Mining & Resources · head to head
Deswik Suite vs FLAC3D
Deswik Suite
Mining & Resources
Integrated mine planning and design software
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
F
FLAC3D
Mining & Resources
3D finite difference software for geotechnical engineering
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; FLAC3D the FLAC3D product page publishes no price and routes buyers to a quote request or an external software store
- They diverge on capability: Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design, FLAC3D covers 3D finite difference modeling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Deswik Suite and FLAC3D actually diverge.
| Attribute | Deswik Suite | FLAC3D |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Founded | 2007 | 1981 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mining & Resources).
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 Deswik Suite
- 3D mine design
- Resource scheduling
- Geological modeling
- Pit optimization
- Underground planning
- Surpac
- Vulcan
- Datamine
Only in FLAC3D
- 3D finite difference modeling
- Stress-strain analysis
- Dynamic analysis
- Coupled flow analysis
- Mining-specific features
- GeoStudio
- AutoCAD
- Leapfrog
Both cover
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Deswik Suite
- Mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operationsnot FLAC3D
- Reserve reporting and life of mine planningnot FLAC3D
- Connecting mine plans to production execution and material trackingnot FLAC3D
FLAC3D
- Three dimensional continuum modelling of soil and rock behaviournot Deswik Suite
- Analysing underground excavation and mine stability including cavingnot Deswik Suite
- Coupled thermal, dynamic and creep analysis of geotechnical structuresnot Deswik Suite
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
FLAC3D
- The FLAC3D product page publishes no price and routes buyers to a quote request or an external software store
- Advanced capabilities including Dynamics, Thermal, Creep and IMASS are optional modules sold separately from the base licence
- Licence portability depends on a physical USB key or a web licence managed centrally, rather than a simple sign in
- One licence permits only two simultaneous instances on the same computer
Pricing, plan by plan
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
FLAC3D
On request- FLAC3D Professional$22000/year
- 3D finite difference analysis
- Slope stability
- Mine design
Which should you pick?
Choose Deswik Suite if
- You need 3d mine design.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want resource scheduling.
Choose FLAC3D if
- You need 3d finite difference modeling.
- You work on Windows, Linux.
- You also want stress-strain analysis.
Questions people ask
- Is Deswik Suite or FLAC3D better?
- Neither clearly leads. Deswik Suite starts at On request and FLAC3D at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Deswik Suite or FLAC3D?
- Deswik Suite starts at On request and FLAC3D at On request.
- Does Deswik Suite or FLAC3D run on more platforms?
- Deswik Suite runs on Windows. FLAC3D runs on Windows, Linux.
- What is Deswik Suite best used for?
- Deswik Suite is most often used for mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operations, reserve reporting and life of mine planning, connecting mine plans to production execution and material tracking. Of those, mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operations and reserve reporting and life of mine planning are not what FLAC3D is typically brought in for.
- What can Deswik Suite do that FLAC3D cannot?
- Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design, Resource scheduling, Geological modeling, Pit optimization. FLAC3D covers 3D finite difference modeling, Stress-strain analysis, Dynamic analysis, Coupled flow analysis. Both handle Windows support.