Field Observations Without Immediate Identification
Mobile veterinary practice often means assessing animals before you can definitively identify them in Kora. You might observe a sick animal in a wildlife herd. You might examine livestock during rapid field assessment. You might respond to emergencies where immediate documentation matters more than database navigation.
GPS field observations solve this workflow challenge. You record clinical findings, symptoms, photos, and assessments with automatic GPS location capture. No animal identification required at observation time. Later, you or other veterinarians review these observations. You attribute them to specific animals or animal groups. This converts field notes into comprehensive medical documentation.
When GPS Field Observations Are Created
Field observations enter the attribution queue when:
Wildlife field work - Observing wild animals where individual identification isn't immediately possible. Document clinical findings, behaviour, and condition with GPS coordinates. Attribute to tracked individuals once identified through photos, tracking data, or capture records.
Emergency response - During disease outbreaks or emergency situations, rapid assessment matters more than careful database navigation. Record observations quickly. Attribute accurately later.
Community animal health programmes - Working with animals not yet registered in Kora. Field observations capture health data during community visits. Attribution happens when animals are formally registered.
Herd health assessments - Examining large groups where you observe general health before selecting individuals for detailed examination. Field observations document findings. Attribution connects them to specific animals or mobs.
Uncertain identification - When you examine an animal but aren't certain which animal record in Kora it corresponds to. Document the observation immediately. Confirm identity later through tag reading, owner consultation, or record review.
Multi-property mobile practice - Visiting multiple farms where you quickly assess animals without immediate access to their Kora records. Field observations accumulate during visits. Attribution happens during administrative time.
Field observations aren't inferior documentation. They're strategic workflow tools for mobile practice where assessment speed matters and identification can follow.
The Pending Attribution Queue
On your veterinarian dashboard, the Pending Attributions widget shows unresolved field observations awaiting your professional review:
What the widget shows:
Pending Attributions Widget:
📎 15 observations from 3 users pending review
[Click to open attribution queue]
What this represents:
When you or other veterinarians create GPS field observations without linking them to specific animals, they accumulate in the attribution queue. This queue is your professional review backlog. Observations that need your expertise to connect to the right animals or animal groups.
Why attribution matters:
Unattributed observations are valuable clinical data disconnected from animal health records. Attributing them properly adds professional assessments to animals' permanent medical histories, enables complete health tracking and treatment continuity, supports biosecurity contact tracing, provides owners with comprehensive health documentation, creates traceability events for regulatory compliance, and converts field notes into actionable clinical records.
Opening the attribution queue:
Click the Pending Attributions widget to open the attribution drawer. Shows all unresolved observations grouped by the user who created them. This organisation helps you prioritise. Observations from experienced veterinarians may need urgent attention. Observations from community health workers may require more context before attribution.
Attribution Queue Interface
The attribution queue displays field observations in a collapsible drawer interface:
Grouped by User
Observations appear grouped by who created them:
Attribution Queue (15 observations pending)
Dr. Sarah Martinez (8 observations)
- Wildlife health check - March 20, 2025, 10:45 AM
GPS: -25.7479, 28.2293 (Accuracy: 5m)
Severity: Medium
Description: Adult elephant showing lameness in left rear leg...
- Disease surveillance - March 20, 2025, 2:15 PM
GPS: -25.7521, 28.2308 (Accuracy: 8m)
Severity: High
Description: Multiple cattle with respiratory symptoms...
Community Health Worker Team (5 observations)
- Routine livestock check - March 19, 2025
...
Dr. Chen (2 observations)
- Emergency assessment - March 18, 2025
...
Observation Card Information
Each observation card shows: GPS Location (Latitude, longitude, accuracy in metres, elevation), Observation Date, Severity (Low, Medium, High, Critical), Category (Health, Behavioural, Physical, Environmental), Description (Detailed clinical findings or symptoms), Photos (Visual documentation if captured), Environmental Context (Weather conditions, habitat description, environmental notes).
This information helps you understand what was observed and match it to the appropriate animal or group.
Individual Attribution Workflow
To attribute a single observation to an animal or mob:
Review Observation Details
Click on an observation card to open the full attribution modal. Shows complete clinical description, all photos, GPS location on map, environmental context, estimated species, physical description, and behavioural notes.
