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This is a list of free and open-source software for geological data handling and interpretation. The list is split into broad categories, depending on the intended use of the software and its scope of functionality.
Notice that 'free and open-source' requires that the source code is available and users are given a free software license. Simple being 'free of charge' is not sufficient—see gratis versus libre.
| Name | Description | Originator | License | Platforms | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGS-Geobase [1] | Drilling data logger that can interface with SGS Genesis | SGS Canada Inc. | GPL | Windows & Microsoft Access | Microsoft Access VBA | Microsoft Access is not necessary, the free runtime is sufficient. Simple graphical interface, Integrity reinforcement, Reporting tools, Satellite Database, Database Validation, Assays QA/QC management with graphics. |
| QGeoloGIS | QGIS well log and timeseries visualisation plugin | Oslandia, Orano and CEA | GPLv2 or later | Cross-platform | Python | Interfaces with QGIS |
| OpenGeoPlotter | Mineral exploration drill hole data visualization and cross section generator, strip logs, stereonet | https://github.com/bsomps/OpenGeoPlotter | GPL | Cross-platform | Python | Open source PyQt5 app catered to the exploration industry |
| Name | Description | Originator | License | Platforms | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gstat[3] | Geostatistical modeling and simulation | Utrecht University | GPL | Cross-platform | C/C++ | Interfaces with GRASS |
| gslib[4] | Geostatistical modeling and simulation | Stanford University | MIT | Fortran 77 | ||
| PyGSLIB[5] | Python module for geostatistical modeling, designed for mineral resource estimation | Opengeostat Consulting | MIT/GPL | Windows, Linux and OSX | Fortran 95, Cython and Python | It has functions for drillhole calculations, block modeling, wireframing and geostatistics with modified gslib code linked into python |
| Name | Description | Originator | License | Platforms | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeoSyntax[7] | Reservoir modeling | CSIRO Australia - June Hill | CSIRO "MIT/BSD" (academic) | Microsoft Windows | Java | |
| GeoBlock[8] | Reservoir modeling | Pavel Vassiliev | MPL | Microsoft Windows | Object Pascal | Exact terms not clear |
| GeoTrace[9] | Tracer modeling | Muhammed Celik | Microsoft Windows | Visual Basic | Exact terms not clear | |
| Albion[10] | 3D model reconstruction and visualisation from boreholes based on QGIS GIS Platform | Oslandia[11] and Areva | GPLv2 or later | Cross-platform | Python | Interfaces with QGIS |
| GemPy[12] | 3D structural geological modeling | CGRE Institute, RWTH Aachen - Miguel de la Varga | LGPL v3 | Cross-platform | Python | Open-source implicit geological modeling that allows for automation of model construction and is aimed to enable the implementation of probabilistic machine-learning methods, e.g. for uncertainty analysis. |
| Name | Description | Originator | License | Platforms | Language | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dapple[13] | Virtual globe for geoscientists | Geosoft Inc. | MIT | Windows | Originated in NASA World Wind | ||
| Estereografica Web[14] | Stereographic projection and fault kinematics | Reyuntec | Public domain | Cross-platform | ASP.net | Free web application (english and spanish) | |
| Generic Mapping Tools[15] | Map generation and analysis | Lamont–Doherty and University of Hawaii | GPL | Cross-platform | C | Implemented in OpendTect | |
| GPlates[16] | Interactive visualization of plate tectonics | University of Sydney, Caltech, NGU | GPL | Cross-platform | C++, Python | Implements GPML | |
| OpenStereo[17] [18] | Geoscience plotting tool | Carlos Grohmann, University of São Paulo | GPL | Cross-platform | Python | Depends on NumPy and Matplotlib | |
| OpendTect[19] | Geoscience interpretation and visualization | dGB Earth Sciences | GPL or custom | Cross-platform | C++ | Interfaces with GMT | |
| Modelgeo[20] | General 3D mathematics with modelling and visualization of geoscience data | ModelGeo AS | Free for non-profit use | Windows | C++, TCL | Originally a petroleum geology program, reads all common geology and geophysics data formats | |
| ParaViewGeo[21] | Geoscience extension of ParaView Includes readers and filters | Kitware ParaView, Objectivity Originally MIRARCO | BSD | Cross-platform | C++, Python | Adds specific readers, stereo toolbar, slideshow capability and mining and geology oriented filters to Paraview | |
| PuffinPlot[22] | Paleomagnetic data visualization and analysis | Pontus Lurcock | GPL v3 | Cross-platform | Java | Desktop GUI and Jython scripting interface. | |
| geoh5py library[23] | Python library for the manipulation and storage of a wide range of geoscientific data (points, curve, surface, 2D and 3D grids) in geoh5 file format, natively supported by Geoscience ANALYST free 3D viewer | Mira Geoscience Ltd. | LPGL 3.0 | Cross-platform | Python | Documentation and tutorials fully available in ReadTheDocs | |
| geoapps repository[24] | The geoapps repository are open-source geoscientific applications in Python, including geophysical data processing, modelling, and inversion codes | Mira Geoscience Ltd. | MIT | Cross-platform | Python | Documentation and tutorials fully available in ReadTheDocs |
This important class of tools is already listed in the article List of GIS software.
The following projects have unknown licensing, licenses or other conditions which place some restriction on use or redistribution, or which depend on non-open-source software like MATLAB or XVT (and therefore do not meet the Open Source Definition from the Open Source Initiative).
| Name | Description | Originator | License | Platforms | Language | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noddy[25] | 3D geological and geophysical modeling | Tectask, IUGS | Custom permissive license | Microsoft Windows | C++ | Uses proprietary XVT libraries; requires (free) registration | |
| BasinVis,[26] [27] | Basin visualization of sedimentary fill and subsidence | Eun Young Lee, Johannes Novotny | LICENSE | Cross-platform | Matlab | ||
| Geomodelr[28] | Geological modelling from cross sections | Geomodelr, Inc. | SaaS - AGPL | Cross-platform | Python | Allows creation of public geological models in its web platform for free and query the model with an Open Source Python Package | |
| BGS Groundhog Desktop[29] | Geological modelling from cross sections | British Geological Survey | OGL - Open Government Licence | MS Windows | Free to use software to digitize geological cross-sections, and display and edit borehole logs | ||
| Geoscience ANALYST[30] | Free 3D visualization and communication software for integrated, multi-disciplinary geoscience and mining data and models, which also connects to Python through geoh5py, its open-source API | Mira Geoscience Ltd. | Free / Proprietary | Microsoft Windows | C++ | Free license key is automatically emailed upon request, and the software is permanently free |