What 3GSM does

3GSM GmbH is an Austrian developer of photogrammetric 3D software for the measurement, modeling, and assessment of rock mass, terrain, and object surfaces. Founded in March 2003 in Graz by Dr. Andreas Gaich and Dr. Markus Pötsch, the company sells three core products — ShapeMetriX (3D modeling and structural mapping from drone and terrestrial imagery), BlastMetriX (drill pattern analysis, blast design, and burden visualization), and FragMetriX (automatic fragmentation analysis of muck piles via combined 3D-2D algorithms) — alongside the optional Commander module for multi-site blast data management. Underlying capabilities include dense 3D reconstruction from photographs without prior camera calibration, automated discontinuity detection via fuzzy K-means clustering, the Minimum Burden Concept with spherical search, and import of LAS/E57 laser scanner data.

The company serves enterprise customers in mining (open-pit and underground), tunneling, roadworks/transportation infrastructure, and natural-hazard assessment, with named deployments including Pueblo Viejo Gold Mine, LKAB Leveäniemi Mine in Sweden, and Powhatan Water Tower Quarry in the USA. Its business model is software licensing and subscriptions, delivered through a global network of 15+ regional channel partners spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, supplemented by free trials through Rocscience's RocPortal self-service platform following the March 2024 acquisition. In March 2024, Rocscience — a Toronto-based geotechnical software company backed by private equity firm TA Associates — acquired 3GSM, integrating 3GSM products into Rocscience's portfolio alongside RocSlope3, RocTunnel3, RocFall3, Dips, and the RSInsight AI support platform, with licensing now managed via Rocscience's enterprise sales organization and RocPortal. The company has continued shipping product releases (ShapeMetriX 5.1, 5.2, 5.3; BlastMetriX 4.10, 4.11; FragMetriX 5.1, 5.2, 5.3) through 2025–2026 and operates in over 50 countries worldwide.

Name

3GSM

Legal name

3GSM GmbH

Website

https://3gsm.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

3GSM develops photogrammetric 3D software (ShapeMetriX, BlastMetriX, FragMetriX) for modeling, structural mapping, blast design, and fragmentation analysis of rock and terrain surfaces in mining, tunneling, and civil engineering, sold globally through channel partners and parent Rocscience since its March 2024 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical Software

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

3D Vision, Depth Sensing & Point Cloud Analytics (HDAAAEAK)

Keywords

• Photogrammetric 3D modeling
• Rock mass characterization
• Blast design software
• Fragmentation analysis software
• Geotechnical survey tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: 3GSM derives revenue from software licenses and subscriptions for its ShapeMetriX, BlastMetriX, and FragMetriX products. The software is offered as a standalone product with pricing available through Rocscience's platform (RocPortal). Licensing integrates with Rocscience's RocPortal licensing system following the 2024 acquisition.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

3GSM develops and sells photogrammetric 3D software for modeling and assessing rock, terrain, and object surfaces. Its core products — ShapeMetriX, BlastMetriX, and FragMetriX — generate dense 3D models from drone and terrestrial imagery to enable contact-free geological mapping, blast design and planning, and automated fragmentation analysis for mining, tunneling, roadworks, and natural hazard applications.

Product overview

3GSM is a software company offering a suite of three core photogrammetry-based products for 3D evaluation of rock, terrain, and object surfaces in mining, tunneling, roadworks, and natural hazard sectors. The portfolio consists of ShapeMetriX (3D modeling and geological mapping), BlastMetriX (blast design and planning), and FragMetriX (automatic fragmentation analysis). FragMetriX was previously bundled within BlastMetriX but is now offered as standalone software. All three products are built on shared software components including MultiPhoto (photogrammetric 3D reconstruction), Analyst (geological interpretation), BlastPlanner/VolumeCalculator (blast planning), Fragmenter (fragmentation analysis), and ModelEditor (mesh editing). An optional Commander module extends BlastMetriX for centralized multi-site data management. Products integrate with Rocscience geotechnical software (RocSlope3, RocTunnel3, RocFall3, Dips) and IDS GeoRadar. The company was acquired by Rocscience in March 2024 and is headquartered in Graz, Austria, operating in over 50 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ShapeMetriX: 3D software solution for modeling and assessing rock masses, terrain, and excavation surfaces with contact-free geological mapping and precise 3D geometry measurements for surface and underground rock excavations.
• BlastMetriX
• FragMetriX
• Commander
• ShapeMetriX TBM

