Field Notes in OpenSpace takes construction documentation to the next level for trades

Construction moves fast, so effective documentation and collaboration are critical for successful project management. Subcontractors face unique challenges in capturing and sharing critical field information. The Field Notes feature in OpenSpace Capture can help—use it to quickly capture details about your project for robust visual communication across project teams. 

Streamlining field documentation for subcontractors

OpenSpace makes it easy to capture and organize site information, enhancing your workflow efficiency.

Capturing site conditions efficiently

Your first step is to capture your site. As you walk, simply attach a 360° camera to your hard hat and tap record in the OpenSpace mobile app. The system captures about 25,000 square feet in just 10 minutes, and automatically timestamps and pins images to your floor plan.. And to document a field observation in greater detail, add Field Notes while you capture, snapping photos and adding relevant details on the go (creating Field Notes won’t disrupt your capture).

Organizing and categorizing observations

In OpenSpace, you can create custom Zones on your floor plans that represent specific areas or project phases. This makes it simple to categorize your observations—Field Notes are automatically tagged to the Zone (or Zones) they’re in. You can easily filter and report by Zones, giving you quick insights into progress and status across different sectors of your project.

Attaching relevant files and markups

You can pack as much information into a Field Note as you want—attach more photos, schematics, PDFs, and more.. Use the markup feature to highlight specific issues or sketch correct orientations directly on photos. Being able to add all these details helps you communicate clearly with other team members, ensuring everyone understands the task needed.

Enhancing collaboration and communication

Rather than relying on scattered methods like email, photos in folders, and text messages, Field Notes helps you streamline communication and collaboration among team members, ensuring everyone stays on the same page throughout the project lifecycle.

Real-time sharing of Field Notes

With Field Notes, you can instantly share your observations with stakeholders. As you create a note, you can add email addresses for anyone who should receive alerts when it’s created or edited. This keeps everyone up to date on important changes, eliminating the need for back-and-forth emails or phone calls.

Assigning tasks and setting due dates

Field Notes helps you improve workflow management and maintain project momentum. For example, you can easily assign Field Notes to specific team members and set due dates to avoid missed deadlines. The system sends reminders to those on your email alerts list, ensuring tasks are completed on time. 

Facilitating discussions through comments

OpenSpace timestamps your conversations in each Field Note, so it’s clear what’s happened and when. Team members can discuss issues, show progress, and make decisions directly within the platform, keeping all project-related discussions organized and easily accessible.

Improving quality control and issue resolution

Another important use case for Field Notes is quality control and issue resolution in construction. You can now simplify your processes, making them more visual, efficient, and organized.

Tracking observations and deficiencies

As you conduct site inspections, use Field Notes to document issues and safety concerns. When you start the inspection, start an OpenSpace 360 capture. Then when you need to flag an issue, simply create a Field Note, attach photos, and add relevant details. The system automatically pins these observations to your floor plan, making it easy to locate and address problems later.

Expediting RFI processes

OpenSpace helps prevent RFIs from piling up. You can quickly define RFIs in Field Notes, including visual references. Share links to exact locations in 360° captures, allowing design teams to view areas in question and respond faster.

Streamlining punch list management

During walkthroughs, create visual punch lists effortlessly. During your 360 capture, use your mobile device to capture items, add details, and assign tasks in a Field Note. Our AI tags notes by Zones and pins them to floor plans, eliminating manual note-taking. Generate and share a Field Note PDF report of your punch items with a tap, keeping everyone informed of progress through closeout.

Learn more about Field Notes for the trades 

Reality capture technology from OpenSpace is fast  and user-friendly. From capturing to communicating visually with Field Notes, subcontractors can fully document their work, enhance team collaboration, improve quality control processes, and resolve issues faster than ever before.

If you’d like to learn more about using Field Notes on your construction sites, let’s set up a live, one-on-one demo. Schedule a time today!