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Curious about what FieldDoc is? We have planted this help center with all sorts of content to help you thrive in the FieldDoc platform. Let's dig in!

We like to describe FieldDoc as a set of building blocks for managing and sharing your nature-based projects, including:

• Activity records

• Geospatial data and maps

• Metrics and dashboards

• Funding reports

• Collaborative workspaces

• Real-time progress tracking

FieldDoc is different from other project-tracking tools in a few important ways. Once you master these core features, you'll be equipped to manage your organization's entire portfolio effortlessly and communicate your impact effectively.

Most importantly, don't worry about knowing everything right away. We'll explore it together. Let's look at the key components to get you started in the system!

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We step through how to create a single activity record to meet basic tracking requirements.

Create your activity

There are a lot of pathways in FieldDoc through which you can create your activity records and add attribute data. When you're getting started, this is the simplest way to create an activity record from either within your workspace portfolio or within an existing Pact.

Once an activity is created, it is visible within your portfolio. Repeat this process to add more individual activity records.

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Start by creating your own account, then easily connect with colleagues and collaborators. Both internal team members and external partners can work together through a shared Workspace tied to your organization. This article outlines the different ways you can invite the right people to the right place, ensuring everyone has access to the data they need.

Create your user account

Configuring your account is a three-step process.

Step 1. Register with your professional email address.

All user accounts must be assigned to an organization.

1. Navigate to fielddoc.org/register

2. Enter in your name and professional email address.

3. Click Complete.

4. Open your inbox and verify your email address. Tip! Use the available prompts if you need to update the email that you originally entered or you need to re-send the email verification.

5. Once confirmed, it's time to select an organization or create a new one.

Step 2. Join an organization

Option 1. Join an existing organization

If your organization already exists in FieldDoc, you will be able to add your account to that organization.

1. FieldDoc will look at your email domain and match you to the organization in FieldDoc with the same domain (if one exists).

2. Click to join the organization.

3. FieldDoc will automatically confirm your membership and bring you to your home page. Welcome!

Option 2. Create a new organization

If you are creating a new organization as you set up your account, you will be presented with a screen where you can create a new organization.

Invite your colleagues

FieldDoc works great for collaborators!

Invite from FieldDoc

You can jumpstart the on-boarding process for colleagues at your organization by inviting them to join your organization New in 2025, you can invite your colleagues (staff with the same email domain) to join your organization. During the invitation process, they will be able to create their own FieldDoc account.

Self-onboarding colleagues

Invite Collaborators and Technical Service Providers via Workspaces

FieldDoc makes it easy to let collaborators from outside of your organization help manage your FieldDoc portfolio. This includes setting up Pacts and Activity Records on behalf of your organization. Workspaces are the feature within each organization through which all users create and manage data.

An Activity Record in FieldDoc represents a single, trackable restoration or conservation action. It serves as the core unit of implementation within a project, capturing detailed information about what was done, where, when, and what outcomes are expected.

Each Activity Record can include:

• Activity Type (e.g., riparian buffer planting, stream restoration, green infrastructure, convening, etc)

• Location (mapped using geospatial data)

• Status and Timeline (in progress, completed)

• Metrics (e.g., acres planted, feet of stream restored, tons of sediment reduced)

• Modeled Outcomes (estimates of pollutant load reductions or other environmental benefits)

• Photos and Attachments (documentation of the activity)

Activity Records allow users to track progress at a granular level, roll up data across projects or portfolios, and generate reports that meet grant, regulatory, or internal program requirements. They also feed into FieldDoc’s modeling and visualization tools to help users understand the cumulative impact of their work across landscapes or watersheds.

The help documentation includes a wealth of information on pathways to create an activity, what data can be included within each record, and where you can visualize your data inputs.

Take a tour of an Activity Record

Common Actions you may take with Activity Records

• Digitally represent your nature-based work by mapping geospatial footprints, aligning actions with a standardized activity framework, and tracking the environmental outcomes of your efforts. Share.

FieldDoc empowers restoration practitioners and your network of supporters to effectively build, manage, and showcase your nature-based data. By creating a robust data portfolio, you'll be able to easily share project records with funders, generate insightful analytics, and clearly track the impact of your efforts.

FieldDoc takes the mess out of managing nature-based projects, so you can spend less time buried in data and more time digging into real impact.

Head to our Quickstart guide to create your portfolio in minutes.

Ready to maximize your project's potential?

Let's get started!

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Portfolios provide the organizational structure for an Workspace's activity records and supporting data. They also include organization metrics and Pact overviews. The structure of your content in FieldDoc is organized through project folders, sections and activities. Pages live inside of spaces, and collections are groups of spaces.

Build your Portfolio

Think of your portfolio like your a Google Drive full of folders and sub-folders in which you organize your files. Activity records are the core of your portfolio. They can be added directly or sorted into Project Folders and Sections.

Adding data to your portfolio

All data that you add to FieldDoc will be sorted into your portfolio one way or another. The following are a few ways that you can put data into your portfolio.

Start with metrics

If you are a standard user tracking organization metrics, we recommend that you start by adding creating your portfolio's metric's list. This will make it a lot more efficient for you to build out the entirity of your portfolio once you start adding your nature-based activity data.

Create Project Folders > Section Folders > Activity Records

Using the + Create button, you can manually add individual folders and then nest data within those folders. For example, you can create a Project Folder for a Program that your organization manages. You can create Sections within the Project folder for each of the farmers that you are working with. And then within each section, you can create the activity records to track the sustainability practices that will be installed across that farmer's landholdings.

Import Data

FieldDoc lets you import data in .csv, shapefile, and .GeoJSON formats. You can import single files or batch import. The importer from the Home page allows you to select the destination table, which means that you can import Metrics, Project folders, Section sub-folders, or Activity records.

The really cool thing is that, if you batch import activity records, you can include fields for Project and Sections. This means that you can build out your entire portfolio from one import!

Can funders view my portfolio?

No. Your portfolio is created within a specific workspace and is only visible to users who have access to that workspace or are part of your organization. Funders and third parties cannot see your full portfolio.

However, you can share specific data from your Activity list. To do this, you’ll need to create a Pact within the relevant funder’s program and link the activity records you want to share. Once shared, you can also add programmatic metrics to those records, as required by the funder.

IN THIS ARTICLE

FieldDoc makes it easy to estimate the sediment and nutrient load reductions that will result from implementing a BMP. Inputs must be met in order for the models to calculate.

Model environmental benefits

At this time, the calculator supported in FieldDoc requires the following inputs:

1. An activity type

2. A location based on the geospatial data.

3. A unit input.

The data required from the activity type and location are collected from your activity record. On the models tab, you will be prompted to enter in the unit input manually. In most cases, the calculator is asking for the footprint of the activity in acres; however, in some cases you will need to input an alternative extent, such as animal units.

Grant Reporting Overview

Share records in your grant application

Track Implementation Progress

Throughout your period of performance, you will use FieldDoc to meet grant compliance requirements. Specific requirements for the cadence of reporting can be found in your grant agreement. The following provides an overview of the steps that you will take to track implementation, and assumes that you have already created a FieldDoc Pact with your funder.

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Activity Types provide all users access to a standard list of activities that may be implemented for nature-based work. The list is extensive and continually growing. This article walks through how to add an Activity Type to a record and how to best navigate the list of options.

Activity Types

In FieldDoc, activity types represent the kinds of restoration or conservation practices being implemented. They define what kind of work is being done—such as tree planting, cover cropping, stream restoration, wetland creation, monitoring, or convening.

Each activity type typically includes:

• Unit types for measurement

• Optional modeling support, depending on the geography and practice

• Optional NEIEN BMP code.

• A suggested set of standard metrics (like acres, feet, number of trees, etc., provided by the program funder)

They help organize and categorize projects so that outcomes can be consistently tracked, compared, and reported across programs and geographies.

Set your Activity Type

Activity Types can only be added to a record from within FieldDoc.

1. Click the button to select an Activity Type, you open the universal list.

2. Use the search or scroll features to find the appropriate option to associate with your activity record.

3. Click save.

Dig In! Interactive tutorial

Explore using search fields

Name

Search by the Activity Type name. Some Activity Types include an NRCS code, so you can also search by that code.

Group

Some of the Activity Types supported in FieldDoc have been grouped by the leading scientists, modelers, or conservation professionals that created the list. Where possible, FieldDoc honors those groupings and lists them as a search option.

Description

Some activity types include descriptions provided by program managers and the guides that they reference. When available, FieldDoc displays these to help guide all users in their selection. To view the full description, click the “More” link. Descriptions may also include instructions on how to properly map the footprint for that activity type.

Model(s)

You can see which Activity Types are supported by available models in the FieldDoc system.

Program(s)

Some of the funding programs that use FieldDoc to collect application or grant recipient data have suggested lists of activity types. When these have been provided by program managers, all users can benefit by sorting by the programs.

Commonly asked questions

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This tutorial walks you through the fields in the Edit Activity > General Settings view. Each field is tied to a single activity record and helps track progress toward installation and ecosystem outcomes.

