A helical drag bit provided with spirally/helically positioned cutting arms. The arms can create a spiral trench geometry in the sidewall of a predrilled pilot hole. The cutting arms can terminate in scoring cutting blades. The helical drag bit can be incorporated into a system and method for measuring geo-tech characteristics. The helical drag bit can be used in a system and method for improving the holding capacity of rock bolts and similar devices for use in the mining industry or in any circumstances where a particulate substrate may benefit from support. Novel rock bolts having new structures can be used with this improved hole geometry or may form such improved hole geometry.
