Workflows

This page is the operational map of EM Tools. Every workflow below follows the same four-column rhythm so you can locate yourself in the addon at any time:

Data	Panel	Action	Output
what you start with	where you act	what you do	what you take away

If you are looking for a step-by-step tutorial instead of a map, see Tutorials. If you are looking for the panel references, see EMtools Structure.

1. From an existing GraphML to a navigable 3D scene

The most common entry path: somebody else (or yourself in yEd) has already authored an EM graph, and you bring it into Blender to explore it spatially.

Data	Panel	Action	Output
site.graphml from yEd; DosCo folder	EM Data Tree	Set the .graphml path, set the DosCo path, click Reload.	Loaded summary; sources auto-linked to nodes.
the loaded graph	Stratigraphy Manager	Browse units, filter by epoch / activity / containment.	Working selection of stratigraphic units.
selected units + 3D model	Visual Manager	Choose display mode (EM, Epochs, Properties).	Coloured 3D scene reflecting the graph.

Tip

Want a worked example? See Creating Your First Extended Matrix for the full setup, then Multi-Temporal 3D Visualization Demo for the epoch side.

2. Authoring an EM graph from a 3D survey

You start from a 3D survey (mesh + textures) and you build the stratigraphic graph while you annotate the model.

Data	Panel	Action	Output
high-resolution mesh; (optional) skeleton GraphML	EM Data Tree	Load the empty / skeleton graph; set DosCo.	Empty stratigraphic table ready to be populated.
the mesh, the active US	Proxy Box Creator	Pick 7 points on the mesh; create the proxy and the US in one shot.	New US node + proxy aligned to the mesh; paradata stub.
the new US, the active epoch	Stratigraphy Manager	Add description, link sources from DosCo, set has_first_epoch.	US fully described in the graph.
the populated graph	EM Data Tree	Save GraphML.	site.graphml updated on disk and ready to share.

See also

Creating an Extended Matrix from Different Sources — the unified em_data.xlsx flow if you prefer to author the graph in a spreadsheet rather than directly in Blender.

3. Multi-temporal reconstruction (epochs and hypotheses)

You have a documented stratigraphy; you now want to make the reconstruction explicit, with epochs and alternative hypotheses.

Data	Panel	Action	Output
the loaded graph	Epochs Manager	Define epochs, their time bounds, and their colours.	Epoch table; colour scheme available to the Visual Manager.
3D base + reference imagery	Representation Models Manager	Build / import reconstruction models; assign each to its epoch.	RM collection, one per epoch, linked to the relevant units.
the same epoch, an alternate idea	Representation Models Manager	Duplicate the RM, mark the new branch with a property explaining the divergence.	Two coexisting hypotheses sharing the same epoch.
everything above	Visual Manager + CronoFilter	Step through epochs / chronological horizons; review consistency.	Visual proof the reconstruction is coherent across time.

4. Conservation survey (TSU)

You have a built object and you want to document its state — decay, restoration phases, thematic readings — without touching the stratigraphic sequence.

Data	Panel	Action	Output
high-resolution mesh of the object	EM Data Tree	Load the existing graph (or start a new one).	Working scene.
the host US already in the graph	Conservation Workflow (TSU) (TSU section)	Add TSU nodes (manually or via xlsx); link to the host US.	TSU nodes attached to the substrate.
the active TSU	Proxy Box Creator / Surface Areas	Author a surface or annotation proxy on the mesh.	TSU proxy aligned to the affected area.
the TSU + library materials	Visual Manager (Properties mode)	Drive pattern-based material assignment from the phenomenon property.	Visual conservation map of the object.

The full reference for this workflow is in Conservation Workflow (TSU).

5. Export and publication

When the graph is complete and the 3D scene is annotated, you produce a deliverable.

Data	Panel	Action	Output
the entire scene + graph	Export Manager	Pick Heriverse export; set project name and output folder.	Heriverse-ready package (GLTF + JSON + assets) for the web viewer.
the same scene	Export Manager	Pick Tables export → EM (csv) / US/USV / Sources.	CSV files for QGIS, spreadsheets, archive deposit.
the same scene	Export Statistics (Experimental)	Compute volumes by epoch / by certainty.	CSV report for the project’s quantitative section.

See also

Export Guide for the full export reference.

Todo

Add a short screencast next to each workflow once filmed (suggested length: 60–90 seconds, no audio, captioned). The priority order is: workflow 1, workflow 4 (TSU is new), workflow 2.