Making a Sustainable Difference

Our advanced emissions monitoring technologies, methods, and expertise are applied across several industries worldwide.

Who we are

Data specialists at heart, we prioritise ensuring the emissions intelligence we provide our clients is as reliable and actionable as possible.

Our approach is anchored in solid science, validated methods, and proven technologies. 100% application-driven, we select and integrate technologies based on the measuring task at hand, while keeping our options open for innovations in sensors, platforms, and methods that can advance our data goals.

Our mission

At Explicit, we are driven by our mission to enhance environmental sustainability. Our team of experts integrates cutting-edge drone technology to gather critical data and provide insightful lab analyses that empower industries to comply with emission regulations effectively. We focus on delivering tailored solutions that not only meet regulatory standards but also promote the health of our planet.

“Our commitment to excellence means every project is approached with meticulous care and expertise. By harnessing the power of drones, we transform data into actionable insights, allowing businesses to navigate the complexities of emissions control efficiently.”

Jon Knudsen, CEO

History of Explicit

Explicit is founded

For the first several years, the focus is exclusively on data acquisition systems and software development for some of the leading financial institutions in Denmark.

1998

The first "sensodrone" was developed

A love of chemistry, software and model airplanes sets the company on a new path when CEO Jon Knudsen develops the first ‘sensodrone’ – a UAV designed to carry a gas sensor payload linked to an online data analytics platform.

The company receives its first funding from the Danish Ecoinnovation Fund (MUDP) to develop a mini sniffer and drone solution specifically aimed at surveying sulphur emissions from ships in response to tighter fuel controls in the maritime industry.

2013

Maritime emissions finalist

Explicit is recognised as a finalist for its maritime emissions innovation at the annual Ocean Exchange conference.

2014

Helicopter sniffer test

Explicit conducts its first-scale test of the Explicit Mini Sniffer System in Dutch waters together with the Dutch authorities. This time, no drones are involved. Instead, the system is mounted on a manned helicopter. The team surveyed more than 300 ships for sulphur compliance.

2016

Danish emissions contract

Explicit is awarded the first contract to survey sulphur emissions in Danish waters using crewed aircraft on behalf of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. The company completes its strategic shift from financial software development to emissions monitoring services.

2017

EMSA drone monitoring

Explicit is part of the consortium awarded the first contract on behalf of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to survey sulphur emissions using drones. The service deploys long-range (BVLOS) drones to monitor exhaust emissions from ships navigating through European waters. The service has been running ever since.

2018

Shift to GHG monitoring

COVID-19 hits. As the world is put on pause, the pandemic opens up room for new developments and Explicit shifts its focus from maritime to methane and other GHG emissions.

2020

German expansion

Explicit opens a local representation in Germany and expands its engineering and research team.

2021

DFM™ Method launch

The Drone Flux Measurement (DFM™) Method is born, and the first successful offshore trials conducted in the Danish sector.

The method responds to growing market demand for quantitative, top-down surveys driven by the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and other regulations. Quantitative site-level surveys are now a key component of the company’s strategy.

2022

DFM™ accreditation and global expansion

Explicit achieves ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for the DFM™ Method, the first-ever accredited drone-based gas sensing technique.

The first DFM™ surveys are conducted outside Europe. The company is now active on three continents.

2023

Flare Efficiency and Australia expansion

Explicit adds Flare Destruction Removal Efficiency to its survey offering and expands its ISO portfolio with ISO 9001 certification.

Explicit expands its local presence in Australia to service the Australasia region.

2024

Norway office and Equinor collaboration

Explicit opens a local office in Norway, collaborating with Equinor on drone-based methane surveys offshore as well as onshore.

2025

Measuring what matters

The world is on a mission to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases and air pollutants for a more sustainable future. However, the success of those efforts relies on the ability to credibly trace and measure harmful emissions.

Without reliable emissions data, we will not know the true effectiveness of environmental initiatives, regulations and reduction strategies.

Founded in 1998, Explicit has made it its mission to deliver better, more reliable and cost-efficient concepts and technologies for measuring emissions essential to our climate and air quality.