Templates

A template is a preconfigured report skeleton that groups a selection of blocks tailored for a recurring deliverable. Rather than rebuilding the structure every time, the user chooses the template that best fits their context and adjusts it at the margin. IsoFind includes fourteen built-in templates covering standard cases in environmental forensics, analytical services, regulatory compliance, CSIA simulation, and hydrogeology.

The Fourteen Built-in Templates

Each template has been designed to address a specific use case. Templates vary in length (from 8 to 30 blocks) and positioning (ranging from short, accessible reports to detailed expert reports). The table below provides an overview.

Template	Block Count	Typical Usage
Source Attribution (concise)	11	Short origin identification report, for non-specialist decision-makers
Source Attribution (expert)	30	Detailed report for experts or counter-experts, litigation files
Analytical Services Delivery	16	Standard client deliverable for isotopic analysis laboratories
Analysis Session Report	variable	Internal technical report on a measurement session
Exploratory Report	8	Preliminary exploration of a dataset, short format
Scientific Exploration	16	Detailed scientific investigation with advanced interpretation
Regulatory / Traceability	28	Complete file for authorities, with maximum traceability
Nexus Report	14	Focused on the analysis of processes identified by the Nexus engine
Drilling & Hydrogeology	20	Hydrogeological project with vertical profiles and field conditions
CSIA Simulation (concise)	12	Quick visualization of an isotopic simulation scenario
CSIA Simulation (expert)	26	Expert report for technical consultancy firms
Monitored Natural Attenuation	24	Long-term monitoring and MNA regulatory decision-making
Reactive Barrier Remediation	16	Design and monitoring of PRB barriers
Temporal Monitoring	11	Time series with CSIA options and Rayleigh fit

Anatomy of a Template

All templates follow a common architecture that reflects the expected reading path of a technical report. Understanding this architecture helps in choosing the right template and customizing it effectively.

Section	Typical Blocks	Role
Header	Cover page, executive summary, context, table of contents, glossary	Reader orientation, deliverable positioning
Data	Sample inventory, maps, signatures, concentrations, physico-chemistry	Presentation of factual material
Methods	Analytical protocol, standards, CRM, quality control	Credibility and reproducibility
Analysis	Ratios, statistics, matches, Nexus process chains	Computational processing and inference
Rigor	Limitations, robustness index, sensitivity, scope of questions	Honest qualification of conclusions
Conclusion	Open conclusions, recommendations, bibliography, appendices, certification	Synthesis and closing

Short templates (Exploratory Report, Concise CSIA Simulation) omit certain sections, notably Methods and Rigor, to prioritize quick reading. Expert and regulatory templates, conversely, detail all sections to meet traceability and contestability requirements.

Focus on Three Structural Templates

Source Attribution (expert)

With thirty blocks, this is the most comprehensive template in the catalog. It is designed for litigation files or expert assessments where the report must withstand counter-expertise. It covers all sections with detailed variants: complete sample inventory, annotated maps, isotopic signatures and plots, descriptive statistics, elemental data, ratios, zone-specific matches, similarity matrices, multi-sample comparisons, limitations, robustness index, sensitivity analysis, scenario comparison, audit trail, chain of custody, data integrity, project compliance, bibliography, appendices, and certification.

CSIA Simulation (expert)

Twenty-six blocks dedicated to a groundwater isotopic modeling project. The structure includes all blocks from the simulation category (parameters, CSIA pathway, hydraulic field, plume evolution, isotopic evolution, metabolite cascade, dual isotope plot, field validation, chronology, uncertainties, attenuation prognosis, future regulatory compliance, scenario comparison) and concludes with limitations, robustness index, recommendations, bibliography, and certification. This template best leverages the coupling between 3D Visualization and Reports.

Drilling and Hydrogeology

Twenty blocks centered on drilling and hydrogeology projects. It highlights vertical profiles, saved cross-sections, Nexus geochemical conditions, and process chains. It is particularly suited for mining sites, geological storage, or deep aquifer studies where the vertical dimension is crucial.

Licensing and Availability

Not all templates are available in all IsoFind editions. The distribution of blocks across the three license levels (research, research+, pro) determines whether a template can be used in its entirety.

Level	Available Blocks	Full Templates
Research	Approx. 13 basic blocks	Exploratory, Concise Attribution
Research+	Approx. 41 blocks	Analytical delivery, Nexus, hydrogeology, scientific exploration, temporal monitoring, Expert Attribution (partial)
Pro	70 blocks (Full)	All templates, including simulation and advanced rigor blocks

When a template contains a block unavailable under the active license, the block is replaced by an explicit placeholder, and the report remains generatable. This substitution is flagged in the final report to avoid any confusion regarding completeness.

Customizing a Template

Starting from a template is the standard practice, but no template perfectly fits every need. Three levels of customization are available.

Choose template > Add/remove blocks > Reorder > Configure per block > Save as custom template

Adding and removing blocks is done via simple drag-and-drop in the assembly interface. Reordering is free, provided the logical order is respected (header before data before conclusion). Per-block configuration covers internal parameters for each block (thresholds, sample filters, styles).

A custom template can be saved under a specific name and reused across other projects. For organizations with multiple users, custom templates can be shared via the theme system to ensure uniformity in issued reports.

Choosing the Right Template

The choice of a template depends on three variables: the nature of the project, the target audience, and the expected level of formalism. The following table guides this choice for common cases.

Project	Reader	Recommended Template
Origin Identification	Non-technical decision-maker	Source Attribution (concise)
Origin Identification	Expert, litigation	Source Attribution (expert)
Laboratory Analysis Session	Lab client	Analytical Services Delivery
Plume Simulation	Internal project team	CSIA Simulation (concise)
Plume Simulation	Regulatory authority	CSIA Simulation (expert) or MNA
Drilling & Characterization	Client / Site Owner	Drilling & Hydrogeology
Long-term Monitoring	Monitoring team	Temporal Monitoring
Full Regulatory Filing	Authority, litigation	Regulatory / Traceability

For a project that doesn't fit perfectly into a template, the most efficient strategy is to start with the closest template in terms of project nature, then add or remove blocks as needed. Rebuilding a report from scratch without using a template is technically possible but rarely optimal.

Learn More

FAIH Philosophy: The logic structuring all templates.
Blocks: Detailed catalog of the 70 available blocks.
Generating a Report: The path from selection to signing.
IsoFind Editions: Details on research, research+, and pro licenses.