Our Vision

The vision of SoilVision Systems Ltd. is to provide cutting-edge software products to geotechnical engineers, soil scientists, and geological engineers worldwide. We offer both database and finite element modeling products which allow the professional to move data seamlessly from the lab to the finite element model. Our finite element modeling packages offer leading-edge features such as automatic mesh generation and automatic mesh refinement which greatly reduce convergence problems as well as model creation time.

The SoilVision software was developed out of a need to understand, manage and predict the behavior of saturated and unsaturated soils. High-quality data and knowledge from experienced engineers forms the basis of the SoilVision knowledge-based system. SoilVision Systems Ltd. is on the cutting edge of applying database technology to the management of soil properties and the analysis of soil processes.

Our goal is to put the satisfaction of our customers first and foremost. We are committed to constantly improving the ease-of-use and functionality of our software in response to feedback received. We are committed to making your experience with our software satisfying and helpful.

Our Philosophy

The guiding philosophy behind our finite element products is that the modeling effort should be focused on the problem - not the finite element numerical method. Most currently available software forces the manual or semi-automatic generation of the finite element mesh. The user will often spend hours generating a finite element mesh based on geometry only to fight convergence problems because the mesh is not reference based on critical problem variables. All of our finite element products offer not only finite element mesh generation based on geometry but automatic mesh refinement based on any relevant problem variable. Because of this feature, our customers can reasonably expect a reduction in modeling effort between 50-80%

Our History

SoilVision Systems Ltd. was formed in 1997 by Murray D. Fredlund, Ph.D. to provide high-quality software tools to meet the needs of professionals attempting to model the behavior of saturated and unsaturated soils. The pioneer product of SoilVision Systems Ltd. is a knowledge-based database system entitled SoilVision which aids in the estimation and storage of unsaturated soil properties. The SoilVision software is the first of it's kind which allows the user to not only record laboratory results but also estimate soil properties with theoretical methods or the large database of experimental soil properties for unsaturated soils. SoilVision was developed based on research performed on unsaturated soils at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The release of version 2.0 of SoilVision in January of the year 2000 marked a major upgrade to the software. Version 2.0 has been standardized with the majority of laboratory tests and has become popular software for consultants looking to warehouse their laboratory data in a multi-user networked environment. Version 3.0 of SoilVision has been released and continues the tradition of SoilVision Systems Ltd. to offering laboratory database software.

More recently we have added a host of finite element modeling packages offering 2D and 3D solutions to the groundwater, contaminant transport, and heat transfer problems. These products have already gained worldwide acceptance and created a name for themselves as world-class software. The software products created by SoilVision Systems Ltd. are used in over 45 countries worldwide.

Dr. Fredlund's previous work experience includes involvement in the design and modeling of soil covers as well as consolidation modeling for mine sites in northern Canada and Australia. Work experience also includes seepage modeling for consulting and research-related projects as well as teaching classes at the University of Saskatchewan involving the theory of soil mechanics. Previous work experience also includes software development for Geo-Slope International.

Our Team

team at SoilVision Systems Ltd. continues to grow along with the spirit of the organization. The goal of our enthusiastic group is to produce the best geotechnical software available in the world. We employ geotechnical and geological engineers at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels.

Our Customers

The following company list represents a sampling of the companies which make use our software products.

AGRA Earth and Environmental
Alfred Cass & Associates
AMEC Earth and Environmental
Argonne National Laboratory
Arizona State University
Baylor Unviversity
BGC Engineering Inc.
CAMNET
CEPSA
CETEM - Brazil
Clifton Associates Ltd.
Cogema
Colenco Power Engineering Ltd.
Ecole Polytechnique - France
École Polytechnique de Montréal
Environmental Geochemistry International Pty Ltd.
Escola Politecnica da USP
Exponent Environmental Group, Inc.
GHD Pty.
Golder Associates Ltd.
Gularte & Associates
Hanoi Water Resources University
Hong Kong Univ of Science and Technology
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Institut für Geotechnik
Korea University
Laboratorio de Geotecnia - UMSS
Lakefield Research Limited
Lakehead University
M.D. Haug and Associates
Manitoba Hydro
Marshall University
Mecsek Ore Environment
Minnesota Department of Transportation
MPA Williams and Associates
Nanyang Technological University
National Park Service
National University of Mexico
Natural Resources Canada
Norwest Mine Services
P.T. Freeport Indonesia
Purdue University
Queen's University
Robertson GeoConsultants Inc.
Savci Environmental Technologies
Seikei University
SID GEOTECHNICAL, INC.
Studio di Geologia Applicata
Technical University of Hamburg
Texas A & M University
The MINES Group, Inc.
The University of Queensland
Universidad de La Rioja
Universidade Federal De Pernambuco
Universita Itilano Bicocca
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
University of Aarhus
University of Essen
University of Nevada
University of Saskatchewan
University of Southampton
University of Toledo
University of Wisconsin
US Army Corps of Engineers
USACE Waterways Experiment Station
USDA
USDA - ARS
USDA Crrel
Victoria University
WISMUT GmbH