Products and services

• ShapeMetriX Cutting-edge 3D software solution for modeling and assessing rock masses, terrain, and excavation surfaces. Offers contact-free geological mapping and precise 3D geometry measurements for both surface and underground rock excavations, with automated region detection for planar discontinuity surfaces and interfaces with Rocscience geotechnical analysis tools.
• BlastMetriX Advanced blast design and planning solution for mining and quarrying. Provides tools for analyzing drill patterns, generating 3D models from imagery for volume calculations and fragmentation analysis, automated borehole placement based on bench geometry, minimum burden visualization, KPI tracking, and borehole deviation heat mapping.
• FragMetriX First fully automated fragmentation analysis tool for photogrammetric 3D models. Combines 3D spatial and 2D image analysis to assess entire muck pile surfaces in a single run, delivering particle size distribution curves, passing values (x20, x50, x80), and color-coded 3D visualizations. Now offered as a standalone software, previously bundled within BlastMetriX.
• Commander Optional software module integrated with BlastMetriX for comprehensive blast data management and KPI tracking. Features a centralized database for blast data from multiple sites, customizable KPI analysis and visualization, automatic KPI generation, and standard reporting across distributed operations.
• ShapeMetriX TBM Hardware and software solution for 3D imaging and documentation of tunnel face conditions during hard rock tunneling with tunnel boring machines (TBM). Captures circular videos of the tunnel face autonomously during maintenance shifts and integrates with ShapeMetriX for geological mapping and overbreak quantification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drilling geometry (burden and spacing) increased by 15%, reducing drilling effort by approximately 10%
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• R.A. McClurecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSA-based channel partner for 3GSM software products. Located at 1195 Slack Road, Unit B, Delaware, OH, USA. Contact: +1 740 363 6976. Co-exhibited with 3GSM at the ISEE Conference in Reno, Nevada (January 2026) at booth #207/209.
• IDS GeoRadarcoreTechnology or IntegrationItaly/Worldwide technology and integration partner. IDS GeoRadar develops radar systems for geotechnical monitoring. ShapeMetriX interfaces with IDS GeoRadar data for enriched geotechnical analysis, with data export in CSV, DXF, and OBJ formats. Located at Via Augusto Righi 6, 6A, 8, 56121 Ospedaletto Pisa, Italy.
• Blast ConsultcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpain-based channel partner covering Spain. Located at C/ José Fentanes, 42, 28035 Madrid, Spain. Contact: +34-6099-88120. Website: blast-consult.com.
• Tailor EngineeringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItaly/France/Switzerland channel partner. Co-hosted workshops on ShapeMetriX workflows in Desenzano del Garda and Ferrara, Italy (March 2025) with Dr. Markus Pötsch. Located at Via Giovan Battista Aleotti 5b, 44011 Argenta (FE), Italy. Contact: +39 3290393895.
• GeodestekcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEurope/Middle East channel partner. Located at ODTÜ Teknokent Gümüş Blok K1-12, Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Turkey. Contact: +90 312 460 1399. Website: geodestek.com.
• GeoData AndinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmericas/Chile channel partner. Located at Diagonal Paraguay 403 Of. 42, Santiago de Chile, Chile. Contact: +56 2 633 4598. Website: geodataandina.cl.
• Blast EngineeringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPeru-based channel partner covering Latin America. Located at Av. Dos de Mayo 1502 Int. 203, Lima 27, Peru. Contact: +51 989 619 657. Website: blastengineeringla.com.
• Gecko GeotechnicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSt. Vincent and the Grenadines-based channel partner. Located at CBD, Kingstown, VC. Website: geckogeotech.com.
• Projemine EngenhariacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrazil-based channel partner. Located at R. Pedro Alvares Cabral, 173, Carlos Barbosa, Brazil. Contact: +51 9838 9929.
• RocscienceflagshipTechnology or IntegrationRocscience (parent company, Toronto, Canada, backed by private equity firm TA Associates) acquired 3GSM in March 2024. 3GSM products integrate with Rocscience software including RocSlope3, RocTunnel3, RocFall3, Dips, and RSInsight. Rocscience operates regional offices in Latin America (Lima, Peru), India (Gurugram), and Asia-Pacific (Southport, Australia) supporting 3GSM product distribution. Licensing integrated with Rocscience's RocPortal system.
• Earth Products ChinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChina-based channel partner. Located at 12/F Asia Trade Center, 79 Lei Muk Road, Hong Kong, China. Contact: +852 2392 8698. Website: epc.com.hk.
• VisionTechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorea-based channel partner. Located at #52-7 Gayangdong Hangang, Xi-Tower B-1404, Seoul, Korea. Contact: +82 2 786 4929. Website: 3dsystems.co.kr.
• SLS TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVietnam-based channel partner. Located at No.168B, 184 Tran Khat Chan, Thanh Luong Ward, Ha Noi City, Vietnam. Contact: +84 94 193 53 69. Website: slstech.com.vn.
• GeoservicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKazakhstan-based channel partner. Located at md. Kogildir togandar 6, Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Contact: +7 700 739 0 739. Website: geosltd.kz.
• Geofinite EngineeringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMalaysia-based channel partner. Located at 2, Jalan Bercham Permai 8, Ipoh Perak, Malaysia. Contact: +60 176388117. Website: geofinite.com.my.
• Georgette BarnescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGhana-based channel partner. Located at Warehouse No 12, Plt 102 Spintex Road, Greater Accra, Ghana. Contact: +233 302 810 145. Website: georgettebarnes.com.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Itasca Consulting Group: Itasca develops numerical modeling tools for geotechnical and rock mechanics applications, including slope stability and rock mass analysis used in mining and tunneling. It is comparable to 3GSM in serving the same geotechnical engineering customer base with overlapping but distinct technical capabilities.
• IDS GeoRadar: IDS GeoRadar is both a 3GSM channel/integration partner and a peer in geotechnical monitoring. It develops radar and interferometric systems for slope monitoring and ground stability, addressing adjacent problems to ShapeMetriX and competing for the same mining and tunneling geophysics budgets.
• Split Engineering (Split-Online / Split Desktop): Split Engineering provides automated image-based fragmentation analysis software for mining and quarrying. Its Split Desktop and Split-Online tools directly compete with FragMetriX for fragmentation analysis use cases in muck pile sizing and blast optimization.
• Maptek: Maptek is a mining technology vendor explicitly named in the Blast Design Software Market alongside 3GSM. It offers photogrammetry, laser scanning, and geological modeling software for open-pit and underground mining, directly competing with ShapeMetriX, BlastMetriX, and FragMetriX for the same mining engineering customers.
• WipFrag (WipWare): WipWare's WipFrag is a long-established image-based fragmentation analysis system used in mining and quarrying. It competes head-on with 3GSM's FragMetriX for the same particle size distribution and muck pile analysis workflows.

