NEWTON-g · Project

Affordable Gravity Sensors That Map Underground Fluids in Real Time

energyTestedTRL 5

Imagine having X-ray vision for what's happening underground — where water flows, where magma moves, where oil reservoirs shift. Right now, gravity sensors that can detect these changes are expensive, bulky, and hard to use in the field. NEWTON-g built a new kind of gravity camera by combining cheap chip-based sensors (like the ones in your phone, but far more sensitive) with an ultra-precise quantum sensor as an anchor. They tested the whole setup on Mt. Etna volcano in Italy, proving it can track underground changes continuously.

By the numbers

consortium partners across 6 countries

total project deliverables produced

demo deliverables including 2 working prototypes

industrial partner in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies in geothermal energy, oil and gas, water management, and volcanic hazard monitoring cannot see what's happening underground in real time. Current gravity sensors are too expensive, too bulky, and too difficult to operate in the field, which means subsurface fluid changes go undetected until problems surface — literally.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered two working prototypes: a quantum gravimeter for absolute measurements and a MEMS-based gravimeter for affordable distributed sensing. Together these form a gravity imager — an array of cheap MEMS sensors anchored by one precise quantum sensor — that was field-tested at Mt. Etna volcano in Italy.

Audience

Who needs this

Geothermal energy operators needing real-time reservoir monitoringOil and gas companies seeking continuous subsurface fluid trackingWater utilities managing aquifer levels and groundwater flowVolcano observatories and civil protection agenciesMining companies monitoring ground stability and subsurface changes

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Geothermal Energy

mid-size

Target: Geothermal power plant operators and exploration companies

If you are a geothermal energy company struggling with blind spots in your reservoir — you never quite know how underground fluid levels change over time. NEWTON-g developed a gravity imaging array that continuously monitors subsurface mass changes, giving you real-time maps of fluid movement. This was field-tested at Mt. Etna, one of the most geologically active sites in Europe, proving the sensors work under harsh conditions.

Oil & Gas Exploration

enterprise

Target: Hydrocarbon exploration and production companies

If you are an oil and gas company spending heavily on seismic surveys that only give you snapshots — NEWTON-g built a low-cost MEMS-based gravity sensor array that logs continuously. Instead of periodic expensive surveys, you get ongoing images of how subsurface fluids move. The system combines an array of relative gravimeters anchored on a quantum absolute gravimeter for drift-free monitoring.

Water Resource Management

any

Target: Water utilities and environmental monitoring agencies

If you are a water utility dealing with aquifer depletion or contamination and relying on sparse borehole data — NEWTON-g created sensors that detect underground mass changes caused by water movement. The adjustable sensor grid can be shaped to your site, and continuous logging means you spot changes as they happen rather than months later during scheduled surveys.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much would this gravity imaging system cost compared to traditional gravimeters?

The project specifically aimed to develop low-cost MEMS-based gravimeters to replace expensive traditional instruments. Based on available project data, exact pricing is not published, but the core value proposition is shifting from costly individual instruments to affordable chip-based sensor arrays. Contact the consortium for current pricing and licensing terms.

Can this scale to monitor large areas like entire geothermal fields or oilfields?

Yes, the system is designed as an adjustable array — you can change the position, grid spacing, and shape of the sensor network to match your site. The MEMS sensors serve as low-cost 'pixels' while the quantum gravimeter provides the absolute reference anchor. This modular design means you scale by adding more MEMS units.

Who owns the IP, and can I license the technology?

The consortium includes 6 partners across 6 countries (Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands, UK, Switzerland), with the coordinator being Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia in Italy. IP ownership follows EU Horizon 2020 rules — typically each partner owns the IP they generate. Licensing inquiries should go to the coordinator or the relevant technology-developing partner.

Has this been tested in real field conditions, not just a lab?

Yes. The gravity imager was deployed at Mt. Etna volcano in Italy, which the project describes as an excellent natural laboratory with frequent gravity fluctuations, easy access to active structures, and an existing multi-parameter monitoring system including traditional gravimeters. This is genuine field validation, not a controlled lab test.

How long has this technology been in development and what's its current maturity?

The project ran from June 2018 to November 2022 under FET Open funding, which targets breakthrough technologies. They delivered working prototypes of both the quantum gravimeter and the MEMS gravimeter, plus a full gravity imager design. The technology is at prototype stage with field validation, not yet a commercial product.

What regulations or standards apply to deploying gravity sensors?

Gravimetry is a passive sensing technology — it measures natural gravity fields and does not emit anything. Based on available project data, no specific regulatory barriers are mentioned. Standard environmental permits for field installations would apply depending on your deployment site and jurisdiction.

Is there technical support available for integration into existing monitoring systems?

The Mt. Etna deployment was integrated with an existing multi-parameter monitoring system, demonstrating compatibility with traditional geophysical instruments. The consortium includes 3 research organizations and 2 universities with deep expertise. The 1 industrial partner in the consortium may offer commercial integration support.

Consortium

Who built it

The NEWTON-g consortium brings together 6 partners from 6 countries (Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands, UK, Switzerland), giving it strong European geographic coverage. The team is heavily research-oriented: 3 research organizations and 2 universities, with only 1 industrial partner (17% industry ratio) and zero SMEs. This composition reflects the frontier-research nature of the project — the technology works but commercial translation will likely require new industrial partnerships. The coordinator, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, is a domain authority in exactly the kind of monitoring this technology enables. For a business looking to adopt this, the path likely runs through licensing from the research partners rather than buying an off-the-shelf product.

ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI GEOFISICA E VULCANOLOGIACoordinator · IT
EXAILparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITE DE GENEVEparticipant · CH
GFZ HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR GEOFORSCHUNGparticipant · DE
KONINKLIJK NEDERLANDS METEOROLOGISCH INSTITUUT-KNMIparticipant · NL
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOWparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

Coordinator is Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (Italy). Use SciTransfer's matchmaking service for a warm introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI GEOFISICA E VULCANOLOGIA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how NEWTON-g's gravity imaging technology could solve your underground monitoring challenges? SciTransfer connects businesses with EU research teams — we handle the introduction so you get straight to the technical conversation.

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