ITASCA Software Insights Newsletter
Updates, insights, and ideas and from the world of advanced geotechnical engineering software.
What’s New in ITASCA v9.7, MPoint Beta, and New Mining & Slope Workflows (May 2026 Issue)
This month is all about what is new and what is next in ITASCA Software . With the ITASCA v9.7 point release, you’ll see faster everyday workflows, in‑product AI support with GeoBot, stronger constitutive models, and expanded capabilities for extreme deformation analysis through the MPoint2D/3D beta. Alongside the “What’s New in v9.7” webinar, you’ll find a new MINEDW session, the latest Ask ITASCA live Q&A, and on‑demand content on 2D and 3D slope modeling, performance tuning, and extreme deformations to help you turn these tools into better decisions on real projects.
This Issue At a Glance
- New Webinars: See what’s new in ITASCA v9.7, join the May Ask ITASCA live Q&A, explore MINEDW 9.6 for mining hydrogeology, and learn how XSite supports geothermal EGS projects.
- Webinar Replays & Videos: Watch on‑demand sessions on FLAC2D dynamic slope analysis, 3D vs 2D slope stability, the April Ask ITASCA Q&A, and advanced fault modeling with zone joints in FLAC3D and IMAT.
- Blog: Deepen your understanding of 3D slope modeling, FLAC3D performance tuning, and extreme deformation workflows using FLAC2D, MPoint2D/3D, and DEM tools.
- Software Training: Build practical skills through a FLAC2D/3D embankment dam and slope course plus free self‑paced MINEDW and 3DEC introductory video series.
- Conferences & Events: Meet the ITASCA team at URTeC 2026 and ARMA 2026 to see how our tools support unconventional resources and rock mechanics projects.
- Beta Program: Get early access to emerging capabilities—including MPoint2D/3D—and collaborate directly with the development team.
- Case Studies: See how engineers use ITASCA software on complex projects, from quay reinforcement and crane platforms to underground cavern stability.
- Academic Program: Explore licensing options tailored to research groups, instructors, and students using ITASCA tools in teaching and sponsored projects.
- Community Forum: Connect with peers and ITASCA experts to ask questions, share insights, and discuss real-world modeling challenges.
ITASCA Software Webinars
Webinar: What’s New in ITASCA Software v9.7
Three live sessions on Wednesday, May 13, 2026:
- Register: 8:00–9:00 AM CT (UTC‑05:00)
- Register: 10:00–11:00 AM CT (UTC‑05:00)
- Registers: 8:00–9:00 PM CT (UTC‑05:00)
Join us for a focused tour of the new features and capabilities in ITASCA software v9.7, including workflow upgrades, visualization improvements, and expanded MPoint2D/3D functionality. You’ll see how GeoBot, our built‑in AI assistant, fits into everyday modeling, how Python variables and functions now appear in the Project tree, and how plotting and Sketch enhancements streamline geometry creation and result sharing. We’ll also highlight key constitutive model updates, FLAC3D cluster (MPI) improvements, and what’s new in the MPoint beta so you can start applying these changes immediately in your own projects.
Note: Point releases are available to anyone with a Version 9 subscription or maintenance license for FLAC3D, FLAC2D, 3DEC, PFC3D, PFC2D, or MassFlow.
Webinar Presenter: Jim Hazzard, Software Manager, Itasca Consulting Group. Dr. Hazzard is a geological engineer with a Ph.D. in geophysics and extensive experience in geomechanics software development.
Register for the webinar at one of the times listed above. ⬆️
Webinar: Ask ITASCA Software (May 2026)
Thursday, May 14, 10:00–11:00 AM CT (UTC‑06:00), live online
Stuck on a modeling problem or wrestling with a tricky post‑processing workflow? Bring your questions to our monthly Ask ITASCA Software session. This live Q&A is driven entirely by your submissions—no preset slide deck, just direct, technical answers from ITASCA Software developers and engineers.
How it works:
- Register to attend using the link below.
- Submit your question when you register so our team can review your scenario in advance and prepare targeted examples.
- Join the live session to watch walkthroughs, see best practices in action, and hear our experts troubleshoot real user challenges. We’ll also reserve time for a few live questions during the event.
