Find Groundwater Before You Drill
IRIS NUMIS detects groundwater directly using magnetic resonance (NMR) — confirming that water is present and estimating its quantity and depth, so the risk of a dry borehole drops dramatically.
The problem: drilling without certainty is expensive
Ordinary resistivity (geolistrik) only infers water from the soil's electrical resistivity — which could be clay, salt, or minerals, not water. You only learn the truth after drilling. A single dry borehole can cost tens of millions of rupiah, plus wasted time and equipment.
Resistivity infers. NUMIS confirms.
NUMIS uses the same physics as a medical MRI: it responds only to water molecules. If NUMIS reads a signal, there is water there.
| Aspect | Resistivity (Geolistrik) | IRIS NUMIS (NMR) |
|---|---|---|
| How it detects water | Indirect — inferred from resistivity | Direct — from water molecules |
| Result certainty | Ambiguous (could be clay/salt/minerals) | Confirmed water, + estimated quantity & depth |
| Dry-hole risk | High | Far lower |
How NUMIS works
Lay out the loop
A wire loop is laid on the ground surface (typically 50–150 m).
Send a pulse
The instrument sends a pulse at the frequency that makes water protons resonate.
Read the signal
When the pulse stops, water molecules emit a tiny signal that NUMIS measures.
Get the result
The signal is processed into water presence, quantity, and depth information.
What you get
Water — yes or no
Direct confirmation of groundwater, not a guess.
Estimated quantity
Water-content estimate from signal strength.
Depth
Sounding to roughly 150 m (NUMIS Poly).
Productivity indication
A hint of how readily the aquifer yields water.
Who it's for
NUMIS is most valuable where drilling risk is high:
Even stronger: map with resistivity, confirm with NUMIS
Resistivity remains useful for broad, economical initial mapping. Pair it with NUMIS to confirm water before drilling — a complete groundwater-exploration package from a single vendor.
Field proof
We're preparing an Indonesian NUMIS survey case study — how NUMIS located an aquifer and avoided a dry borehole. Want your project to be the first case study? Contact us for a demo survey.
Why Jatific
Request a Consultation or Demo Survey
Tell us your location and water needs — our technical team will get back to you.
Learn more
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is NUMIS more expensive than resistivity?
- Yes, the upfront investment is higher. But NUMIS confirms water before you drill — a single avoided dry borehole often already covers the survey cost. For high-value projects, that certainty pays off.
- To what depth can NUMIS detect water?
- NUMIS Lite to roughly 50 m, and NUMIS Poly to roughly 150 m, depending on geology and the level of electromagnetic noise at the site.
- Where is NUMIS less suitable?
- NUMIS needs a relatively open area to lay out the loop and is sensitive to electromagnetic noise (e.g. near high-voltage power lines). In very noisy or cramped sites, results can be degraded.
- How long does one NUMIS survey take?
- A single sounding point typically takes a few hours, depending on target depth and noise conditions. Our team can help plan your survey.
- Is NUMIS the only NMR instrument in Indonesia?
- As far as we know, NUMIS is the only surface-NMR instrument with an authorized distributor in Indonesia. Jatific provides the unit, technical support, and training.