cxplonka.github.io
Portrait of Christian Plonka

~/cxplonka $ whoami

Christian Plonka

> software architect & full-stack developer

Software architect specialising in object-oriented design and the full software lifecycle, from requirements and prototyping to implementation, testing and maintenance. 20 years of industrial Java: interactive gravity and magnetic modelling software (IGMAS+) and enterprise platforms for rail cargo logistics.

contact() github ↗ linkedin ↗
{
"location": "Lauchhammer, DE",
"role": "Software Architect @ ZEDAS",
"experience": "20 years",
"domains": ["rail cargo", "geophysics"],
"focus": ["APM", "EIP", "HPC", "3D"],
"publications": 23,
"languages": ["de", "en"]
}

// experience

05/2016 → now

Software Architect

@ ZEDAS GmbH · Senftenberg

Rail cargo logistics & asset management · zedas®cargo

Architecture and hands-on development of the zedas®cargo product line for rail cargo logistics: backend, frontend, integration and delivery.

architecture & modernisation

  • Architecture of backend services and modules with Jakarta EE and Quarkus
  • Modernisation of existing applications: platform, database and Java upgrades
  • Rail cargo use cases end-to-end across backend, desktop and web clients

business integration

  • Integration platform based on Karaf and Camel for the zedas®cargo environments

frontend

  • Web and desktop clients with Angular, TypeScript, JSF and Eclipse RCP

platform, quality & operations

  • Application performance monitoring and observability
  • CI/CD, security and quality gates; automated testing on all levels

ai-assisted engineering

  • AI-assisted development with coding agents, AI code review and AI-supported migrations
  • java-21
  • jakarta-ee
  • quarkus
  • jboss-eap
  • jpa
  • liquibase
  • postgresql
  • oracle
  • keycloak
  • osgi
  • karaf
  • camel
  • rabbitmq
  • eclipse-rcp
  • angular
  • nx
  • storybook
  • nestjs
  • prisma
  • docker
  • github-actions
  • jenkins
  • prometheus
  • grafana
  • playwright
  • claude-code

11/2006 → 03/2016

Project Manager & Software Architect

@ Transinsight GmbH · Dresden

Research, oil & gas, universities · IGMAS+ ↗

Grew from junior software engineer to project manager and software architect for the development and planning of the 3D modelling software suite IGMAS+.

  • Leading-edge 3D gravity and magnetic modelling of polyhedron and voxel models
  • Computational geometry, geometric modelling and non-linear inversion of subsurface geometry and voxel models
  • High-performance computing on many-core platforms (OpenCL)
  • Interactive 2D / 3D visualisation (OpenGL), plane and globe rendering, support for all kinds of map projections
  • On- and offline licence management; website design and development
  • Close collaboration with Kiel University, Statoil, Wintershall and NGU (Geological Survey of Norway); transfer of university research into the product
  • java-se
  • opencl
  • opengl
  • jogl
  • swing
  • proj4j
  • worldwind
  • xml
  • tdd
  • agile

06/2006 → 11/2006

Diploma Thesis

@ VMscope GmbH · Berlin

Research, digital microscopy

“Kollaborative Applikationen in der virtuellen Mikroskopie”: a client-server solution for collaborative work with digital tissue sections in virtual pathology.

  • JavaScript API for level-of-detail streaming of JPEG2000 images (like Google Maps)
  • Presenter and listener modes; communication via AJAX and as a Java applet
  • asp
  • ajax
  • .net
  • java
  • rmi

09/2005 → 02/2006

Study Project

@ VMscope GmbH · Berlin

“Evaluation von JPEG2000 Image-Streaming Bibliotheken”: test environment for JPEG2000 image-streaming libraries (C++, C#), analysis and presentation of the results.

09/2004 → 12/2004

Practical Semester

@ PCSoft GmbH · Senftenberg

“Erweiterung der Zedas Software Suite”: install / update system based on InstallShield, a patching system for source code and Java-based extensions of an existing workflow system.

