Apps/Tips for Efficient Writing/General of Field Reports for Structural Observation Visits

[FoxSE14]

Hello Everyone,

When assembling a field report after a structural observation visit, we generally use MS Word for our Observations/Recommendations, and then include an appendix of photos. The photo appendix is generated using Powerpoint (we have a macro that aligns photos and inserts a caption). I feel like we're doing this the 1990s-way, I am keeping an open mind to things outside the realm of MS.

I am curious if there are any Windows programs/iphone apps which assist with efficient generation of field reports.

Lofty goal is: when I return to the office from the field, I only need less than 30 minutes of effort to clean up the document and send out.
More specifically: Is there an app which allows me to take a photo and immediately fill out a caption on my iphone?...maybe then it spits out an editable document with all photos which I have added captions to, organized by time of photo snap?

Anyone aware of an app that handles this, or has similar functions? Have we been living under a rock and missed a trend somewhere?
I feel there's got to be a better way than our current methods, but I have not found the time to research. Unfortunately I don't have the programming skills to do this myself.

So...What works for you? What doesn't work? How happy are you with the output, i.e.: in your opinion is it 'professional-looking' (subject to interpretation of course)? Any positive comments on presentation by superiors or clients?

[If this belongs in one of the other forums under 'corporate survival' or the like, let me know.]

Thanks,
Fox

 

[P205]

Solocator app. Link

It gives GPS location, bearing direction, and allows captioning of each photo. Also can watermark each photo with time and date, as well as company name (which is what I do). Then just caption each photo with project name and description. The project name carries over to each successive photo so once entered on the first photo of the site visit, it automatically sticks until changed again.

 

[P205]

As for the report itself, I've always used MS Word. I simply copy each photo into a subsequent page in the MS Word document making sure to number all the pages (page x of y) and making sure that the header is shown on each page (including the photo pages).

I thought about talking into a voice recorder on my phone to capture my thoughts while on site, but I have yet to try this.

 

[XR250]

You would think that one of the companies writing software for the home inspection market would try to fill this niche.