General

In this view, you can enter in a unique name for your activity record. We recommend making sure that you're name is unique so that you don't end up with multiple records with the same name.

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Review the FieldDoc estimated extent, convert it to different units, or enter your own value. Note: These inputs are for reference only and are not used in any additional calculations or features.

Extent

This view allows you to input two types of extent:

1. Estimated Geometric Extent – Automatically calculated based on the dimensions (area, length, etc.) of the activity’s geometry. Many models and activity types require a unit input tied to geographic extent, so this value is useful to keep with your activity record.

2. User-Defined Extent – If your geometry doesn’t include a measurable extent (e.g., a point location), or if the estimate is inaccurate, you can manually enter an extent and select the appropriate unit. This will override the FieldDoc estimated extent, however the system-generated field will remain visible (you cannot delete it).

FieldDoc is designed specifically to support organizations managing nature-based initiatives by offering an intuitive, structured, and powerful platform. It enables you to:

• Consolidate all of your organization's restoration and conservation project data into a single, unified system.

• Standardize analytics using the universal list of activity types

• Set organization metrics

• Ensure consistency and accuracy across your initiatives.

Simplify Reporting and Accountability

• Easily share structured records with multiple funders and stakeholders.

• Generate consistent, high-quality reports aligned with funding requirements.

• Calculate impact with environmental models

• Track project progress and quantify ecological impacts with standardized metrics.

• Clearly demonstrate tangible results and environmental improvements.

• Build an atlas of footprint and impact

• Enable collaboration between staff, partners, and technical service providers.

• Share data selectively and securely, increasing transparency and trust.

• Quickly align your activities with funders' requirements via the Pact feature.

• Leverage historical records to simplify future funding applications.

FieldDoc empowers your organization to efficiently manage, analyze, and communicate the impact of your nature-based projects—saving time, strengthening partnerships, and amplifying your conservation outcomes.

Getting started with organization tracking

First, you will want to decide how you want to organize your portfolio. Use the section below to understand the components of a portfolio and how they align with the important nature-based work underway at your organization.

Components of a portfolio

How do you organize your nature-based data? At FieldDoc, we recognize that there are a lot of overlapping ways to describe nesting components of nature-based work, so we try to stay as generic as possible. FieldDoc provides a nested folder structure in which you can organize your nature-based records.

Project Folders

Project overview page

The Project Overview page offers a dynamic snapshot of all your activity records and metrics, giving you real-time insights into your project’s landscape. As you add or update activity records, this page instantly reflects your latest data—keeping you informed and empowering you to make better decisions!

Site Sections

Activity Records

Activity records can be viewed from a table view, where quick editing can take place.

Activity records all include their own overview page as well, from which data entry can be accomplished.

Feature Highlights for Standard Organization Accounts

Pacts

Orient your impact using Map Editor & Atlas

Calculate your environmental benefits with Models

Bring the team together with Collaboration

What are your goals? Track progress with Organization Metrics

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FieldDoc make it easy to map your activity records to the NEIEN schema. This is especially helpful for organizations conducting their own NEIEN reporting or grantees that must meet NEIEN reporting requirements through awards received.

NEIEN

Align activity metadata and implementation measurements with Environmental Information Exchange Network specifications. This information enables implementation tracking and crediting by state governments and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Open the NEIEN tab.

2. Click the + measurementsbutton.

3. Search to select the NEIEN best management practice from the available list.

4. Find and save your selection.

5. Enter the measurement value for one or more of the options. If you are unsure, you can reach out to support@fielddoc.org or your state reporting lead.

Dig in! Interactive Tutorial

Integrations

Integrations connect your FieldDoc portfolio to work with external systems, tools, or data sources. This enhances functionality and data management for environmental restoration and monitoring projects. These integrations allow users to:

1. Pull in Data: FieldDoc can integrate with existing data systems to streamline the import of real-time data into the platform from ArcGIS Online or Airtable.

2. Export Data: Users can export FieldDoc data for further analysis or reporting in other software, like GIS tools (e.g., ArcGIS) or spreadsheet software (e.g., Airtable), for deeper insights or visualization.

3. API Connections: FieldDoc can be connected to APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) of other systems, allowing for automatic data exchange between platforms, which can improve efficiency and reduce manual entry.

4. Mapping Tools: FieldDoc integrates with ArcGIS Online to create and maintain the integrity of a Feature Service that can be used to provide visual representations of restoration activities and their impacts on the environment. Users can overlay additional data sources, such as satellite imagery, land use maps, or prioritization tools to provide context.

5. Project Management: FieldDoc integrates with the project management tool, Airtable, to track project timelines, budgets, and deliverables in conjunction with environmental data collection.

These integrations enhance FieldDoc's ability to manage, visualize, and analyze environmental project data, making it a more powerful tool for users working on restoration, conservation, and climate resilience efforts.

Key Benefits of Integrations in FieldDoc

Integrating FieldDoc with other systems and tools offers several key benefits that enhance the platform’s overall functionality and usability, particularly for environmental organizations engaged in restoration, monitoring, and reporting efforts. Here are some of the main advantages:

1. Improved Data Management and Accuracy Seamless Data Import and Export: Integrations with ArcGIS Online and Airtable allow FieldDoc to pull data from external systems, reducing manual data entry errors and ensuring up-to-date information is always available. Centralized Data Storage: Users can consolidate multiple data sources into one platform, making it easier to manage, track, and analyze all project-related data from a single dashboard.

2. Enhanced Analysis and Reporting Automated Data Sync: Integrations and triggers ensure that data flows between systems without requiring manual intervention. This allows for real-time analysis, which is crucial for monitoring the impacts of environmental interventions. Comprehensive Reporting: Users can create detailed reports by combining data from various tools, ensuring a more holistic understanding of project outcomes and environmental impacts.

3. Greater Efficiency and Time Savings Reduced Manual Work: Automation of data collection, syncing, and reporting minimizes the need for manual data entry, freeing up staff time to focus on higher-value activities like analysis, strategy, and decision-making. Streamlined Workflow: Integrations with project management tools can improve workflow by aligning tasks, timelines, and outcomes with environmental data collection and impact tracking.

4. Better Decision-Making Real-Time Insights: Integrations with real-time monitoring tools or sensors (e.g., IoT devices measuring water quality) provide instant feedback on environmental conditions, allowing project managers to make timely adjustments to restoration activities. Comprehensive Visualizations: GIS integrations offer sophisticated mapping capabilities, enabling users to visualize the spatial impact of their restoration efforts, track changes over time, and communicate these visually to stakeholders.

5. Enhanced Collaboration and Transparency Data Sharing: With integrations, FieldDoc can easily share information with other platforms or organizations. This is particularly useful in multi-stakeholder initiatives, where transparency and collaborative data sharing are key to success. Consistency Across Tools: Integrations ensure that data is consistent across different tools used by various teams, helping maintain a unified approach to data analysis and project reporting.

6. Scalability Adaptable for Larger Projects: As project complexity grows, integrations allow FieldDoc to scale alongside the increasing data and reporting needs. For instance, integrating with more advanced data analytics or machine learning platforms can provide deeper insights into environmental trends. Multi-Site Management: When managing multiple restoration sites, integrations help keep all data synchronized across locations, ensuring accurate cross-project comparisons and summaries.

7. Increased Impact Measurement Tracking Long-Term Outcomes: FieldDoc integrations help organizations track not just immediate outputs but long-term environmental and ecological impacts, providing richer datasets to analyze the effectiveness of interventions over time. Aligning with Goals: Integrating FieldDoc with larger regional or national datasets can help users align their projects with broader conservation or climate resilience goals, making it easier to measure and communicate impact to funders and stakeholders.

Overall, the key benefits of integrating FieldDoc are increased efficiency, improved data accuracy, enhanced decision-making, and the ability to scale projects and impact measurement. These benefits collectively lead to more effective environmental restoration and conservation efforts.

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Sections are optional sub-folders within Projects that allow for further organization of activity records.

Sections

Sections allow you to create subfolders within your project to further organize activity records. Each section has its own summary overview page, similar to the main Project Overview, offering a clear way to parse, manage, and share subsets of your data. This is especially helpful for organizing updates or segmenting work by geography, implementation phase, or project team.

Sections can only be added within an existing project.

Program Manager Documentation

Page actionsCommentShare feedback on the editorFieldDoc takes the complexity out of managing your funding program, so you can spend less time wrangling grantee data and more time measuring real impact.CommentShare feedback on the editorProgram Managers unlock a different set of tools in FieldDoc—not just because they oversee the big picture, but because they help shape it. While grantees and standard users enter data from the field, Program Managers define the structure of that data—setting the metrics, activity types, and standards that make it all measurable. By standardizing inputs across many users, they turn scattered details into actionable insights and track progress toward shared goals.CommentShare feedback on the editor

Aggregator Subscription

Program Managers gain access to FieldDoc through an Aggregator subscription. All of the Documentation in the help center for free and standard users applies to Program Managers when you are buiding out your own porfolio of nature-based records. The pages in this section are geared toward setting up and managing Programs to collect data from other FieldDoc users.CommentShare feedback on the editorReady to streamline reporting and maximize your program’s potential?CommentShare feedback on the editorLet's dive into building and managing your program!

