Terms of Use

Effective May 4, 2026 (v2026-05-04)

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the ArdanGeo platform ("Platform", "Service") operated by Solutions ArdanGeo Inc. ("ArdanGeo", "we", "us").

By creating an account or using the Platform, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

1. The Platform — what it is

ArdanGeo is a geotechnical screening tool. It aggregates public and partner geotechnical data sources (boreholes, soil observations, hydrological records, terrain models) and presents probabilistic estimates and risk indicators for a given location. It is designed to help professional users orient themselves at the feasibility and pre-investigation stage of a project.

2. The Platform — what it is NOT

ArdanGeo is not:

  • A substitute for a site-specific geotechnical investigation conducted by a licensed engineer
  • A source of design-level recommendations (bearing capacity for a specific foundation, pile spacing, excavation depth, etc.)
  • A reserved act of engineering practice as defined under the Quebec Engineers Act (RLRQ, c. I-9) or the equivalent in any other jurisdiction
  • A warranty that the data shown is current, complete, or error-free

3. Screening-level use only — your responsibility

Every output produced by the Platform — including risk indicators, stratigraphic columns, water-table estimates, and PDF reports — is screening-level information. You agree that:

  • You will not use Platform output as a substitute for a site-specific geotechnical investigation
  • You will not rely on Platform output for design, permitting, construction, or any decision that requires the engagement of a licensed professional engineer (P.Eng. / ing.)
  • Where a regulated act of engineering practice is required, you will retain a P.Eng. licensed in the relevant jurisdiction and rely on their stamped opinion
  • You will not remove or obscure the screening-level disclaimers we embed in reports and the explorer interface

4. No engineering opinion provided

Nothing on the Platform constitutes an engineering opinion, certification, or stamped professional advice. ArdanGeo and its employees do not establish a professional-engineering relationship with you by virtue of your use of the Platform. Where a stamped opinion is needed, retain a licensed engineer.

5. Account, access, and beta status

  • You must be at least 14 years old to create an account.
  • You are responsible for keeping your credentials confidential. You are responsible for activity under your account.
  • During beta, access is by invitation. We may modify, suspend, or terminate beta access at any time without notice. Beta-tier features may change without warning.
  • Beta participants agree to provide feedback when reasonably requested and acknowledge that the Platform is under active development.

6. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

  • Reverse-engineer, scrape, or systematically download Platform data without our written permission
  • Resell or redistribute Platform outputs without an Enterprise or Insurance contract
  • Use the Platform to violate any law or third-party rights
  • Attempt to bypass authentication, tier gating, or rate limits
  • Upload private datasets without rights to do so (see §7)
  • Misrepresent Platform output as a substitute for a stamped engineering opinion

7. Your data and our data

7.1 Public data

Public geotechnical data shown on the Platform — including the Quebec BDG / SIH datasets and federal RSESQ records — is available under the original publishers' open licenses. We aggregate and reformat it; the underlying license remains with the publisher.

7.2 Private partner datasets

Private datasets provided to us under partnership agreements are accessible only to authorized members of the partner organization. We do not surface them to other users without explicit consent. Cross-tenant leakage is treated as a security incident and triggers the breach- notification process under our Privacy Policy §9.

7.3 Your inputs

Hex queries, borehole annotations, and feedback you submit remain yours. You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use them to operate and improve the Platform. We do not sell your inputs.

8. Intellectual property

The Platform's code, design, brand assets (ArdanGeo, ArdanStrata, ArdanFlux, ArdanRisk), reports, and proprietary algorithms (including the GNN model and IDW pipeline) are owned by Solutions ArdanGeo Inc. and protected by copyright, trademark, and trade-secret law. Use of the Platform does not transfer any ownership.

9. Disclaimers

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE". TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ARDANGEO DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that the data shown is current, complete, or accurate for any specific site.

10. Limitation of liability

Plain-language summary (Article 1436 CCQ): If you have a claim against ArdanGeo, the most we can be required to pay is the higher of (a) what you paid us in the past year, or (b) CAD $1,000. We are not responsible for indirect or knock-on damages such as lost profits.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ARDANGEO'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (a) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO ARDANGEO IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (b) ONE THOUSAND CANADIAN DOLLARS (CAD $1,000). ARDANGEO SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Some Quebec consumers may have non-waivable rights under the Loi sur la protection du consommateur (RLRQ, c. P-40.1). Nothing in this section limits liability for (i) intentional or gross fault per Article 1474 CCQ, (ii) bodily injury, (iii) violation of fundamental rights under the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, or (iv) any other liability that cannot be limited by contract under Quebec law.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold ArdanGeo harmless from any claim arising out of (a) your misuse of the Platform, (b) your use of Platform output as a substitute for a stamped engineering opinion in violation of §3, or (c) your breach of these Terms.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access at any time for breach of these Terms, suspected abuse, or business reasons (e.g., end of beta). You may terminate your account at any time by emailing [email protected]. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 14 survive termination.

13. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms. Material changes will be communicated by email at least 30 days before they take effect. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance of non-material changes.

Material changes to commercial terms (price, scope of license granted, dispute-resolution forum) require your express opt-in by re-acceptance at next sign-in. Continued use without re-acceptance after the effective date will not bind you to those material changes (CCQ Art. 1435).

14. Governing law and dispute resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Quebec and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any dispute will be resolved exclusively in the courts of the District of Montreal, Quebec, except where mandatory consumer-protection law assigns a different forum.

Before filing a claim, you agree to first contact us at [email protected] and attempt good-faith resolution for at least 30 days.

15. Contact

Questions about these Terms: [email protected].

16. Language of these Terms

The French version of these Terms prevails in the event of any inconsistency with the English version, in accordance with the Charter of the French Language (RLRQ, c. C-11, §55) and Article 1432 of the Civil Code of Quebec.