Frequently Asked Questions

PT Geo Search has been in operation in Indonesia for over 10 years, working with a large network of local and international clients with many long term projects over a wide range of commodities.

The founders of PT Geo Search are Tobias (Toby) Maya and Michael (Misha) Maya with Daniel (Dan) Madre.

Tobias Maya is a geoscientist and Michael Maya is an engineer. They are brothers, who have worked with their uncle Daniel Madre in the Indonesian mining and exploration industry since 2004. Prior to the founding of PT Geo Search, Tobias and Michael were key employees of Dan’s PT Danmar Explorindo, providing unique experience to Danmar’s holistic mine services from mine planning to drilling.

PT Geo Search headquarters are located in South Jakarta, including a branch office in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

PT Geo Search is led by President Director Tobias Maya and Vice President Director Michael Maya.

PT Geo Search currently has 20 employees. We post any job openings on our LinkedIn page .

PT Geo Search is currently expanding and looking for new employees in several positions. Follow PT Geo Search on LinkedIn to get updates on any current job openings.

Ultra Ground Penetrating Radar, or UltraGPR, is a tool developed by Dr. Jan Francke and International Groundradar Consulting Inc. in Canada.

UltraGPR employs real-time full waveform capture to enable effective stacking of 64,000 times. It uses powerful transmitters and replaces all fiber optics and wires with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The UltraGPR system weighs less than 10kg. Data capture and storage is accomplished using an Android tablet or any Android smartphone.

PT Geo Search’s clients can benefit from utilizing the UltraGPR system during early stage exploration.

The compact, lightweight, and rugged nature of the UltraGPR unit works well in conducting ground penetrating surveys in the remote areas of greenfield exploration. The UltraGPR has low impact on forested area, providing an environmentally-friendly method for green-minded exploration companies.

UltraGPR units are custom made and assembled in Canada by International Groundradar Consulting, Inc.

As their partner in the SouthEast Asian region, PT Geo Search manages many units located in Indonesia which are available for short to long term leases.

Quantities are limited, so interested parties are advised to contact us immediately to check availability.

As an authorized partner of International Groundradar Consulting Inc, PT Geo Search is uniquely qualified to oversee repairs of UltraGPR units. Any instance where there is a problem with the UltraGPR unit on-site, PT Geo Search’s maintenance team will communicate with the site to troubleshoot the problem. If a solution cannot be achieved remotely, a replacement part will be mobilized so that the work can continue with minimal downtime. The damaged unit will then be taken to our workshop where it can be thoroughly checked and, if possible, repaired through consultation with Groundradar. This ensures that the UltraGPR unit is properly maintained so that it functions as needed. Replacement parts are supplied at no cost, provided the damage was not through negligence or improper use.

PT Geo Search is not permitted to sell any UltraGPR systems. The UltraGPR units are a specialized tool available in finite quantities. Each unit is the property of International Groundradar Consultants, Inc.

As an authorized provider for South East Asia, PT Geo Search enjoys unique access to UltraGPR tools and processing, allowing us to provide UltraGPR surveys and services to our mineral exploration clients.

PT Geo Search offers mineral exploration companies with unique access to the UltraGPR system on full, partial, or rental packages that can be customized based on the needs of the project and limitations of the client.

In full packages, PT Geo Search manages all aspects of the project, such as labour, logistics, survey preparation and acquisition. This is the highest cost per kilometer to the client.

Partial package means the client would manage some of the survey requirements so theyt can directly manage the project costs. Typically the client would provide the local labour, transportation / logistic support, meals and accommodation, whereas PT Geo Search would provide line preparation and survey acquisition management.

Rental packages are for larger projects where the client would benefit from the internal hire of a dedicated survey team, allowing for a significant cost reduction to the per kilometer rate. PT Geo Search would provide training, support, maintenance and spare parts but would not have a permanent presence on site.

The UltraGPR unit can reach a maximum depth of up to 75 meters in ideal conditions, there is no minimum depth . Because the full waveform capture within the receiver enables up to 64,000 stacks, it significantly increases the UltraGPR’s penetration to up to three times more than most commercially-available ground penetrating radar systems.

However, the actual depth on the survey location depends heavily on the type of soil and other environmental factors. For example, the UltraGPR will perform differently in sand and gravel than it will in wet clays.

Interested mining and mineral exploration companies should contact PT Geo Search directly to conduct a proper feasibility study.

There is no minimum or maximum survey area for UltraGPR, as PT Geo Search considers several factors when developing and undertaking surveys.

It’s best for any interested mining and mineral exploration companies to contact PT Geo Search directly to create custom UltraGPR survey plans based on their project goals and stated limitations.

Most PT Geo Search clients utilize UltraGPR surveys for early stage exploration in remote locations, in these locations vehicle support may be necessary to improve the speed of conducting the survey or to access the survey location.

Vehicle support is not necessary for UltraGPR surveys, but they can be recommended based on the unique factors of each survey location.

PT Geo Search recommends that mining and mineral exploration clients prepare a path wide enough for a person to walk through, since the UltraGPR system consists largely of equipment worn on a backpack with an attached antenna.

Preparing a reasonable path in advance allows for the smooth acquisition of survey lines and speedy completion of the survey.

