List of free geophysics software

This is a list of free and open source software for geophysical data processing and interpretation. The list is split into broad categories, depending on the intended use of the software and its scope of functionality.

Notice that 'free and open source' requires that the source code is available. Simple being 'free of charge' is not sufficient—see gratis versus libre. The reader interested in freeware (just free of charge) software is referred to the list of freeware geophysics software.

Reflection seismic processing packages

These are full-blown processing packages, with support for modeling, imaging, and inversion. They are relatively low-level and in some cases have their own data formats and involve learning an extensive syntax or meta-language.

Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes
Madagascar[1] Multidimensional data analysis including seismic processing Sergey Fomel and others GPL Cross-platform C, C++, Python Programming Interfaces to Fortran 77, Fortran 90, Python, Java, MATLAB.
FreeUSP[2] Seismic processing Amoco, BP Custom Unix, Linux Fortran 77, C
FreeDDS[3] Seismic processing Amoco, BP Custom Unix, Linux Fortran 77, C Generic format (SEGY, SU, SEPlib, USP)
PSEIS-OSS[4] Parallel seismic processing Randy Selzler GPL Unix, Linux Fortran 77, C Generic format (SEGY, SU, SEPlib, USP, Madagascar)
CWP/SU (Seismic Un*x)[5] Seismic processing Stanford, Colorado School of Mines BSD-style Unix, Linux, Mac OS X, Cygwin 32 C, some Fortran 77 World's most widely used (69 countries and territories).
CPSeis[6] Seismic processing ConocoPhillips MIT Cross-platform Fortran 90, C++
SPARC[7] Seismic processing ARCO GPL Cray Fortran
SEPlib[8] Seismic processing Stanford University Custom Cross-platform Fortran, C
GeBR[9] Seismic processing Various contributors, Brazil GPL Linux C Interfaces with SU, Madagascar, etc.
OpenSeaSeis[10] Seismic processing Bjorn Olofsson, Colorado School of Mines BSD-style Linux, Windows, Mac OS X C, C++, Java Interfaces with SU data. Reads most common SEGY and a subset of SEGD formats.

Reflection seismic processing utilities

These packages offer some subset of functionality of the full processing packages in the previous section.

Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes
BotoSeis[11] Seismic processing Williams Lima, Brazil GPL Cross-platform Java Workflow builder; interfaces with SU, Madagascar, etc.
Delivery[12] Bayesian inversion CSIRO GPL, BSD-style Cross-platform Java
GSEGYView[13] Display SEG-Y files Vladimir Bashkardin GPL Cross-platform Fortran, C
GPLib++[14] Seismic and magnetotelluric processing Max Moorkamp, Dublin Inst. Adv. Studies GPL Unix, Linux C++
JavaSeis[15] Pre-stack seismic I/O ARCO CPL Cross-platform Java
kogeo[16] Geophysical analysis and visualization University of Hamburg GPL Windows C++
Mines JTK[17] Signal processing and display Dave Hale, Colorado School of Mines CPL Cross-platform Java
JRG[18] Modeling and basic processing John Louie, University of Nevada Custom Cross-platform Java
Jive3D[19] Modeling and tomographic inversion James Hobro, University of Cambridge Custom Unix, Linux Fortran GMT and other libraries
PySIT[20] Imaging and inversion Russell Hewett & Laurent Demanet, MIT BSD 3-clause Unix, Linux Python
SegDSee[21] Display SEG-D and SEG-B files Sergey Pavlukhin Custom Cross-platform C++, Qt
Segpy[22] Read and write SEG-Y files Rob Smallshire, Thomas Mejer Hansen LGPL Cross-platform Python Fork of defunct SegyPY
segy-py[23] Read SEG-Y files Kurt Schwehr, Google Custom Cross-platform Python Various FOSS packages
SIOSEIS[24] Seismic reflection and refraction processing Paul Henkart, SIO BSD Cross-platform gfortran, gcc
SLIMpy[25] Processing front end Felix Herrmann, Univ. of British Columbia LGPL Cross-platform Python Interfaces with SU, Madagascar, etc.
WaveletExtractor[26] Well-ties CSIRO GPL, BSD-style Cross-platform Java

