OFFICIAL

Mobile App

Owned by Sean Fishlock
Last updated: Jan 10, 2024
10 min read

Crisisworks Mobile is available for modern Apple iOS and Android devices, both phone and tablet, for use in the field.

Overview

Crisisworks Mobile powers field inspections and compliance for Municipal Fire Prevention, Infrastructure (including Roads & Footpaths), Private Assets for Recovery, Hoarding, Environmental Health Assessments, Recovery Needs & Tasks and many other applications including Contractor/Sub-contractor task management, Staff Timesheets and Relief/Evacuation Centre Registrations. Crisisworks Mobile is also sed as the basis of custom applications, including transport ticket inspection solutions.

Crisisworks Mobile also includes several features that are exclusive to the mobile app, notably Offline mode (enabling you to use aspects of Crisisworks even when there is no data reception), GPS location functions, such as route tracking, finding properties in close proximity and use of the app’s camera and microphone to capture photographs, video and audio evidence in the field and ease to use simple touch friendly mobile interface.

Availability

The app is free to download. Please consult the listings on the app stores for the latest device compatibility and other recommendations.

You will need to install and link the app to your Crisisworks cloud server in order to use it.

Please note that not all devices and operating systems are supported. For the latest supported list see:

https://datalink.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/KB/pages/126287898

App Permissions

Crisisworks Mobile requires permissions including Location, Personal information (for your login), Audio, Camera and Video. These should be set on installation. However they may be changed later so it is advisable to check them if you run into any issues later.

Overview

The video below shows an overview of Crisisworks Mobile.

Crisisworks Mobile introduction

Signing in

To sign in, open the app on your mobile device and enter your Crisisworks:

  • Server - this will be the short code for your full Crisisworks server URL

  • Username

  • Password

Selecting an Event

After signing in, you will be presented with a list of Active events.

Once an event is selected, you will be able select a duty. Unlike the cloud, you will need to select one duty at a time.

To go on duty, select an Event and then a single duty. If you need to go on with more than one position/role, repeat the process for each position.

Mobile Interface

Crisisworks features a mobile, responsive first design which works well with smaller screens.

In phone mode, the screen can be viewed either portrait or landscape. In tablet mode, it must be used in landscape mode.

To access the Settings and other menus, you can use the industry standard ‘hamburger’ icon.

The menu is available on the left of the screen.

Registers you are able to access with your duty are listed underneath each menu, they are indicated with a chevron symbol.

Settings Menu

The settings menu is accessed from the industry standard ‘hamburger’ icon (with the three horizontal lines) at the top left of the screen.

The ‘hamburger icon’

Within the settings you can:

  • Return to the Dashboard

  • Track your route

  • Switch Events and Duties

  • View your account details

  • Manage Offline Assets data

  • Set the Default location details

  • Access other information about the app including help

  • Sign Out

 

To return to the main interface, select ‘Dashboard’ from the Settings menu.

Accessing Crisisworks Registers

Registers are collections of Crisisworks records.

To access the records within a register, touch the respective menu item with the chevron symbol.

In tablet mode the Activity Log (Recent Activity) will be listed in the middle of the screen and Crisisworks counters to the right grouped by category.

Using the Map Mode

Map Mode can be activated from registers that support it using the Map button which has a pin icon. The pin icon also contains a total number of records with locations in the current filter which can be viewed on the map.

Map mode fills the entire mobile screen and from this screen you can also:

  • Zoom into your current location

  • Show different layers and mapping views (from the bottom right corner)

  • Select records individually to view and edit

When zoomed out, multiple records are indicated in blue with a number indicating how many records are in that same area. You will see them as individual records as you zoom in closer to them.

Working with Records

Creating New Records

You can create a new record for any register you have access to using the green button on the left hand side menu.

There are two other ways to create new records:

  • Within a Register - the green button on the right hand side will activate a context button for new records when you’re in a specific register.

  • From the Map - When you’re in map mode you can use the New button at the top right hand corner

Saving Records for Offline Use

Records including Inspections that you are using can be saved for offline use. This way if the property you are visiting is in an area with poor reception, you can still record information into Crisisworks and synchronise them back to the server when you are back online. You will typically do this before leaving the office.

Loading and Viewing Records

To view a record, touch the row in the data grid (not the star).

Alternatively you can select a record from the map.

To view on the map, Zoom in until the boundaries of are visible and use the View button.

To centre the map on your location, use the Compass icon. This will also zoom the map in and rotate the map in your facing direction.

Editing, Saving and Closing Records

Editing is done similarly to the web, the Edit/Save button is at the top right of a record.

To exit a record, use the white 'x' icon/button at the top left of the record.

