Open Plot is a free software for structural data analysis which includes some basic 3D functionalities.

Open Plot is available for Windows and Linux operating systems and, after version 2013-GL-00, also for Mac OS.

Versions before 2013-GL are based on Quesa libraries, while starting from 2013-GL, OpenGL libraries are used

Download and manipulation of the source code for non commercial use is welcome and encouraged




Three different types of data can be loaded, converted into the Open Plot format (eventually saved) and plotted: Structural data; basic 3D objects; complex objects.

Structural data are punctual objects, like bedding surfaces, mesofaults, mineral lineations, AMS tensor, and include lineations, planes (eventually with slickenlines), and tensors. For these elements, each record can include user-defined attributes. As an example, a joint with associated spacing, orientation, author, date, lithological information, etc., is a structural datum.

Basic 3D objects:


Triangles: This element can be imported from spreadsheet or text file, providing the X,Y, and Z coordinates of each vertex (9 fields).

Vector: A polyline including only two points. This element can be imported from spreadsheet or text file, providing the X,Y, and Z coordinates of the starting end ending point, and/or created in the software (6 fiels).

Dip domain: Planar polygon. This element can be created only within the software, and can be exported as 3D surface in *.DXF format. Dip domains have associated azimuth and dip values and can be plotted in stereoplot.

Axil Surface: It is a "special" DIp Domain, which cannot be edited and can be created from two Dip Domains.

Polyline: This element can be created within the software, can be exported in *.DXF format, imported from *.DXF file, imported from both clipboard and file. Azimuth and dip of polylines can be plotted in stereoplot in two ways: MODE I: it is computed the azimuth and plunge of each segment; MODE II: it is computed the azimuth and dip of the segment connecting a node with the centre of mass.

Panel: vertical polygon with nodes lying at two fixed elevations. This element can be created within the software and imported from clipboard. Panels cannot be exported. Images can be draped on panel. Data can be projected along the panel.

Selection: closed panel. This element can be created only within the software. Selections allow to select data that are included within the selection.


Complex objects include triangular meshes and images. Three types of images can be loaded: (1) Textures: non-georeferenced images, which can be draped on vertical panels. (2) Maps: georeferenced
images, which can be draped on meshes. (3) Texture map: it is the texture mp of a 3D mesh, this kind of image is loaded toether with the mesh, and it is permanently associated to it.


The main functionalities of the software are described in Tavani et al. (2011). These include classical tools, like stereoplot, contouring, histograms and structural transects. In addition, a 3-D environment is present in Open Plot Project, allowing the management of georeferenced structural data (like bedding, fault, joints, mineral lineations etc.) and 3D objects like meshes, polylines, vectors, dip-domains, etc. Many of these 3D objects can be imported, others can be directly created within the 3-D framework of Open Plot and “structural” attributes can be assigned to them.