Workflow Comparison

SEED-vault offers four main workflows for accessing seismic data. This guide will help you choose the most appropriate workflow for your needs.

Workflow Comparison

Feature	Events-Based	Station-Based	Continuous-Based	Run from Parameters
Starting Point	Earthquake events	Seismic stations	Seismic stations	Configuration file
Workflow Steps	Select Events Select Stations Download Waveforms	Select Stations Select Events Download Waveforms	Select Stations Download Continuous Data	Load and Execute Configuration
Best For	Studying specific earthquakes	Station-specific studies	Background noise analysis	Automated processing
Data Type	Event-triggered waveforms	Event-triggered waveforms	Continuous time series	Both event and continuous
Time Selection	Around earthquake events	Around earthquake events	Any time period	Defined in configuration
Visualization	Waveform plots	Waveform plots	Log output (raw data)	Log output (raw data)
User Interaction	Interactive selection	Interactive selection	Interactive selection	Minimal (configuration-based)

Choosing the Right Workflow

Use Events-Based Workflow When:

• You’re interested in specific earthquake events

• You want to study how different stations recorded the same event

• You’re researching particular seismic events

Use Station-Based Workflow When:

• You’re focused on specific seismic stations

• You want to study all events recorded at particular stations

• You’re conducting station-specific research or calibration

Use Continuous-Based Workflow When:

• You need time series data not tied to specific events

• You’re studying background noise or ambient seismic fields

• You need large volumes of continuous data for machine learning or other analyses

Use Run from Parameters Workflow When:

• You need to automate repetitive data retrieval tasks

• You’re running batch processing operations

• You want to ensure reproducible research with identical parameters

• You’re integrating with scripts or scheduled tasks