Friday, 24 April, 2026
3D Visualization
3D Visualization is the space where sampling data, site stratigraphy, and propagation hypotheses are integrated into a single interactive scene. It serves both as a reading tool (viewing a plume, understanding a vertical anomaly) and a workspace (building a subsurface model, simulating a transformation, comparing multiple scenarios). It is the module where everything entered in other parts of IsoFind becomes spatial.
What 3D Visualization allows you to do
The module covers four activities that combine freely within the same project. These activities share the same 3D scene and data, avoiding the typical disconnect between mapping tools, conceptual model tools, and simulation tools.
Configure the Scene
Define the geographical extent, reference altitude, calculation grid, and visual markers.
Build a Subsurface
Stack stratigraphic layers, define their geometry, and set their hydrogeological properties.
Simulate a Transformation
Propagate a contaminant, track a redox reaction, and calculate the temporal evolution of a field.
Compare Hypotheses
Save simulation scenarios and compare their results side-by-side on the same scene.
Interpret and Export
Analyze cross-sections, identify active zones, and produce report blocks associated with the case.
Share the Result
High-definition captures, replayable scenes, and integration into reports and the ISOF archive.
3D Scene Structure
An IsoFind 3D Visualization scene consists of several stacked information layers, each with its own construction and rendering logic. Understanding this stratification helps in knowing where to take action to achieve a specific result.
| Level | Content | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Reference | Extent, axes, reference altitude, orientation | Scene Configuration |
| Subsurface | Stratigraphic layers, lithology, hydrogeological properties | Manual entry or borehole log import |
| Sampling Points | 3D positions of samples (x, y, depth) | samples table |
| Scalar Fields | Concentrations, isotopic ratios, interpolated physicochemical parameters | sample_molecules, sample_geochem, isotope_data tables |
| Contamination Sources | Emission points or zones, flow rates, isotopic signatures | Manual entry in the Simulation module |
| Simulation Results | Fields calculated by the propagation engine | On-the-fly calculation |
Rendering Engine
IsoFind uses a local WebGL implementation based on Three.js, embedded within the desktop version. No data is sent over the internet during rendering: the scene is calculated and displayed locally. This architecture meets the sovereignty requirements for sensitive sites and ensures that confidential data never leaves the workstation.
The engine supports six visualization modes for a scalar field, each answering a different question. Mode buttons are grouped in the scene's sidebar.
| Mode | Displayed Content | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Points | Raw values at sampling positions | Direct data review without interpolation |
| IDW Volume | 3D volume interpolated via Inverse Distance Weighting | Overview of the observed field |
| Predicted Prior | Prior calculated by the Nexus bridge (mixing, Rayleigh, speciation) | Geochemical reading without ML correction |
| Residuals | Discrepancy (δ_observed − δ_prior) | Identify points that the Nexus model alone does not replicate |
| ML Corrected | Prior + MLP correction trained on residuals | Best global estimate after local learning |
| Simulation | Result from the 3D ADE plume engine at calculated time steps | Temporal projection and scenarios |
The first four modes are available in all editions and only require sampling data. The ML Corrected mode requires a locally trained residual model (dedicated button in the sidebar). The Simulation mode requires source and parameter configuration and produces a field distinct from observations.
For a first look at the module, the recommended workflow is to open a project that already contains samples, switch to Points mode, and then move to IDW Volume mode to see the interpolated field before starting prior calculation and residual ML training.
Accessing the Module
The 3D Visualization module is accessible from the main menu of an open project. The scene is automatically constructed from the data already entered: each sample with geographic coordinates and a depth is positioned, and each associated measurement is available as a scalar field.
Main Menu
>
Open Project
>
3D Visualization
>
Scene Loaded
>
Sidebar Tools
Further Reading
- Scene Configuration: extent, grid, markers, orientation.
- Stratigraphic Layers: building the subsurface from the eight reference lithologies.
- Simulation: propagating a contaminant and tracking its transformation.
- Interpreting Results: analyzing cross-sections and identifying active zones.