Non-reflection-seismic processing utilities

Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes
Fatiando a Terra[27] Geophysical modeling and inversion Leonardo Uieda et al. BSD Multi-platform Python Uses Numpy and Cython.
ObsPy[28] Seismology toolbox Moritz Beyreuther et al., LGPL Multi-platform Python Uses Numpy and Cython.
PAMGUARD[29] Passive acoustic monitoring for marine mammals Multiple workers GPL Linux, Windows, Mac OS X Java Plug-in-able
PyGMI[30] 3D interpretation and modelling of magnetic and gravity data Patrick Cole GPL Multi-platform Python
Sesarray[31] Signal processing for ambient vibrations Joseph Fourier University, University of Potsdam GPL Linux, Windows, Mac OS X C, C++ Includes geopsy (signal processing) & dinver (inversion)
Seismic Handler[32] Signal processing for earthquakes SZGRF GPL Linux, Solaris C, Python
SimPEG[33] Simulation and Parameter Estimation in Geophysics Rowan Cockett et al. MIT Multi-platform Python Uses Numpy and Cython.
STK[34] Signal processing for earthquakes Dominique Reymond GPL Unix, Linux, Windows C
TauP[35] Travel-time & ray-path calculation University of South Carolina GPL Cross-platform Java
smartRefract[36] Refraction seismic interpretation Simone Pittaluga GPL Cross-platform Java Based on GRM (Palmer)

Visualization, interpretation & analysis packages

Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes
OpendTect[37] Geoscience interpretation and visualization dGB Earth Sciences GPL or custom Cross-platform C++ Interfaces with Petrel, Madagascar, GMT, Google Earth/Maps
GeoTriple for Oil&Gas Exploration[38] Geoscience data management, display and analysis Geoforge project LGPL Cross-platform Java Interfaces with WorldWind
GeoCraft[39] Geophysical analysis and visualization ConocoPhillips MIT Cross-platform Java
qiWorkBench[40] Geophysical interpretation and visualization BHP Billiton Petroleum GPL, BSD Cross-platform Java
Generic Mapping Tools[41] Map generation and analysis Lamont-Doherty and University of Hawaii GPL Cross-platform C Implemented in OpendTect
ParaViewGeo[42] Geoscience extension of ParaView Kitware ParaView, MIRARCO BSD Cross-platform C++, Python Oriented towards mining
GI[43] Geophysical interpretation and visualization GPL Cross-platform C++, Qt Alpha version

Not true free and open source projects

The following projects have unknown licensing, licenses which place some restriction on use or redistribution, or depend on non-open-source software like MATLAB, and therefore do not meet the Open Source Definition from the Open Source Initiative. (For example, the license may rule out use by certain people or for certain purposes, e.g. in a commercial context.) They are included here because they may be of interest for those in an academic environment or access to tools like MATLAB.

Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes
GeoFEST[44] Fault and terrain visualization Greg Lyzenga & Jay Parker, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Not obvious Unix, Linux C Hosted by Open Channel Foundation[45]
MSLT[46] Finite element stress-strain modeling Peggy Li & Herb Siegel, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Not obvious Unix, Linux, Mac OS X C
GeoSeis[47] Processing seismic refraction data Muhammed Celik, Kocaeli University Freeware Windows Visual Basic Completely free after v. 1.3.8
MARE2DEM[48] 2D Inversion of CSEM and MT Data Kerry Key, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Freeware, GNU open source OSX, Linux, Windows Fortran Free to use, needs a valid MATLAB license to build models
GPRSoft Lite[49] GPR Data Visualization Geoscanners AB Freeware Windows GSF, DZT, RAD3, DT1, formats supported
GP Workbench[50] GPR processing USGS Not obvious Windows C++ SU format
Seismic Lab[51] Seismic processing toolbox Mauricio Sacchi, University of Alberta GPL Cross-platform MATLAB Requires MATLAB
CREWES[52] Seismic processing toolbox Gary Margrave, University of Calgary Custom, free for non-commercial use Cross-platform MATLAB Requires MATLAB
SegyMAT[53] Read and write SEG-Y files Thomas Mejer Hansen, Univ. of Copenhagen LGPL Cross-platform MATLAB Requires MATLAB
IMAGE2SEGY[54] Image converter Marcel.lí Farran, Institut de Ciències del Mar Creative Commons Cross-platform MATLAB Requires MATLAB & SegyMAT
SW3D[55] Seismic processing Vlastislav Cerveny, Charles University Not obvious
rayinvr[56] 2D traveltime inversion Colin Zelt, Rice University Custom, non-commercial use only Unix, Linux Fortran 77, C
fast[57] 3D traveltime tomography Colin Zelt, Rice University Custom, non-commercial use only Unix, Linux Fortran 77, C
passeis[58] Passive seismic analysis Haishan Zheng, University of Saskatchewan Not obvious Cross-platform MATLAB Requires MATLAB
seismon[59] Processing for earthquakes Stefan Mertl GPL Cross-platform MATLAB Requires MATLAB
PyShottab[60] Processing for ocean-bottom seismic Dalhousie University Not obvious Cross-platform Python Windows binary
IGeoS (formerly SIA)[61] Geophysical processing and analysis University of Saskatchewan Custom, free for non-commercial use Unix, Linux C++ Interfaces with SU, GMT
Seizmo[62] Global seismic analysis Garrett Euler, Washington University in St. Louis Not obvious Cross-platform MATLAB Octave-compatible

Probably defunct projects

The following projects have seen very little activity for more than a year.

