ANSIR is a partnership of universities and government agencies in Australia and New Zealand that provides researchers with equipment and services for earth imaging across Australasia.
Equipment & Services
Discover our range of Earth imaging and sounding equipment and services including, equipment support, training, and operation:
Passive seismic equipment, including short-period and broadband three-component seismometers, high-fidelity solar-powered data loggers, and portable “all-in-one” seismic nodes.
Portable electromagnetic equipment including 25 Earth data logger long-period MT sets; 20 LEMI-424 long-period MT sets; up to 25 LEMI-423 broadband MT sets; and 5 Phoenix MTU-5C ultra-broadband MT sets. 5 licences of Geotools (CGG), 5 licences of EMPower (Phoenix) and (TBA) access to CGG 3D MT Inversion software.
These are based at the University of Adelaide. Please contact Prof Graham Heinson for more information.
Equipment includes 5 sets of Guralp ‘Liber’ and 2 Nanometrics ‘Abalone’ broadband ocean bottom seismometers (OBS). Users must be able to support trained technical personnel and have scientific personnel with prior OBS experience on hand. Ship-time and insurance of the equipment while in transit and on the seafloor is the responsibility of the proponents of experiments.
These are based at the Research School of Earth Science, Australian National University. Please check instrument availability here.
ANSIR is able to arrange reflection experiments for a wide variety of project goals, survey parameters, logistics, permitting and licensing requirements and consequent equipment requirements.
Please note: demand for equipment & services is increasing, so please apply well ahead of your project timeline and consult with the scientific coordinators listed above.
Background
ANSIR was originally created as a Major National Research Facility in 1997 by Geoscience Australia and The Australian National University to encourage and assist world-class research and education in the field of seismic imaging of the Earth. In 2008 the University Of Adelaide joined with support for electromagnetic research.
Since 2007 ANSIR has operated in conjunction with the Earth Imaging component of the AuScope facility established under the NCRIS scheme. From 2011 further AuScope investment from the AGOS EIF program has provided additional equipment. ANSIR has received investment from ANU, MNRF, ARC LIEF over the years.
Equipment from ANSIR Facilities is available to all researchers on the basis of merit and instrumentation availability, as judged by the ANSIR Access Committee on the basis of a short proposal. Researchers have to meet the project operating costs and a modest mobilisation fee. Training is provided in the use of the portable equipment.
Applicants for access to ANSIR equipment and services should contact the appropriate Scientific Coordinators to first discuss their needs for prospective projects, and then prepare a formal proposal, which is submitted to the AuScope National Geophysics Program Manager, Dr Ben Kay.
ANSIR PARTNERS Geoscience Australia, AuScope, CSIRO, Australian National Uni, Uni of Adelaide, Uni of Melbourne, Uni of TAS, Uni of WA, Macquarie Uni, Uni of Auckland & Victoria Uni (Wellington).
This page contains details about application eligibility and procedure for access to ANSIR equipment and services, along with terms and conditions of use. If you need more information, please contact the AuScope National Geophysics Program Manager, Dr Ben Kay.
Plain Language Summary
This summary explains what you need to know before applying to use ANSIR equipment or services:
Who can apply? ANSIR equipment and services are available to researchers from Australian and international universities, publicly funded research organisations, and industry partners. Due to high demand, access is prioritised based on scientific merit. The lead applicant, known as the Principal Investigator (PI), is responsible for coordinating the project and meeting all related obligations.
What can you borrow? You can request access to passive seismic sensors, active-source seismic gear, magnetotelluric (MT) instruments, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), and petrophysical tools (field or lab-based).
How do you apply? Speak with a Scientific Coordinator before applying. Complete the online application form. Your proposal will be reviewed by the ANSIR Access Committee.
When should you apply? Applications are accepted year-round and processed as received. Some instruments are in high demand, so apply as early as possible to improve your chances of securing the equipment you need
What are your responsibilities? PIs must provide accurate information, confirm training needs, and cover all project costs, including freight, consumables, logistics, insurance, and mobilisation. Users must clean and repack all equipment before return and submit data and reports on time..
What does it cost? You must pay for mobilisation, transport, consumables, and equipment insurance. Specific cost details vary depending on the ANSIR Facility providing the equipment.
What about data? Data and metadata must be submitted to national repositories (e.g., AusPass, NCI) within six months of project completion. Public access is required unless an embargo is approved. Projects must follow FAIR and CARE principles and use ISO 19115-1:2014 metadata standards.
What happens after approval? If your project is approved, your institution must sign a formal Project Agreement with the relevant ANSIR Facility before any equipment can be released. This agreement confirms responsibilities for logistics, insurance, and data compliance.
Online Application Form
Applications to access ANSIR facilities must now be made through our online application form. Click the link below to submit your application.
The following Terms and Conditions govern the use of equipment, services, and support provided by the ANSIR Research Facility for Earth Sounding. By submitting an application and participating in an ANSIR-supported project, the Principal Investigator (PI) and affiliated institutions agree to the following:
1. Eligibility and Access
Access is open to:
Researchers based at Australian or international academic institutions;
Publicly funded research organisations (e.g., GA, CSIRO; State Geological Surveys);
Industry users, subject to partnership agreements or fee-based models.
Applications are accepted year-round and assessed on:
Scientific merit by the ANSIR Access Committee;
Instrument availability;
Alignment with national research priorities.
Users must meet all project operating costs, including insurance and mobilisation fees endorsed by the ANSIR Steering Committee.
All applicants must consult with the relevant Scientific Coordinator prior to submission.
Successful applicants must sign a Project Agreement between their institution and the ANSIR equipment provider. No equipment will be released until this agreement is executed.