PT Geo Search recommends most clients have 5 to 10 local labor to assist in running the UltraGPR surveys. Best practice is 2-3 teams working in parallel: 1 team with the UltraGPR operator to conduct survey and 1-2 other teams to prepare the lines and clear the path. This best practice ensures the UltraGPR survey is run smoothly and speedily, while maintaining the highest safety standards.

PT Geo Search is an authorized partner for International Groundradar Consulting Inc. to provide UltraGPR surveys and services to the South East Asian region. With headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, PT Geo Search has the most experience in the Indonesian archipelago deploying the UltraGPR for Nickel, Placer Sands (Gold, Iron, Chromite, Titanium, Silica), and Bauxite.

The UltraGPR tool can be conveniently transported in checked luggage and packs neatly into a small backpack. As long as the mining and mineral exploration companies have proper permits to conduct exploration in the area, PT Geo Search does not foresee any issues.

The speed at which UltraGPR surveys are run depends on the unique conditions of each survey location and the parameters set for the project. PT Geo Search works closely with each client to create and recommend the best survey plan for each mining and mineral exploration company.

UltraGPR surveys can be completed faster when the survey location is easily accessible and when the path or lines are prepared well. Having an easily accessible survey location, whether through erecting the camp nearby or by choosing a location that is naturally easy to trek to, reduces travel time and improves productivity of survey teams. Having the path cleared ahead of time ensures that the survey can run more quickly, as it allows the UltraGPR operator to walk continuously without needing to stop for obstacles to be cleared out of the way.

The Ultra Ground Penetrating Radar is rugged and waterproof, it can be used in rainy weather. However, PT Geo Search does not recommend operation in inclement weather or unfavorable environmental conditions, such as tropical storms, to ensure the safety of employees and the equipment.

Most of PT Geo Search’s mining and mineral exploration clients benefit from using an UltraGPR survey in early stage exploration of nickel laterite, mineral sands, and bauxite. However, Ultra Ground Penetrating Radar should work well in most scenarios wherein near surface geophysics can be used, taking into consideration the unique factors of the soil.

PT Geo Search approaches each potential UltraGPR survey individually, as each project location needs to be assessed for suitability based on soil and geological conditions. Effectiveness of Ultra Ground Penetrating Radar will vary depending on several factors such as soil conductivity and moisture content.

PT Geo Search recommends that any mining and mineral exploration professionals interested in the use of UltraGPR survey contact us directly to discuss the particulars of their project so that we can propose the best method for near-surface geophysical survey.

The speed at which most PT Geo Search clients collect UltraGPR survey data largely depends on the efficiency of the survey team and the available internet connections on location. Mining and mineral exploration clients can choose to send the data as they are collected on a daily basis, or to send data packets in bulk at regular intervals over a longer survey period.

The collected data is sent to partner and UltraGPR expert Jan Francke (of International Groundradar Consulting Inc.) for interpretation and processing, a process which takes 3 to 5 days. The final step of visualization via an imaging or modeling software is done by PT Geo Search, allowing them to provide context and recommendations for mining plans and mineral exploration.

Ground penetrating radar is often used for civil applications, such as utilities mapping, pavement analysis, and bridge and tunnel inspections. The Ultra Ground Penetrating Radar’s unique features allow it to detect deeper structures >5m such as voids, potholes, soil thickness and depth to bedrock layers than conventional GPR units

Since the UltraGPR unit allows for less invasive and real-time imaging of subsurface structures, it is particularly suited for both mineral exploration and civil applications to improve planning before excavation.

PT Geo Search recommends that any parties interested in using UltraGPR for civil applications contact us directly to discuss the limitations and possibilities of the technology, as each project needs to be assessed for suitability.

PT Geo Search has a long history of partnership with UltraGPR creator and Dr Jan Francke, and has extensive experience as an authorized provider of International Groundradar Consulting Inc.’s UltraGPR survey and services.

This long partnership with the UltraGPR technology provider matched with experience in the Southeast Asia region means PT Geo Search is able to recommend the best UltraGPR survey plan to acquire the best possible UltraGPR data in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.

PT Geo Search’s geologists, engineers, and professional management oversee every step of the UltraGPR data survey, from operation, acquisition, and validation of data on the field to quality control of data processing from and final imaging.

With access to historical geological data as part of the Danmar group of companies, and over 20 years of experience in Indonesian mining and mineral exploration, PT Geo Search has the knowledge to put any UltraGPR data in proper context.

PT Geo Search is committed to mining safety, sustainability, community outreach, and environmental responsibility practices. We regularly help our partner mining and mineral companies in more sustainable exploration with UltraGPR surveys that have minimal impact on the environment.

The UltraGPR system also ensures more precision and efficacy in mine planning to reduce unnecessary environmental and financial cost. The surveys also rely on local labor, with technical training as part of the project’s community outreach.

PT Geo Search has over 10 years of experience in challenging terrain and remote locations, so we know that the safety of our staff is the utmost priority.

Before any project begins we discuss risks and project assessment extensively with the client to ensure that the right measures have been taken to prepare the location for exploration and reliable communication systems have been established. At the start of the project, our expert staff conducts extensive training on safety protocols of the local and support teams, protocols include proper use of PT Geo Search and Groundradar’s UltraGPR systems, as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Our lead project managers are also in daily and constant communication with teams on the ground to ensure the project location is adequately prepared and provide any additional support needed. Any and all issues and concerns are immediately discussed with clients to enhance safety of all the manpower involved and proper completion of the project.