GeoNova and RAKwireless Revolutionized Seismic Acquisition with LoRaWAN®
| Quick Look: Use Case Summary | |
|---|---|
| Principal Emphasis | RAKwireless Product Value |
| Supporting Themes | LoRaWAN Education |
| Industry | Oil & Gas / Geophysical Exploration |
| Sub-Industry | Seismic Data Acquisition |
| Deployment Area | Remote oil fields and outdoor seismic testing zones |
| IoT Stack Used | WisGate Connect (Raspberry Pi-based gateway), WisLink LoRa Concentrator, LoRaWAN Network, GeoNova’s proprietary acquisition systems |
Problem
In large-scale field operations like seismic exploration, collecting accurate data from remote and rugged terrains is not easy. Many companies still operate on traditional cable-based systems to collect seismic data. However, those expensive systems are often difficult to integrate with the company’s existing system infrastructure and even harder to scale in the future. It takes a lot of time for the teams to manage cables, transport heavy equipment, and troubleshoot connectivity glitches. These delays slow down operations and increase overall costs for companies.
The New Shift in Strategy with IoT
There is more to seismic data acquisition than just listening to the earth. It’s about capturing pulses that never repeat. In energy projects, construction, or disaster planning, these underground movements guide some of the biggest decisions above the surface. This is why every wave of information matters. Despite years of progress, the process of gathering this data remains complex and outdated.
The core problem here is the mindset that technology must always be big and heavy to work well in extreme environments. What if there was a better way to listen to the earth? An approach where small devices connect across long distances without messy cables and data freely flows through in real-time? This possibility now exists with IoT (Internet of Things).
IoT connects physical devices to the internet and allows them to collect and share data for real-time control. Site workers can now easily monitor seismic activity through a wireless network of compact devices that stay active in tough fields. IoT devices also enable field operators to cover more ground and make better decisions, all without the weight of complex infrastructure. To put it simply, IoT brought a new transition in how information is gathered, shared, and used across all data-driven industries.
Company Profile
GeoNova is a firm that specializes in seismic data collection. They recently faced major issues with their old wired systems during field operations. It took a lot of time and effort to set up heavy cables across rough ground, and it also slowed down the seismic operations. GeoNova needed a smarter way to work and strategically collaborated with LoRaWAN and Rakwireless, a leading IoT solution provider.
The company built a custom wireless system using RAK’s latest IoT devices, like WisGate Connect and LoRa concentrator modules. The new setup made deployment faster, cut equipment load, saved considerable costs, and helped GeoNova scale its operations.
GeoNova’s Smart Seismic Data Solution
In the wide open lands of the UK, the search for oil and gas never stops. To support this, seismic data helps teams “see” underground before they start drilling. One company leading the way in this field is GeoNova. For over 13 years, GeoNova has built strong, reliable, and flexible equipment that helps gather this important underground data. Their tools have worked well in tough conditions and across large areas. However, as technology keeps changing fast, even the most trusted systems need to evolve.
Problem Statement
GeoNova had been using the usual cable-based systems to collect underground mapping data. These systems generally worked at first, but eventually began to create problems for on-ground teams. The cables were heavy, and setting them up took a lot of time and energy, especially in rough and open areas.
GeoNova wanted to streamline routine operations and set out to build a wireless system. However, switching to wireless was not just about removing cables. It had to work well across large spaces, handle lots of data, and stay reliable no matter the weather or terrain. That was the real challenge.
Location
United States
The Solution
To address these problems, GeoNova started looking for a better option to connect its equipment without using cables. They needed a wireless system that could provide extensive coverage in tough environments and quickly document large amounts of incoming data. Standard network solutions no longer worked for them because Wi-Fi signals have a relatively shorter range, and NB-IoT runs on telecom networks that are costly and unreliable at the same time. That’s when they opted for LoRaWAN.
Transitioning to The LoRaWAN Technology
LoRaWAN is a wireless technology and is made for wide areas and rugged landscapes. It can send signals over a vast network and through rigid structures. A single LoRaWAN gateway can handle up to 500-700 buildings in outdoor environments, and this makes it perfect for field operations like seismic data acquisition.
In spite of that, switching to LoRaWAN brought a new challenge for GeoNova. The company now needed a reliable IoT provider to build and support the infrastructure for this wireless network. They also needed a solution that could scale up over time.
The Ultimate RAKwireless IoT Setup
Once GeoNova had decided to switch to LoRaWAN, the next thing they required was the right IoT tools to make it all work. The company, being an industry expert, wanted a system that was flexible enough to run their own proprietary applications. That is when they found RAKwireless and incorporated the following RAK IoT solutions into their system.
-
WisGate Connect
RAKwireless offered a gateway called WisGate Connect, which is built on a Raspberry Pi. This made it easy for GeoNova to connect its software without any setbacks. The gateway provided them full authority over software integration and future development. -
WisLink LoRa Concentrator
GeoNova used RAK’s WisLink LoRa Concentrator module to test their concepts in real-world conditions, and it integrated easily with their seismic data acquisition solution. For outdoor use, they bought outdoor enclosures separately to protect the equipment.
Thanks to these IoT tools, GeoNova could execute successful pilot tests. The new setup created a smooth wireless system that replaced the traditional cable networks. As a result, the company had significant cost savings and remarkably improved operational efficiencies. This good experience built trust, and now GeoNova is ready to add even more RAKwireless IoT devices to its growing network.
The Outcome
With a strong partnership with RAKwireless, GeoNova now runs a fully wireless setup that perfectly operates in the field. They have already deployed over 100,000 devices per year, and plan to expand use cases even further.
Get in Touch Today
Seismic work is already tough; your network shouldn’t be.
RAK’s IoT solutions will fit right into your existing setup and let you expand your network on your terms.
RAK’s IoT solutions will fit right into your existing setup and let you expand your network on your terms.
