Financing of the surveys

Obtaining subsidies necessary to the realization of 4 exploratory surveys of 400m each one was not a sinecure. Far from there... The initial budget drawn up by the Polytechnic Faculty of Mons was assembled to 750.000 euros.

However, the lack of money of the French Community led the latter to refuse its pecuniary participation in this financing. From 750.000 euros at the beginning, the allocated budget brought back to 500.000 euros, distributed as follows :

- Commune of Bernissart : 125.000 euros

- Federal : 125.000 euros

- Walloon Area : 250.000 euros

Of course, consequently three surveys instead of four were put at the program of work to realize. The good choice of the sites led to the known positive result. There are still iguanodons in the notch. How much euros do we need to go a head ? Difficult to answer this question. However, one can advance without being mistaken that between - 100 and - 360m, there are iguanodons spread out in the notch. With which density ? It will be the object of the second part of research called : seismic tomography.

What is a seismic tomography ?

It is a process of radiography which makes it possible to obtain a clear image of only one plan of cut to the exclusion of all the others. In other terms, it is a very known imagery in medecine, transfered in paleontological research. The goal is to be able to view by imagery the existence of one more iguanodon on only on the level : that of the plan of cut. Let us recall that ont the level - 322m, not less than 17 iguanodons were extracted on a surface from 6 ares and a height from a few 10 meters.

Known results to date of the seismic tomography ?

The results are encouraging insofar as promising signs between the transmitter and the receiver, let forecast a positive exit of the tests, which must still be analyzed in-depth by the specialists on the matter. Admittedly, to be complete, these tests should have a continuation depending on subsides to obtain from the autorities (federal, regional even Community).