Progression

A timeline showing how a condition or situation develops through distinct stages over time. This type is domain-neutral and works for any temporal change: deterioration, growth, development, recovery, or evolution.

Canonical URL: https://causalschema.org/Progression

Namespace: cs:

Category: Temporal Progressions

Properties

Property	Expected Type	Description
name	Text	Name of the progression
description	Text	Overview of the timeline
stages	Stage	Ordered list of stages in the progression
totalDuration	Duration or Text	Typical duration of the full progression
relativeToEvent	Text	What the timeline is relative to (e.g., "onset of symptoms", "start of treatment")

Example

Deterioration Timeline

How untreated rising damp progresses over time:

JSON-LD

{
  "@context": "https://causalschema.org/context.jsonld",
  "@type": "Progression",
  "name": "Rising damp deterioration timeline",
  "description": "How untreated rising damp progresses from initial penetration to severe damage",
  "relativeToEvent": "Initial moisture contact with wall",
  "stages": [
    {
      "@type": "Stage",
      "stageName": "Initial penetration",
      "timepoint": "Year 0-1",
      "state": "Moisture entering wall base; early salt transport",
      "indicators": "Often none visible; slight discolouration at skirting",
      "urgency": "Low visibility but ideal intervention point"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Stage",
      "stageName": "Established damp",
      "timepoint": "Years 1-5",
      "state": "Sustained moisture; significant salt accumulation",
      "indicators": "Tide marks visible; paint peeling; salt deposits",
      "urgency": "Moderate - intervention prevents escalation"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Stage",
      "stageName": "Advanced deterioration",
      "timepoint": "Years 5-15",
      "state": "Plaster failing; potential timber damage",
      "indicators": "Crumbling plaster; mould; timber rot signs",
      "urgency": "High - extended works required"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Stage",
      "stageName": "Severe damage",
      "timepoint": "15+ years",
      "state": "Structural implications; health hazard",
      "indicators": "Brick spalling; mortar erosion; persistent mould",
      "urgency": "Critical - major remediation needed"
    }
  ],
  "totalDuration": "15+ years to severe damage"
}

Usage Notes

When to Use Progression

Stage-based timelines — When a situation evolves through distinct phases
Deterioration tracking — How damage or conditions worsen over time
Development monitoring — Growth, improvement, or recovery phases
Lifecycle documentation — Expected lifespan stages of materials or systems

Progression vs CausalPathway

Progression — Focuses on when things happen and what state exists at each point
CausalPathway — Focuses on why things happen and the mechanism connecting cause to effect

Often used together: a CausalPathway explains how something develops, while a Progression shows the timeline of that development.

Causal Schema