Selecting Properties

To select a property, you can:

  • Use the text search

  • ‘Near me’ to find properties in the vicinity (populates the search list with the nearest properties)

  • Select from the map

Click a spot on the map to find assets around you.

Note the top of the map shows when the map is current to. Records on the map do not update instantly including records you may have recently added. The total also reflects how many assets have been loaded based on your preferences in the settings.

Selecting ‘From Map’ shows nearby properties without records in Crisisworks in green.

The default Asset type is Properties, you can change this using the pulldown list at the bottom of the map to other available types, for example if you want to select infrastructure such as a footpath, culvert, road or bridge.

To select a property, touch the parcel on the map and then the ‘Pick’ button.

The Asset, along with its Asset Code will be selected and visible within the record, you can remove the asset by touching the red cross.

Drawing on (annotating) the Map

Crisisworks Mobile features the ability to draw on maps to indicate locations including a Route if you are currently moving.

This is accessed through the ‘Draw on Map’ button which appears in property and asset fields.

Draw on Map opens the map with special functions for drawing, including a Location button and Point button (at the bottom left of the screen) and Drawing mode selection list at the bottom of the map.

The first time you load the Draw on Map function you’ll be given a guide on the different buttons.

Long pressing the Compass button will allow the map will auto-scroll as you move. This will be indicated by a solid blue button. You can turn this off again by holding it down.

Double tapping the Point button will automatically drop points as you move to create a multipoint line.

Manual drawing of lines and polygons is possible by accessing the Drawing sub-menu at the bottom of the map.

Capturing multimedia - photos, videos and audio

The device’s camera is used to take photos and videos. These can be added/attached wherever you see the camera or video icons.

To add photos, activate the camera icon and select the source, to upload an existing photo from your gallery/library select ‘Photo Library’ or to use the camera to take a photo select the ‘Take Photo’ option.

The device’s camera will launch and you can select Use Photo to insert the photo into the form field. To replace or remove it use the red cross icon on the uploaded photo.

Preparing for Onsite Inspections

To prepare for an onsite inspections you may wish to perform the following tasks:

  • Star records for offline use that you wish to work with in the field

  • Download/Update your Offline Assets Database (you can do this as often as you like but may only be required if the assets data has significantly changed)

  • Turn on Route Tracking

  • Switch to Offline mode

Tracking Your Route

Tracking your route is useful to check that you haven’t missed inspecting properties. It draws your path on the map as a Route. Note that the accuracy depends on a number of factors, including the capabilities of your mobile device and Location/GPS reception in your area.

The option is available in the Settings menu.

When turning it on you’ll need to give your Route a name (for example Monday patrol) and switch ‘Enabled’ from OFF to ON. You can set a minimum track distance to limit the amount of data.

To view your the path you took for this route, touch the ‘View Route on Map' button. The screen will also let you know the total distance you covered.

To save the Route as a record in Crisisworks cloud, touch the ‘Upload Route Data’ button. These are saved as Information records of type Route for yourself and any others with access.

Downloading Asset Data

If you have a custom set of asset data uploaded into your Crisisworks system (for example property owner information), you can download the latest to your device.

This is done through the Settings menu.

If you’ve downloaded Assets before, you’ll see the total number on your device, how much data is stored on your device and the last download date. You can Update or Delete the data using the buttons provided.

If the data has never been downloaded or is old or outdated, you can download the latest copy in the Offline Assets Database section. In this case a ‘Download’ button will appear, using this you can retrieve the latest copy of the data.

Setting a Location

The default is to use the location from the GPS on your device.

However in some circumstances (such as for testing) you may wish to override this and set a custom location.

To do this, select ‘Use Custom Location’, enter the coordinates (latitude and logitude) separated by a comma and the ‘OK’ button.

The Location section also lets you limit your geolocation queries to a range (the default is 500 kilometres) or a set number of results. This can help optimise and speed up searches and also help limit search results to those within your jurisdiction.

Switching to Forced Offline Mode

In areas of poor network connectivity, forcing the app into offline mode may improve usability by allowing you to store your work locally until you have a stronger signal.

You must first be signed in before attempting to force offline mode through either Crisisworks setting or airplane mode.

Forced Offline Mode can be found in the Settings menu.

By default it is set to ‘OFF’.

To go offline, switch ‘Enabled’ from OFF to ON.

At the bottom of the device screen you will see a semi-transparent orange bar with the words ‘Offline (Forced)’, this indicates that you are in Offline mode.

From this point onward only records and assets saved for Offline access will be available.

All changes to these will be saved locally on the device (including new records, photos and other multimedia evidence) until such time as you have data reception and Enabled is set to OFF again. This should initiate the secure synchronisation with the Crisisworks cloud server. This may take some time if there are large amounts of data to be uploaded. During this time records may indicate that they are ‘Pending Synchronisation’.