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Allow third parties to share implementation they plan to achieve with your support.

Pact Opportunities

Pact Opportunities allow third-party users—such as grant applicants and awardees—to share their activity data with your Program. Each Program can have multiple Pact Opportunities, making it easier to organize and manage data by specific funding rounds or opportunities. Think of a Pact as the agreement between two parties of what will be accomplished through an agreed upon scope of work, such as through a contractual vehicle like a contract or grant agreement.

Program Managers who have multiple agreements with third parties, such as a slate of grant awards, can ask their recipients to create Pacts within the Opportunity to represent the work that will be accomplished. The grant recipients will link activity data from their Portfolio via a Pact. These general FieldDoc users will be able to share single activity records to multiple Pacts, which helps reduce desk time reporting across multiple systems, increases standardization for analysis and decision-making, and solves concerns of redudancy and duplication.

Configure a Program's Pact Opportunity

One Program can have multiple Pact Oppportunities. In fact, The Commons expects Program Managers to configure a new Pact Opportunity for each funding cycle. In order to configure a Pact Opportunity, the Program Managers must provide The Commons with:

• A Pact Name

• The Open Date

• The Close Date

• Funding Sources

The Commons will configure the Pact Opportunity and generate a unique Pact code to share with users. Pacts are not discoverable without this code.

Managing a Pact Opportunity

FieldDoc users who have the Opportunity code can create Pacts within the Opportunity. Once they have linked their activity records and added the associated attribute data they will click Submit on their Pact overview page. They must click submit in order for Program Managers to have access to the Activity record data.

Once a Program Manager has access to a Pact, it will appear in Programs> Pacts. As this list grows, use the filter tools to manage the individual Pacts.

Within a Pact, Program Managers have access to fields that the general users cannot manage:

• Pact Status

• Start Date

• End Date

• Funding Sources

• Unique Identifier

Managing these fields should be part of your QA/QC standard operating process.

The General Users who own the Pact will be in charge of managing data specific to their activity records:

• Completion Date

• Geometry

• Activity Type

• Extent

• Model outputs

• Programmatic metric implementation progress

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What happens once a restoration or conservation activity is completed? It's time to monitor it's impact. Use Inspection Logs to track visits to the activity site and share observations of the functionality.

Inspection Logs

Once your restoration or conservation activity is installed to specification, the next critical step is to monitor its ongoing impact. Completing the implementation phase doesn't mean that the work is done - in fact, it marks the beginning of long-term observation and stewardship.

The FieldDoc Inspection Logs feature allows the owners of the activity records to systematically track site visits and document post-implementation conditions. This is especially important for ensuring that Best Management Practices (BMPs) are functioning as intended and that any issues are detected early.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open the Inspection Log view within the Edit Activity modal.

2. Select '+ Add inspection report`.

3. Enter in the date of the inspection.

4. Select if the BMP was functioning, or not functioning.

5. Type in additional notes.

6. Click Save.

The system will log the user who entered the report as "attested by", this is not an editable field.

You can add as many inspection reports as you would like to each activity record.

Dig in! Interactive Tutorial

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Privacy settings for individual activity records help obscure sensitive geospatial data through Pacts.

Privacy

FieldDoc activity data is, by default, only visible to the organization that owns the record. Records shared with Program Managers via Pacts share all of the attribute data. Turning on the privacy toggle indicates to the Program Managers that they should not expose geographic data related to this activity record on any dashboards.

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The completion status helps track the lifecycle of your nature-based work. Explore how to set your completion status.

Completion Status

You only get to enter the completion status for an activity record once. Enter the date when the activity was fully installed by clicking the "Mark activity as completed" button. An activity is complete when all implementation work is finished.

Set your completion status.

1. The user setting the completion date will be logged as the attestation person.

2. Open the Completion view.

3. Click the button to open and enter in the date of completion. This can be an estimated date, but it must be a date in the past.

4. Click save.

Dig in! Interactive Tutorial

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FieldDoc invites standard users to attach simple geospatial data to each activity record to delineate the area of installation or implementation. This article covers the feature and how to enter data into FieldDoc.

Geometry

Each activity record can have a single geospatial data point associated with it, which is used to delineate the footprint of the activity. In this article, we’ll walk through the Geometry feature—its purpose, functionality, and how to input geospatial data into activity records.

Geospatial data holds immense value for nature-based work. During the prioritization and planning phases, location data helps align potential installation sites with strategic priorities and anticipated impacts. In the implementation phase, it enables a landscape-level view of where work is being carried out. And once projects are installed, accurate location data supports confident monitoring and verification by ensuring activities can be reliably tracked over time.

The purpose of geometries

In FieldDoc, we keep it simple—the geospatial data attached to an activity record should represent the area impacted by the implementation of the nature-based work. This guidance is intentionally generalized, as what you choose to delineate may vary depending on your organization’s intended use of FieldDoc.

Rules for geospatial data

• Each activity record can only have one geometry associated with it. In other words, you can have a single point, a line, or a polygon for each record. If you have multiple geometries, then those should be represented by individual activity records.

• We recommend focusing on an implementation area for a single location. Large geometries, such as the polygon of an entire state or watershed, may disrupt the functioning on

Geometry functionality

FieldDoc's Geometry feature allows users to associate a single geospatial data point—such as a point, line, or polygon—with each activity record. This geometry is intended to represent the physical footprint of the nature-based work being implemented. Users can create or upload geometry directly within FieldDoc, or integrate with external tools like ArcGIS Online to sync data.

By capturing geospatial information at the activity level, FieldDoc enables spatial analysis, improved tracking, and seamless integration into broader planning and reporting workflows. The geometry may also be used to determine available environmental models and the inputs used to generate environmental benefits.

How to input geospatial data into activity records

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State reporting assists stakeholders in tracking the BMPs that are managed in FieldDoc and reported for inclusion in State Reports.

State Reporting

The FieldDoc fields for state reporting serve as a data tracking feature. Currently, no data is directly shared with the NEIEN system. However, The Commons has agreements with certain entities to report to state reporting leads, who then include the BMPs tracked in FieldDoc in their templates for submission to the NEIEN data exchange warehouse. These fields are used by The Commons to track confirmed BMPs associated with impacted activity records. Standard FieldDoc users who report directly to their state leads can also use these fields to support their own internal tracking efforts.

These fields must be manually inputted within each record.

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FieldDoc Portfolios are organized with Project Folders and Site Sections. Check, edit, and delete the configuration within the Project view.

Projects

Activity records are the base unit in the FieldDoc system. Standard user Portfolios include two levels of organization so that you can more clearly organize these records. Project folders and sub-folders called, Sections, allow users to segment the activity records and roll up analytics for the contained records. This view allows you to add, edit, or remove the organization of each activity record.

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Atlases visually represent all of the activity records and associated data from the provided context. View the modeled outcomes, progress toward metric goals, and the activity locations.

Atlases

The Atlas provides a spatial overview of all activity records within your project, offering a map-based view that brings together geospatial data, metrics, and project structure. It’s a powerful way to explore where work is happening and how different components of your project relate to each other geographically.

In the Atlas, users can see the locations of activities alongside their associated metrics—including organization metrics, programmatic metrics, and modeled outputs. This view is especially useful for identifying gaps, visualizing patterns across a landscape, and communicating progress to partners or stakeholders. Whether you're planning next steps or reporting on completed work, the Atlas helps connect your data to place.

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Attach documents to your FieldDoc records to different folders in your portfolio.

Documents

The Documents feature in FieldDoc allows users to upload and store important files within a Project, Pact, or Activity. This centralizes documentation so that relevant materials—such as reports, designs, permits, or data sheets—are easily accessible to all collaborators working on a project.

Documents uploaded to a record are only visible to users with access to that specific record, helping ensure that sensitive or project-specific information remains secure. This feature is especially helpful for teams that need to share reference materials or maintain a clear record of supporting documentation over the lifecycle of a project.

To add a document, navigate to the Documents tab of your chosen record and click the upload button. Supported file types include common formats such as PDF, DOCX, XLSX, and more.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Tracking organization and programmatic metrics allow all stakeholders to measure the impact of this nature-based work toward bigger goals.

Activity Metrics

FieldDoc tracks metrics at the activity level and aggregates them across Sections, Projects, and Pacts using standardized metric lists. In this article, we’ll explore the two types of manually tracked metrics in FieldDoc: organizational metrics and programmatic metrics.

Each metric includes two fields: planned_value and implemented_value. By the end of the performance period, both fields should be populated to reflect expected and actual outcomes.

Although organizational and programmatic metrics can be linked to the same activity, the process for adding and managing each type differs. Understanding these differences is key to accurate tracking and reporting. Let's dig in!

