Combine Analyses in a Single, Integrated Project

The integrated GeoStudio software suite allows you to combine multiple analyses using different products into a single modelling project. You can then use the results from one analysis as the starting conditions for another one. New analyses can be easily created by cloning an existing analysis and adjusting its properties. When you are ready to analyze the model, GeoStudio solves the analyses in the appropriate order, taking advantage of parallel processing.

This unique and powerful feature greatly expands the types of problems you can analyze. Use this approach to model construction sequences, establish initial conditions, perform sensitivity analyses, model complex time sequences, or simply decompose a complex problem into a number of smaller, more manageable analyses.

Multi-view Modeling Environment

Docking windows in GeoStudio allow you to view information in multiple views so you can quickly access the data you need. You can customize the display of docking windows to suit your particular needs. A status bar provides both view information and quick access to commands such as zooming, and a progress bar during lengthy operations such as solving.

Docking windows include an Analysis Explorer, Solve Manager, Result Times, Slip Surfaces, and Sensitivity Runs. The Analysis Explorer displays a tree view of the analyses in the project, allowing you to quickly change the analysis you are viewing. The Solve Manager allows you to solve one or more analyses and watch their progress even while continuing to work on another analysis. The Result Times window displays a list of time steps that have computed results. When you select a time step, all currently displayed views and dialog boxes show the results computed for the selected time.

The Slip Surfaces window displays a list of SLOPE/W computed trial slip surfaces. When you select a slip surface, the Results view will show the complete slip surface results. If detailed results are unavailable, GeoStudio will compute them on-demand, allowing you to view detailed forces or graphs on any particular slip surface without having to designate it as a "critical" slip surface.

The Sensitivity Runs window displays a list of runs performed for a sensitivity analysis. Each sensitivity run is now a complete slope stability analysis, allowing you to view all computed slip surface results for each individual run.

Define Geometry using Drawing Tools or by Importing CAD files

Defining the geometry of the physical system is usually the first step in a numerical analysis. GeoStudio provides all the tools necessary to define the model domain including coordinate import, copy-paste geometric items, length and angle feedback, region merge, region split, and direct keyboard entry of coordinates, lengths, and angles.

AutoCAD DWG or DXF files can be imported directly into GeoStudio for the definition of domain geometry. In addition, image files can be imported, scaled, and the region geometry drawn directly over top.

Apply Materials to the Domain for each Analysis

Once the domain regions are defined, you can apply material properties to each of the regions individually or as a group. Applying materials to individual regions allows you to model different materials in different analyses. You can also remove portions of the domain in different analysis by not applying materials to these regions; this allows each analysis to consider new regions added to the domain in stages.

Material properties can also be applied globally to all analyses in the project or to individual analyses. Applying materials across all analyses makes it easy to change your material definition when you are using many analyses in a single project.

Define Soil and Rock Material Models using Flexible, Generalized Functions

GeoStudio makes broad use of generalized functions for material property and boundary condition definition. Enter parameters for pre-defined functions, or create your own functions using your own data. You can even write your own Add-In functions or constitutive models to compute material property values while the analysis is being solved, allowing you to extend GeoStudio in nearly infinite ways.

Automated Finite Element Meshing of the Geometry

When materials are applied to the domain regions in a finite element analysis, a default finite element mesh is automatically generated. While in many cases the default mesh is adequate, you can adjust the mesh either globally or by applying constraints to specific locations. This allows you to keep a coarse mesh in most regions while applying a fine mesh within particular portions of the domain that may have highly nonlinear properties or boundary conditions. As you adjust the local constraints, GeoStudio re-generates the mesh over the entire domain, while still preserving your existing model definition.

Use the Keyboard to Enter Coordinates While Drawing Objects

Coordinates can be entered using your keyboard while any drawing command is active. This keyboard input option allows you to enter Point coordinates using the x-y coordinates, length and angle input, offset lengths in the x-y directions, or simply the Point numbers. A tooltip displays this information while drawing points using drawing commands such as Draw Regions. Undo and Redo is supported while using the drawing commands.

Integrate your own Code using GeoStudio Add-Ins

You can write supplemental programs called Add-Ins that will be called by the GeoStudio Solver when it solves your analyses. A Function Add-In takes the place of a function defined in GeoStudio, and offers the flexibility of computing function results that vary dynamically based on the current mesh state.