Search for Matching Animal
The attribution modal includes animal search:
Search by identification - RFID tag, ear tag, microchip number if you know it from field notes or photos.
Search by characteristics - Animal type, breed, sex, age range, location to narrow candidates.
Recent animals - Quick access to animals you've recently examined. Helpful if you created multiple field observations during same visit.
GPS proximity - System can suggest animals whose registered location is near the GPS coordinates of the observation.
Confirm Match and Attribute
Once you've identified the correct animal: Select animal from search results. Verify match confirms this observation corresponds to this animal. Add attribution notes (optional) explaining how you identified the animal. Attribute links observation to animal's medical history.
The observation status changes from "Unidentified" to "Resolved". Moves out of the pending queue. Appears in the animal's health record as a veterinary observation.
Attributing to Animal Mobs (Groups)
If the field observation applies to a group rather than an individual:
Select Mob Attribution - Choose "Attribute to Animal Mob" option.
Search for Mob - Search by mob name, location, animal type.
Confirm Mob Match - Verify the observation applies to this group.
The observation becomes part of the mob's collective health history. Valuable for tracking group-level health trends, biosecurity exposures, or herd health assessments.
Example mob attribution:
Field Observation:
"Herd of approximately 45 cattle observed in North Paddock. Several showing
signs of heat stress: excessive salivation, rapid breathing, seeking shade.
Temperature 38°C, minimal shade available."
Attributed to: Breeding Cattle Mob #7 (47 cattle in North Paddock)
Result: Observation appears in mob health history. Alerts farm manager
about heat stress concerns. Creates task for shade structure provision.
Bulk Attribution Workflow
When you have multiple field observations from the same field visit that all relate to the same animal or mob, bulk attribution saves time:
Select Multiple Observations
Checkbox selection - Check observations to attribute together. Select all - Attribute all observations from a single user at once. Filter selection - Select by date range, severity, or location proximity.
Bulk Attribution Modal
Opens showing count of selected observations, preview of observations being attributed, and single animal/mob search for all observations.
Example bulk attribution:
Bulk Attribution: 5 observations selected
March 20, 2025 field visit to Conservation Area:
1. Wildlife health check - 10:45 AM (Elephant lameness)
2. Follow-up assessment - 11:30 AM (Same elephant, improved mobility)
3. Photo documentation - 11:35 AM (Injury site photos)
4. Treatment administered - 11:40 AM (Anti-inflammatory injection)
5. Post-treatment observation - 12:15 PM (Animal response)
Attribute all to: Tembo (African Elephant #AE-042)
Result: Complete field visit documented in Tembo's health record
with chronological observations showing assessment, treatment, and response.
Bulk Dismiss
For observations that don't warrant animal-specific attribution: Environmental observations (general habitat quality notes not specific to animals), non-clinical notes (location scouting, facility condition documentation), duplicate observations (accidentally created duplicates), and irrelevant data (observations created in error).
Select irrelevant observations and click "Bulk Dismiss". Removes them from the attribution queue without creating animal health records.
Converting Field Observations to Veterinary Observations
Once attributed, field observations can be expanded into comprehensive veterinary observations:
Initial Field Observation
Field Observation (Unattributed):
GPS: -25.7479, 28.2293 (Accuracy: 5m)
Date: March 20, 2025, 10:45 AM
Severity: High
Description: Young cattle showing profuse salivation, blisters on tongue,
lameness in all four feet. Elevated temperature. Appears acutely distressed.
Attribution Triggers Professional Documentation
After attributing to "Cow #405", creates base veterinary observation with GPS data automatically populated (Latitude, Longitude, Accuracy, Elevation fields). Prompts professional completion. System suggests: "This observation shows high severity clinical findings. Would you like to complete a full veterinary observation with diagnosis and treatment plan?"
