Workflows

CruisePlan supports three different workflows depending on your needs and experience level.

Core Commands

Command	Purpose	Output
`bathymetry`	Download depth data (one-time)	NetCDF files in `data/`
`stations`	Interactive station placement	`data/stations.yaml`
`process`	Add depths, validate config	`*_enriched.yaml` + map
`schedule`	Generate timeline & outputs	Multiple formats

Three Common Workflows

Workflow 1: Basic Planning

Best for: Simple cruises, first-time users

cruiseplan bathymetry
cruiseplan stations --lat 50 60 --lon -40 -20
cruiseplan process -c data/stations.yaml
cruiseplan schedule -c data/{cruise_name}_enriched.yaml

Workflow 2: With Historical Data

Best for: Revisiting survey areas, comparative studies

# Search for historical stations
cruiseplan pangaea "CTD" --lat 50 60 --lon -40 -20 --output historic

# Plan with historical context
cruiseplan stations -p data/historic.pkl --lat 50 60 --lon -40 -20
cruiseplan process -c data/historic_stations.yaml
cruiseplan schedule -c data/{cruise_name}_enriched.yaml

Workflow 3: Manual Control

Best for: Complex cruises, custom requirements

cruiseplan stations --lat 50 60 --lon -40 -20 --output survey

# Edit YAML manually to add custom operations, timing, etc.
# nano data/survey_stations.yaml

cruiseplan enrich -c data/survey_stations.yaml      # Add depths
cruiseplan validate -c data/{cruise_name}_enriched.yaml    # Check config
cruiseplan map -c data/{cruise_name}_enriched.yaml         # Preview map
cruiseplan schedule -c data/{cruise_name}_enriched.yaml    # Generate outputs

Interactive Station Picker

When you run cruiseplan stations, an interactive map opens:

p: Place point stations (CTD, moorings)
l: Draw line transects
a: Define area surveys
u: Undo last action
y: Save and exit
Escape: Exit without saving

Tips

Start small: Begin with a few stations to test the workflow
Check outputs: Always review the generated map before final scheduling
Iterative: You can re-run process and schedule as needed
Backup: Save your YAML files - they contain all your planning work

For detailed command options, see CLI Commands.