EMerald Geomodelling AS is a tech company that specializes in reducing geological risks in infrastructure projects through its innovative technology. With over a decade of research, development, and innovation at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), the company has perfected the art of revealing unknown ground conditions. By providing the missing link between complex geophysical and sparse geotechnical data, EMerald Geomodelling AS helps large infrastructure projects reduce the need for intrusive ground investigations.
The company achieves this by utilizing airborne geoscanning and machine learning to provide full 3D coverage with quantified precision. EMerald Geomodelling AS is dedicated to providing reliable solutions for reducing geological risks in infrastructure projects while ensuring the safety of all involved parties.
Milestones in the Success Story of EMerald
EMerald Geomodelling AS was established in 2019 as a result of over 10 years of research, development, and innovation at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI). The company specializes in providing innovative airborne geophysics for geotechnical use, aimed at reducing geological risk in infrastructure projects. Over the years, the company has achieved significant milestones, which have contributed to its success.
One of the earliest milestones was the company's first airborne geoscanning survey in Norway in 2009. This survey was conducted within a larger rock slide hazard research project, where the technology was used to identify sliding planes and major weakness zones along a planned drainage tunnel alignment. This survey successfully mapped these zones and revealed the mechanisms behind the movement of rock.
In 2013, EMerald Geomodelling AS conducted the first airborne geotechnical geoscanning survey in Norway aimed at increasing the efficiency of soil investigations for the planning of a new highway. This pilot project within ongoing design works involved consultants from NGI and Cowi in a contract owned by the Norwegian public road administration (SVV). The survey results proved worthwhile, leading to a reduction in overall soil investigation costs.
Another major milestone was in 2015 when the Norwegian national rail administration commissioned a regional airborne survey. The survey aimed to support the nation's largest railway development project, the InterCity project. EMerald Geomodelling AS provided bedrock models that were used in further planning work, reducing geological uncertainty early in the project.
In 2017, EMerald Geomodelling AS carried out an international project during the construction phase of a hydropower project in the high Andes to support tunnel construction. The provided models were utilized to reduce the geological risk during construction contract re-negotiations, demonstrating the company's commitment to reducing geological risk in infrastructure projects.
The company's success has led to its expansion, and in 2022, EMerald Geomodelling Brazil was established. The company established a fully owned business unit in Brazil to work closer with asset owners like Rumo Logistics and Vale Rails, who appreciate their value proposition in the Brazilian Railway industry. EMerald Geomodelling AS's milestones demonstrate its commitment to providing innovative solutions that help large infrastructure projects reduce the need for intrusive ground investigations, thereby improving safety and reducing project costs.
Advanced Geotechnical Solutions for Infrastructure Projects
EMerald Geomodelling AS provides specialized solutions to reduce geological risks in infrastructure projects. The company's service bridges the gap between complex geophysical and sparse geotechnical data by combining extensive project experience with efficient and accurate machine learning routines. This results in full 3D coverage with quantified precision. The company's service is designed to identify risks such as soil types, bedrock topography, and weakness zones. By strategically locating geotechnical drillings based on survey data, EMerald Geomodelling AS can provide a sound geotechnical understanding of ground conditions, ensuring safe construction during and after infrastructure development.
EMerald Geomodelling AS creates full-coverage 3D models that let experts detect and assess key geophysical factors. These models are created using machine-learning algorithms that combine all the data gathered through geoscanning and geotechnical drillings. This allows the company to provide reliable solutions for reducing geological risks in infrastructure projects, ensuring the safety of all involved parties.
Journey of Andreas A. Pfaffhuber
Andreas A. Pfaffhuber is the CEO of EMerald Geomodelling AS, bringing with him extensive leadership experience in innovation, research, project management, business development, and scientific consulting. He is considered a visionary in the field of airborne geo-intelligence and has been instrumental in introducing airborne geophysics for geotechnical use to the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) in 2007.
Pfaffhuber played a pivotal role in the establishment of the NGI Geosurveys section in 2012, which develops, adapts, and implements geophysical, remote sensing, and GIS methods in NGI's advanced geotechnical projects. He also contributed to NGI's newly established daughter company in Perth, Australia, for a year as part of the business development team.
Pfaffhuber holds a PhD in Applied Geophysics from Bremen University, Germany (2006), and an MSc in Applied Geoscience from Technical University Berlin, Germany (2001). His expertise in geophysics has been critical in the development and success of EMerald Geomodelling AS. As CEO, he continues to lead the company to new heights in the field of innovative airborne geophysics for geotechnical use.