Sissterra®, a 3D immersion in your subsoils

Sixense is the market leader in geotechnical applications of Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT). Originating from academic research and the Oil & Gas industry, ANT is the foundation of Sissterra, our non-invasive, easy-to-deploy solution for 3D subsurface visualization. With more than 30 references, we continue to foster strong collaborations with academic researchers.

Sissterra helps you to:

consolidate your geological model for better managing associated risks
improve & optimise the planning of surface & underground works through anticipation and adaptation of construction methods, thanks to early and accurate geological insight
optimise soil improvement costs by accurately identifying treatment zones to be treated and assessing the effectiveness of treatment
detect the presence of hydrothermal or geothermal reservoirs, supporting energy-related exploration
protect assets and people by identifying subsurface risks and anomalies, including the identification of potential cavities, heterogeneities, or weak zones

“The interesting innovation provided by Sissterra lies in its passive technique and its speed of implementation on specific points. Using Sissterra gave us a better vision of the geology and allowed us to adjust our assumptions and therefore our excavation parameters. This successfully eliminated settling in the area.”

Lionel Suquet
Project Director of Line 15 T3C package Grand Paris
VINCI Construction Grands Projets

A turnkey solution for 3D underground imaging in restricted environments

Sissterra® is a unique, high-resolution passive seismic solution that uses ambient noise – primarily generated by human activity – to image the subsoil and monitor dynamic changes beneath the surface. It is the most reliable, adaptable, and high-definition geophysical technique available today.

Sissterra requires no active seismic sources and no complex measurement protocols. The system is based on the deployment of autonomous geophones arranged in an irregular network that can be fully adapted to the specific constraints of the study area. This makes it ideal for urban environments, sensitive sites and difficult-to-access zones.

With adjustable depth of investigation and spatial resolution, the design of the Sissterra solution can be tailored to meet both large-scale and high-precision project needs.

Sissterra reduces the number of boreholes and avoids active seismic sources, a real advantage when conducting investigations in dense and difficult to access areas.

A single point of contact for the entire value chain

Our experts handle the full value chain and guide you at every stage of your project:

Needs analysis: definition of project goals and designing the adapted solution
Data acquisition: Deployment of autonomous sensors on site
Processing & visualisation: 2D and 3D imaging using advanced seismic tomography
Interpretation & support: risk assessment, diagnostics, and recommendations to aid decision-making

Operating principle

Sissterra is based on the principle of ambient seismic noise correlation, also known as seismic interferometry. The passive seismic waves naturally generated by urban activity, traffic, and industrial operations are recorded using a dense network of autonomous geophones. These sensors can be flexibly deployed across irregular terrain without requiring a specific grid or source activation.

The large volume of data collected ensures robustness and accuracy. Once gathered, the data is transferred to Sixense’s processing servers, where it undergoes a sequence of advanced signal processing and imaging steps.

Thanks to the support of VINCI Construction’s R&D division and our academic partners – including pioneering experts in the field – Sissterra benefits from state-of-the-art algorithms and technical validation, ensuring the highest standards of data quality and performance.

The result is a 3D seismic tomography of the subsurface over a defined period, along with the ability to monitor changes over time, while keeping the acquisition system in place and active.

“The initial deployment of the Sissterra® solution at the Grand Paris Express construction site has been a resounding success. This decision-making tool has helped us optimise our injection works and assess their impact, both quantitatively, through the increase in seismic speeds, and spatially, through the use of 3D visualisation. Ultimately, the solution enables us to manage the safety of our property and persons much more effectively and keep control of our budget in this type Location.”

Simon Robert
Development Manager – Geophysics Division
Sixense

Explore your subsoils in record time - Sissterra's added benefits:

Highly adaptable to your project

Adjustable depth and resolution deliver a detailed 3D model of the subsurface tailored to your specific site.

Quick and easy deployment

A passive and autonomous solution, with simplified administrative procedures.

Ideal for hard-to-reach areas

Our Sissterra® method has no impact on the worksite organisation or its environment.

Developed with renowned experts

An innovation inspired by technologies adopted from the world of academic science and Oil & Gas industry expertise.

A robust solution

The method is based on a high volume of data & measurements.

Unrivalled processing capacity

Sissterra® offers processing of data volumes in record time.

Download the Sissterra solution and references datasheets

Sissterra solution datasheet

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Grand Paris Express Line 15 North-East

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Rhonergia Hydropower Dam project

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