Organization Metrics

Organization metrics can be assigned to any activity records in your portfolio. These metrics can be assigned via the Edit Activity modal or the Table view within Project Folder, Site Section, or Activity Record views. Organization metrics are exclusively visible to users within the organization; therefore, they cannot be added via Pact views, because the Pact view only contains metric information provided by the Pact Opportunity Program Manager.

Add organization metrics to an activity record

Track implementation of organization metrics

By the end of your activity's period of performance, you will want to update your organization metrics to track progress towards your goals. You can track implementation at whatever cadence you decide.

Programmatic Metrics

Programmatic metrics are defined by individual Funding Programs and are made available to standard users who have created a Pact. Once a Pact is in place, the associated activity records can access and assign that program's metrics to their records.

Keep in mind: a single activity can be linked to multiple Pacts, meaning it may be responsible for managing multiple sets of programmatic metrics—each sourced from a different Pact or Funding Program.

Add programmatic metrics to an activity record

IN THIS ARTICLE

Select and enable models to estimate the environmental benefits of your planned implementation activity. This article walks through the components to calculate environmental benefits.

Models

Generate outcomes using models

Step-by-step tour

1. Select the model that you want to use from the drop down.

2. The Best Management practice code is based on the selected Activity_type and is uneditable from the model view.

3. The Land river segment(s) is based on the delineated geometry and is uneditable from the model view.

4. Unit type is populated from the efficienty tables associated with the Adapted CAST model. This is not an editable field. All CAST BMPs have a single selectable unit type.

5. Enter the Unit value.

6. Click Save inputs.

Common questions

IN THIS ARTICLE

Metrics allow all users of the activity data to track progress toward implementation goals. This article examines the metric types and process for adding and tracking progress toward stated outcomes.

Metrics

In FieldDoc, users can activate automated modeled outcomes and assign non-automated metrics to their individual activity records. This approach broadens the amount of analysis, measuring, and reporting that can be accomplished through the system. The standardization ubiquitous across components of FieldDoc makes metric tracking possible at all scales: within an organization, within a project, within a Pact, but also across an entire funding program or grant opportunity. Let's take a closer look.

Organizational Metrics

Standard users can create a custom list of metrics that are important to their organization. After making this list, you can set targets for each metric. These targets will show up in the organization view.

As you add activity records to your portfolio, you can link them to your organization’s metrics. During the project timeline, you can track your progress toward each goal at the activity level. That progress is then added up and shown at higher levels—like Section, Project, and Organization views.

For example, if an activity is part of a Section and a Project, its contribution to a metric will count toward the totals for the Section, the Project, and the Organization. This makes it much easier to track and share progress on big goals, like the number of trees planted or the number of miles of stream restored.

There is a lot of information to explore on how to set up and track your metrics.

Programmatic Metrics

Program Managers can create a custom list of metrics that are important to their funding program and organization. After making the list, any user that has assigned activity records to a Pact in that Funding Program can add the metrics to their activity record and set a target outcome. The targets will show up in the Pact Overview view.

As grantees progress in their work to meet their funding requirements, they can track progress toward implementation for the programmatic metrics within their activity record. That progress is added up and shown on the Pact overview page. All of the Pacts within a Funding Opportunity will roll up and provide an overview of progress toward larger goals, such as Blueprints or Business Plans, for an entire funding program. The process allows Funding Program Managers to:

• Align their priorities with individual awards

• Track the geospatial and quantitative impact from standard views

• Track implementation progress and measure progress toward program goals through a verifiable source.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Learn how to build your portfolio using external .csv, .GeoJSON, or Shapefiles. Get existing geospatial data into FieldDoc in a breeze.

Import

Import is a powerful feature in FieldDoc that allows users to create records with existing geospatial data or create batch records. Let's walk through the import process.

How FieldDoc Organizes Your Imported Data

When you import activity records, FieldDoc helps organize them for you. Here’s how it works:

1. Importing from a Project or Pact If you start the import from inside a specific Project or Pact, all the activity records in your file will automatically be added to that grouping.

2. Importing from the Home Page If you begin the import from the Home Page, the activity records will be unassociated with a Project or Pact, unless you have included that information to your source file. This gives you more flexibility.

3. Including Project and Section in Your Source File If your import file includes columns for Project and Section, FieldDoc will create new digital representations of of those for you—no need to set them up ahead of time.

Prepare your source file

FieldDoc accepts .csv, .GeoJSON, and Shapefiles for import. FieldDoc follows industry standard practices in our source file requirements. If your file meets these requirements, it will be imported into FieldDoc successfully.

File type: CSV

File Type: Shapefile

In addition to the mandatory .shp, .shx, and .dbf files, shapefile archives must include a .prj file that describes the coordinate system and projection. All files must be compressed into a .zip file before uploading. To ensure that FieldDoc reads the archive correctly, the archive itself and the files it contains should share the same name. File names must not contain spaces.

Important: Nested ZIP folders are not supported (e.g. example.zip > example > example.shp). All required files must be stored in the top level of the ZIP folder (e.g. example.zip > example.shp, example.shx, …).

File Type: GeoJSON

File size and feature count

Step by step import instructions

2. You can find the Import File button in several places across FieldDoc.

   Tip: Starting your import from the right place saves time and helps keep your activities organized automatically.

3. Open the Import File button. Drop in your source file and click upload.

4. Map your source file fields to the FieldDoc fields.

5. Click save.

6. FieldDoc may take a few moments to generate all of the new records. Once it has completed the task the button will turn green and indicate how many records were imported.

7. Some fields cannot be imported. So once you have imported your file, you must complete the configuration for each activity record. Look below for more guidance on that.

Dig in! Interactive Training Tutorial

Complete data entry within FIeldDoc for the imported activity records

FieldDoc's importer cannot import the following fields:

• Activity Type

• Extent

• Extent Unit

• Model Input

IN THIS ARTICLE

Import and attach images to different sections of your FieldDoc work: Projects, Sections, Activities, and Pacts.

Images

The Images feature in FieldDoc allows users to upload and store important visual files within a Project, Pact, or Activity. This centralizes documentation so that relevant materials—such as photos demonstrating progress and functioning—are easily accessible to all collaborators working on a project.

Images uploaded to a record are only visible to users with access to that specific record, helping ensure that sensitive or project-specific information remains secure. This feature is especially helpful for teams that need to share visual materials or maintain a clear record of supporting documentation over the lifecycle of a project.

To add an image, navigate to the Image tab of your chosen record and click the upload button. FieldDoc currently supports PNG, JPEG, GIF, and TIFF formats.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Collaborators are users outside of your organization that have access to a portion of your organization portfolio. You can invite, view, and manage collaborator permissions from any collaborator view.

Collaborators

The Collaborators feature allows you to easily manage who has access to your project and what they can do within it. You can invite team members, partners, or funders to collaborate directly in FieldDoc, enabling shared responsibility for creating, editing, and managing activity records and project data.

Collaborators have the ability to add new records, update existing information, and contribute to the overall progress of the project. This feature is designed to support transparent, team-based workflows—whether you're working within a single organization or coordinating across multiple partners. Managing access through the Collaborators tab ensures that the right people have the right level of access at the right time.

Collaborate: Shared with Me

What does "Share with Me" Mean?

As a collaborator, you can view and contribute to the records you’ve been invited to, but those records remain part of the original owner’s portfolio—not yours. You’ll find these records in the Shared with Me tab of your FieldDoc workspace.

What can collaborators Access?

• Pacts, Projects, and Activities that have been shared with you.

• Depending on the level of access granted, you may be able to view, edit, or comment on these records.

What can collaborators not do?

• You cannot move shared records into your Portfolio.

• You cannot invite new collaborators to shared records unless you are granted permission by the original owner.

• You do not have administrative control over shared records.

Why This Matters:

This structure helps ensure that data ownership and reporting responsibility remain with the original record owner, while still allowing for cross-organizational collaboration and support.

If you need to work with someone on their data, always check your Shared with Me tab. If a record doesn’t appear there, it may not have been shared with you yet—or you may not have the right level of access.

Sharing workspaces

Collaborating at the Workspace Level in FieldDoc

What happens when you're invited to a workspace?

Once invited, you’ll be able to:

• Switch between your own organization’s workspace and theirs using the workspace switcher in the top-right corner of your FieldDoc account.

You do not need a new login—your existing FieldDoc account can be used to access multiple workspaces.

Why this matters: Workspace-level collaboration is especially useful for:

• Technical service providers who support multiple grantees

• Program managers working across different partner organizations

• Organizations that co-manage a shared restoration portfolio

Key difference: Unlike record-level collaboration (where you only see specific items under the “Shared with Me” tab), workspace access gives you a full view of everything in that organization’s account.

To gain access, an administrator from that organization must send you an invitation.

IN THIS ARTICLE

What are Linked Pages?

Linked Pages

Information applications relevant to FieldDoc-managed data are scattered across the digital world. The breadth of work made possible by data associated with FieldDoc should be connected back to FieldDoc itself. It should not take a digital detective to discover or an information science degree to track. For example, work planned in FieldDoc can be aligned with prioritization models to assess the preferred investments.

