33DECvs
Caterpillar MineStar
Caterpillar MineStar: Integrated technology for mining fleet management
3
3DEC
3D distinct element code for underground mining
As of 30 August 2026, 3DEC's pricing is not published; the vendor quotes on request. 3DEC is a three-dimensional distinct element code used for analyzing discontinuous deformation in mining and rock engineering. Softwr lists it under Mining. 3DEC is made by Itasca Consulting Group, launched in 1981, available on Windows, Linux.
Overview
What 3DEC does
3DEC is a three-dimensional distinct element code used for analyzing discontinuous deformation in mining and rock engineering. It is particularly effective for modeling complex underground mining geometries with emphasis on block interactions and joint systems.
What people use it 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
- Coupled thermal, mechanical and hydraulic modelling for geothermal, CO2 sequestration and nuclear waste
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of 3DEC
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- 33DECvsDeswik Suite
Deswik Suite: Integrated mine planning and design software
- 33DECvsLeapfrog Geo
Leapfrog Geo: 3D geological modeling and visualization software
- 33DECvsDassault Systemes GEOVIA
Dassault Systemes GEOVIA: Comprehensive mining and geoscience platform
Pricing
What 3DEC costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
3DEC Professional
$25,000 /yr
- 3D distinct element analysis
- Block-to-block interaction
- Support installation modeling
- Dynamic response
Capabilities
Features
3D distinct element analysis
Block motion tracking
Contact detection
Support design
Dynamic simulation
FLAC3D
Integration with FLAC3D
Leapfrog
Integration with Leapfrog
Vulcan
Integration with Vulcan
Python
Integration with Python
Windows support
Available on windows
Linux support
Available on linux
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Does 3DEC offer a free trial before purchasing?
Yes, 3DEC provides a free demo download available via the REQUEST DEMO button on their website. However, the specific trial period length is not stated on the product page.
SourceWhat licensing models does 3DEC support?
3DEC offers both subscription-based licenses (annual) and perpetual licenses. Subscription licenses are available through their FastSpring store with annual subscription terms.
SourceHow is 3DEC pricing determined?
3DEC uses a quote-based pricing model rather than publishing fixed rates. Customers can request a quote through the website or purchase through their software store, with pricing customized based on specific needs.
SourceWhat support resources are included with 3DEC?
3DEC includes documentation, tutorials, forum access, FAQs, applied examples, and training courses. Support appears to be included with purchases rather than sold separately.
SourceBehind it
Who makes 3DEC
- Company
- Itasca Consulting Group
- Based in
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
Keep looking
Where to go from 3DEC
- 3DEC alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- 3DEC pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- 3DEC badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Mining softwareThe full category
- Best Mining softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Mining software for
Compare 3DEC with
- Deswik Suite
- Leapfrog Geo
- Caterpillar MineStar
- Dassault Systemes GEOVIA
- OptiMine
- Maptek I-Site
- Leica Geosystems Mining
- PLAXIS
- RS2
- GEOVIA GEMS
- Wenco
- Snowden Supervisor
- Vulcan Geological Modelling
- Seequent Central
- GeoStudio
- Whittle
- Wenco
- RS2
Other Mining software
3D geological modeling and visualization software
From $164.25/day (Consultants Daily)9 researched notesFleet management and dispatch for open-pit mines, sold on an explicit open interoperability stance
Pricing on request12 researched notesFleet management and dispatch for open-pit mines, sold on an explicit open interoperability stance
Pricing on request12 researched notes
Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for 3DEC, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on 3DEC
3DEC alternatives
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3DEC pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
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Put it head to head with anything we hold
3DEC badge
Its rating, and an embed for your own site
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Per month by shift or plod volumeFleet management and dispatch for open-pit mines, sold on an explicit open interoperability stance
quote
Integrated technology for mining fleet management