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Workflow Interface

Workflows in GOAT provide a powerful visual automation system for creating sophisticated spatial analysis pipelines. Instead of running individual tools sequentially, you can connect multiple analysis steps together using a drag-and-drop canvas, creating an automated data processing that eliminates repetitive manual work.

The workflows can be reused across different datasets and scenarios. Each workflow consists of different types of nodes connected by edges, enabling you to:

  • Automate complex analytical pipelines: Chain multiple tools together where the output of one analysis automatically feeds into the next
  • Create multi-source data workflows: Build sophisticated analysis processes that integrate multiple datasets and processing steps
  • Document automated processes: Add text annotations to explain methodology and analytical decisions
  • Execute with flexible automation: Run individual nodes, execute workflow segments, or automate entire pipelines
  • Build reusable automation templates: Store workflows within projects for repeatability across different scenarios
  • Leverage advanced automation features: Use workflow variables and custom SQL for sophisticated parameterized analysis

The visual canvas interface makes complex spatial analysis automation accessible to users at all technical levels while maintaining full documentation of the analytical process for reproducibility and collaboration.

1. Interface Components​

The workflow interface consists of two main panels and the workflow canvas, providing an intuitive workspace for visual workflow construction.

Map Interface Overview

Workflow Management and Project Layers panel​

This panel is located on the left and it is divided into two sections:

Workflow Management

  • New: Click + New and choose From scratch or From template to create new analytical pipelines
  • Workflow List: Manage existing workflows with options to rename, duplicate, and delete

Project Layers

  • Layer Tree: Read-only display of project's data layers. You can drag and drop them onto the canvas to build the workflow.
  • Add a Layer: Add new layers to the project to use them in the workflow and map mode.

Workflow Canvas​

Canvas Workspace

The canvas workspace is where you can drag and drop nodes, zoom, pan, and select elements. It contains several control areas:

Map Interface Overview

Canvas View Bar: Located in the bottom left corner of the canvas:

  • Zoom In Zoom In: Increase the canvas magnification for detailed work
  • Zoom Out Zoom Out: Decrease the canvas magnification to see more of the workflow
  • Fit View Fit View: Adjust the view to display the entire workflow at once
  • Lock View Lock View: Prevent accidental panning and zooming of the canvas

Toolbar Controls: Located at the middle bottom of the canvas:

  • Select Select: Default cursor for selecting and moving nodes
  • Text Card Text Card: Add text annotations to document workflow steps
  • Redo Redo: Restore the last undone action
  • Undo Undo: Reverse the last action
  • Variables Variables: Create and manage workflow variables for reusable parameters
  • Run Run: Execute the entire workflow

Minimap: Located in the bottom right corner of the canvas, providing an overview navigator for complex workflows.

Data View Controls: Located at the bottom of the canvas. Select a node to activate the panel. It shows the data of that node's layer:

  • Table: Opens the attribute table of the selected node's layer
  • Map: Opens a map preview of the selected node's layer (only available if the layer has geometry)

Tools and Configuration panel​

The right panel changes depending if there is a node selected or not. If no node is selected then the Tools and History panel will be visible. If a tool node is selected, the Configuration panel will appear, and if a dataset node is selected the Dataset panel will appear.

Map Interface Overview

Tools and History panel

Tools Tab

This tab contains categorized tools available for workflow construction, similar to the Map Mode Toolbox. Drag and drop tools onto the canvas to add them to your workflow. The tools are organized into the following categories:

  • Data I/O
    • + Add dataset: Create dataset nodes
    • Save as dataset: Save workflow results as permanent datasets. Configure the Dataset name, toggle Add to project to automatically add the result to the project layer list, and enable Overwrite on re-run to replace the previously exported dataset each time the workflow runs instead of creating a new one.
Good practice

Give each Save as dataset node a descriptive name and enable Overwrite on re-run when running the same workflow repeatedly. This keeps your project clean by avoiding duplicate layers after each run.

  • Accessibility Indicators: All tools available in the Accessibility Indicators section of the Toolbox
  • Geoanalysis: All tools available in the Geoanalysis section of the Toolbox
  • Geoprocessing: All tools available in the Geoprocessing section of the Toolbox
  • Data Management
    • Join, Merge, and other data manipulation tools
    • Custom SQL: Advanced data processing with SQL queries
  • Control: Add a Conditional node that routes the layer to a True or False path based on defined conditions. See Conditional.

