Fieldpaper

Fieldpaper is a term used to describe methods and tools for capturing field data in research, encompassing both physical field notebooks and digital alternatives designed to document observations, measurements, and contextual information in the field. The concept emphasizes structured data collection and portability, enabling researchers to record essential metadata alongside notes, sketches, and specimens.

Physical fieldpapers typically consist of durable notebooks or pre-printed forms that guide data entry. Common elements include date, location, weather, habitat or site description, species or sample identifiers, measurements, and qualitative observations. These notebooks are valued for their reliability in remote settings, low-tech accessibility, and ease of use without power requirements. Best practices prioritize legibility, standardized terminology, and careful preservation of original notes to support later validation and data sharing.

Digital fieldpapers comprise online platforms, templates, or apps that complement or replace paper records. They enable photo capture, geolocation tagging, sketching, and metadata attachment, with options to export data to structured formats (such as CSV, JSON, or GIS-compatible data) and to share records with collaborators. Open-source and collaborative solutions can provide transcription workflows, integration with laboratory information management systems, and interoperability with geographic information systems.

Fieldpapers are used across disciplines, including ecology, anthropology, archaeology, botany, and geography, to improve data organization, reproducibility, and long-term accessibility. While they enhance data portability and collaboration, challenges include handwriting legibility, data entry errors, and the need for consistent standards in multi-site projects.