// stack

java & jakarta ee

  • Java 8 → 25
  • Jakarta EE
  • Quarkus
  • WildFly / JBoss EAP
  • JPA / Hibernate
  • RESTEasy
  • MapStruct
  • Liquibase
  • Oracle
  • PostgreSQL

integration

  • Karaf
  • Camel
  • OSGi / Blueprint
  • RabbitMQ
  • Keycloak / OIDC
  • Microsoft Graph
  • SFTP / FTP
  • enterprise integration patterns

typescript & node

  • TypeScript
  • Node.js
  • NestJS
  • Prisma
  • Drizzle ORM
  • better-auth
  • Zod
  • Pino
  • SQLite

frontend & desktop

  • Angular
  • NgRx
  • Angular Material
  • React
  • TanStack
  • Tailwind CSS
  • Vite
  • Nx
  • Storybook
  • Electron
  • Eclipse RCP / Tycho
  • Swing / FlatLaf

3d, hpc & graphics

  • OpenCL
  • OpenGL / JOGL
  • Java3D
  • Three.js
  • React Three Fiber
  • WebGPU
  • CSG / BVH
  • Apache Arrow
  • numerical simulation

testing & quality

  • JUnit 5
  • Mockito
  • AssertJ
  • Testcontainers
  • REST Assured
  • Cucumber
  • Arquillian
  • WireMock
  • Vitest
  • Jest
  • Playwright
  • fast-check
  • Checkstyle
  • PMD
  • JaCoCo

devops & security

  • Docker
  • Jib
  • GitHub Actions
  • GitLab CI
  • Jenkins
  • Maven
  • Gradle (Kotlin DSL)
  • Trivy
  • Gitleaks
  • CodeQL
  • CycloneDX SBOM

observability

  • Prometheus
  • Grafana
  • Micrometer
  • OpenTracing
  • ELK
  • ByteBuddy instrumentation

ai-assisted engineering

  • Claude Code
  • Cursor
  • CodeRabbit
  • agentic workflows (CLAUDE.md / AGENTS.md)
  • LLM integration

practices: object-oriented analysis & design · TDD · property-based testing · code review · agile · full lifecycle ownership

// projects before AI

desktop-search

A hierarchical desktop search engine based on Swing and Lucene: query-tree based search, full control over results and globe, list and grid views for all kinds of documents and images.

Java · Gradle · Lucene · Tika · NASA WorldWind

jspmm

Sparse matrix–matrix multiplication for GPU (OpenCL), Java 8 streams, multicore CPU and GridGain, supporting CCS, COO, CRS and dense matrix types.

Java · Gradle · OpenCL · GridGain

som-rgb

Interactive 2D and 3D visualisation of the self-organising map (SOM) clustering algorithm in RGB colour space.

Java · Gradle · Swing · Java3D

earthfeed

An interactive, knowledge-based RSS feed reader that shows news in real time on a 3D globe, with place-name extraction from the feeds.

Java · Gradle · NASA WorldWind

// publications — selected (6 of 26)

  1. [2025]

    Advancements in 3D Potential Field Modeling: Enhancing Lithospheric Insights with IGMAS+

    H.-J. Götze, D. Anikiev, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt, M. Scheck-Wenderoth · EGU General Assembly 2025

    doi:10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3292

  2. [2023]

    Inversion of potential fields by interactive optimization of 3D subsurface models using a spring-based space warping and evolution strategy journal

    M. R. Alvers, H.-J. Götze, D. Anikiev, C. Plonka · Geophysics

    doi:10.1190/geo2022-0222.1

  3. [2023]

    IGMAS+: Interactive Gravity and Magnetic Application System software

    D. Anikiev, H.-J. Götze, C. Plonka, M. Scheck-Wenderoth, S. Schmidt · GFZ Data Services

    doi:10.5880/GFZ.4.5.IGMAS

  4. [2015]