Key Benefits of Linked Pages

Streamlined Access to External Resources: By linking prioritization models or MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) tools directly to FieldDoc projects or activities, users can seamlessly access additional insights and data without leaving the FieldDoc platform. This reduces the need to search for tools or platforms and allows users to see the broader impact of their data.

Enhanced Decision-Making: Aligning FieldDoc’s project data with prioritization models, such as AGOL (ArcGIS Online), enables users to evaluate investment opportunities more effectively. Decision-makers can see real-time data within these tools, assess project priorities, and make informed investment choices based on a comprehensive understanding of environmental impacts.

Improved Data Visibility and Connections: By linking to third-party platforms like Matterport (for 3D space visualization) or Coolant (for MRV data collection), users gain deeper insights into project sites and their environmental conditions. This visibility can help align planned activities with on-the-ground realities, ensuring that restoration or conservation efforts are well-informed and impactful.

Customizable Integration Options: Allowing stylized URLs gives users flexibility in connecting FieldDoc with the specific tools they need, whether it’s a data visualization tool, a prioritization model, or an MRV platform. This flexibility encourages users to adapt the system to their unique workflows and project requirements.

Enhanced User Experience: Centralizing access to third-party tools within FieldDoc improves the user experience by reducing the complexity of managing environmental data across multiple platforms. Users won’t need to be digital detectives to track down data or tools—they can easily access relevant resources through linked URLs directly in FieldDoc.

Create Linked Pages

Components of Linked Pages

Supported third-party content sources

FieldDoc currently supports page links from the following domains. \

🚧My link is not displaying

Links from sources not listed here will not be displayed. New domains may be added over time as our team gathers feedback and monitors use of the linked page feature. Please contact support if you have questions or need help creating links.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Models within each activity record allow estimated environmental benefits to be associated with the digital representation of the on-the-ground work.

Model Outputs

To activate a model, you must complete the required input fields, which are determined by the activity type associated with the record. For most Adapted CAST models, the only required input is the extent in acres. However, we recommend reviewing all available input fields to ensure your estimate is as accurate as possible.

Keep in mind that the model output view will vary depending on the activity type linked to the record, as different practices may produce different types of reduction estimates.

Tour the Models view

Models

FieldDoc supports a growing library of model calculators. For detailed information on the supported models, we recommend reading the associated model documentation.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Learn how organizations can create a curated list of metrics. Then, assign metrics to individual activity records and track progress toward stated goals. Outcomes are aggregated throughout FieldDoc and can be pushed to third-party applications through integrations.

Metrics - Organization

Organization Metrics help you understand the scale and scope of work being tracked by your organization in FieldDoc. They provide a standardized, scalable snapshot of intended outcomes and progress toward those outcomes that can be used to communicate progress, identify trends, and inform future strategic investment or implementation strategies.

You can view metrics at different levels: across your entire organization, within specific Project Folders, or within individual Sections. Organization Metrics are especially useful when you are communicating with funders, program managers, and administrators. You can demonstrate your impact via outcomes or understand engagement across multiple implementation locations.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Learn how grantees and standard users can assign programmatic metrics to activity records. Then, assign metrics to individual activity records and track progress toward stated goals. Outcomes are aggregated throughout FieldDoc and can be pushed to third-party applications through integrations.

Metrics - Programmatic

Programmatic Metrics help you understand the impact of your work as it aligns to third-party Program goals. These metrics provide a standardized, scalable snapshot of intended outcomes and progress toward those outcomes that can be used to communicate progress, identify trends, and inform future strategic investment or implementation strategies.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Organization workspaces contain a portfolio where users can organize data in a logical and convenient way.

Portfolio

Portfolios are unique to each organization.

Portfolios contain the following organization components:

Project Folders

Project folders are the top-level organizational units within a Portfolio. While optional, they can be used to structure your activity records more effectively. For example, if your organization runs multiple conservation or restoration programs, you may choose to create a separate folder for each initiative. This helps organize activity records and track implementation progress more distinctly.

Sections

Sections are mid-level sub-folders within a Project folder. They are optional but can be helpful for adding another layer of organization to your activity records. For example, you might use Sections to group activities by landholder, county, or another relevant category within a project. This can support clearer tracking and reporting across different areas or partners.

Activities

Activities are the core data records within a Portfolio. Each Activity represents a specific conservation or restoration action, such as planting riparian buffers, installing cover crops, or removing invasive species. Activities are where you enter key implementation details, including location, timeline, and practice metrics. All measurable progress and outcomes are tracked at the Activity level, making them the foundation for reporting and impact assessment.

Metrics

Metrics are organization-defined, non-automated data types used to track quantitative goals. Each Metric represents a specific objective your organization has set—such as acres restored, linear feet of streambank stabilized, or pounds of sediment reduced. Users can define planned target values and then track progress toward those targets within each Activity record. Metrics are automatically rolled up to the Section and Project levels, allowing users to view collective progress across their portfolio.

Note: If you are participating in a Pact, you may also be asked to track Programmatic Metrics. These are separate from your Portfolio metrics and are managed at the Pact level.

Pacts

Pacts are agreements that bring together multiple partners under a shared conservation or restoration strategy. They provide a framework for aligning efforts, sharing data, and reporting collective progress toward regional or programmatic goals. Pacts as managed by Funding Programs and allow an organization so share activity data for review and participation. Each Pact may define its own set of Programmatic Metrics, which participating users are expected to track in addition to their Portfolio metrics.

Pacts allow organizations to link activity records from their portfolio. Once activity records are linked to a Pact, the programmatic metrics and other program-specific information will be made available through the activity records. Once completed, they roll up relevant data from partner Portfolios to support shared analysis and storytelling across the full collaboration.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Project folders are the highest level organizing unit in FieldDoc Portfolios. Projects are an optional folder in which to organize your activity records.

Project Folders

Project folders are the highest level of organizational structure within a Portfolio. They are visible only to members of the organization’s workspace and are used to group and manage related activities internally. This structure helps teams organize their work without sharing it outside the organization.

How to use Projects

Tip: We do not recommend using projects to represent individual grants, as you may have overlap in funding opportunities over time.

Tour a Project Folder Overview Page

Project folders contain information that is stored at the Project level and a roll-up of activity record data stored within this project.

Details from the Project Folder tour

Navigating a Project in FieldDoc

To enter a project, click the Project Summary icon. This brings you to the Overview Page, which dynamically updates to reflect all the information you build within the project. As you add activity records and associated metadata—such as geospatial data and metrics—this information will populate on the Overview page.

Activities

Activities contain the foundational data in FieldDoc. From the Activities tab, you can view all records organized within the project folder. You can open existing activities, create new records, or switch views to manage your data in different formats. FieldDoc offers both a Table View and a Map Editor View for flexible data management.

Metrics

The Metrics tab displays a table of all non-modeled metrics assigned to activity records in the project. You can add organization-specific metrics directly to this table or view metrics added within individual activities.

Note: Programmatic metrics are created by funding program managers and are only available to activities shared through a Pact. When assigned, these metrics also appear in the Metrics table and will include a Pact reference in the corresponding row.

Implementation

The Implementation tab tracks progress on the metrics listed in the Metrics tab. Once a metric is added to this view, the only field users should edit is metric:implemented_value.

Sections

Sections allow you to create subfolders within your project to further organize activity records. Each section has its own summary overview page, similar to the main project Overview. This is a great way to parse, manage, and share subsets of your data—especially helpful for managing updates.

Collaborators

Working together is easy in FieldDoc. From the Collaborators tab, you can invite and manage who has access to the project. Collaborators can create, edit, and delete activity records within the project.

Linked Pages

Use Linked Pages to attach stylized URLs to a Project, Pact, or Activity. This is useful for integrating third-party tools like AGOL prioritization apps or services like Matterport or Coolant that support MRV data collection. These links help bridge FieldDoc data with external systems.

Documents

Upload and store documents directly within a Project, Pact, or Activity. Files are accessible to other users who have access to the corresponding record.

Images

You can also upload .png and .jpg images to any Project, Pact, or Activity. Images are a great way to share visual context about the work being tracked and are accessible to all users with permission to view the record.

Atlas

The Atlas view provides a map-based visualization of all activity records within your project. It brings together organization metrics, programmatic metrics, and modeled metrics with their geospatial context, offering a comprehensive spatial perspective of your work.

Managing Project Folder Data

Create a Project Folder

Link or Create Activity records within Project Folders

Here, we share how to make sure that activity records already in FieldDoc are correctly organized within the folder structure. Activity records can only be assigned to a single project folder; however, you can move activity records around or assign the project after the activity has been created.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Pacts are collaborative agreements available from a workspace portfolio that align an external aggregator, such as a funding partner, with an organization's work. Together, all users can track activity data, including shared modeled outcomes and metrics. Pacts allow users to define a common framework for implementation—such as restoration targets, climate resilience outcomes, or equity commitments—and track collective progress over time.

