Observations module

REQUIREMENTS
Permission	Submission moderator and higher
Connectivity	Online and partially offline

This document describes the functionality of the 'observations' workflow module and how to properly configure if for a workflow.

Required permissions:

• You need to be a Operation administrator to create a workflow template.
• You need to be a Submission moderator to initiate a workflow instance.

Required connectivity:

• You need to be online to create a new or edit an existing workflow template.
• You need to be online to initiate a workflow instance to download any observations that have been entered and shared by your team. Once the workflow instance has been loaded, you can complete the workflow in an offline mode.
• You can initiate a workflow instance when you are offline, but none of the entered and shared observations will be downloaded and you will start with an completely blank copy.
• You need to be online to submit your observations and assessments to the InfoEx at the end of your workflow.

Functionality

Fig. 1: Observation workflow module with only weather observations (one observation entered)

Fig. 2: Observation workflow module with all observations included (no observations entered)

Including the observations module in a workflow template allows you to enter new observations, review observations that have been entered and shared by your team prior to starting the workflow during the course of the workflow. Click here to see a full list of supported observation types.

NOTE	Only observations that have been entered and shared prior to the workflow being started will be pulled into the workflow for review.

All of the reviewed or newly entered observations are submitted to the InfoEx at the end of the workflow.

There are no restrictions on the number of Observation module steps that can be added to a workflow template.

Any workflow template with a observation module step will automatically have a Context module step added at the beginning of the workflow.

Any workflow template with a observation module step will automatically have a Workflow summary step added at the end of the workflow. This summary allows users to review their observations and assessments before they are submitted to the InfoEx.

Observations submitted to the InfoEx via an observation step in a workflow are associated with the location specified in the entry form of the individual observation.

It is possible to enter observations in the observation workflow module without internet connectivity.

NOTE	When you enter an observation within a workflow, make sure you click on the Save & Close button to save the observation and get back to the observation overview table (Fig. 2) before you click on the workflow navigation buttons (arrows) to continue in your workflow.

Layout

The observations workflow step has the same functionality and layout as the observation overview tables of the 'Enter & Submit' screen (single computer setup) or the 'Review & Submit' screen (multiple computer setup) under the OBSERVATION menu.

Examples of possible layouts include:

• Observation workflow step with only weather observations (Fig. 1).
• Observation workflow step with all observation types included (Fig. 2).

Settings

Fig. 3: Observations workflow module settings

The observations workflow module has the following settings (Fig. 3):

• Name
  Name of the workflow step shown in the header of the workflow. It is recommended that you choose a short name (e.g., 'Ldg Wx' instead of 'Lodge Weather') to keep the navigation bar of the workflow as tidy as possible.

• Observation Types to Include
  Checkboxes that allow you to choose which observation types you would like to include in your observation entry screen. In a morning meeting workflow, for example, you would likely only want weather observations to be included. In an evening meeting you would want to have all observation types included.

• Time constaint on Observations to Include
  When a workflow is started, all of the previously entered and shared observations that are associated with locations that fall under the hierarchy of the location that has been associated with the workflow will be downloaded to be reviewed during the workflow. This setting allows you to specify whether you want all unsubmitted observations to be downloaded or only observation of the current day.

Information shared within the InfoEx

All of the information entered in this workflow module is shared within the InfoEx in the following manner:

• The full records of all supported observation types are shared within the InfoEx report.
• Each of the observation types have their own table in the InfoEx report
• The observations are shown under the locations entered in the individual observation entry forms.
• All of the observations submitted are shown in the InfoEx regardless whether they had been entered via a workflow or directly through the OBSERVATIONS menu.

Other workflow modules

• Modules for entering data that is shared among InfoEx subscribers
  • Observations module
  • Snowpack module
  • Hazard assessment module
  • Hazard comment module
• Modules for entering proprietary data
  • Free form module
  • Run list module (additional subscription required)
  • Avalanche control module (additional subscription required)
• Modules for viewing information
  • Report module
  • Webpage module
• Other modules
  • Context module
  • Workflow summary

Functionality tested by

• Dec. 24, 2013: Pascal Haegeli