Software · head to head
3DEC vs Deswik Suite
Deswik Suite
Software
Integrated mine planning and design software
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 3DEC pricing is not published; licences are quoted, with subscription and perpetual options; Deswik Suite deswik publishes no price, no licence term and no cost driver for the suite; the only routes given are a demo request or contacting the company
- They diverge on capability: 3DEC covers 3D distinct element analysis, Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 3DEC and Deswik Suite actually diverge.
| Attribute | 3DEC | Deswik Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Founded | 1981 | 2007 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in 3DEC
- 3D distinct element analysis
- Block motion tracking
- Contact detection
- Support design
- Dynamic simulation
- FLAC3D
- Leapfrog
- Python
Only in Deswik Suite
- 3D mine design
- Resource scheduling
- Geological modeling
- Pit optimization
- Underground planning
- Surpac
- Datamine
- SAP
Both cover
- Vulcan
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
3DEC
- Three-dimensional analysis of jointed rock and discontinuous materialsnot Deswik Suite
- Slope stability and pillar analysis for miningnot Deswik Suite
- Blast and earthquake dynamic analysisnot Deswik Suite
- Groundwater flow through fractured rocknot Deswik Suite
- Coupled thermal, mechanical and hydraulic modelling for geothermal, CO2 sequestration and nuclear wastenot Deswik Suite
Deswik Suite
- Mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operationsnot 3DEC
- Reserve reporting and life of mine planningnot 3DEC
- Connecting mine plans to production execution and material trackingnot 3DEC
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
3DEC
- Pricing is not published; licences are quoted, with subscription and perpetual options
- A specialist geomechanical tool rather than general purpose simulation, so it assumes the user is a rock mechanics engineer
Deswik Suite
- Deswik publishes no price, no licence term and no cost driver for the suite; the only routes given are a demo request or contacting the company
- The suite is sold as separate modules grouped under Design and Reserving, Planning, Operations and Mine to Market, so a full workflow requires buying several products
- Software downloads and support are gated behind a client portal available to existing customers
- The product formerly sold as Deswik.CAD is now named Deswik Spatial, so older documentation and job listings refer to a name the vendor no longer uses
Pricing, plan by plan
3DEC
On request- 3DEC Professional$25000/year
- 3D distinct element analysis
- Block-to-block interaction
- Support installation modeling
Deswik Suite
On request- Deswik.CAD$5000/year
- 3D mine design
- Geological modeling
- Drill hole analysis
- Deswik.Sched$8000/year
- Mine scheduling
- Resource optimization
- Gantt charts
- Enterprise Suite$25000/year
- Complete platform access
- All modules included
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose 3DEC if
- You need 3d distinct element analysis.
- You work on Windows, Linux.
- You also want block motion tracking.
Choose Deswik Suite if
- You need 3d mine design.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want resource scheduling.
Questions people ask
- Is 3DEC or Deswik Suite better?
- Neither clearly leads. 3DEC starts at On request and Deswik Suite at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 3DEC or Deswik Suite?
- 3DEC starts at On request and Deswik Suite at On request.
- Does 3DEC or Deswik Suite run on more platforms?
- 3DEC runs on Windows, Linux. Deswik Suite runs on Windows.
- What is 3DEC best used for?
- 3DEC is most often used for three-dimensional analysis of jointed rock and discontinuous materials, slope stability and pillar analysis for mining, blast and earthquake dynamic analysis, groundwater flow through fractured rock. Of those, three-dimensional analysis of jointed rock and discontinuous materials and slope stability and pillar analysis for mining are not what Deswik Suite is typically brought in for.
- What can 3DEC do that Deswik Suite cannot?
- 3DEC covers 3D distinct element analysis, Block motion tracking, Contact detection, Support design. Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design, Resource scheduling, Geological modeling, Pit optimization. Both handle Vulcan, Windows support.