Name Description Originator License Platforms Language Notes
openGPR[63] GPR processing and interpretation Mats Schuh GPL Linux Python No longer in active development
OpenICarre Integrated interpretation system IFP
MagIC-Py[64] Magnetic data processing Python
geoid[65] Geological mapping
ART[66] Ray tracing
GPCPP[67]
Seismic Refraction Tomography[68] GPL

References

  1. http://reproducibility.org
  2. http://freeusp.org
  3. http://freeusp.org/DDS
  4. http://pseis.org
  5. http://www.cwp.mines.edu/cwpcodes
  6. http://cpseis.org
  7. http://freeusp.org/Arco
  8. http://sepwww.stanford.edu
  9. http://www.gebrproject.com
  10. http://cwp.mines.edu/cwpcodes/OpenSeaSeis/
  11. http://botoseis.sourceforge.net
  12. http://www.csiro.au/products/Delivery.html
  13. http://gsegyview.sourceforge.net
  14. http://gplib.sourceforge.net
  15. http://www.javaseis.org
  16. http://www.kogeo.de
  17. http://inside.mines.edu/~dhale/jtk
  18. http://crack.seismo.unr.edu/jrg/
  19. http://bullard.esc.cam.ac.uk/~hobro/Jive3D
  20. http://pysit.org/
  21. http://www.dmng.ru/rus/freeware.html
  22. https://github.com/rob-smallshire/segpy
  23. http://vislab-ccom.unh.edu/~schwehr/software/seismic-py/
  24. http://sioseis.ucsd.edu/
  25. http://slim.eos.ubc.ca/SLIMpy
  26. http://www.csiro.au/products/WaveletExtractor.html
  27. http://fatiando.org
  28. https://github.com/obspy/obspy/wiki
  29. http://www.pamguard.org/
  30. https://code.google.com/p/pygmi/
  31. http://www.geopsy.org
  32. http://www.seismic-handler.org/
  33. http://simpeg.3ptscience.com
  34. http://seismic-toolkit.sourceforge.net
  35. http://www.seis.sc.edu/TauP/
  36. http://www.vs30.it/
  37. http://opendtect.org
  38. http://www.geoforge.org/prt/product/gtr4oxp/gtr4oxp_about.html
  39. http://geocraft.org
  40. http://qiworkbench.org
  41. http://gmt.soest.hawaii.edu
  42. http://paraviewgeo.mirarco.org
  43. http://sourceforge.net/projects/giqt/
  44. http://www.physics.hmc.edu/GL/geofest/
  45. http://www.openchannelfoundation.org/
  46. http://www.openchannelfoundation.org/projects/MSLT/
  47. http://www.geoseis.tr.gg
  48. http://mare2dem.ucsd.edu/
  49. http://www.geoscanners.com/gprsoft.htm
  50. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1365/
  51. http://seismic-lab.physics.ualberta.ca
  52. http://www.crewes.org/ResearchLinks/FreeSoftware/
  53. http://segymat.sourceforge.net
  54. http://www.icm.csic.es/geo/gma/graf2segy.html
  55. http://sw3d.mff.cuni.cz/
  56. http://terra.rice.edu/department/faculty/zelt/rayinvr.html
  57. http://terra.rice.edu/department/faculty/zelt/fast.html
  58. http://www.geoconvention.org/2009abstracts/151.pdf
  59. http://www.stefanmertl.com/science/software/seismon/
  60. http://seismic.ocean.dal.ca/utilities/pyShottab/index.html
  61. http://seisweb.usask.ca/igeos
  62. http://epsc.wustl.edu/~ggeuler/codes/m/seizmo/
  63. http://opengpr.sourceforge.net
  64. http://magic-py.sourceforge.net
  65. http://geoid.sourceforge.net
  66. http://artsystem.sourceforge.net
  67. http://gpcpp.sourceforge.net
  68. http://tomoseis.sourceforge.net