Mapping your potential
Sander Geophysics Limited (SGL) provides worldwide airborne geophysical surveys for petroleum and mineral exploration, and geological and environmental mapping. Services include high resolution airborne gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, and radiometric surveys, using fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
The company
SGL was founded in 1956 to provide ground geophysical surveys; airborne surveys began in 1958 and have been the main focus since 1967. The head office and aircraft maintenance hangar are located at the international airport in Ottawa, and the company has operated on every continent, including Antarctica.
Facilities at head office include a state of the art data processing department with an integrated digital cartographic department, a fully equipped electronics workshop for research, development and production of geophysical instruments, and a Transport Canada Approved Maintenance Organization for fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
1956
Founded, Ottawa
12
Aircraft owned and operated
160+
Full time employees
15M+
Line kilometres flown
Services
SGL specializes in surveys using one or more of the following methods, performed with specially modified fixed wing aircraft or helicopters. A digital elevation model derived from SGL scanning LiDAR, or a combination of radar and laser profiler data, is a standard product on all surveys.
Gravity
Airborne gravity with AIRGrav, the only purpose-built airborne gravimeter currently flying commercial surveys, designed for the airborne environment and flown in an efficient light aircraft during normal daytime conditions.
AIRGrav in detailMagnetics
High resolution magnetic surveys, total field and gradient, the structural mapping workhorse of airborne geophysics.
All servicesElectromagnetics
Frequency domain EM with the SGFEM system, flown from the Twin Otter, mapping conductivity with depth.
All servicesRadiometrics
Full spectrum radiometrics for geological mapping, plus environmental monitoring of natural and anthropogenic radiation.
All servicesSafety record
SGL has flown and compiled more than 15 million line kilometres of high resolution airborne geophysical data since 1956, all of it with no aircraft accidents or serious injuries. SGL is a founding and accredited member of the International Airborne Geophysics Safety Association (IAGSA).
Latest news
August 2026
Sander Geophysics has been selected to fly a magnetic gradient and radiometric airborne geophysical survey over extensive parts of Nova Scotia. Survey flying has commenced in eastern Cape Breton.
June 2026
SGL has completed the last flight collecting magnetic, electromagnetic and natural radioactivity data for this extensive project, which began in 2011 and provides detailed geophysical data for the whole country.
January 2026
SGL has been selected to fly an airborne geophysical survey in the eastern part of Guinea, launched at an official ceremony in Conakry under the World Bank supported geoscience program.
Next step
Survey enquiries go to surveys@sgl.com, and the services pages set out what each method measures and how surveys are planned.
