FieldScribe - Field sample metadata, made easy

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ℹ️ About FieldScribe & help

What it is. A phone-first tool to record biological and environmental sample metadata in the field and export the exact file each database wants (ERGA / DToL, BOLD, or ENA). No login, no account, nothing is sent to a server.

How it works. Pick a path, capture the on-site fields (GPS and date fill in for you), then finish the desk / lab fields later. Tap Export to get the ready-to-submit file.

Works offline. Once you have opened it with a connection, it works with no signal. Add it to your home screen (see the tip at the bottom of this page) to use it like an app.

Your data. Records are stored on this device only. Use Back up all data or Export to keep them safe - clearing your browser can erase them.

Camera scanning. Tap the 📷 button next to a Sample ID to scan a barcode. Allow camera access when your browser asks; if it is blocked, the scanner shows step-by-step how to turn it back on.

Found a bug or have an idea? Email olga.pettersson@scilifelab.se or open an issue at github.com/OlgaVP-PB/FieldScribe/issues. No bug too small.

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Choose a collection path

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Specimen sampling

individuals → tubes; any non-eDNA purpose

ERGA manifest · builds on DToL & iBOL/BOLD

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eDNA / environmental

Water, soil, sediment, air filters. Environmental DNA workflows.

ENA · GSC MIxS environmental checklists

Metadata standards & credits

Specimen sampling follows the ERGA Sample Manifest (European Reference Genome Atlas — Astrid Böhne and colleagues), which builds on the Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) sample manifest (Mara Lawniczak and colleagues) and the iBOL / BOLD (Barcode of Life) template. Population genomics uses the BGE-ERGA Population Genomics manifest (José Melo-Ferreira and colleagues); barcoding exports to the BOLD / iBOL specimen template.

eDNA / environmental follows the ENA sample checklists implementing the GSC MIxS environmental packages (Genomic Standards Consortium), with environmental context from the ENVO ontology. Exported as an ENA-ready TSV.

FieldScribe is an original contribution of the Planetary Biology Strategic Area at SciLifeLab, with gratitude to these communities whose open standards it builds on.

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Saved specimens

Choose an export standard:

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Your data

Your records live only on this device until you export or back up. A backup is a single file you can keep, email to yourself, or use to move data to another phone or computer.

New sampling session

🦋 Specimen sampling. Record 1+ individuals, each split into 1+ tubes. One individual with many tubes = a reference-genome specimen split across tubes (tubes share its SPECIMEN_ID). Many individuals with one tube each = a population (distinct SPECIMEN_IDs). Purpose is set per tube.

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Taxonomy

Scientific name*

Binomial nomenclature, e.g. Salmo salar. Maps to SCIENTIFIC_NAME. Tap 🔎 (or just move on) to auto-fill TaxID, phylum→genus from NCBI/GBIF when online.

Phylum

Required by BOLD / iBOL export. Optional for ERGA.

Class

For BOLD / iBOL export.

Order / group

Taxonomic order or higher group.

Family

Genus

Common name

NCBI Taxon ID

Look up on NCBI later if unknown — leave blank if uncertain.

Sex and life stage are set per individual on the cards below.

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Collection

Collected by*

Name of the person who collected the specimen.

Collector affiliation

Collector ORCID

Institution storing

Institution holding the voucher (for BOLD). Falls back to collector affiliation if empty.

Date of collection*

YYYY-MM-DD. Defaults to today.

Time of collection

Optional, local time.

Collection location*

Type levels separated by a slash, e.g. "Sweden / Uppsala / Fyrisån" (most general → most specific). Maps to COLLECTION_LOCATION.

GPS coordinates*

No location yet. Capture GPS or enter manually below.

⌚ Enter coordinates manually

Elevation (m)

Metres above sea level.

Depth (m)

For aquatic / subsurface samples.

Habitat

Free-text habitat description.

Description of collection method

How the specimen was obtained. Maps to DESCRIPTION_OF_COLLECTION_METHOD.

📏 Collected along a transect?

🏛️ Specimen from a zoo / garden / culture with a different origin?

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Individuals

Base ID*

Seeds each individual's SPECIMEN_ID (_001, _002, …) and each tube's COLLECTOR_SAMPLE_ID (-01, -02, …). Tap 📷 to scan a barcode.

Saved in this browser on this device — nothing is sent to a server. Reopen anytime to edit; use Export to generate your submission files.

New eDNA sample

🌊 eDNA / environmental. One sample = one filter / subsample = one record (flat — no individuals or tubes). Capture the must-have field metadata now; desk / lab fields can be filled later. Exports to an ENA environmental checklist TSV.

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Environment

Environment / checklist

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Capture on site

GPS coordinates*

No location yet. Capture GPS or enter manually below.

⌚ Enter coordinates manually

▸ Optional on-site measurements tap to add

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Add later · desk / lab

Fill now if known, or leave blank and complete back at the bench.

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Saved eDNA samples

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Saved specimens

Choose an export standard:

An original contribution of the Planetary Biology Strategic Area at SciLifeLab.

Cite this app: Vinnere Pettersson, O. (2026). FieldScribe: Field sample metadata, made easy. SciLifeLab Serve. https://doi.org/10.82595/scilifelab.jn54y-gez42

📲 Tip: add FieldScribe to your home screen to use it like an app. Open it once with a connection to enable offline use - after that it works with no signal in the field.

How?

iPhone (Safari): tap Share, then Add to Home Screen, then Add.
Android (Chrome): tap the menu, then Add to Home screen (or Install app), then Add.
Then open it once while online, and it will work offline from then on.

Developed & hosted by

In collaboration with

Co-funded by the European Union via the Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE / BGE+) initiative.

Choose a collection path

Saved specimens

Your data

Taxonomy

Collection

Individuals

Environment

Capture on site

Add later · desk / lab

Saved eDNA samples

Saved specimens

Scan barcode