Reports Module

The Reports module is the interface through which an IsoFind project becomes a deliverable: a structured, signed document, exportable as a PDF, and ready to be sent to a client, authority, or third party. Beyond simple formatting, it enforces a drafting discipline based on a strict distinction between facts, analyses, interpretations, and known limitations. This FAIH philosophy is the defining hallmark of reports produced by IsoFind.

Why an Integrated Reports Module?

A report produced outside the tool that generated the data suffers from several weaknesses: diverging data versions between the text and the source file, obsolete images after model modifications, and a lack of traceability regarding the origin of cited figures. The Reports module solves these issues by reading project data directly at the time of generation and linking every figure to its source.

This approach guarantees three properties that are otherwise difficult to achieve. First, the report is "up-to-date by design": modifying a measurement or rerunning a simulation automatically updates all relevant blocks. Second, every value displayed in the report carries an explicit reference to the sample, borehole, or simulation from which it originates. Finally, the report can be cryptographically signed and subsequently verified by a third party.

The Reports module is not intended to replace word-processing software for purely narrative reports. It focuses on technical deliverables that leverage data, figures, tables, and simulations from the project. For these deliverables, it advantageously replaces manual drafting in Word or LaTeX.

The FAIH Philosophy at a Glance

Every report structured by the module follows a four-level reading approach, each corresponding to a clearly identified category of content. This structure makes explicit what is often implicit in traditional reports: the distinction between what is observed, what is derived from it, and what constitutes an interpretation or a limitation.

Level	Nature of Content	Typical Example
Factual	Raw measurements, objective facts, primary data	Concentration measured at 320 µg/L at borehole PZ-07 on March 15th
Analytical	Calculations, ratios, indicators derived from data	Atrazine/DEA ratio of 0.8, indicative of active degradation
Interpreted	Readings in terms of mechanisms or conclusions	Microbial aerobic degradation explains the observed isotopic enrichment
Honest	Limitations, uncertainties, hypotheses, rejected alternatives	The interpretation relies on a single-source hypothesis, unverified downstream

The dedicated FAIH Philosophy page details this structure, its foundations, and how it differentiates IsoFind reports from traditional expert reports. Content blocks within the module are categorized according to these four levels, enabling the construction of a balanced report without mixing registers.

The Building Blocks of the Module

The Reports module relies on three main components that can be combined according to the needs of the deliverable.

Templates

Preconfigured report skeletons for recurring deliverables: environmental diagnostics, CSIA expertise, plume simulation, forensic audit.

Blocks

Reusable content units, categorized by FAIH level: concentration tables, diagrams, maps, narrative blocks, uncertainty blocks.

Generation

Final assembly into a signed PDF, with options to generate a Word version for review or HTML for internal consultation.

Standard Report Creation Workflow

From the project data to the final signed PDF, the standard workflow follows five sequential steps. Each can be revisited independently if necessary.

Open Project > Choose a Template > Select Blocks > Review and Adjust > Generate PDF > Sign

Intermediate steps can be iterated: blocks can be added or removed after an initial review, or multiple templates can be tested on the same data to select the one that best matches the expected deliverable. The signature only occurs at the very end, once the content is validated.

Dynamic vs. Frozen Reports

An IsoFind report can be kept in two forms, each with its own specific use.

Form	Properties	Usage
Dynamic Report	Structure saved within the project, updates with data changes	Iterative work, active project monitoring
Frozen Report (Signed PDF)	Immutable snapshot, cryptographically signed	Final deliverable, archiving, external transmission

A dynamic report can be modified at will: it always reflects the current state of the data. A frozen report is locked at the moment of generation: it no longer changes, even if the project data evolves later. This duality is practical for long-term projects where you want to maintain a stable record of a deliverable submitted to a third party while continuing to work on the project.

Customization and Visual Identity

IsoFind's default templates use a sober and neutral visual identity. For organizations wishing to customize report appearance (headers, footers, palette, typography), a theme system allows for applying a specific identity to all generated reports. Themes can be stored per user or shared across the entire organization.

Visual customization is useful but secondary. The primary value of the Reports module remains in the FAIH structure and data traceability, not in aesthetics. A well-structured report without a strong visual identity is more credible than a graphically polished report that is weak on substance.

Limitations and Out-of-Scope Uses

Purely narrative reports (without data or figures derived from the project) do not particularly benefit from the module and can be drafted in standard word-processing software.
Highly heterogeneous deliverables combining several distinct IsoFind projects require manual aggregation: the module works on one project at a time.
Reports in multiple simultaneous languages (e.g., French and English in the same document) are not natively managed: two separate reports must be generated.

Learn More

FAIH Philosophy: The foundation of the four-level distinction.
Templates: Available skeletons and their adaptation.
Blocks: Catalog of content units.
Generating a Report: Detailed creation workflow.