how-to-use.qmd

---
title: "How to Use iSamples"
subtitle: "Get started exploring 6.7 million scientific samples"
number-sections: false
---

## Quick Start {.unnumbered}

1. **Open the [Interactive Explorer](/tutorials/progressive_globe.html)** — a 3D globe loads with clustered sample data
2. **Zoom in** — clusters break into finer detail as you zoom (resolution 4 → 6 → 8 → individual samples)
3. **Filter by source** — use the checkboxes to show/hide data from SESAR, OpenContext, GEOME, or Smithsonian
4. **Click a cluster** — see sample count and nearby samples with links to source records
5. **Click an individual sample** — view metadata and follow the "View at source" link to the original repository
6. **Share your view** — copy the URL to share your exact position, zoom level, and selected sample

## What's in the Data? {.unnumbered}

| Source | Samples | Focus |
|--------|---------|-------|
| **SESAR** | 4.6M | Earth science — rocks, minerals, sediments, soils |
| **OpenContext** | 1M | Archaeology — artifacts, excavation materials |
| **GEOME** | 605K | Biology — genomic and tissue specimens |
| **Smithsonian** | 322K | Natural history — museum collections |

## No Installation Required {.unnumbered}

Everything runs in your browser using:

- **DuckDB-WASM** — a fast analytical database running client-side
- **HTTP range requests** — only the data you need is downloaded (typically < 1 MB to start)
- **Cesium** — 3D globe visualization

Works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Brave. No plugins, no downloads, no accounts.

## For Developers {.unnumbered}

All code is visible and foldable on tutorial pages. Want to build your own analysis?

- **[Tutorials](/tutorials/)** — step-by-step guides from basic exploration to advanced analysis
- **[Deep-Dive Analysis](/tutorials/zenodo_isamples_analysis.html)** — statistical exploration with Observable Plot
- **[GitHub](https://github.com/isamplesorg/)** — all source code and data pipelines
- **[Zenodo](https://zenodo.org/communities/isamples)** — archived datasets for reproducible research

## Data Files {.unnumbered}

All data is hosted on Cloudflare R2 with HTTP range request support:

| File | Size | Description |
|------|------|-------------|
| Wide format (H3-indexed) | ~292 MB | 20M rows, all entity types with H3 spatial indices |
| H3 summary (res4) | ~70 KB | Pre-aggregated cluster counts for instant globe load |
| H3 summary (res6) | ~200 KB | Mid-zoom cluster detail |
| H3 summary (res8) | ~600 KB | Fine-zoom cluster detail |
| Samples lite | ~150 MB | Individual sample points with coordinates |
| Facet summaries | 2 KB | Pre-computed filter counts (source, material, context, specimen type) |