Pacts

Pacts are a key feature in FieldDoc that connect restoration professionals implementing critical nature-based work with the partners providing the resources to make that work a reality. Thanks to Pacts, FieldDoc serves as the data system that informs policy action on ecosystem restoration.

Each Pact is represented by a tile within your portfolio. You can create Pacts to share collections of your activities with third parties—for example, to report implementation progress to funders.

A Pact contains a wealth of information about your nature-based work. By linking activity records from your portfolio, you and the Pact Opportunity owner—such as a funding program manager—can exchange essential data about what work will be implemented, where it will take place, and what impact it is expected to have.

Pacts make it easy to share details about your work with investors and partners—any entities that have created a Pact and are ready to receive your data. The first step in sharing your activity records is to locate the Pact Opportunity Code and create your Pact.

Pact Actions

The following sections walk through actions that you may perform in your pact

Create a Pact

Find your Pact code

Dig in! Interactive Tutorial on how to create a Pact

Step-by-step instructions on how to Create a Pact

1. Select the + Create button from the Pacts Page (Tip! You can create Pacts from other locations too - look below for more options).

3. Give your pact a Name. We recommend aligning the name with the title of your project as it appears in grant application or award documentation.

4. Add in a description. This is a helpful field for both the Pact creator, and the Pact Program Manager to reference.

Tour Pact components

While the core data shared via a Pact is activity records, restoration practitioners can enter additional data into the Pact itself. Let's take a tour!

Link activity records to a Pact

Data can be shared from a Portfolio into a Pact, or organizations can create records within the Pact itself (this data will be added to the workspace's portfolio). This is super helpful for many reasons. Let's take a look at the options to link activity records to a Pact.

Dig in! Interactive Tutorial

Step-by-Step Instructions to Link Activity Records

1. Open the Activities tab within the Pact.

2. To access your Portfolio of Activities, click the Link Activities button.

3. All Activities within your portfolio will appear. You can filter by any of the available fields. Once ready, click the check box to select records to assign to the Pact.

4. Click Save.

Create new activity records in a Pact

Submit a Pact for Review

Once you have linked your Activity records and met all of your Program's requirements, make sure you click Submit. This gives the Program Managers visibility of your Pact.

IN THIS ARTICLE View all Pacts that have been created to share activity records from within this workspace portfolio. Each Pact shares a collection of activity records and gives access to the programmatic metrics for that Pact Opportunity.

Pacts

Pacts are collaborative agreements available from a workspace portfolio that align an external aggregator, such as a funding partner, with an organization's work. Together, all users can track activity data, including shared modeled outcomes and metrics. Pacts allow users to define a common framework for implementation—such as restoration targets, climate resilience outcomes, or equity commitments—and track collective progress over time.

Each pact can include:

• A curated set of shared metrics

• Target values or thresholds

• Assigned contributors or member organizations

• Timelines and status indicators

Pacts provide a pathway for the workspace members to share activity records from within the portfolio, and bring programmatic metrics into the shared activity records.

Remember, activity records can be shared across multiple Pacts. This makes it possible to roll up performance data from individual records to assess overall progress toward the pact’s commitments. Overview pages and dashboards provide visibility into how each organization or partner is contributing to the pact goals.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Within a workspace portfolio, users can curate a custom list of metrics and set organization-wide targets. These targets can then be assigned to individual activity records, enabling progress tracking throughout the implementation period. Metric summaries are available on overview pages across multiple levels—Activities, Sections, Project Folders, and the Organization—offering a clear snapshot of progress toward goals.

Metrics

In FieldDoc, users can activate automated modeled outcomes and assign non-automated metrics to their individual activity records. This approach broadens the amount of analysis, measuring, and reporting that can be accomplished through the system. The standardization ubiquitous across components of FieldDoc makes metric tracking possible at all scales: within an organization, within a project, within a Pact, but also across an entire funding program or grant opportunity. Let's take a closer look.

Organizational Metrics

Standard users can create a custom list of metrics that are important to their organization. After making this list, you can set targets for each metric. These targets will show up in the organization view.

As you add activity records to your portfolio, you can link them to your organization’s metrics. During the project timeline, you can track your progress toward each goal at the activity level. That progress is then added up and shown at higher levels—like Section, Project, and Organization views.

For example, if an activity is part of a Section and a Project, its contribution to a metric will count toward the totals for the Section, the Project, and the Organization. This makes it much easier to track and share progress on big goals, like the number of trees planted or the number of miles of stream restored.

There is a lot of information to explore on how to set up and track your metrics.

Programmatic Metrics

Program Managers can create a custom list of metrics that are important to their funding program and organization. After making the list, any user that has assigned activity records to a Pact in that Funding Program can add the metrics to their activity record and set a target outcome. The targets will show up in the Pact Overview view.

As grantees progress in their work to meet their funding requirements, they can track progress toward implementation for the programmatic metrics within their activity record. That progress is added up and shown on the Pact overview page. All of the Pacts within a Funding Opportunity will roll up and provide an overview of progress toward larger goals, such as Blueprints or Business Plans, for an entire funding program. The process allows Funding Program Managers to:

• Align their priorities with individual awards

• Track the geospatial and quantitative impact from standard views

• Track implementation progress and measure progress toward program goals through a verifiable source.

Create your user account

All user accounts must be assigned to an organization.

1. Navigate to fielddoc.org/register

2. Enter in your name and professional email address.

3. Click Complete.

4. Open your inbox and verify your email address. Tip! Use the available prompts if you need to update the email that you originally entered or you need to re-send the email verification.

5. Once confirmed, it's time to select an organization or create a new one.

Join an existing organization

If your organization already exists in FieldDoc, you will be able to add your account to that organization.

1. FieldDoc will look at your email domain and match you to the organization in FieldDoc with the same domain (if one exists).

2. Click to join the organization.

3. FieldDoc will automatically confirm your membership and bring you to your home page. Welcome!

Create a new organization

If you are creating a new organization as you set up your account, you will be presented with a screen where you can create a new organization.

Invite your colleagues

New in 2025, you can invite your colleagues (staff with the same email domain) to join your organization. During the invitation process, they will be able to create their own FieldDoc account.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Curate the metrics, activity types, and funding sources that matter most to your program. Launch Opportunities and invite grantees, restoration practitioners, and partners to submit their work using your tailored templates. Watch as a shared dataset comes to life—letting you compare, analyze, and understand impact across every submission.

Programs

With FieldDoc, you will manage your restoration or land protection programs’ metrics and targets from one convenient location. Programs are managed by Program Managers - FieldDoc users subscribed at the Aggregator level.

How Programs work

Programs are only visible to their designated Program Managers. With support from The Commons team, Program Managers configure each program with a curated list of metrics and activity types. Within the program, you’ll also create Opportunities—time-bound submission windows that allow other FieldDoc users to share activity records from their portfolios. These Opportunities often align with an RFP application process or serve as a final report deliverable under a grant agreement.

To submit activity records to an Opportunity, users create a Pact using a unique Pact Opportunity Code.

Once a user creates a Pact, they can begin linking activity records from their portfolio to it. These standardized records may include:

• Activity Types Selected from a standard list. The choice activates relevant metrics and models for consistent, robust analysis.

• Geometries Mapped locations that show where the work will occur.

• Extent The size of the activity—typically in acres or linear feet.

• Modeled Environmental Outcomes Calculated using industry-standard tools to estimate the expected environmental benefits.

• Programmatic Metrics Metrics defined by the Program, along with a planned outcome to be achieved by the end of the project.

Once users submit their Pact, it becomes visible to you as the Program Manager. You’ll be able to:

• Search for submitted Pacts and their activity records

• Edit attribute data within the Pact including:

  • Pact Status

  • Contract start and end dates

  • Unique identifiers (eg a Grant ID)

  • Award Amount
• View data rollups across Pacts in FieldDoc Atlases and Program Overview Pages

• Integrate Pact data with tools like ArcGIS Online and Felt Maps to support prioritization and align with your business plan or blueprint

Configure your Program

Working with The Commons, Program Managers at the Aggregator level will provide key details to set up your program. These details include:

• Program Name

• Short program description

• Website

Curate a list of metrics

Provide The Commons with a list of all programmatic metrics you want assigned to your Program. This list should include:

• Each metric name

• Target values

• Baseline progress (if available)

These metrics will be made available to all activity records linked to a Pact within your Program. Users can assign the relevant metrics to their activity records and track progress toward the targets over time.

Curate a list of Activity Types

Narrow the universal list of Activity Types by selecting only those relevant to the work your program funds. FieldDoc allows you to curate this list during program setup. When users create new activity records within their Pact, they’ll be able to choose from your tailored list—saving time and keeping submissions aligned with your funding priorities.

Configure your Pact Opportunity

Provide The Commons with:

• A Pact Name

• The Open Date

• The Close Date

• Funding Sources

The Commons will configure the Pact Opportunity and generate a unique Pact code to share with users. Pacts are not discoverable without this code.

Review submitted Pacts

Program Managers can view any Pacts that have been submitted by users to the available opportunity.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Workspaces allow organizations to invite collaborators and technical service providers to have full access to their FieldDoc portfolio. This makes it easier to support restoration practitioners and collaborations in managing the entire data lifecycle.