History Tab

Here you can see:

  • Execution Log: Previous workflow runs with timestamps and status
  • Execution Details: Duration, success/failure status, and error messages
  • Result Access: Links to previous workflow outputs

Configuration Panel (Tool Node Selected)

When a tool node is selected, the right panel displays the Tool Configuration panel. Configure all tool-specific parameters for the selected analysis. You can also use workflow variables within parameter fields for dynamic values.

Dataset Panel (Dataset Node Selected)

When a dataset node is selected, the dataset panel appears with two available tabs:

Source Tab: View metadata from the data source and access table and map views. You can also change the dataset assigned to the node from this tab.

Filter Tab: Apply filters specific to the workflow without affecting the original layer.

2. Example use cases​

  • Accessibility Analysis Pipeline: Create catchment areas, intersect with population data, calculate accessibility indicators, and export results
  • Site Suitability Assessment: Buffer constraints, perform spatial overlays, apply weighting factors, and rank suitable locations
  • Multi-Source Data Integration: Join multiple datasets, apply spatial filters, aggregate statistics, and create comprehensive analytical outputs
  • Quality Assessment Workflow: Validate data quality, check spatial relationships, generate validation reports using Custom SQL
  • Comparative Scenario Analysis: Use workflow variables to run identical analyses with different parameters or datasets

3. How to use the workflow interface​

Getting Started

Begin with simple 2-3 node workflows to understand the interface, then gradually build more complex analytical pipelines as you become comfortable with the system.

Creating Your First Workflow​

1
Navigate to Workflows: Click on the Workflows tab in GOAT's main navigation to access the workflow interface.
2
Create a new workflow: Click + New in the left panel and choose From scratch to start with an empty canvas, or From template to start from a ready-made workflow (see Start from a template). A new workflow is added to the list with a default name.
3
Rename it: Open the workflow's more options menu and choose Rename to give it a name that reflects your analytical objective (e.g. "Urban Accessibility Analysis").

Building Your Workflow​

1
Add Data Sources: Add data to your workflow by either dragging + Add dataset from the right panel's Tools tab onto the canvas, or by dragging layers directly from the Project Layers panel on the left. Configure the dataset node to reference your input data layers.
2
Add Analysis Tools: Browse the categorized tool sections and drag the required analysis tools to your canvas. Tools are organized by function (Accessibility, Geoprocessing, etc.).
3
Connect Workflow Elements: Create edges by dragging from output handles to input handles. GOAT automatically validates geometry compatibility.
4
Configure Parameters: Click on each tool node to set analysis parameters. Use workflow variables for flexible, reusable configurations.
5
Document Your Process: Add text annotation to explain your methodology and analytical decisions.

Executing and Managing Workflows​

1
Execute Workflow: Use the Run Workflow option to execute the entire workflow from start to finish.
2
Monitor Execution: Watch the progress indicators and check the job status in the main interface for execution updates.
3
Review Results: Use the Table and Map buttons at the bottom of the canvas to inspect the selected node's results once the workflow completes.
4
Save Results: Add and configure export nodes to save important results as permanent datasets in your project.
Auto-Save Feature

Workflows automatically save changes as you build them. The system preserves all configurations, connections, and execution states.

Start from a template​

1
In the Workflows panel, click From template to open the template browser, filtered to workflow templates.
2
Search or browse, select a template to preview it, and click Use template.
3
The workflow is added to your project. Where the template left an input open, pick a layer once it is in the project.

Save a workflow as a template​

Once a workflow is set up, you can save it as a template so it can be reused, without repeating the setup, on other data or by other people.

1
Open the workflow's more options menu and choose Save as template….
2
Give the template a Name and, optionally, a Description and categories.
3
Choose the Location (a space and folder) where the template is saved. Everyone who can open that folder can use the template.
4
In the Inputs table, decide for each input layer whether it ships with the template or the template asks for a layer when used. A layer that ships is shared with the template so others can run it. For a shipped layer you can also choose Copy for every user (with content) or Empty copy for every user, so that everyone gets their own editable copy instead of your read-only layer (see Datasets in a template).
5
Click Save.
Update instead of duplicate

If a template was already saved from this workflow, you can update it from the source with the current version instead of creating a duplicate. Because the inputs are part of the saved snapshot, use Update template from source to change them.

4. Running workflows from the Map view​

Workflows can also be run directly from the Map view without opening the workflow editor. Open the Toolbox, click the Workflows tab, and select a workflow from the list. If the workflow has variables, a Variables section appears where you can set values before running.