BETA: Add Observations to a Field Report

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An observation records one item noted during a site visit, such as a deficiency or a site condition, usually with photos. Observations are added to an existing field report.

Adding observations is the second step of the field report workflow, after the field report is created and before it’s reviewed and finalized. For the full sequence, see Field Reports Overview.

Step 1: Open the Field Report

Observations are added from the Observations tab of a field report.

To open the field report:

  1. In the field reports list, tap the field report.
  2. Tap the Observations tab.

If the field report has no observations yet, the tab shows a message prompting you to create one.

Step 2: Take Photos for the Observation

Creating an observation in a field report opens your device camera first, so you can capture what you see before you enter anything else.

To take photos for an observation:

  1. On the Observations tab, tap Create observation. The camera opens.
  2. Take one or more photos. Each observation can hold up to 20 photos.

To create an observation without photos, tap Skip instead of taking a photo.

Step 3: Save the Observation

An observation needs a title before it can be saved. All other observation details are optional and can be added later.

To save the observation:

  1. Enter a title.
  2. Tap one of the following:
    • Save & next saves the observation and reopens the camera for the next observation. Use this to record several observations quickly while on site.
    • Add details opens the observation’s full details, where you can add a description, a status, and more before saving.

The observation appears on the Observations tab with an observation number, for example 21-10. The first part is the field report number. The second part is a count of all observations in the project. Observation 21-10 is the 10th observation in the project, and it belongs to Field report 21. Observation numbers can’t be edited.

To edit an existing observation’s details, tap the observation on the Observations tab.

Step 4 (Optional): Add Details to an Observation

Observation details describe and categorize an observation. They’re entered on the observation details form, which opens when you tap Add details while creating an observation.

Steps 4 to 6 apply only if you selected Add details. If you selected Save and next, the observation is already saved, and details can be added later.

To add details to an observation:

  1. Enter a title.
  2. Optional: enter a description.
  3. Select a status: No action required, Open, In progress, or Closed.
  4. Optional: turn on Urgent. This adds an urgent indicator to the observation. It doesn’t trigger any other action.
  5. Optional: select one or more disciplines. The available disciplines come from the project’s settings.

An observation’s status is separate from the status of its field report.

Step 5 (Optional): Add Attachments to an Observation

Observation attachments belong to a single observation. They’re separate from field report attachments, which belong to the field report as a whole. Attachments are typically reference files rather than site photos. For example, a floor plan or a spec sheet related to the observation.

Observation attachments are added on the same observation details form as the description and status, before the observation is created.

To add attachments to an observation:

  1. On the observation’s details, tap Attachments.
  2. Select a file from your device.

Every file is scanned for malware when it’s uploaded. Flagged files are quarantined.

Step 6: Create the Observation

An observation opened with Add details isn’t saved until it’s created. Its details and attachments are saved together.

To create the observation, tap Create observation at the bottom of the observation details form

The observation appears on the Observations tab with an observation number, for example 21-10.

Example of a Completed Observation

A completed observation from a routine site visit could contain these details:

  • Title: Cracked slab edge at gridline C4
  • Photos: Three photos of the crack
  • Description: Hairline crack along the slab edge, about 1 m long
  • Status: Open
  • Urgent: On
  • Discipline: Structural
  • Attachment: The level 3 floor plan, as a PDF file

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