Workspaces

A Workspace in FieldDoc is your organization’s home base within the platform. It’s where you manage your projects, track progress, and collaborate with your team. Each workspace holds all the relevant data, tools, and permissions for your specific organization or program.

When you log into FieldDoc, you’ll automatically land in your default workspace—this is typically associated with the organization that owns your account.

Key Features of a Workspace

• Centralized Management: All of your organization’s projects, metrics, and related data live here.

• User Permissions: Workspaces allow you to control who has access to what. You can invite teammates and assign them roles based on what they need to do.

• Linked Programs and Projects: Each workspace contains a portfolio of programs and projects. These are the building blocks for tracking restoration and conservation activities.

• Data Visibility: Dashboards and map views within your workspace give you at-a-glance insight into activities, implementation metrics, and progress over time.

Invite a new member to a workspace!

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Log-into your FieldDoc account.

2. Open your Account Settings.

3. Click workspace settings.

4. Navigate to Members.

5. Click Invite member.

6. Enter in the email address.

7. Choose the Permission level.

8. Click send.

Dig in! Interactive Tutorial

Take a tour of Workspaces!

Swich Workspaces

Switch workspaces from your account settings.

Step-by-step instructions for accessing and switching workspaces

You can only work within one workspace at a time, but switching is fast and easy. If you are a member of more than one workspace:

1. Click on your user account to access the menu in the top-left corner.

2. Choose the workspace you want to view.

3. Once you select a workspace, all of the edits that you make to your account will be made in that workspace. So if you are creating new records or pacts, they will be assigned to the workspace that you are operating in.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Working with partners and technical service providers to manage an organization's portfolio? FieldDoc has options for that!

Collaboration

All users in FieldDoc must join their organization of employment upon onboarding. Users from different organizations can work on records in the same workspaces or portfolios via collaboration. Collaboration opportunities are available from the workspaces down to individual activity records.

Remember, if you are using FieldDoc to submit records to a funder as part of an application or grant award, the recipient organization listed on the Pact must match the organization in the contractual documentation. Therefore, all records associated with a Pact must be created within the organization workspace that is submitting the documentation. Technical Service Providers and Partners can provide support for these projects to the contractual recipient through collaboration.

Collaborators must be invited to provide support or collaboration for another organization's FieldDoc account. Invitations can be issued at different levels, as described below:

Collaborate via Workspace

Collaborators invited to a FieldDoc workspace as an admin can create, edit, read, and delete all records within a different organization's workspace. This level of access is geared toward technical service providers performing FieldDoc actions on behalf of a client. Once a user has been invited to the workspace of another organization, they will be able to create, read, edit, and delete records on behalf of that organization. This includes being able to set up Pacts on behalf of the organization. All data will remain property of the organization workspace.

Collaborate in Project Folder

Collaborators invited to a FieldDoc Project as an admin will can create, edit, read, and delete data within the Project Folder, Sections within the folder, and Activity Records nested within the project and sections.

Collaborate in a Pact

If you, as an organization, want to invite someone outside of your organization to create a Pact on your behalf but you don't want them to have full access to your organization, here are the steps to take. You will want to create your Pact yourself. Once the Pact is created, invite the collaborator. The Collaborator will be able to create new activity records within the Pact that will remain part of your organization account.

Viewing data shared via Collaboration

Organizations

Stewarding data for an organization is a multi-person, multi-year effort so it's important that data is accessible across an organization and not limited to single-viewer accounts. FieldDoc organizations represent real-world entities, such as companies or non-profits, whose employees and/or volunteers manage data using the platform and its associated tools. All data and activities in FieldDoc are linked to an organization. As the users within an organization change over time, the data remains constant. All users within an organization are categorized as standard or general users.

All users are assigned to an organization, regardless of their user type or role.

User Types

Standard Users

Standard FieldDoc users can create a portfolio of activities and metrics, collaborate on activities created by other users, or share their activities through a Pact. Users are associated with an organization, which allows all members to view records within that organization. If you're using FieldDoc for grant reporting, a Standard account is required.

Within an organization, users can be assigned either Admin or Read-Only access to a portfolio.

Technical Service Providers

This work is nothing if not a team effort! We want to make sure that your full team — both within your organization and those outside of it — can access the relevant information in FieldDoc. Collaborators are Standard users that have been given access to a Workspace, Project, Pact, or Activity outside of their organization. Collaborators are often Technical Service Providers (TSP) who support a grant recipient on everything from data management to sharing of detailed engineering designs.

Collaborators looking to use FieldDoc to support their partners and clients must configure their own organization and a standard user account, just like the organizations that they are service - even if you are only working with one other organization in FieldDoc. Your collaborators can add you to their workspaces or projects after you have created your account.

Funding Program Managers

Programs hosted in FieldDoc have a curated list of activity types, metrics, models, and target outcomes. Programs collect Activities from their constituents via Pacts. Program Managers are assigned by FieldDoc staff to the Program(s) that they manage. Once we configure a Program Manager account, that user can see all Pacts assigned to their program.

User Roles

FieldDoc offers two types of user roles: Admin and Viewer. These roles are available at various entry points, including Organizations, Workspaces, Projects, Pacts, and Activities. This enables you to share and collaborate on FieldDoc records at your preferred scale.

For example, you may work with a contractor who needs broad access to your workspace. Adding that person as a Workspace Admin will grant them full permissions on all Project, Pact, and Activity records within your workspace (but not your organization settings). By contrast, sometimes you might need to invite a third-party to assist on a subset of your Activity records. In that case, a sound approach is to add those activities to a Project and share the Project with one or more of your external collaborators.

Organization

Admin

Organization Admins have unrestricted access to an organization’s data and settings. They can add, modify, and delete records (e.g. projects, activities, metrics, pacts) and members.

Viewer

Organization Viewers have read-only access to an organization’s data and settings. Users assigned the Viewer role will not be able to edit or delete any records within their organization's account.

Workspace

Admin

Workspace Admins have unrestricted access to a workspace’s data and settings. They can add, modify, and delete records (e.g. projects, activities, metrics, pacts) and members within the workspace.

Viewer

Workspace Viewers have read-only access to a workspace’s data and settings. Users assigned the Viewer role will not be able to edit or delete any records within the workspace.

Project

Admin

Project Admins have unrestricted access to a project’s data and settings. They can add, modify, and delete records (e.g. projects, activities, metrics) and members within the project.

Viewer

Project Viewers have read-only access to a project’s data and settings. Users assigned the Viewer role will not be able to edit or delete the project or any records that it contains.

Pact

🚧Pact roles do not have access to the pact's program-level, workspace-level, or organization-level members or other settings.

Admin

Pact Admins have unrestricted access to a pact’s data and settings. They can add, modify, and delete records (e.g. activities, metrics) and members within the pact.

Viewer

Pact Viewers have read-only access to a pact’s data and settings. Users assigned the Viewer role will not be able to edit or delete the pact or any records that it contains.

Activity

Admin

Activity Admins have unrestricted access to an activity’s data and settings, including collaborators, metric values, and all activity metadata.

Viewer

Activity Viewers have read-only access to an activity’s data and settings. Users assigned the Viewer role will not be able to edit or delete the activity or any records that it contains (e.g. files, metric values, model outputs).

To simplify this process, FieldDoc uses the Adapted Chesapeake Nutrient and Sediment Load Reduction Model, which relies on standard efficiencies. This model is designed to make data entry easy while still maintaining scientific credibility.

It’s important to note that this tool is not intended to replace official Chesapeake Bay Program scenario tools or provide exact numbers for TMDL targets. Instead, it offers a general estimate of nutrient or sediment reductions based on the size, type, and location of a practice—helpful for understanding potential environmental benefits before implementation.

Source Documentation

Activity model view

:

What are Models?

In FieldDoc you may want to use the available models to populate useful information regarding the proposed environmental benefit of your conservation and restoration efforts. You can calculate estimated benefits by associating and turning on available models within your Activity records.

All of the math is made available thanks to FieldDoc's provision of leading, customized algorithms provided by our modeling experts and implemented by our development team.

👍We define an algorithm as:

A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.

The inputs users provide when creating practice records in FieldDoc power the math required to turn BMP data into calculated load reductions. This greatly benefits our users because it means we can automate important metric information about your project without you needing to know exactly how to calculate complex metrics such as pounds of nutrients reduced. Instead, grantees and applicants simply enter project information and our algorithm handles the rest.

How do I know what practices and metrics are modeled and which ones are not?

There are a few quick and easy ways to know if the practice and its respective metrics are tied to an algorithm developed by one of our partners.

First, on all metric summary pages, metrics tied to an algorithm will appear on top. You will also be able to see a handy block of text linking you to algorithm's detail page where you can get more information about the assumptions, how it was developed, who created it, and the practices it encompasses.

