Field data collection workflow

TerraSitu's mobile app is designed to work offline for days at a time. This workflow covers the complete cycle from downloading data to syncing it back.

flowchart TD
    A[Download Survey Packages] --> B[Travel to Field]
    B --> C[Open Survey on Device]
    C --> D[Navigate to Location]
    D --> E[Create Observation]
    E --> F[GPS Auto-captured]
    E --> G[Fill Form Template]
    E --> H[Capture Photos]
    F --> I[Save Locally]
    G --> I
    H --> I
    I --> J{More observations?}
    J -->|Yes| D
    J -->|No| K{Connected?}
    K -->|Yes| L[Sync to Server]
    K -->|No| M[Continue Offline]
    M --> J
    L --> N{Conflicts?}
    N -->|Yes| O[Resolve Conflicts]
    N -->|No| P[Data Uploaded]
    O --> P

    style A fill:#2D6A4F,color:#fff
    style P fill:#2D6A4F,color:#fff

Before you leave

1. Open the TerraSitu mobile app
2. Go to Sync in the bottom navigation
3. Download survey packages for each survey you'll be working on
4. Verify the status shows Ready for fieldwork

Each package includes: form templates, GIS layers, map tiles, sampling units, species data, and stakeholder information.

In the field

1. Open the survey — select your project, site, and survey
2. Navigate — use the map to find your sampling unit or survey area
3. Create observation — tap Add Observation. GPS coordinates are captured automatically
4. Fill the form — complete the structured data form designed for this survey
5. Capture photos — take photos directly from the app. They are automatically geotagged
6. Save — the observation is stored locally and queued for upload

You can work for days without connectivity. All data is stored on-device.

After fieldwork

1. When you have connectivity, open the Sync screen
2. Tap Upload — observations upload automatically
3. If two people modified the same observation offline, you'll see a conflict resolution screen
4. Choose which version to keep for each conflict

What syncs

Related articles

• Syncing data to mobile
• Submitting observations
• Survey methods