    Quo vadis inversion? journal

    M. R. Alvers, L. Barrio-Alvers, C. Bodor, H.-J. Götze, B. Lahmeyer, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt · First Break, 33(4), 65–74

    doi:10.3997/1365-2397.33.4.79746

  5. [2014]

    A novel warped-space concept for interactive 3D-geometry-inversion to improve seismic imaging journal

    M. R. Alvers, H.-J. Götze, L. Barrio-Alvers, S. Schmidt, B. Lahmeyer, C. Plonka · First Break, 32(4), 61–67

    doi:10.3997/1365-2397.32.4.74375

  6. [2011]

    Hybrid modelling of gravity, gravity gradients and magnetic fields journal

    S. Schmidt, C. Plonka, H.-J. Götze, B. Lahmeyer · Geophysical Prospecting, 59(6), 1046–1051

    doi:10.1111/j.1365-2478.2011.00999.x

show all 20 more
  1. [2024]

    Enhancing geoscience research software utilization with Large Language Models

    D. Anikiev, M. Cacace, U. b. Waheed, K. Ayranci, C. Plonka · AGU Annual Meeting 2024

  2. [2024]

    Subsurface space warping driven by gravity data

    D. Anikiev, H.-J. Götze, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt · Alpine-Carpathian Gravimetry Workshop

  3. [2024]

    Do gravity data justify a rifted "Liguro-Provençal Basin"? A few thoughts on gravity data analysis

    H.-J. Götze, R. Strehlau, A. Dannowski, S. Schmidt, C. Plonka, M. Scheck-Wenderoth, D. Anikiev · Alpine-Carpathian Gravimetry Workshop

  4. [2023]

    IGMAS+: Interactive Gravity and Magnetic Application System (Version 1.4) software

    D. Anikiev, H.-J. Götze, C. Plonka, M. Scheck-Wenderoth, S. Schmidt · GFZ Data Services

    doi:10.5880/GFZ.4.5.IGMAS.V.1.4

  5. [2023]

    Interactive optimisation of 3-D subsurface models using potential fields

    D. Anikiev, H.-J. Götze, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt, J. Bott, M. Scheck-Wenderoth · EGU General Assembly 2023

    doi:10.5194/egusphere-egu23-1860

  6. [2023]

    Is forward modeling still up to date? Reflections on the 40 years of modeling gravity and magnetic fields

    H.-J. Götze, D. Anikiev, S. Schmidt, C. Plonka, M. Scheck-Wenderoth, J. Bott · 28th IUGG General Assembly

    doi:10.57757/IUGG23-0291

  7. [2022]

    IGMAS+: a success story of a 3-D potential field modelling software

    D. Anikiev, H.-J. Götze, J. Bott, C. Meeßen, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt, M. Scheck-Wenderoth · EGU General Assembly 2022

    doi:10.5194/egusphere-egu22-9388

  8. [2021]

    Interdisciplinary data-constrained 3-D potential field modelling with IGMAS+

    D. Anikiev, H.-J. Götze, J. Bott, À. Gómez-García, M. L. Gomez Dacal, C. Meeßen, C. Spooner, C. Rodriguez Piceda, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt, M. Scheck-Wenderoth · EGU General Assembly 2021

    doi:10.5194/egusphere-egu21-2964

  9. [2021]

    Interdisciplinary 3D potential field modelling of complex lithospheric structures by IGMAS+

    H.-J. Götze, J. Bott, M. L. Gomez Dacal, A. M. Gomez Garcia, C. Rodriguez Piceda, C. Meeßen, C. Plonka, C. Spooner, M. Scheck-Wenderoth, S. Schmidt, D. Anikiev · FID GEO

    doi:10.23689/FIDGEO-3938

  10. [2020]

    IGMAS+: Interactive Gravity and Magnetic Application System (Version 1.3) software

    D. Anikiev, H.-J. Götze, C. Meeßen, C. Plonka, M. Scheck-Wenderoth, S. Schmidt · GFZ Data Services

    doi:10.5880/GFZ.4.5.IGMAS.V.1.3

  11. [2020]

