Auto-populate your address fields
As you may or may not know, one of the best features of Fulcrum is the drag and drop form builder. Recently, we added support for a new type of field that many users have asked for: address fields.
As with most other field types you can specify a label, description, if it is a required field, and when it is visible. One new option that is only available to address fields is Auto Populate. Enabling this option instructs the mobile client to perform what is known as “reverse geocoding” on the location associated with the record.
Reverse geocoding is the process of translating latitude and longitude coordinates into addresses. By using a reverse geocoding service provided by Google or Apple, the mobile client can automatically populate the various parts of an address such as street name, city, state, and postal code. However, sometimes the service can not determine all the parts (common example is street number), so some fields may be left blank. Not to worry though as you can still edit each individual part of the address manually.
When it comes time to export your collected data, address fields will get split into several columns, one for each part of the address. The names of the columns follow the specification written by the OASIS Customer Information Quality Committee (CIQ) and are listed below with their respective U.S. address equivalents.
- sub_thoroughfare: Street Number
- thoroughfare: Street Name
- suite: Apt / Suite / Unit
- locality: City
- sub_admin_area: County
- admin_area: State / Province
- postal_code: Postal / Zip Code
- country: Country Name
We hope you will find the new auto-populating address field to be extremely useful and time saving in your data collection efforts. As always, we welcome feedback and suggestions on new and existing features, so please contact us and let us know!
And, just in case you’re wondering why auto-populating address fields is such a big deal:
Auto-populating address fields in field inspection is important because it can save time, reduce errors, and improve the overall accuracy and efficiency of the inspection process.
When conducting field inspections, inspectors typically need to collect a large amount of data, including the address of the location being inspected. However, manually entering this information into a form or database can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially if the address is long or complex.
By using auto-population technology, address fields can be automatically filled in based on the GPS coordinates of the inspection location or by searching an existing database. This eliminates the need for manual entry and can save significant time and effort for the inspector.
In addition to saving time, auto-populating address fields can also reduce errors and ensure that the information collected during the inspection is accurate and complete. For example, if an inspector is working in an area with multiple similar addresses, they may accidentally enter the wrong address into the form or database. With auto-population technology, the correct address can be automatically filled in based on the GPS location, reducing the risk of errors.
Overall, auto-populating address fields in field inspection can streamline the data collection process, improve accuracy, and reduce the risk of errors. This can ultimately lead to more efficient inspections, better data quality, and improved outcomes for both inspectors and the organizations they work for.