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50 years of Oasys
For five decades, Oasys software has helped engineers within Arup and around the world deliver excellence in the built environment.
Oasys 50
Engineering software, shaped by engineering stories
From the very beginning, Oasys (Ove Arup Systems) has been about solving real engineering challenges. Founded in 1976 as Arup’s software house, our tools were born directly from project need – created by engineers, for engineers, and refined through real-world application.
From early structural analysis programs developed on mainframe computers to today’s cloud‑enabled, automation‑ready modelling platforms, Oasys software has evolved alongside the profession itself. Each product reflects decades of practical experience, technical rigour and a commitment to continuous improvement – a commitment that remains just as strong today.
Behind every Oasys product is an engineering story. Many trace their roots back to landmark projects that pushed the boundaries of what was possible at the time, setting digital foundations that we still depend on today. These stories, methods and principles continue to shape how we develop software, ensuring it remains robust, relevant and trusted on projects around the world.
Oasys through the decades
This timeline shows our software development story. Explore our history featuring achievements, milestones and iconic projects where our software has been used.
1976
Oasys Ltd. was formed
Born from Ove Arup’s pioneering use of computer modelling for the Sydney Opera House, Oasys was founded to commercialise engineering software developed by the Arup Computing Group, marking a key milestone in the digital transformation of structural engineering.
1978
Oasys Frew (DOS) release
We released our first commercially available software for Disk Operating System (DOS), flexible retaining wall analysis software, Oasys Frew.
1980
Oasys Alp and Oasys Greta (DOS) release
Oasys Safe, Oasys VDisp (Vertical Displacement) and Oasys Tunset (Tunnel Settlement) were also developed for DOS at this time. VDisp and Tunset later evolved into Oasys PDisp (Pressure Displacement) and Oasys XDisp (Excavation Displacement).
1984
Oasys GSA solver developed for mainframe
1986-1989
Oasys GSA, Oasys ADC and Oasys Adsec (DOS) release
1993
Oasys Design Awards
This competition aimed to test the ability of students of the built environment using computers as an aid to present structural design concepts.
1998
Oasys GSA (Windows) release
GSA has evolved into a leading structural design and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software used by engineers to design, model, and verify buildings, bridges, and complex structures.
1998
The Angel of the North
For more than 20 years, the Angel of the North has stood as a symbol of engineering ambition. Behind the scenes, Oasys has been shaping landmark projects for five decades – including helping Arup engineers model this iconic structure in the 1990s.
1999
Oasys Frew and Oasys Slope (Windows) release
Oasys Stawal and Oasys VDisp were also developed for Windows at this time. The calculations performed within Stawal were later added into Frew for retaining wall analysis.
Oasys Tunset for Windows was also developed at this time.
2002
Oasys Safe (Windows) release
Safe is now used within Slope for the calculation of ground water pressures for steady state seepage analysis and in Frew for precalculated measures of stiffness.
Mail Manager, an email filing software which was later sold in 2022, was also developed at this time.
2009
Oasys PDisp and Oasys XDisp (Windows) release
Engineers use both PDisp and XDisp to undertake comprehensive ground movement analysis under loading conditions.
2012
Oasys MassMotion (Windows) release
MassMotion has developed into the industry-leading pedestrian simulation software trusted by engineers, designers, planners, architects, and operators for designing people-focused spaces.
2022
Oasys Gofer cloud software release
Cloud 2D geotechnical analysis.
2022
MassMotion CogX Award
Recognised for its valuable contribution to projects and the impact it has had on pedestrian flow management during the COVID-19 pandemic, MassMotion was named ‘Best Innovation: Simulation’ as part of the CogX Awards 2022.
2023
Oasys GSA Grasshopper plug-in (Windows) release
GSA’s .NET API and Grasshopper plug-in is used by engineers for highly efficient parametric workflows.
2023
Technical Excellence Award
A ground breaking algorithm developed with the University of Manchester underpins GSA’s modal dynamic analysis solvers and has earned both the Technical Excellence award at the Innovate UK KTP Awards 2023 and the prestigious Golden Award for Driving Innovation for the Future in 2025.
2024
Oasys Giraphe cloud graphing integration for OpenGround release
Developed as part of technology partnership with Seequent, Giraphe is a cloud, dynamic graphing software that directly syncs with OpenGround geotechnical information management software.
2026
50th anniversary
Celebrating five decades of software development
Join us in celebrating 50 years of engineering-led software
As we celebrate 50 years of Oasys, we are proud of our heritage, but just as excited about what lies ahead. With engineers at the heart of everything we do, we continue to develop tools that support innovation, enable better decisions, and help create a better built environment for generations to come.
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