Open-source software in engineering geology
Why I moved away from pirated software — and what I discovered instead
A few years ago, my laptop was severely damaged by a virus that came from pirated software. The experience was frustrating, but it also became a turning point.
In 2023, I finally decided to stop using pirated software altogether and began transitioning to open-source alternatives for my work.
The transition started with installing QGIS to process spatial data — something that is very familiar in geology. From there, I gradually discovered that the open-source ecosystem in geoscience and engineering is far richer than I initially imagined.
Out of curiosity, I prompted ChatGPT to help me compile a list of open-source software relevant to engineering geology. The result was a surprisingly extensive collection of tools covering simulation, geomodeling, geotechnical analysis, geospatial processing, and geophysics.
In this article, I would like to share some of those tools for fellow researchers, lecturers, and geologists who might benefit from them.
Simulation and multiphysics modeling
Engineering geology often deals with complex subsurface processes involving heat, fluid flow, stress, and chemical interactions. Several open-source tools are capable of modeling these coupled processes.
OpenGeoSys (OGS)
A powerful platform for simulating thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes in porous and fractured media. It is widely used in geothermal studies, groundwater modeling, CO₂ sequestration, and geotechnical engineering.
https://www.opengeosys.org/
PorePy
A Python-based framework for multiphysics simulations in fractured porous rocks. It supports modeling of flow, transport, poro-elasticity, and fracture deformation while emphasizing reproducible scientific workflows.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1908.09869
MOOSE / FALCON
A high-performance computing framework designed for fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical simulations in geological systems, particularly in geothermal and subsurface reservoir studies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOOSE_%28software%29
THERMAID
An open-source MATLAB package implementing discrete-fracture models for thermo-hydraulic flow and fracture stability analysis. It is especially useful for induced seismicity and reservoir stability research.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1806.10942
Structural geology and geomodeling
Structural interpretation and 3D geological modeling are essential components of engineering geology.
GemPy
A Python-based implicit geomodeling engine for constructing 3D geological models. It can represent folds, faults, unconformities, and probabilistic geological scenarios.
https://www.gempy.org/
GPlates
Interactive plate-tectonic reconstruction software that includes GIS functionality and scripting APIs. It is useful for reconstructing tectonic evolution and regional structural frameworks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPlates
Geotechnical analysis
Several open-source tools are specifically designed for geotechnical investigation and analysis.
geolab
Provides tools for soil classification (USCS/AASHTO), bearing capacity calculations, settlement estimation, and finite-element modeling.
https://github.com/sisagus/geolab
geolysis
Supports geotechnical investigation data handling, including SPT analysis, soil classification, and experimental AI-based modules currently under development.
https://github.com/patrickboateng/geolysis
OpenGeotech
A collection of tools and libraries for geotechnical data processing, modeling, and visualization using modern environments such as Python, Conda, and Docker.
https://opengeotech.org/
Geospatial and remote sensing tools
Spatial analysis and terrain modeling are central to engineering geology. Beyond QGIS, several other open-source tools are worth exploring.
Whitebox GAT
A GIS and terrain-analysis toolbox with strong support for LiDAR processing, remote sensing analysis, and scripting through Python or Groovy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitebox_Geospatial_Analysis_Tools
ANUGA Hydro
Hydrodynamic modeling software designed for simulating floods, tsunamis, storm surges, and riverine inundation. It has been used in disaster-risk studies, including in Indonesia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANUGA_Hydro
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GRSG / OSGeo ecosystem
An ecosystem of open-source geospatial tools including GRASS GIS, SAGA GIS, SNAP, PolSARPro, and others that support terrain analysis, classification, and environmental modeling.
https://www.grsg.org.uk/open-source-software
Geophysical modeling and data processing
Open-source software is also widely used for geophysical modeling, inversion, and signal processing.
Examples include:
- Fatiando a Terra
- SimPEG
- pyGIMLi
- landlab
- Devito
- gprMax
- PyFWI
- ResIPy
- LoopStructural
These tools support a wide range of applications, from forward and inverse modeling to seismic and electromagnetic simulations, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) analysis, and landscape evolution modeling.
For GPR analysis specifically, tools such as gprMax, GPRPy, readgssi, and RGPR are commonly used.
For well-log processing, Python libraries such as lasio, Striplog, Welly, and PetroPy are widely utilized in subsurface data analysis workflows.
A large collection of these tools can be found in the curated repository below.
Community repositories and software collections
One of the most useful discoveries in my exploration of open-source geoscience was the existence of curated community repositories.
Software Underground — “Awesome Open Geoscience”
A curated list of open-source geoscience software covering geophysics, reservoir modeling, geomodeling, geospatial analysis, geochemistry, and more.
https://githublists.com/lists/softwareunderground/awesome-open-geoscience
CSDMS Community Model Repository
A collection containing hundreds of open-source numerical models related to surface dynamics, hydrology, and geological processes, designed to encourage model reuse and collaborative development.
https://www.reddit.com/r/geology/comments/n41o5j
Final Thoughts
Switching to open-source software initially came from necessity — after a bad experience with pirated software. But over time, I realized that the open-source ecosystem offers something much more valuable than just being free.
It offers transparency, collaboration, and reproducibility.
Many of the tools listed above are developed by researchers for researchers. Their code is accessible, their methods are transparent, and their communities are often very active.
For those working in engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, or geoscience in general, exploring open-source tools can open up an entire ecosystem of research possibilities.
And sometimes, a problem — like a virus from pirated software — can turn into an opportunity to discover a better way of working.