Sign up for the May 2026 Ask ITASCA webinar
Webinar: What Is MINEDW and What’s New in Version 9.6
Wednesday, May 20, 10:00–11:00 AM CT (UTC‑06:00), live online
Hydrogeologists and groundwater modelers working in mining environments need tools that match the scale and complexity of real projects. In this webinar, specialists from ITASCA will introduce MINEDW, a 3D finite‑element groundwater code built specifically for mine planning, dewatering, and environmental assessment.
You’ll see how MINEDW handles key workflows in the GUI, including mesh collapse to represent open pits and particle tracking to visualize groundwater flow directions, and where the latest v9.6 enhancements fit into a typical project. The session is designed for hydrogeologists, groundwater modelers, and environmental engineers involved in pit dewatering, pore‑pressure prediction, and impact assessment, whether you’re an experienced user or evaluating MINEDW for the first time.
After attending, you’ll be better able to:
- Understand how MINEDW addresses real‑world mining hydrogeology challenges.
- Recognize the core capabilities that make MINEDW unique in mine settings.
- Set up and interpret models for complex mining scenarios with more confidence.
- Identify what’s new in MINEDW 9.6 and where to apply those updates in your work.
Presenter: Manuel Gutiérrez Riquelme, Senior Hydrogeology Consultant, ITASCA South America
Sign up for the MINEDW webinar
Webinar: Solving Geothermal Challenges with XSite Numerical Modeling
Thursday, June 4, 10:00–11:00 AM CT (UTC‑06:00), live online
Geothermal projects often push modeling tools to their limits, especially when it comes to complex fracture networks and enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). In this joint webinar from ITASCA Software and Baker Hughes you will see how XSite’s hydraulic fracturing in jointed rock modeling capabilities combine with Baker Hughes’ geothermal expertise to address these challenges and support better design decisions.
The session will highlight what sets XSite apart for EGS workflows, including its ability to represent fracture behavior and reservoir response with high fidelity. You will also hear how Baker Hughes is applying these tools in practice, with a real‑world example of XSite used on a geothermal project in Texas. The webinar is designed for geothermal professionals, reservoir engineers, energy strategists, regulators, and ESG‑focused researchers and students who want a clearer view of how advanced geomechanical modeling fits into modern geothermal strategy.
Presenters:
- Branko Damjanac, Principal Engineer, Itasca Consulting Group
- Wei Fu, Senior Geomechanics Engineer, Itasca Consulting Group
- Will Pettitt, Global Lead, Geothermal, Baker Hughes
Webinar Replays and Videos
Webinar Replay: FLAC2D Slope Modeling – Dynamic Analysis and Structural Interaction
For geotechnical engineers starting to tackle seismic slope problems, knowing where the buttons are is only part of the challenge. This introductory FLAC2D webinar with David DeGagne and Zhao Cheng, PhD, PE walks through a complete dynamic slope example, from model setup to interpretation.
Using a tutorial‑style model with three soil layers, structural elements, and earthquake loading, the presenters show how to build the geometry, select material properties, prepare input motions, define boundary conditions and damping, and represent pile behavior and end‑bearing effects. The goal is to give you a clear, practical workflow for dynamic analysis with soil–structure interaction that you can adapt to your own projects.
Webinar Replay: Why 3D Modeling for Slope Stability Analysis — Are 3D Models Misleading?
In this slope stability webinar, Dr. Loren Lorig reviews when 3D numerical modeling is essential, when 2D methods are sufficient, and why some practitioners worry that 3D models can be misleading. Using examples from large open pits, he compares 2D and 3D approaches and shows how three‑dimensional effects change the picture.
Topics include the impact of plan curvature, differences in 2D vs 3D factors of safety, the reality of groundwater flow, and the “art” of modeling complex slopes. With more than 45 years of experience applying numerical models to civil and mining projects worldwide, Dr. Lorig brings both practical case history experience and guidance on how to think about model limitations.
Webinar Replay: Ask ITASCA Software (April 2026)
If you missed the April Ask ITASCA Software session, the full Q&A is now available on demand. In this recording, ITASCA experts walk through real user questions spanning model setup, loading, and post‑processing in FLAC2D, FLAC3D, and related tools.
