GEOrient©

An application to plot and analyse stereographic and equal area projections, and rose diagrams of geological structural data, copied and pasted from other applications, or read from text files. Wind rose options include plotting mean wind data (wind speed/wind frequency/wind energy).

- see bugfix history for the most recent changes
What it does
  • GEOrient plots orientation diagrams (equal area, or equal angle stereographic projections, and rose diagrams) as shown in the composite image above (or this screenshot). Data is entered either by copying from other applications and pasting from the clipboard, or by opening ASCII text files. Data input formats are unconstrained, and can be in a range of orientation conventions. The prime purpose is for the plotting of geological structural data but the plots may be applied to a variety of spatial/orientation data, including wind data.
  • Data can be copied and pasted, for example, from external spreadsheets and databases. Using this system orientation data from tables displayed in a map in a GIS map databases (such as ArcGis, QGIS, or MapInfo) can be copied and pasted easily into GEOrient.
  • Data can be be plotted as: point symbols; great circles; beta intersections (not recommended); contours of gridded point density; intersection lineation plots; or as rose diagrams. The primary plot data can include appended numeric or non-numeric information (such as length, weighting factors, mean wind data, vein widths, assay values, etc) to allow either classification of the data within the plots, or for various rose diagram options (e.g. Length-Azimuth plots, Wind Energy plots, Mean Length/sector and Variance/sector plots). Corrections can be applied to frequency rose diagrams for linear data sampling bias.
  • Linked fault plane and slip data can be plotted as either slip arrow plots or as kinematic axes plots.
  • Data from multiple files can be merged as a single dataset, or can be overlaid as separate plots using different symbols. Multiple plot windows can be opened simultaneously and can be arranged on a page prior to printing.
  • Best-fit great circles, beta axes,  and vector mean and variance statistics are automatically calculated. Other girdles and small circles can be manually fitted to the data using the mouse to drag girdles into position. Data can be easily added with the mouse, or can be edited within, and between, plots using normal Cut/Copy/Paste mouse actions.
  • Annotated points using any symbol or colour can be overlain on the basic plot.
  • Data can be rotated in various ways, and linked data (such as sedimentary flow directions on bedding planes) can be rotated to the horizontal by rotating the associated bedding planes and fold hinges.
  • Plots can be linked to MapInfo mapper windows and data selected in one will be selected in the other.
  • The limit on the number of data is system memory and resources. Registered users can display up to 99 simultaneous plots (but more than 20 becomes unwieldy). Unregistered users are restricted to 3 simultaneously open plots.
  • Download the compiled Help file for specific details. As part of Microsoft's security measures you now have to Unblock the .chm file in order view it. This site explains the procedure...
Notes
  • The software is specific to Microsoft Windows. (It usually will install and run under Windows emulations, although Help links within each application will not work).
  • GEOrient opens initially in its unregistered form, displaying an unregistered notice and inviting registration. The unregistered form of the program has all features enabled except that the maximum number of plot windows that can be opened simultaneously is restricted to 3, and the opening registration notice will continue to be displayed on startup. Registration (paid) removes both these restrictions and initially sets the default maximum number of plots at 10. (This number can be then be changed up to 99 from within the Preferences dialog accessed from the View… menu).
  • *ACADEMIC USE: GEOrient packages can be used freely in their unregistered form by academics (teachers and students) for teaching and non-commercial research purposes, but please acknowledge the author in any publication or figure arising from its use. However, academic users who wish to remove the plot window restrictions must also purchase registration.
  • For commercial users the unregistered download version can be used for evaluation purposes only, and must be registered for continued commercial use after a reasonable evaluation period that must not exceed two months.
  • Although every effort is made to rectify bugs as they are recognised, the author cannot guarantee that these packages are without error, and assumes no responsibility for their use, or for interpretations based on their use.
  • Frequent field work commitments may occasionally delay my ability to handle email queries promptly
Download:
Georient32v9_zip.zip
Zip file (.zip) containing the full set of installation files for the current version of GEOrient [~7.3Mb]
Using GEOrient - an example.pdf
Short .pdf manual containing an example of opening and plotting data.Includes Classified Sterenet and Rose plots. Complements the in-app Help or the .chm Help file below [466 Kb]
GEOrient_Help.chm [~2Mb]
From v9.5.0, GEOrient contains a compiled HTML Help file as the default Help menu item. This file can be downloaded from the link above and run independently. Open with Internet Explorer if it won't open directly by double clicking.
Note 1: As part of Microsoft's security measures you now have to Unblock the .chm file in order view it. This site explains the procedure...
This link is to another site that discusses the issues with viewing .chm files across networks.
Note 2: The integrated menu Help will also not work unless your system has been set up to read .chm files, as above.
Georient32v9_exe.zip
Zip file containing the current Georient32v9.exe file alone [~780kB]
Those who have previously installed a recent version of GEOrient 9 can upgrade by a simple replacement of the exe file.   This file will NOT work if you have NOT previously installed Version 9 using the full installation version. If you have trouble running GEOrient after replacing this file then download and install the full file set]
Download the bugfix history (.txt file)