    IGMAS+ – a tool for interdisciplinary 3D potential field modelling of complex geological structures

    S. Schmidt, D. Anikiev, H.-J. Götze, À. Gómez-García, M. L. Gomez Dacal, C. Meeßen, C. Plonka, C. Rodriguez Piceda, C. Spooner, M. Scheck-Wenderoth · EGU General Assembly 2020

    doi:10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-8383

  12. [2016]

    Die Anwendung von Level-of-Detail und Mesh-Simplification Strategien zur Vereinfachung komplexer Untergrundmodelle

    P. Menzel, M. R. Alvers, L. Barrio-Alvers, H.-J. Götze, S. Schmidt, C. Plonka · 76. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Geophysikalischen Gesellschaft (DGG), Münster

  13. [2015]

    Practical Aspects of 3D Interactive Potential Field Modelling and Inversion

    M. R. Alvers, H.-J. Götze, S. Schmidt, L. Barrio-Alvers, C. Plonka, C. Bodor, B. Lahmeyer · 77th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2015

    doi:10.3997/2214-4609.201412988

  14. [2015]

    Advanced interactive 3D potential field modelling

    H.-J. Götze, M. R. Alvers, L. Barrio-Alvers, B. Lahmeyer, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt · 17th Annual Conference of the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG)

  15. [2014]

    New Insights from Interactive Gravity Inversion of Complex Salt Structures – The 3D SEAM Model

    M. R. Alvers, B. Lahmeyer, C. Plonka, E. Stangeland Karlsen · 76th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2014, Amsterdam

    doi:10.3997/2214-4609.20141553

  16. [2013]

    Advances in 3D Potential Field Modeling

    M. R. Alvers, H.-J. Götze, B. Lahmeyer, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt · 75th EAGE Conference and Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2013

    doi:10.3997/2214-4609.20130125

  17. [2013]

    Semi-Automated Geometry Optimization of Voxelized Triangle Models by means of Covariance-Matrix-Adoption Evolution-Strategies and User Interaction

    M. R. Alvers, C. Plonka, S. Schmidt, L. Barrio-Alvers · 73. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Geophysikalischen Gesellschaft (DGG)

  18. [2010]

    Interactive 3D gravity modelling in IGMAS+ and the integration in the depth imaging workflow

    B. Lahmeyer, H.-J. Götze, S. Schmidt, M. R. Alvers, C. Plonka, C. Fichler · 72nd EAGE Conference and Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2010, Barcelona

    doi:10.3997/2214-4609.201400750

  19. [2010]

    IGMAS+ – a new 3D Gravity, FTG and Magnetic Modeling Software

    H.-J. Götze, S. Schmidt, C. Fichler, C. Plonka · EGU General Assembly 2010

  20. [2008]

    A new 3D Gravity, FTG and Magnetic Modelling Software – IGMAS+

    H.-J. Götze, S. Schmidt, C. Fichler, C. Plonka · 33rd International Geological Congress (IGC), Oslo

researchgate ↗ igmas+ publications ↗

// education

  1. 09/2002 → 12/2006

    Dipl.-Inform. (FH), Computer Science very good

    Fachhochschule Lausitz, University of Applied Sciences, Senftenberg

    Physics, software & system engineering, database design, image analysis, advanced mathematics, algorithms, information theory, medical informatics

  2. 09/2001 → 07/2002

    Fachabitur (advanced technical college entrance qualification)

    Oberstufenzentrum Lausitz, Senftenberg

  3. 1999 → 2001

    Assistant for Automation & Computer Technology

    Oberstufenzentrum I Spree-Neiße, Forst · project work “Grafikstandards und ihre Assembler-Programmierung”

  4. 1997 → 1999

    Apprenticeship as car mechanic

    Autohaus Fuchs, Lauchhammer

// misc

languages: de (native), en (professional)
interests: fitness, computer science, snowboarding, football
based_in: Lauchhammer, Germany