Privacy Policy
Coastal Fieldwork App
Last updated: May 2026
Coastal Fieldwork is designed for geography fieldwork in educational settings. Protecting user privacy is important to us. This privacy policy explains how the app uses device features and how your data is handled.
1. Overview
The Coastal Fieldwork app does not collect, store, transmit, sell, or share personal data with the developer or any third parties.
All data recorded during fieldwork remains locally on the user’s device and is only accessible to the user of the app.
The app functions as a data collection, organisation, analysis and reporting tool for geography fieldwork. It does not operate any external databases or cloud storage services controlled by the developer.
2. Data Storage
All information recorded in the app is stored only on the user’s device.
This may include:
Fieldwork measurements
Site notes
Sediment size and roundness observations
Longshore drift data
Wave count data
Beach profile measurements
Beach groyne observations
Beach sediment infiltration rates
Photographs taken during fieldwork
Annotated maps generated by the app
Enquiry questions and hypotheses entered by the user during report export or when using the NEA Superbutton
Bibliography entries created by the user
Exported report content generated by the app
The developer does not have access to this data.
Users may choose to export their fieldwork results as:
CSV files for use in spreadsheets, GIS software or further analysis
HTML reports containing fieldwork data, methodology, data presentation and analysis
Draft NEA-style report templates created using the NEA Superbutton
Harvard-style bibliography exports created using the Bibliography Builder
Exported files are created only when the user chooses to export them. Once exported, users choose how and where to save or share the files, such as through Files, AirDrop, email, iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, Word, Pages or Google Docs.
3. Location Data
The app requests access to location services in order to:
Record the latitude and longitude of fieldwork measurements
Display data points on maps during fieldwork
Support spatial analysis of collected data
Help organise sample sites geographically
Location data is used only within the app and is stored locally on the device. It is not transmitted to the developer.
4. Camera Access and Augmented Reality
The app may request access to the device camera to support several fieldwork activities, including:
Taking photographs of fieldwork sites
Capturing images of sediment samples
Identifying rock types using camera-based tools such as Google Lens
Using Apple ARKit to measure sand height differences updrift and downdrift of groynes
Scanning ISBN barcodes when using the Bibliography Builder
When AR measurement features are used, the camera and device sensors allow the app to estimate distances and height differences in the surrounding environment.
The app does not record or transmit video or camera data to the developer. Camera input is used only to perform measurements, capture images, scan barcodes, or support fieldwork tasks on the user’s device.
5. Photo Library Access
The app may request access to the device photo library so users can:
Select existing photos of fieldwork locations
Select images of sediment samples for analysis or documentation
Save images generated or captured during fieldwork
Include images in exported reports
The app only accesses photos when the user chooses to select them. The developer does not receive or store any images from the user’s device.
6. Motion and Sensor Data
The app may access motion sensors in order to support fieldwork measurements.
This includes:
Using the device as a clinometer to measure angles during beach profile experiments
Supporting AR-based measurements of beach features using ARKit
Using motion sensors to assist with certain fieldwork measurements
Motion data is used only in real time during measurements and is not transmitted to the developer.
7. Bibliography Builder
The Bibliography Builder allows users to create and organise sources used in their geographical investigation.
Users may add sources by:
Scanning ISBN barcodes from books
Pasting links to websites
Pasting links to online resources such as webpages or YouTube videos
Entering or reviewing source details within the app
The app may use the information provided by the user to retrieve or organise source metadata where available. Bibliography entries are stored locally on the user’s device and can be exported in Harvard-style format.
The developer does not receive or access bibliography data.
Users should check bibliography entries before submitting academic work, as source metadata from books, websites or online resources may vary in accuracy or completeness.
8. NEA Superbutton
The NEA Superbutton is an optional feature that helps users begin creating a structured draft NEA-style report template using information already entered or collected in the app.
This may include:
Fieldwork site data
Measurements and observations
Photographs and notes
Enquiry questions and hypotheses, if entered by the user
Methodology information
Data presentation and analysis sections
Bibliography information, if available
The NEA Superbutton is designed to help organise collected fieldwork data into a draft report structure. It does not submit work, upload data, or send information to the developer.
Any report or template generated by the NEA Superbutton is stored locally or exported only when the user chooses to do so.
9. Artificial Intelligence Features
On devices that support Apple Intelligence, the app may provide optional automated insights by analysing the fieldwork data entered by the user.
This analysis may be used to generate suggestions or observations related to:
Collected fieldwork data
Patterns and contrasts between sites
Enquiry questions, where entered
Hypotheses, where entered
Draft report analysis and interpretation
Apple Intelligence features appear only on supported devices.
AI-generated insights are intended to support reflection and analysis. Users remain responsible for checking, editing and interpreting any AI-generated content.
No AI analysis data is transmitted to the developer.
10. Third-Party Services
The app may use built-in system capabilities and user-selected tools such as:
Apple Location Services
Apple Maps
Apple motion sensors
Apple ARKit
Apple camera tools
Apple Intelligence, on supported devices
Google Lens, when used by the user for rock identification
External apps or services chosen by the user when exporting or sharing files
These services operate according to their own privacy policies.
The Coastal Fieldwork app itself does not send user data to any third-party servers controlled by the developer.
If a user chooses to export, open, upload or share files using another app or service, that action is controlled by the user and may be subject to the privacy policy of that app or service.
11. Data Sharing
The app does not sell, collect, transmit, or share user data.
All data remains under the control of the user and on the user’s device unless they choose to export, upload or share it.
The developer does not have access to fieldwork data, photographs, locations, bibliography entries, generated reports, or exported files.
12. Children and Educational Use
Coastal Fieldwork is designed for educational use by schools, teachers, students and fieldwork groups.
The app does not knowingly collect personal data from children.
Where the app is used in schools, colleges or universities, users should follow the relevant organisation’s policies on safeguarding, consent, fieldwork safety, data protection and acceptable use.
13. Data Deletion
Users can delete fieldwork data, investigations, sites or records within the app where the app provides this functionality.
Deleting the app from the device will also delete locally stored app data, unless the user has separately exported or saved files elsewhere.
The developer cannot recover deleted data because the developer does not have access to data stored on the user’s device.
14. Changes to This Policy
This privacy policy may be updated occasionally to reflect improvements to the app, new features, or changes in platform requirements.
Any updates will be reflected in the “Last updated” date above.
15. Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy or how the app works, you may contact the developer.
Developer: Robert Frost
App: Coastal Fieldwork
Contact: mrfrostgeography@gmail.com