Tracehunters
Get Started
T

Tracehunters Team

8 min
Features
timeline
chronology
investigation
osint
visualization
evidence
sequence
Investigation Timeline: Visual Chronology for OSINT Analysis
Master the sequence of events in your investigations with Tracehunters' powerful Timeline feature - visualize chronology, track confidence levels, and build compelling evidence chains with professional timeline layouts.

Time is Everything: Visualizing Investigation Chronology

In OSINT investigations, understanding the sequence of events is often the key to uncovering the truth. A social media post, a location check-in, or a financial transaction - each piece of evidence has a timestamp that places it within the larger narrative of your investigation. Tracehunters' Investigation Timeline transforms scattered temporal data into compelling visual chronologies that reveal patterns, establish timelines, and strengthen your investigative conclusions.

Whether you're tracking a suspect's digital footprint across multiple platforms, analyzing the sequence of cyber security incidents, or reconstructing events for a fraud investigation, our timeline feature provides the visual clarity and organizational power you need to make sense of complex temporal relationships.

timeline-button.png

Seamless Integration: Timeline as an Investigation Tool

Dedicated Timeline Access

Unlike traditional timeline tools that exist in isolation, Tracehunters' Timeline is seamlessly integrated into your investigation workflow. The Investigation Timeline button appears prominently above your report generation tools, making it instantly accessible whenever you need to examine the temporal aspects of your case.

Key Design Principles:

  • Tool-First Approach: Timeline functions as an investigation tool, not just another entity
  • One-Click Access: Immediate timeline access from any investigation
  • Visual Prominence: Clear button design with intuitive clock icon
  • Persistent Data: Timeline events save automatically with your investigation

Professional Interface Design

The Timeline interface opens in a dedicated dialog that maximizes your screen real estate while maintaining easy access to your main investigation. This design ensures you can:

  • Focus on Chronology: Distraction-free timeline analysis
  • Reference Entities: Quick access to your investigation data
  • Maintain Context: Keep your workflow visible while timeline building
  • Professional Presentation: Clean, modern interface suitable for client presentations

Two Powerful Timeline Views

Overview Timeline: The Complete Picture

overview-timeline.png

The Overview Timeline provides a comprehensive bird's-eye view of your entire investigation chronology. This alternating layout places events above and below a central timeline, maximizing the information visible on screen while maintaining excellent readability.

Overview Timeline Features:

  • Alternating Layout: Events positioned above and below for optimal space usage
  • Central Timeline: Clear chronological spine running through the center
  • Detailed Event Cards: Comprehensive information display for each event
  • Visual Hierarchy: Color-coded categories and confidence indicators
  • Professional Presentation: Perfect for stakeholder reviews and case presentations

Ideal Use Cases:

  • Case Reviews: Comprehensive analysis of all investigation events
  • Stakeholder Presentations: Professional visual for client meetings
  • Pattern Recognition: Identifying clusters and gaps in timeline data
  • Evidence Correlation: Understanding relationships between events

Timeline View: Chronological Flow

horizontal-view.png

The Timeline View presents events in a traditional left-to-right chronological flow, ideal for understanding the sequence and progression of events. This layout excels when you need to follow the natural flow of time and identify cause-and-effect relationships.

Timeline View Features:

  • Left-to-Right Flow: Natural chronological progression
  • Horizontal Scrolling: Accommodates investigations of any duration
  • Sequential Analysis: Clear progression from earliest to latest events
  • Compact Design: Efficient use of vertical space
  • Quick Navigation: Easy scrolling through extended timelines

Ideal Use Cases:

  • Sequence Analysis: Understanding the order of events
  • Cause-and-Effect Investigation: Tracking how events influence each other
  • Long-Term Investigations: Managing timelines spanning months or years
  • Quick Navigation: Rapidly moving through chronological data

Comprehensive Event Management

Rich Event Data Structure

Each timeline event captures detailed information that supports thorough investigation documentation:

Core Event Information:

  • Title: Clear, descriptive event name
  • Description: Detailed event explanation with supporting context
  • Date & Time: Precise temporal positioning with optional time specification
  • Category: 10 specialized event types for OSINT investigations

Confidence and Verification System

Trust is good, but trust is better when it's verified by another investigator or colleague.

Three-Tier Confidence System:

  • Low Confidence: Uncertain or unverified information requiring validation
  • Medium Confidence: Reasonable certainty with some supporting evidence
  • High Confidence: Confirmed information with strong supporting evidence

Verification Status:

  • Unverified Events: Initial findings requiring confirmation
  • Verified Events: Confirmed facts with appropriate documentation
  • Visual Indicators: Clear verification badges and confidence color coding

Try it out in the Tracehunters platform, available for for all users and licences.