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GEM4D 

GEM4D is now available as a Beta version and currently free of charge. GEM4D stands for Geotechnical Manager in 4 Dimensions, where the 4D refers to three-dimensional space in conjunction with other visual information such as colour, size or shape. GEM4D is available as "Shareware", where a cost could be required for continuous use in future.

 

GEM4D can be installed on Windows XP or above and requires the dotNET Framework 4.5.2 or above. Make sure your graphics card drivers are up-to-date.

  • Download GEM4D as an installation package from the top links below.

  • Download GEM4D as a folder with files from the bottom links - unzip and copy the directory to a selected location and manually create shortcuts.

Updated to Version 1.9.1.4 on 11 October 2026

GEM4D Manuals

  1. GEM4D Manual - Boundary Element Method (BEM) User Guide (build, solve and read a BEM stress model in GEM4D)

  2. GEM4D Manual - BEM Theory and Verification (a companion to the User Guide that explains the theory and checks against known solutions)

  3. GEM4D Manual - Wedge Stability Analysis at coordinates (the theory and use of the wedge stability analysis at minode coordinates)

  4. GEM4D Manual - Stope Flow Model User Guide (how to set up, run and read a flow model of broken rock in a stoping void)

  5. GEM4D Manual - Reconstruct Surface from a Points Cloud (how to turn a scanned LAS/LAZ points cloud into a triangulated surface)

  6. GEM4D Manual - Abandonment Bund (DMP 1997) (how to draw the zone of instability and abandonment bund around an open pit)

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GEM4D Materials

  1. Visualisation background knowledge (required reading for the following instructions)

  2. Geotechnical block model process description

  3. Building Map3D models in GEM4D

  4. From Block Model to Risk Model (presented at the WAGCG on 13 August 2020, see embedded [silent] videos on Slides 13 & 15)

  5. Comparing Hydraulic Radius (HR) and Radius Factor (ERF)

  6. Open Pit Reconciliation

  7. Reconcile reality with fantasy when the network is down (presented at the WAGCG on 19 August 2022, with embedded videos)

  8. Estimating deformation from seismicity in GEM4D (presented at the WAGCG on 1 March 2024, with embedded videos)

  9. Pretty pictures or better decisions (presented at the WAGCG on 17 June 2026, with an embedded video)

  10. HTML ground support estimator (HTML calculator for a first pass ground support estimate based on stress and Hoek and Brown equations)

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GEM4D Information

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GEM4D is focused on the needs of Geotechnical Engineers, both in consultancies and based on sites. I have learned a lot from coding REM3D and from feedback from many software users. Also, other software packages indicated many improvements that could be made to REM3D, and GEM4D aims to be the solution I could not yet find elsewhere. GEM4D also has a far wider scope and application than REM3D, as I have developed many algorithms in the last few years that enable advanced mathematical processes that could be applied to meshes and data visualisation.

Getting Started Instructions

 

Have a look at the "Videos" menu for training videos to get you started with GEM4D. I started the videos in August 2018 and will gradually add videos over weekends.

 

GEM4D aims to be simple to use when following the guidelines below:

  • All loaded "Mesh" files end up in the left upper list control named "Files", and any checked items in this control are available for manipulation in the bottom list control named "Objects". To deselect files, click any location in the upper list control away from file names.

  • The bottom left list control "Objects" has a checkbox for object visibility, and the colour and transparency can be changed with either the button and slider below the control, or by clicking directly in the cell of interest. To change the object transparency, click further to the left in the grid cell to increase the transparency. Selected objects will display with wireframe lines over the solid triangulation in the scene. To deselect all objects, click any location in the control away from the active columns.

  • Multi-select objects in both the "Files" and "Object" controls by pressing the "Shift" button before selection.

  • Use the "Ctrl" button to deactivate any action temporarily, mostly to reposition the scene before continuing with the selected action.

  • The mouse controls the scene objects:

    - Rotate - left mouse button.

    - Pan - middle mouse button.

    - Zoom - right mouse button, or scroll the mouse wheel.

    - Rotation centre point selection - left double-click on any triangulation.

    - Center the objects in the scene - left double click on empty space in the scene.

  • Few functions are duplicated, there is thus mostly one way to perform a task. This "rule" aims to keep the interface simple and avoid confusion.

  • All manipulations are only applied to visible data. For example; if you want to save the scene, hide the objects that should not be saved. If an object needs to be scaled, hide all the objects that should not be scaled, etc.

  • The interface consists of a "Ribbon with Tabs", "Panels", "Toolbars" and a "Statusbar" - see the videos for a detail description.

  • The functionality is roughly distributed in the following manner:

    - "Ribbon with Tabs" is the main interface control to navigate the scene between the supported data types.
    - "Left Panel" contains the files for "Mesh" objects, and the data for "Marker", "Mapping" and drillhole "Geotech" objects.
    - "Bottom Panel" contains the charts (histograms and stereonets), as well as the statistics of the selected data column.
    - "Right Panel" contains the "complex actions", and complex in the sense of multiple options and settings associated with these actions.
    - "Top toolbar" contains actions for "Mesh" objects, and data from other types often converted to the "Mesh"-type objects. 
    - "Left toolbar" contains snapping options when picking on objects, as view directions such as north, south, etc.
    - "Bottom toolbar" contains keyboard shortcuts when using GEM4D in tablet mode.

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