Topics covered include:
- Modeling undrained triaxial tests in FLAC2D
- Hydrodynamic loading of structural elements
- Coupled fluid‑flow and dynamic analyses
- Python and FISH integration for custom development
- Large‑scale 3D model performance and optimization
- Post‑processing and interpretation strategies in FLAC3D
Video: Modeling Faults and Discontinuities using Zone Joints in FLAC3D & IMAT
This video focuses on advanced geomechanical modeling techniques for representing faults and discontinuities in mining applications using FLAC3D and IMAT. It highlights the zone joint approach, which improves how geological structures such as faults, folds, and discontinuities are captured in numerical models. ITASCA geomechanics and geological engineering specialists walk through the underlying methods, demonstrate key software capabilities, and show practical mining case examples where these techniques make a measurable difference.
ITASCA Software Blog
Why 3D Modeling Is Critical for Slope Stability Analysis
This article distills key insights from ITASCA’s “Why 3D Modeling for Slope Stability Analysis” webinar with Loren Lorig, and looks at where 2D slope methods work, and where they can mislead. It explains how 3D models capture geometry, loading, and groundwater conditions that 2D sections simply cannot, and provides guidance on when to move beyond traditional approaches.
9 Tips for Boosting FLAC3D Model Performance
Because FLAC3D uses an explicit finite‑volume scheme, overall performance depends heavily on the stable time step, which in turn is controlled by zone size and material stiffness. This post walks through practical ways to increase calculation speed, from mesh design to property selection, along with broader modeling practices that improve performance and stability across a range of problems.
Thinking Beyond the Mesh – Modeling Extreme Deformations Using ITASCA Software
When slopes, dams, or excavations move beyond small strain and undergo large deformation or run‑out, traditional mesh‑based approaches alone are not enough. In this article, Dave DeGagné shows how FLAC2D automatic remeshing, hybrid MPoint2D/3D, and DEM tools such as 3DEC, UDEC, and PFC can be combined to follow the full failure process without the mesh collapsing. If you work with tailings dams, landslides, or other extreme deformation problems, this is a practical roadmap for choosing the right numerical tools.
ITASCA Software Training
Expand Your Skills with ITASCA Software Training
Whether you are just getting started or building more advanced modeling workflows, these training resources are designed to help you apply ITASCA software more effectively in real projects. From structured paid instruction to self-paced free courses, each option is built to give practicing engineers and technical users practical guidance they can use right away.
Analyses of Embankment Dams and Slopes Using FLAC2D/3D
- May 27 – June 19, 2026 – 20 hours total over two days
- Offering A: 7:00–9:30 AM PST (UTC-08:00)
- Offering B: 2:30–5:00 PM PST (UTC-08:00)
This specialized 20-hour virtual course with Richard Armstrong is designed for practicing civil engineers who need applied, in-depth training in embankment dam and slope analysis. Across eight sessions, you will work through hands-on tutorials covering mesh development, seismic analysis, advanced constitutive modeling with PM4Sand and P2PSand, and post-earthquake stability assessment using FLAC2D/3D. Full software access is provided for the duration of the course, and class size is capped at 15 participants. Group discounts and international rate adjustments are available.
Free Training Courses from ITASCA Software
Prefer to learn on your own schedule? Browse the ITASCA Software Academy’s growing collection of free training videos focused on simulation, modeling workflows, and engineering analysis. These self-paced courses cover topics such as particle flow, hydraulic fracturing, slope stability, meshing, and geomechanics, with an emphasis on practical application to real-world problems.
- MINEDW Introductory Course – This self-paced course introduces MINEDW from first principles through practical groundwater modeling workflows for mining applications. It covers the fundamentals of MINEDW as a 3D finite-element groundwater flow code, including its interface, pre- and post-processing workflows, and its use in dewatering and depressurization problems around open pits and underground workings. The course also shows how to simulate pumping wells, interpret pore-pressure behavior, and export results into IMAT for coupled hydrogeologic and geomechanical assessments. View the course.
