Captera

Offline field capture app for 360° and LiDAR surveys

Captera's field capture app installs to an operator's phone from the browser and works fully offline. Operators clock in on arrival so the app can verify they are on site, follow a deliverable-driven Yes/No checklist backed by an offline Field Guide, and submit. Submissions queue on the device and send automatically once back online.

Installs like an app, works without signal

Site surveys happen in basements, back-of-house corridors, rooftops and rural lots, which are exactly the places where mobile data disappears. The Captera field app installs to an operator's phone and works fully offline, so the checklist, the reference material and the operator's answers are always available. Submissions made without signal wait in a queue on the device and send on their own once the phone reconnects.

Clock in, verified on site

Operators clock in when they arrive. The app checks that they are actually at the site and starts tracking time on site, which gives the office proof of presence and real hours rather than scheduled ones. Clocking in also opens the job's checklist, so the operator goes straight from the parking lot to capture.

A checklist built for this job

Each job's checklist is generated from the deliverables the client selected: output formats, accuracy, BIM level of detail, roof, MEP and above-ceiling areas, access, and data transfer. Every item is a Yes or No, and any No requires a written note before the job can be submitted. Operators capture what the client is paying for, and every exception arrives with an explanation. The full QA side of this is described on the capture QA and compliance page.

The Field Guide travels with the checklist

Every checklist item can link to the offline Field Guide: a reference photo of a correct capture, a how-to video, and equipment references. New operators learn the standard on the job, experienced operators can check an unusual case, and both can do it without signal. Captera also supports operator training and certification, so you know who has learned the program before they are sent to a site.

The brief arrives twice

The work order, or brief, carries the scope of work and the compensation. Operators receive it when they accept the job and again at 6am on the morning of the job, by email and in the app, so they arrive with the latest version. Jobs are assigned by auto-dispatch by driving distance, and nearby same-day jobs are batched to cut drive time.

Running capture for several clients? The field app can carry each client's own guide and branding; see white-label field capture. For plans, see Captera pricing, or read about Captera.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Captera field app need an internet connection?
No. Once installed, the Captera field app works fully offline, including the checklist and the Field Guide. Answers, notes and photos are stored on the phone, and when the operator submits without signal the submission is queued and sent automatically as soon as the device is back online.
Do operators install Captera from an app store?
No app store is needed. Captera is an installable web app: the operator opens it in the phone's browser and adds it to the home screen, where it launches and behaves like a native app. Updates arrive automatically, so every operator in the network is on the current version.
How does Captera verify an operator is on site?
Operators clock in when they arrive at a site. Captera checks the phone's location against the site's location to confirm they are actually there, records the real arrival and departure times, and tracks time on site. Clocking in also opens that job's checklist, so capture starts in one tap.
What is the Field Guide in Captera?
The Field Guide is Captera's offline reference for each checklist item. Items can carry a reference photo of what a correct capture looks like, a short how-to video, and equipment references, so an operator who is unsure on site can check the standard without calling the office or waiting for signal.
What happens if an operator answers No on a Captera checklist item?
The operator must write a note explaining the No before Captera will accept the submission, for example a locked mechanical room or roof access refused by the manager. The note travels with the job into QA review and into the compliance report the client receives, so every gap is explained.

See Captera on your own sites

Tell us about your capture program and we will walk you through dispatch, field capture, QA and reporting.

More about Captera