Subsurface Water Detection:
A Pathway to Sustainable
Water Management
Auracle uses advanced space technology to locate subsurface water sources in active industrial site
Parksville British Columbia
The world is facing a critical shortage of clean drinking water and it is becoming increasingly important to locate and manage subsurface water resources. Subsurface water refers to water that is found underground, often in aquifers, and it can provide a sustainable source of water for communities, industries and nature.
By locating and managing subsurface water resources, communities and industries can reduce their reliance on surface water sources which are often over-exploited and depleted. Subsurface water sources aren't easy to find and are often located in remote areas where traditional water exploration techniques may not be practical. Auracle's MUD® system remotely detects, measures and tracks near surface and subsurface water systems, across wide areas.
Sector:
Water Management
Service:
Water Detection
Satellite:
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
This optical satellite image of the project area shows the significant surface obstructions that MUD® had to penetrate in order to complete the task of locating and monitoring subsurface water. Traditional ground penetrating radar and other geophysical surveys were not feasible. There is no surface evidence of any underground water systems.
This Point Cloud displays million of subsurface points which, with machine learning, were classified to delineate ground water barriers, which encapsulates the ground water occurrence. There is an underlying and impervious shale layer and and overlying clay layer.
Further classification of the volume section shows underlying shale (displayed in orange); water (in blue); and overlying clay (brown). The figures on the left indicate the subsurface depths, in meters, at which each lay. A geological fault in the subsurface geological structure was detected (displayed in green) and the pressure it generates produced an artesian well.
Impact
From space, MUD® detects groundwater sources down to 100 metres. MUD® is a satellite deep penetrating radar technology that is non-invasive and no drilling or excavation is needed to locate groundwater, making it an environmentally-friendly solution.
MUD® identifies the type of subsurface materials and their water-bearing potential with the exact underground location, which can be used to determine safe and productive drilling locations for wells and aquifers.
The MUD® system, with its advanced analytics and 3D subsurface modelling, contributes to a full understanding of the subsurface land conditions so that appropriate planning and design and monitoring solutions can be evaluated and designed.
By locating and managing subsurface water resources, the global community can conserve water, mitigate the impact of drought, and ensure that there is access to clean drinking water for generations to come.
Actionable subsurface intelligence
Machine classification discretely and anonymously detects and defines underlying bedrock, soil saturation and structural bounds.
Sustainable water management strategy that proactively locates and tracks subsurface water systems and pipe leaks.
Automated tool available 24/7 through all seasons for domestic, municipal, industrial, ecological and agricultural applications