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.
Well logging & Borehole visualisation
Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes SGS-Geobase 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.QGeoloGISQGIS well log and timeseries visualisation pluginOslandia, Orano and CEAGPLv2 or laterCross-platformPythonInterfaces with QGISOpenGeoPlotterMineral exploration drill hole data visualization and cross section generator, strip logs, stereonet GPLCross-platformPythonOpen source PyQt5 app catered to the exploration industryOpenLogQGIS plugin for drillhole data visualization, cross-sections, strip-logs, stereonets, downhole imagery, time series, automated imports. Includes a FOSS Spatialite and PostgresSQL databaseApeiron and OslandiaGPLv2Cross-platformPythonInterfaces with QGIS and XplorDB. Connects to Geotic databases. Replaces and supersedes QGeoloGIS
Geosciences software platforms
Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes GeoTriple for Oil&Gas Exploration Geo-sciences Software platform (data management, display and process) Geoforge project LGPL Cross-platform Java Interfaces with WorldWind and JFreeChart
Geostatistics
Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes GstatGstat website Geostatistical modeling and simulation Utrecht University GPL Cross-platform C/C++ Interfaces with GRASS gslib Geostatistical modeling and simulation Stanford University MIT Fortran 77 PyGSLIBPython module for geostatistical modeling, designed for mineral resource estimationOpengeostat ConsultingMIT/GPLWindows, Linux and OSXFortran 95, Cython and PythonIt has functions for drillhole calculations, block modeling, wireframing and geostatistics with modified gslib code linked into pythongstlearnGeostatistics and Machine Learning Toolbox MINES Paris - PSLBSD/GPLWindows, Linux and OSXC++ (BSD), Python (BSD) and R (GPL) GeoneGeostatistical estimation and simulationCHYN - University of NeuchâtelCross-platformC and Python
Forward modeling Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes Virtual Geoscience Workbench Finite-discrete element modeler Jiansheng Xiang and others LGPL Windows C#, C++
Geomodeling Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes GeoSyntax Reservoir modeling CSIRO Australia - June Hill CSIRO "MIT/BSD" (academic) Microsoft Windows Java GeoBlock Reservoir modeling Pavel Vassiliev MPL Microsoft Windows Object Pascal Exact terms not clear GeoTraceGeoTrace website Tracer modeling Muhammed Celik Microsoft Windows Visual Basic Exact terms not clear Albion 3D model reconstruction and visualisation from boreholes based on QGIS GIS Platform Oslandia and Areva GPLv2 or laterCross-platform Python Interfaces with QGISGemPy3D structural geological modelingCGRE Institute, RWTH Aachen - Miguel de la VargaLGPL v3Cross-platformPythonOpen-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.ArchPy3D automated hierarchical stochastic geological CHYN - University of Neuchâtel - Ludovic Schorpp GPLv3.0 Cross-platformPythonHierarchical workflow that allows to model geology at different scales (structural, lithological and physical properties). Also supports many stochastic algorithms for efficient uncertainty quantification
Visualization, interpretation & analysis packages
Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes DappleDapple website Virtual globe for geoscientists Geosoft Inc. MIT Windows Originated in NASA World Wind Estereografica WebEstereografica Web Stereographic projection and fault kinematics Reyuntec Public domain Cross-platform ASP.net Free web application (english and spanish) Generic Mapping ToolsGeneric Mapping Tools hawaii.edu Map generation and analysis Lamont–Doherty and University of Hawaii GPL Cross-platform C Implemented in OpendTect GPlates Interactive visualization of plate tectonics University of Sydney, Caltech, NGU GPL Cross-platform C++, Python Implements GPML OpenStereo Geoscience plotting tool Carlos Grohmann, University of São Paulo GPL Cross-platform Python Depends on NumPy and Matplotlib OpendTect Geoscience interpretation and visualization dGB Earth Sciences GPL or custom Cross-platform C++ Interfaces with GMT Modelgeo Petroleum geology and general 3D mathematics, for scripted calculations, gridding, depth conversion, prospect analysis and 3D visualization ModelGeo AS Free for non-profit use Windows C++, TCL Reads all common geology and geophysics data formats ParaViewGeo 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 PuffinPlotLurcock, P. C. and G. S. Wilson (2012), PuffinPlot: A versatile, user-friendly program for paleomagnetic analysis, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 13, Q06Z45, doi:10.1029/2012GC004098 Paleomagnetic data visualization and analysis Pontus Lurcock GPL v3 Cross-platform Java Desktop GUI and Jython scripting interface.geoh5py libraryPython 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 viewerMira Geoscience Ltd.LPGL 3.0Cross-platformPythonDocumentation and tutorials fully available in ReadTheDocsgeoapps repositoryThe geoapps repository are open-source geoscientific applications in Python, including geophysical data processing, modelling, and inversion codesMira Geoscience Ltd.MITCross-platformPythonDocumentation and tutorials fully available in ReadTheDocsstratapyA Python-based framework for automated visualisation of creating standardised, reproducible, and digitally integrated stratigraphic logs.Jack Lee Smith and othersBSDCross-platformPythonDocumentation and tutorials fully available in ReadTheDocs
Geographic information systems (GIS)
This important class of tools is already listed in the article List of GIS software.
Not true free and open-source projects
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 3D geological and geophysical modeling Tectask, IUGS Custom permissive license Microsoft Windows C++ Uses proprietary XVT libraries; requires (free) registration BasinVis,Lee E.Y., Novotny J., Wagreich M. (2016) BasinVis 1.0: A MATLAB®-based program for sedimentary basin subsidenceanalysis and visualization. Computers & Geosciences 91, 119–127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2016.03.013 Basin visualization of sedimentary fill and subsidence Eun Young Lee, Johannes Novotny LICENSE Cross-platform Matlab GeomodelrGeomodelr website 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 Geological modelling from cross sections British Geological Survey OGL - Open Government Licence MS Windows Java Free to use software to digitize geological cross-sections, and display and edit borehole logsGeoscience ANALYSTFree 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 APIMira Geoscience Ltd.Free / ProprietaryMicrosoft WindowsC++Free license key is automatically emailed upon request, and the software is permanently freeGEOREKA3D Geological Modelling software combining traditional techniques with modern Machine Learning. The attractive and intuitive 3D Viewer is Free. It imports a large variety of data and has attractive 3D and Section views.GEOREKA Technologies GmbHFree / ProprietaryMS WindowsC++Free Trial automatically becomes Free Viewer after the trial period.
References