Automatic Upload

Automatic Upload = ON

During Field Data Collection the setting: Automatic Upload = ON automatically uploads all data captured should cellular data network be available. This can be useful for bulk-shooting of planting proof (e.g. seedlings planted along a road) and it helps to activate this feature to very inexperienced users to make sure that their field data will be successfully submitted. Should network fail then it will automatically retry.

WARNING: Should you capture a private or sensitive photo by accident then Automatic Upload will push that to the server immediately nevertheless, so please be mindful of data privacy. Should you need to delete a photo from the greenhouse. system it is possible and described in the greenhouse tutorial.

WARNING: If a user captures a photo and uploads it immediately then Administrators can instantly derive the actual live geolocation of the person and might be able to track you in real time.

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There are several reasons why it can be helpful to deactivate Automatic Upload:

Automatic Upload = OFF

Deactivating the Automatic Upload can have the following benefits:

  • You do not want your Project Administrators to be able to track your live location? Just upload all photos from the field at once in the evening when in a safe place.
  • A free Wifi network is available at the end of the field data recording activity and cellular data costs can thereby be saved by deactivating Automatic Upload
  • Your phone battery is weak or has a low charge? Deactivating Auto Upload will save battery as no data will be shared via the App.
  • With automatic upload it is not possible to review, delete or edit your photos before they are uploaded. Deactivating Automatic Upload gives you access to Gallery Functions.

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Deactivating the Automatic Upload however bears the risk that inexperienced users simply forget to submit photos over a long period of time.

However it allows (optional setting) to access the internal Flority Gallery Functionality where photos can be reviewed, deleted, tags be edited and forms answered. Any data captured will accumulate on your phone and not be deleted from the internal Flority storage, so if you were to never upload photos but keep capturing photos your storage might eventually run low.