Introduction

The Analyst is a software component serving for the visualisation and assessment of 3D models. The software provides a mechanism to show a 3D model from any desired angle with which you can rotate the 3D model about all three axes in space having also a zoom and pan functionality - all just using the mouse. In addition, the Analyst enables geometric measurements directly taken on the 3D model. Dip direction and dip angle are measured by marking the appropriate location on the 3D model with the computer mouse. The same is possible for areas, distances, or point locations. Automatic and semi-automatic features for detecting lineaments and areas enhance the accuracy and accelerate the geologic mapping processes. Also included are instant previews of the measured orientations in a hemispherical plot and the determination of trace spacing. Features like scanline mapping, discontinuity set clustering as well as modelling of discontinuities complete the package. All analyses come with the full set of statistics and help for quality control and management. Furthermore, export functions and a report generator are integrated. Specifically, the Analyst is designed for the analyses of 3D models showing rock faces or terrain in a wide range of scale, such as tunnel faces, drift faces, caverns, rock slopes, quarries, open cut mines, or laboratory samples, as well as constructions, such as dams.

Attention: Analyst reads files exclusively in “.jm3x” file format. Models from previous versions in “.jm3” file format are not supported in the present version. Please note that “.jm3” files from previous versions can converted into a “.jm3x” file via the ModelEditor. See corresponding user manual for further information.

This user manual addresses all topics related to the Analyst i.e. user interface, features and operations. Let us know if we can support you, and give us your valuable feedback. Only this way it remains possible to keep the systems both, flexible enough for broad usage and sufficiently specific for your applications.

We wish you success with the Analyst.                        

The Team of 3GSM            

Graz, July 2026