CroSSED sequence, a new tool for 3D processing in geosciences using the free software 3DSlicer.

Area of Science:

• Geosciences
• Geological Imaging
• Non-destructive Analysis

Background:

• 3D imaging techniques offer advanced non-destructive analysis of internal structures.
• Geoscience applications of 3D imaging lag due to costly commercial software and limited free alternatives.
• Existing free software often originates from health sciences, with workflows unsuitable for geological materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a free, reproducible workflow for processing 3D Computed Tomography (CT) data in Geosciences.
• To adapt 3DSlicer, a medical imaging application, for geoscientific CT data reconstruction.
• To promote open-science practices and the development of specialized tools for geological CT analysis.

Main Methods:

• Development of CroSSED, a processing sequence for 3D reconstructions from CT data.
• Utilizing 3DSlicer, a widely adopted medical imaging software, as the core platform.
• Demonstration of the workflow's efficacy on geological samples with low-density contrast features, such as burrows.

Main Results:

• CroSSED provides a viable, free alternative for 3D CT data processing in Geosciences.
• The workflow successfully reconstructs complex 3D structures, even with challenging low-density contrasts.
• Adaptation of 3DSlicer facilitates accessible 3D analysis for geoscientists.

Conclusions:

• The CroSSED workflow enhances the accessibility of 3D CT data analysis in Geosciences.
• This approach supports data sharing, reproducibility, and the advancement of applied CT studies in the field.
• The method empowers geoscientists to explore internal structures non-destructively using open-source tools.