Models in FieldDoc

• Adapted Chesapeake Nutrient and Sediment Load Reduction Model

• In-stream Load reduction Estimates (more detailed information coming soon)

• Stream Restoration (more detailed information coming soon)

• Stormwater Performance Standards (more detailed information coming soon)

• Shoreline Restoration Load Reduction Estimates (more detailed information coming soon)

• Stormwater performance standard - Treatment depths other than 1 inch (more detailed information coming soon)

Using Models

Creating an Account

This model estimates nutrient and sediment load reductions using data and algorithms from the October 26, 2020 Consensus Recommendations to Improve Protocols 2 & 3 for Defining Stream Restoration Pollutant Removal Credits. You can find more information about the protocols used to derive these estimates at the links in this page.

Getting started: Inputting data into the stream restoration load models

Associated `activity_types`

The Stream Restoration models load when the Activity_type selected is Stream restoration.

Activity model view

When you open your Stream Restoration Load Reduction estimates, you first must indicate if the project design meets the completion percentage. If your project does not yet meet the >90% design requirement, you can enter in the linear length and click save inputs. The system will generate estimated load reductions based on the linear feet.

In order to get higher accuracy in the model outputs, you will need to use the >90% design threshold.

Let's look at each of the protocols.

Protocol 1: Prevented sediment

Steps to enter data for qualifying conditions

Enter the estimate stream sediment erosion rates and annual sediment loadings.

To add a set of measurements, click the "Add a set of bank measurements" button below the table. To remove a set of measurements, delete the bank ID and click the "Save inputs" button below the table.)

Protocol 2: Denitrification in the hyporheic zone

Steps to enter data for qualifying conditions

Define the effective hyporheic zone and apply the denitrification rate.

Enter the site specific discount factors using the table below.

Floodplain factors

Protocol 3: Floodplain Reconnection

Steps to enter data for qualifying conditions

Existing floodplain trapping zone area (acres)

The floodplain trapping zone is where low-energy conditions encourage trapping and filtering of sediments and organic matter in the floodplain during and shortly after storm events. Extends from the floodplain surface to one foot above the baseline floodplain elevation, unless a higher elevation is justified by local H&H modeling.

Proposed floodplain trapping zone area (acres)

The floodplain trapping zone is where low-energy conditions encourage trapping and filtering of sediments and organic matter in the floodplain during and shortly after storm events. Extends from the floodplain surface to one foot above the baseline floodplain elevation, unless a higher elevation is justified by local H&H modeling.

Pre-restoration treatable flow (%)

Enter a number between 0 and 1.

Treatable flow is the percentage of flow which accesses the floodplain while remaining below the 1 ft elevation cap (unless a higher elevation is warranted based on H&H modelling), with baseflow removed. This value is expressed as a percentage and is calculated outside FieldDoc.

Post-restoration treatable flow (%)

Enter a number between 0 and 1.

Treatable flow is the percentage of flow which accesses the floodplain while remaining below the 1 ft elevation cap (unless a higher elevation is warranted based on H&H modelling), with baseflow removed. This value is expressed as a percentage and is calculated outside FieldDoc.

Stream length upstream of project (miles)

What is the total length of stream above your restoration project? Measure in miles

Soil nitrogen concentration (lbs/ton) (optional)

This value is optional. In the absence of site-specific monitoring data, this model uses the median soil nitrogen concentration of 4.82 lbs/ton, as recommended by the expert panel report.

Soil phosphorus concentration (lbs/ton) (optional)

This value is optional. In the absence of site-specific monitoring data, this model uses the median soil phosphorus concentration of 1.13 lbs/ton, as recommended by the expert panel report.

Protocol 4: Stormwater performance standard

Steps to enter data for qualifying conditions

Protocol 5: Outfall and gully stabilization

Steps to enter qualifying conditions

Calculate the existing and equilibrium channel conditions

Calculate the total prevented sediment by inputting the following information into a 3-D surface modeling program such as InRoads or Geopak.

• - Length of proposed project reach (ft)

• - Channel slope (ft/ft)

• - Bank height (ft)

• - Bottom width (ft)

• - Top width (ft)

• - Bulk density (lbs/ft³)

• - Base level control

• - Equilibrium bed slope (ft/ft)

• - Equilibrium bank slope (ft/ft)

• - Future channel width (ft)

IN THIS ARTICLE

Where do activity records fit within an organization portfolio? How are they shared with funders? When is funder information available within an activity record?

Activities

Think of FieldDoc as a growing repository of your nature-based work. The fundamental unit is an activity record, which you can create for any action you're taking in support of nature-based solutions. Each activity record can include a wide range of attribute data, such as environmental models to estimate benefits and geometries to map its location on the landscape.

You can organize your records within your portfolio using Project Folders and Sections. When you're ready, you can share records with funders, export them, or use integrations to connect with other applications.

Examples of Activities include:

• Conservation strategies, such as building wildlife corridors or placing conservation easements on parcels.

• Restoration strategies, such as planting cover crops, installing bioretention rain gardens, and expanding urban tree canopies.

• Sustainability strategies, such as conserving grasslands, managing forests, or protecting sensitive habitats.

• Community engagement strategies, such as implementing monitoring programs, conducting educational series, or leading research initiatives

Activity records

Each activity record is represented by a tile in your portfolio. You can switch between views to see activity records as tile, grid, or on a map. Regardless of the view you choose, these records contain a wealth of information about your nature-based work. Activity records help you plan, track, and report progress toward completion, as well as assess the impact of your work in achieving target goals. The first step is to create activity records within your organization's workspace.

Activity records are the fundamental unit in FieldDoc. It's the place where all data about the work will be stored. The information here may be visible and moved around FieldDoc to view in different contexts, or pushed to other parties via integrations.

For information on the data that is managed within Activity Records, check out the articles in the Activities Essentials section:

There are some rules for how activity records are organized within portfolios that are helpful to understand.

Organize your activity records

Activity records can be organized within a single Project folder and Section; however, this is optional. You can access all of your Activity records from the Activities view within your portfolio.

Add new activity records

Regardless of the entry point where you add a new activity record to your FieldDoc workspace, it will be added to your Portfolio. For example, if you add activities directly to a Pact, those records will also be added to your workspace portfolio.

Sharing Activity Records

Visibility

Any user with Admin or Read-Only access to your Organization's workspace can see all of your activity records while they are looking at the workspace's portfolio.

Any records they are linked to a Pact will be visible to the program managers associated with the Pact.

Activity records and their accompanying data roll up to the hierarchical contexts, such as within Sections, Project Folders, and Workspaces for Organizations. For Programs, Activity record data is visible within Pacts, Programs, and Funding Sources.

Managing data

Activity Record Fields

IN THIS ARTICLE

Program Managers can curate a list of their funding sources and then assign those funding sources to individual Pacts. Demonstrate the impact of the investment to investors.

Funding Sources

Program Managers overseeing multiple funding sources can use FieldDoc to track how each investment aligns with specific outcomes. By linking individual awards and contracts to their respective funding sources, FieldDoc enables transparent, organized reporting. All records tied to a funding source can be viewed in the overview dashboard and Atlas views—just like a full Program overview—making it easy to analyze prioritization, demonstrate impact, and share meaningful insights with key investors and stakeholders.

Configure funding sources

Program Managers can coordinate with their FieldDoc account manager to set up funding sources and associate them with a Program. The FieldDoc team will ask for:

• Funding Source Name

• Provider

• Agent

• Amount

Take a tour of a funding source view

IN THIS ARTICLE

Pacts are the feature through which standard users can share their activity records to third-parties. These are typically funding opportunities. Activity records can be linked to multiple Pacts, which should help reduce the threat of duplication for this important work.

Pacts via Edit Activity

Pacts are a key feature in FieldDoc that allow standard users to share their activity records with third parties—typically organizations managing funding opportunities or broader programmatic initiatives.

Think of a Pact as a bridge between your project work and the entities that review, support, and track it.

There are multiple connection points between Pacts and individual activity records. From within the Edit Activity, users can:

1. Check to confirm which Pacts are associated with the Pact.

2. Create a new Pact.

3. Link to an existing Pact.

Dig In! Interactive Tutorial

Learn more!

IN THIS ARTICLE

Think of FieldDoc as a growing repository of your nature-based work. The fundamental unit is an activity record, which you can create for any action you're taking in support of nature-based solutions. Each activity record can include a wide range of attribute data, such as environmental models to estimate benefits and geometries to map its location on the landscape. Over time, you can track implementation progress towards installation completion and then continue to monitor the functioning of the activity.

You can organize your records within your portfolio using Project Folders and Sections. When you're ready, you can share records with funders, export them, or use integrations to connect with other applications.

Your Activity records

Each activity record is represented by a tile in your portfolio. You can switch between views to see activity records either as a grid or on a map. Regardless of the view you choose, these records contain a wealth of information about your nature-based work. Activity records help you plan, track, and report progress toward completion, as well as assess the impact of your work in achieving target goals. The first step is to create activity records within your organization's workspace.

Create Activity Records

FieldDoc makes it easy to create activity records within the platform, but if you already have data ready to port into the system, we have options to get that data into the system too!