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Software · head to head

3DEC vs Leaflet

3

3DEC

Software

3D distinct element code for underground mining

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Leaflet logo

Leaflet

Software

Leading open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps, used by millions of developers worldwide

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Leaflet has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 3DEC pricing is not published; licences are quoted, with subscription and perpetual options; Leaflet 2D only with no support for 3D features, tilt, or rotation
  • They diverge on capability: 3DEC covers 3D distinct element analysis, Leaflet covers Core Functionality.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3DEC and Leaflet actually diverge.

Attributes where 3DEC and Leaflet differ
Attribute3DECLeaflet
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, LinuxWeb
Founded1981Unknown

Identical on both: 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
  • Vulcan

Only in Leaflet

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

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 Leaflet
  • Slope stability and pillar analysis for miningnot Leaflet
  • Blast and earthquake dynamic analysisnot Leaflet
  • Groundwater flow through fractured rocknot Leaflet
  • Coupled thermal, mechanical and hydraulic modelling for geothermal, CO2 sequestration and nuclear wastenot Leaflet

Leaflet

  • Embedding interactive maps in a web pagenot 3DEC
  • Mobile-friendly map interfaces across desktop and mobile browsersnot 3DEC
  • Mapping where bundle size matters, at roughly 42 KB of JavaScriptnot 3DEC
  • Extending a basic map with plugins rather than adopting a full platformnot 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

Leaflet

  • 2D only with no support for 3D features, tilt, or rotation
  • Performance degrades when rendering large datasets of complex vector geometries without optimization
  • Limited dynamic styling support; style is fixed on the server when using raster tiles
  • Lacks native support for WMS features; requires plugins like Leaflet.WMS and complex feature identification is cumbersome
  • Requires external tile service for map imagery; does not provide map tiles natively

Pricing, plan by plan

3DEC

On request
  • 3DEC Professional$25000/year
    • 3D distinct element analysis
    • Block-to-block interaction
    • Support installation modeling

Leaflet

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Leaflet review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 3DEC if

  • You need 3d distinct element analysis.
  • You work on Windows, Linux.
  • You also want block motion tracking.
3DEC review

Choose Leaflet if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want user interface.
Leaflet review

Questions people ask

Is 3DEC or Leaflet better?
Neither clearly leads. 3DEC starts at On request and Leaflet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3DEC or Leaflet?
Leaflet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for 3DEC and Free for Leaflet.
Does 3DEC or Leaflet run on more platforms?
3DEC runs on Windows, Linux. Leaflet runs on Web.
Can I use Leaflet for free?
Yes. Leaflet has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3DEC starts at On request.
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 Leaflet is typically brought in for.
What can 3DEC do that Leaflet cannot?
3DEC covers 3D distinct element analysis, Block motion tracking, Contact detection, Support design. Leaflet covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Leaflet: Is Leaflet free and open source?

Yes. Leaflet is open-source JavaScript library licensed for free use. Over 400 plugins add capabilities like marker clustering, heatmaps, drawing tools, geocoding, and routing.

Source
Leaflet: How do I include Leaflet in my project via CDN?

Leaflet is available on multiple free CDNs including unpkg, cdnjs, and jsDelivr. Include the CSS stylesheet from https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.css and JavaScript from https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.js in your HTML head.

Source
Leaflet: What mapping services does Leaflet support?

Leaflet integrates seamlessly with various mapping services including OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Bing, and other custom tile providers, allowing developers to choose the best base layer.

Source
Leaflet: What is the file size of Leaflet?

Leaflet weighs about 42 KB of JavaScript.

Source
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