2. Application Requirements
All applications must be submitted through the online ANSIR Application Form. This includes details on:
Project title and scientific objectives
Field crew experience and co-applicants
Equipment request and deployment design
Funding, timing, and expected data outputs
Applicants should review the current ANSIR Online Application Form at for the full list of fields and file uploads required. Consultation with a Scientific Coordinator is mandatory prior to submission.
3. Equipment Use and Responsibilities
Principle Investigators are responsible for:
All project-related costs (e.g. consumables, customs, all logistics and fieldwork);
Transporting, deploying, and returning equipment in original working order.
Equipment must be returned:
Clean, dry, and packed using original materials;
In ready-to-use condition;
With completed handover and metadata forms.
Borrowers are liable for:
Repair or replacement costs due to damage or loss;
Minimum liability set at 10% of equipment value;
Full replacement cost for total loss or severe damage, adjusted by depreciation.
Overseas users must manage all customs/export/import procedures. ANSIR does not act as exporter of record.
All equipment must be inspected before field deployment. Faults or missing items must be reported immediately.
4. Training and Support
ANSIR may provide training or deployment support, subject to availability.
Users must declare training needs in the application.
On-site or remote support may be offered for new users or international teams.
Applicants are encouraged to make arrangements for training early through the relevant Scientific Coordinators.
5. Data Management and Embargo Policy
All data generated through ANSIR-supported projects must be managed in accordance with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) principles.
In compliance with national and international best practices, all data must:
Be stored in an openly accessible repository;
Include metadata that, at a minimum, follows ISO 19115-1:2014 standards, specifically: Identifier, Creator, Title, Publisher, Funder, Publication Year, Resource Type, and License;
Be documented throughout the project lifecycle, from creation through to publication, where reasonably possible.
Data and metadata must be submitted within 6 months of project completion to:
Every cross-correlation, resistivity model, seismic trace and core analysis supported by ANSIR tells a story but it also builds a case. Your acknowledgements help demonstrate the impact of Australia’s nationally coordinated geoscience infrastructure.
They’re key to securing ongoing NCRIS support for the instruments, data systems, and people that make Earth science research possible.
General Use (Journal Articles, Reports, Datasets)
“This research was supported by ANSIR - Research Facility for Earth Sounding, enabled by AuScope and the Australian Government via the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). Equipment used in this study was funded and provided by AuScope through the ANSIR network (Project Loan #[ANSIR Project ID]).”
Facility-Specific (Extended Format)
“We acknowledge the [Facility Name] at [Institution], a contributing partner to ANSIR - Research Facility for Earth Sounding. Equipment for this project was enabled by AuScope through the ANSIR network and supported by the Australian Government via the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).”
Your data moves the Earth, your acknowledgements keep it going.
Data Availability Statements & Citations
Passive Seismic (via AusPass and NCI) - Two-year Embargo:
This project used [insert ANSIR instrumentation here] from the ANSIR - Research Facility for Earth Sounding national pool, enabled by AuScope and the Australian Government via NCRIS. Seismic waveform data from this project will be made publicly available via the Australian Passive Seismic Server (AusPass; https://auspass.edu.au), under FDSN network code [FDSN Network Code]. Raw data from this project will be made publicly available via National Computational Infrastructure (NCI Australia; DOI: [insert NCI DOI here]). Data will be released in [Year] following the two-year embargo. The network is registered under the FDSN as [FDSN Network Code] in [Year] (DOI: [insert DOI here]; [insert FDSN network page here]).
Passive Seismic (via AusPass and NCI) - Open:
This project used [insert ANSIR instrumentation here] from the ANSIR - Research Facility for Earth Sounding national pool, enabled by AuScope and the Australian Government via NCRIS. Seismic waveform data from this project will be made publicly available via the Australian Passive Seismic Server (AusPass; https://auspass.edu.au), under FDSN network code [FDSN Network Code]. Raw data from this project will be made publicly available via National Computational Infrastructure (NCI Australia; DOI: [insert NCI DOI here]). The network is registered under the FDSN as [FDSN Network Code] in [Year] (DOI: [insert DOI here]; [insert FDSN network page here]).
Include FDSN network codes and full references, as shown in:
Marignier, A., Eakin, C., Hejrani, B., Agrawal, S., and Hassan, R. (2024). Sediment thickness across Australia from passive seismic methods. Geophysical Journal International, 237(2), 849–861. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggae070
Magnetotelluric (via NCI):
This project used [insert ANSIR instrumentation here] from the ANSIR - Research Facility for Earth Sounding national pool, enabled by AuScope and the Australian Government via NCRIS. Magnetotelluric ‘Level-0’ and ‘Level-1’ time-series data are archived at the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI Australia; DOI: [insert NCI DOI here]).
DAS (via NCI):
This project used [insert ANSIR instrumentation here] from the ANSIR - Research Facility for Earth Sounding national pool, enabled by AuScope and the Australian Government via NCRIS. Raw data from this project will be made publicly available via National Computational Infrastructure (NCI Australia; DOI: [insert NCI DOI here]).
This page contains the online form to request an equipment loan from the ANSIR Research Facilities for Earth Sounding. If you need more information, please contact the AuScope National Geophysics Program Manager, Dr Ben Kay.
This page contains the form for completing the ANSIR Project Performance Report, which must be submitted within two weeks of returning ANSIR equipment.
This report helps us evaluate and improve the service, equipment, and support offered by the ANSIR Research Facilities for Earth Sounding.
If you need more information, please contact the AuScope National Geophysics Program Manager, Dr Ben Kay.