- 3DEC 9.0 Introductory Course – New to 3DEC or looking to build a stronger foundation? This free introductory course walks through the core concepts and workflows behind discontinuum modeling of jointed rock masses and blocky geologic structures in 3DEC 9.0. Designed for new and intermediate users, the series uses practical examples across geotechnical, mining, tunneling, and civil applications to help you build, run, and interpret models with more confidence. View the course.
Conferences & Events
Want to talk strategy in person? You can find the ITASCA Software team at these upcoming events in June.
URTeC 2026 – Unconventional Resources Technology Conference
📅 June 22–24, 2026 📍 George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas
URTeC brings together engineers, geoscientists, and industry leaders for three days of technical presentations, case studies, and networking focused on unconventional resources. The ITASCA Software team will be onsite to discuss how our tools are being applied to reservoir geomechanics, hydraulic fracturing, and subsurface characterization. Learn more
60th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium (ARMA 2026)
📅 June 21–24, 2026 📍 Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, Arizona
Hosted by the University of Arizona, the ARMA annual symposium is a premier gathering for rock mechanics professionals across mining, civil, petroleum, and energy sectors. The ITASCA Software team will be at the show. We’ll show you what’s new in our software suite and you can connect directly with the people behind the tools you use. Learn more
ITASCA Software Beta Program
Shape What’s Next: Join the ITASCA Software Beta Program!
The engineers and researchers pushing geotechnical modeling forward shouldn’t have to wait for a general release. The ITASCA Software Beta Program gives you early access to new features plus a direct line to the development team to make sure those features work the way you need them to.
As a beta participant, you’ll test cutting-edge tools before anyone else, give feedback that directly shapes future updates, and earn recognition and perks like priority support and special discounts for your organization.
Request to join the beta program!
ITASCA Software Case Studies
The best measure of a modeling tool is what it delivers on real projects. These case studies show how engineers and researchers across civil, mining, and energy sectors are putting ITASCA software to work on problems that matter.
Quay Reinforcement with Rigid Inclusions – Port of Le Havre
Designing a quay to carry heavy crawler cranes is one challenge; proving that 3,400 rigid inclusions and a geogrid‑reinforced load‑transfer platform will actually control differential settlement is another. In this case study from the Port of Le Havre, engineers use FLAC3D to model the full crane–PTC–rigid inclusion system in 3D, capturing punching mechanisms in the granular platform, load transfer into the inclusions, and resulting settlements under trapezoidal loads up to 790 kPa. If you work on port, rail, or industrial platforms where localized heavy loads meet reinforced ground, this example shows how numerical modeling can turn a complex inclusion layout into quantifiable settlement and design confidence.
Jingning Pumped Storage Power Cavern Stability Analysis
Driving a multi‑cavern powerhouse deep into jointed rock is hard enough; proving that system will stay stable for the long haul is where the real geotechnical work begins. In this case study, engineers use 3DEC to step through the full excavation sequence of the Jingning pumped storage power station cavern group, tracking stress redistribution, displacements, and block behavior as each opening is created. If you’re designing or reviewing underground caverns in complex jointed rock, this example shows how 3D numerical modeling can turn uncertainty about long‑term stability into defensible support and monitoring decisions.
ITASCA Software Academic Program
ITASCA Software powers some of the most demanding research and infrastructure projects in the world, and the same tools are available to researchers, instructors, and students through academic licensing.
Research licenses provide full access to all modules with flexible institutional terms. Teaching licenses bundle one instructor seat with multiple student seats and ready-to-use curriculum. Student licenses offer full functionality at an affordable single-seat price, with continuous updates included.
ITASCA Software Forum
Connect and Learn at the ITASCA Software Forum
The ITASCA Software Forum is a community space for users of 3DEC, FLAC, FLAC2D, FLAC3D, Griddle, MassFlow, KATS, MINEDW, PFC, UDEC, XSite and more, to ask questions, share answers, and discuss ideas.
Anyone can join and browse discussions, but you’ll need a valid software license to post questions. After you’ve been granted posting permission, you’re encouraged to ask general usage questions and share feedback; for application-specific or private support, you can still use the Technical Support dialog in your software or the Help Request form on the ITASCA website.
Keep the Insights Coming
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