Broad incumbents

• Rocscience: Rocscience is 3GSM's parent company and the closest direct peer, offering geotechnical analysis software (RocSlope3, RocTunnel3, RocFall3, Dips, RSInsight) that 3GSM products directly integrate with and complement. Both serve the same mining and tunneling engineering customer base with adjacent capabilities in slope stability, tunnel design, and rock mass characterization.
• Orica: Orica is explicitly named as a Blast Design Software Market participant. As the world's largest provider of commercial explosives and blasting services to mining, Orica competes in blast design and optimization software that overlaps directly with BlastMetriX and FragMetriX's core use cases.
• Hexagon (Mining division): Hexagon is identified as a Blast Design Software Market participant and operates a broad mining technology portfolio including photogrammetry, surveying, and blast design tools that overlap with 3GSM's offering. As a much larger incumbent, it competes with 3GSM across mine planning, fragmentation analysis, and geotechnical workflows.

Emerging players

• Agisoft (Metashape): Agisoft Metashape is a widely used photogrammetry software for generating 3D spatial data from photographs. It competes at the foundational 3D reconstruction layer with 3GSM's MultiPhoto technology and is sometimes used as a lower-cost alternative for geological mapping workflows.
• Pix4D: Pix4D is a leading photogrammetry software vendor used for converting drone and terrestrial photos into 3D models and point clouds. It competes with 3GSM's MultiPhoto core engine in the upstream data capture step and is increasingly used in mining and tunneling workflows as an alternative or supplement to ShapeMetriX.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 3GSM