GeoStudio provides an Add-In API ("application programming interface") that your Add-In can use to query parameter values while GeoStudio is solving the analysis. You can use these values to return the required function parameter value. You can also use the Add-In API to write out your own custom parameters for later viewing using the regular GeoStudio result visualization features.

Each Add-In function is an object that GeoStudio associates with either a node or gauss point, depending on the kind of function that references the Add-In. Boundary condition functions are assigned at nodes, and Material property functions at gauss points. There are many instances of the function object created when the solver runs, one for each node or gauss point where the function is used.

In SLOPE/W, an Add-In can be written to access data that exists at the base of a slice where that slice contacts the failure plane (or slip circle).

GeoStudio Add-Ins are based on Microsoft .NET, allowing you to write your Add-In using languages such as C#, F#, or VB.NET.

Efficient, Parallel Solving of the Project Analyses

GeoStudio runs each analysis solver in parallel, allowing multiple analyses to be solved efficiently on computers with modern, multi-core processors. When analysing a single problem, the appropriate GeoStudio solver will still perform much of the computations in parallel.

Interpret Results with Powerful Graphing, Visualization, and Data Management

Interpretation is one of the most difficult aspects of numerical modelling. GeoStudio provides powerful tools for visualizing and interpreting the results:

• Graphing tools let you plot almost any computed parameter
• Contour plots display computed parameters that vary spatially over the domain
• Isolines display a single parameter value as a line in the domain
• Isolines computed at different times can be shown simultaneously on the domain
• Computed results over time can be plotted or animated in a movie
• Data can be interactively queried at any location
• Data can be exported and taken directly into a spreadsheet for further analysis
• Each GeoStudio product provides additional ways of interpreting the analysis results

Display Legends for Material Properties, Contour Plots, and Color Maps

When defining material properties, you can apply a Material Legend to indicate the materials applied to the model domain for visualization purposes. Legends can also be displayed for contour plots and other visualization tools like factor of safety color maps in SLOPE/W.

Add Notes, Labels, Pictures, and Dimensions on the Drawing

Additional notes can be added as text to the drawing. Add any text you like, or use "dynamic" text that is connected to your model data. This allows you to place labels on the drawing that automatically update as the model changes.

Add pictures to your drawing such as a drawing created in AutoCAD, a corporate logo, or a photo of the site.

Add dimensional objects to the drawing page by simply clicking on the beginning and end point of interest and dragging the dimension object above or below the line. You can also choose the colour of the dimension drawing and text by changing the colour prior to drawing the dimensional object.

Create a Printing Template in Page Layout Mode

The Page Layout mode allows for improved presentation of models and results. After setting up an analysis, you can switch to Page Layout to specify the printing properties, including page size and orientation, and drawing scale. This configuration can be saved as a template or an existing Page Layout configuration can be imported into the current file for consistent presentation of model results in multiple project files.

Automate GeoStudio with the GeoCmd Command Line Interface

GeoCmd is a command-line utility that makes it more convenient to work with large numbers of data files. You can automate GeoStudio to solve, upgrade, or generate reports for many project files sequentially.

Upgrade Files from Older GeoStudio Versions and Save to Older Formats

GeoStudio can read in files created by any earlier version of GeoStudio. GeoStudio can also save your current project file as an older version, allowing you to continue working with other members of your team who are not using the latest GeoStudio version.

Multi-language GeoStudio Versions

The GeoStudio user interface can be shown in multiple languages besides English, including Chinese, French and Spanish. When installing GeoStudio, you can select your preferred language or change it later.

GeoStudio Licensing and Delivery

GeoStudio is delivered completely in digital form, without any physical packaging. This eliminates your shipping costs, speeds up and simplifies the purchasing process, and is more eco-friendly! All GeoStudio resources, including engineering books, are digitized and available online.

Stand-alone licenses do not require a hardware dongle attached to your computer, although one can be used if preferred. Instead, you can simply activate your computer to use your GeoStudio license. To use your GeoStudio license on a different computer, you can transfer your activation to that computer.

Instead of activating GeoStudio on each computer, you can purchase a Network license, allowing access from anywhere on your network. Network licenses are controlled using a license server with a web-based monitoring interface. Network licenses can be "re-hosted" onto new server hardware using an included activation utility.

Licenses are renewed annually, and can be automatically downloaded and installed when running GeoStudio.

Maintenance for GeoStudio can be purchased annually to ensure access to the latest GeoStudio versions. Maintenance also provides you with access to basic engineering support as you create your models, as well as full licensing and installation support.