Full Veterinary Observation Created
Veterinary Observation for Cow #405:
Linked to GPS Field Observation: March 20, 2025, 10:45 AM
GPS Location: -25.7479, 28.2293 (Field assessment location)
Diagnosis: Foot-and-Mouth Disease (suspected, pending lab confirmation)
Disease Linkage: Foot-and-Mouth Disease - Disease ID: 47
Clinical Findings:
Profuse salivation with vesicular lesions on tongue and dental pad. Lameness
affecting all four feet with blisters visible on coronary bands. Elevated
temperature (40.1°C). Animal showing signs of acute distress and pain.
[Continue with full veterinary observation fields: treatment recommendations,
prognosis, lab test orders, follow-up scheduling, differential diagnoses...]
This conversion transforms a quick field note into comprehensive clinical documentation. Preserves GPS data showing exactly where the assessment occurred.
Attribution Review and Quality
Professional attribution requires matching field observations to correct animals:
Verification Steps
Compare GPS location - Does the observation location make sense for this animal's known location or movement history?
Check observation date - Was this animal at the observed location on the observation date?
Review physical description - Do estimated species, physical characteristics, and behavioural notes match the animal?
Consult photos - If field observation includes photos, do they visually match the animal you're attributing to?
Confirm with observer - If unsure, contact the person who created the field observation for clarification.
Attribution Accuracy Matters
Incorrect attribution creates inaccurate medical histories, misattributed biosecurity exposures, confused treatment records, and regulatory compliance problems.
If you're uncertain about attribution, leave the observation in the pending queue. Seek additional information rather than guessing.
Workflow for Other Veterinarians' Observations
When reviewing field observations created by other veterinarians:
Respect professional assessment - The original observer's clinical findings should inform your attribution decisions.
Add context when attributing - Use attribution notes: "Attributed based on RFID tag confirmation during follow-up visit" or "Attributed per Dr. Martinez's recommendation after consulting photos".
Contact observer if uncertain - Before attributing someone else's observation to an animal, confirm with them if identification is unclear.
Complete clinical documentation - If the original observer created basic field notes, you can expand them into full veterinary observations after attribution.
This collaborative attribution ensures field observations from mobile teams, emergency responders, or consulting veterinarians get properly connected to animal records. Works even when the original observer isn't available for attribution.
Integration with Laboratory Workflows
GPS field observations can integrate with laboratory testing:
Order lab tests from field observations - Even before attributing to a specific animal, you can order diagnostic tests if field findings suggest need for laboratory confirmation.
Lab results trigger attribution - When results identify specific disease or genetic markers, that information can help attribute the observation to the correct animal.
Field sample collection - Document sample collection locations via GPS observations. Attribute samples to animals once processed.
Example:
Field Observation (Wildlife Blood Sample Collection):
GPS: -25.7521, 28.2308
Description: Blood sample collected from sedated elephant during
population health survey. Sample ID: ELE-2025-047
Lab Tests Ordered: Complete blood count, liver function, disease screening
[Lab results arrive 5 days later identifying animal via genetic markers]
Attribution: Matched to Tembo (African Elephant #AE-042) via genetic analysis
Lab results automatically added to Tembo's health record
Mobile vs Desktop for Attribution
Desktop attribution:
- Better for reviewing multiple observations simultaneously
- Easier to compare observation details with animal records
- Larger screen shows GPS map and observation details side-by-side
- Efficient bulk attribution workflows
- Comfortable for extended attribution sessions
Mobile attribution:
- Convenient for immediate field attribution after direct animal confirmation
- QR code scanning can help identify animals for attribution
- Quick attribution during farm visits
- GPS proximity suggestions work well with mobile location awareness
Most veterinarians review attribution queue on desktop during administrative time. Mobile attribution works well for immediate follow-up when you can confirm animal identity shortly after creating field observations.
Attribution Queue Management
Keep your attribution queue manageable:
Daily review - Check pending attributions regularly rather than letting them accumulate.
Attribute during field visits - If you can identify animals during the same visit you created observations, attribute immediately rather than deferring.
Bulk attribution for related observations - Group observations from single field visits or property visits for efficient batch attribution.
Dismiss irrelevant observations - Don't leave environmental notes or accidental observations in the queue. Dismiss them to focus on clinical observations.
Today's attribution count - The attribution drawer shows how many observations you've attributed today. Provides visible progress as you clear the queue.