FIELD GUIDE

From a reading to a record.

Start a job

Enter a name and date in the workspace. Add the location and your name so they appear on the report. Changes are saved in this browser when you leave a job-detail field or record an observation. Check the save message in the sidebar.

Use Try an example job to explore with clearly labeled synthetic data. It creates a separate job.

Record a grade check

Enter the benchmark elevation and backsight in feet.
Enter the foresight reading. Add a target elevation if you want a cut/fill result.
Set the allowable tolerance for your work, then calculate.
Review the result and warnings. Select Add observation to put it in the job.

Worked example

Benchmark 100.00 ft + backsight 5.25 ft = height of instrument 105.25 ft. Subtract a foresight of 4.75 ft to get elevation 100.50 ft. Against a target of 100.25 ft, the difference is +0.25 ft: cut 0.25 ft.

PASS means the absolute difference is within your tolerance. It does not mean an external standard or contract has been checked. No target means the elevation is logged without a cut/fill decision.

Edit a recorded point, recalculate and update it to correct a reading. Duplicate point names are blocked. Undo last change restores the last observation or estimate change in the current session.

Estimate a rectangular excavation or trench

Bank cubic yards = length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27. Loose volume multiplies bank volume by your swell factor. Estimated short tons multiply loose volume by loose density. Volume-based loads round loose volume ÷ truck capacity up to a whole load.

The included factors are examples. Use your material assumptions. A short ton is 2,000 lb. Vehicle payload limits, partial loads, compaction, irregular geometry and site conditions can change the result; the current calculator does not model them.

Keep and share your work

Print / save PDF: opens your device’s print dialog. Choose a PDF destination if available.
CSV: includes recorded readings, targets and notes for spreadsheets. Negative numeric differences remain numeric.
Download backup: saves one complete job as JSON, including readings, estimates, saved surfaces, grade-check batches and section source references.
Restore backup: validates and opens the backup as a separate job. Existing jobs are kept.

Where your data lives

Job records and aggregate usage counts stay in local browser storage. There is no account-based job synchronization or server-side job backup in this release. A different browser, device or website address has a separate storage area. Private browsing or clearing site data can remove your records. Download backups regularly.

Driftless Field does not send job contents, field notes or feedback to an application server. The hosting provider still receives normal web requests and may process access or operational logs; private-preview sign-in is handled by the hosting provider. Feedback is a text file you choose to download and share.

If saving fails

Do not close the page until you download a job backup. Storage can be unavailable, full, or changed by another tab. Invalid stored data is preserved instead of overwritten. Export stored data for recovery downloads the unmodified stored content when available. Reload only after preserving your work.

Import a survey and design

Open Surface imports in the workspace. Choose each CSV or LandXML file.
For CSV, verify the header setting and northing/easting/elevation mapping. For XML, select the named TIN.
Confirm units, the exact coordinate reference or local grid, and the elevation reference. Both surfaces must share compatible references; matching labels cannot correct mismatched coordinates.
Review the triangles and longest edges. CSV generates a convex hull without breaklines or holes. XML boundary objects and invisible faces are refused; export an active TIN with the boundary already applied.
Enter a straight baseline, station distance and left/right widths using the converted international-foot coordinates. Generate a section and review it before saving or charting.

Limits: 2 MB, 1,000 points and 2,000 triangles per surface. Gaps and unsupported inputs are refused. Saving source surfaces requires Pro; downloaded backups preserve the normalized points and triangles, source filenames and fingerprints. Original files are not uploaded. A saved section keeps sampled profiles and source references. Editing/recalculating those profile points creates a manual section.

Check survey points against a design

Load a proposed design in Surface imports. A ground surface is optional for this check.
In “Check survey points against the design,” choose a survey CSV and map its northing, easting, elevation and optional point ID/description.
Confirm survey units and matching grid/elevation references. Enter your acceptance tolerance in international feet.
Compare and review high, low, within-tolerance and outside-design points. Positive difference is high/cut; negative is low/fill. Outside points have blank design elevations and are never treated as zero.
With Pro, save a named batch or export its CSV. Saved batches also appear in the job report with your company logo and Driftless reference.

Up to 1,000 observations and five batches per job. Single points, collinear observations and repeated positions with different IDs are supported. Preview tables show up to 100 rows; exports include all. Results are rounded to six decimal feet before tolerance comparison. A saved batch is a snapshot: replacing a design does not update previous comparisons. Backups preserve the observed and interpolated elevations and source fingerprints; restoration recalculates differences from those recorded elevations. These results remain device-local until shared by backup or export.

Help and feedback

Email Jesse with the tool name, what you expected and what happened. Your email app opens and you choose what to send. Do not include private client files unless requested. For Pro or the private ticket pilot, describe the work you want to try.

Current scope

This release supports feet, rectangular quantities and individual device-local jobs. It includes a limited CSV/LandXML TIN import pilot for reference sections. It does not include cloud sync, full road alignments, surveyed stockpile volumes, crew scheduling, active checkout or automatic customer support. Verify readings and assumptions before using results on a job.