its first live demonstration, in which it aimed to prove its ability to safely and accurately identify underground utilities, abandoned lines, and ground layers in a remote, unmapped area.
“It is time to finally break ground on a safer, more sustainable and infinitely more precise method for subterranean discovery,” said Jeremy Suard, co-founder and CEO of Exodigo.
“Our powerful combination of advanced sensor technologies and proprietary AI platform provides users with a safe, fast way to get a complete view of what lies beneath the surface with unprecedented precision.
“Ending the era of blind digs, Exodigo gives companies an accurate, easy-to-understand map of what lies beneath the surface – empowering their teams to save time, money, and lives. Think of it like combining the scanning power of an MRI, CT scan and ultrasound all into one image of what is beneath the ground.”
Exodigo will commence pilot projects in California, Florida and Texas in the weeks ahead. The company also secured US$29m (£21m) in seed funding to accelerate its expansion. It will initially focus on building a California-based team to support the commercial rollout in the US.
