Resources - Field Work

Field Work - Resources

• Field Work Guides & Related (free resources)
  • Polar: US Antarctic Program - Field Manual, Antarctica New Zealand - Field Manual, INTERACT Practical Field Guide, INTERACT Fieldwork Planning Handbook, INTERACT Communication and Navigation
  • Diving: NOAA dive manual
  • Small Boat Operations: NOAA small boat manual
  • Large Research Vessels: UNOLS Cruise Planning
  • Wilderness Medicine: Airie Wilderness Medicine Manual
  • Flying: FAA - Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, FAA - Airplane Flying Handbook
  • Ropes & Rigging: US Armed Forces Guide to Rigging (TM 3-34.86) / Rigging Techniques, Procedures, and Applications
  • NASA ISS Behavior Model: International Space Station Human Behavior & Performance Competency Model Volume II
  • Mountaineering Books: “Glacier Mountaineering: An Illustrated Guide To Glacier Travel And Crevasse Rescue”, “Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills”
• Organizations
  • American Academy of Underwater Sciences, Scientific Diving: https://www.aaus.org
  • University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS), US Research Vessels: https://www.unols.org

1) Fieldwork: Planning

High Level Plan

• Who - Team List
  • Personnel: team members, collaborators
  • Roles: individual roles and responsibilities
• When - Timeline
  • Pre-Deployment: preperation timline, milestones
  • Field Season: calendar timeline, milestones
  • Daily Schedule: standard daily operational schedule
• Where - Map
  • Research Site: field sites, map, complexities
  • Living Location: accomodations, resources
• What - Objectives List
  • Minimum: threshold for season success
  • Target: basline
  • Reach: nice to have
• What - Equipment List
  • Techincal: instrumentation list, tool kit list
  • List: camp gear, personal gear
• What - Operating Procedures
  • Standard Operating Procedures: SOPs for equipment, operational checklists (functional tests, status checks)
  • Hazard Plan: hazard identification matrix (proabability, impact), mitigation, trouble shooting, contingency
  • Science: data management plan, data quality control plan, note taking & documentation

Identify Complexities & Challenges

• Who
  • Interdisciplinary Teams: science, engineering, operations, logistics – coordinate members, contribute in multiple roles
  • International Teams: institutions, countries, cultures, operating protocols – coordinate stakeholders, work across cultures
• What
  • Technical Equipment: instrumentation, robotics, vehicles, personal equipment – e.g. science sensors, ROVs, boats, scuba gear
  • Technical Operations: multi-operator teams, techincal skill set – e.g. deploy, position, monitor, control, coordinate across teams
• Where
  • Harsh Environment: temperature, weather, wind, current, terrain – e.g. polar, crevassed icefield, at sea, underwater
  • Isolated / Confined Environment: living conditions, travel challenges, resource constraints – e.g. field camp, aboards ship
• When
  • Constrained Time Windows: constrained operational timelines – e.g. time limitations during diving, robotic work
  • Long Durations: extended duration – e.g. extended field seasons, extend single missions
  • Unpredictable Environment: weather, delays – adapt to environment such e.g. waves, wind, storms, travel delays

2) Fieldwork: Logistics Checklists

Pre-Trip Logistics - High Level

• Personnel
  • Travel: flights, itinerary
  • Transportation, Local: vehicle rental, fuel, navigtaion
  • Housing: hotel, apartment
  • Food: food availibility, cooking, dietary restrictions
• Equipment
  • Lists: operations / science, team / camp, personal / clothing
  • Procurement: own, purchase, rent
  • Preparation: maintinence, calibration, training
  • Shipping: packing case, shipping
• Field Support
  • Service Providers: contractors, rental equipment, food, etc.
  • Field Guides: safety, navigation, etc.
  • Health & Safety: local medical resources, evacuation resources
• Adminstrative
  • Contracts: with vendors
  • Permits: local agencies
  • Visas: international travel
  • Insurance: equipment, health, travel, evacuation
  • Trip Registration: organization (company, university), government (state department)
  • Local Laws & Regulations: check for issues
• Health & Safety
  • Personal Health: pre-deployment health checks, vaccinations, underlying conditions (allergies, injuries), medications, insurance, emergency contacts
  • Emergency Plans: local medical services, telemdicine, evacuation, medical kits
  • Communications: communication devices (radio, sattelite), contacts, check in plans
  • Weather & Environment Reports: weather report service, environment hazards and update service
• Training
  • Equipment Operation: science and engineering equipment, camp equipment, vehicles, clothing and personal gear
  • Safety Training: terrain navigation, use of safety equipment

Pre-Trip Logistics - Shipping / Luggage

• Customs
  • Consider: regulations, total equipment value,
  • Carnet: considreneed for carnet - https://www.atacarnet.com
• Insurance
  • Shipping Insurance: coverage, valuation
• Export Control
  • ITAR & EAR: review regulation
  • Documentation: have necessary documentation
• Dangerous Good
  • Identify: batteries FAA battery regulations, chemicals, etc.
  • Documentation: hazardous label, bring documentation
• Documentation
  • Letter: “to whom it may concern” letters inside
  • External: POC listed in multiple places out, battery or other dangerous good sticker, do not freeze sticker
  • Official: insurance, export, dangerous goods, carnet etc.
• Tracking
  • Techonlogy: consider use of apple air tags
  • Carrier: airline baggage tracking apps, courier documentation
• Airline Rules
  • Total luggage volume and weight, Delta baggage policy

3) Fieldwork: Team Meetings

Team Meeting - Pre-Trip

• Behavior Standards
  • Behavior: respect, communication, professionalism
  • Conflict Resolution: descalation, communication, mediators
  • Reporting Mechanisms: anaymous independent
  • Local: customs, laws, traditions
• Risk Assessment
  • Individual: allergies, under medical conditions
  • Health: diseases, cleanliness
  • Environment: terrain, weather, wildlife, disasters
  • Injury Hazards: equipment, manual tasks, vehicle accidents
  • Security: crime, politcal instability
• Emergency Plans
  • Medical facilities: location, contacts, resources
  • Evacuation: resources
• Communications
  • Communication Devices: radio, cell phone, sattelite phone
  • Contacts: all team members, local partners, emergency services, emergency contacts
  • Procedures: check in and out, status updates
  • Communication Channels: points of contact
• Season Plan Review
  • Operations Review: who, what, where, when
  • Logistics Review
  • Role Review

Team Meetings - Regular Within Season

Daily or based on specific missions

• Structured Pre-Briefs
  • Obectives
  • Who: Role Assignment
  • What: Equipment, Operations
  • Where: Location
  • When: Timeline
• Structured De-Briefs
  • Issue Identification
  • Success / Failures
  • Lessons
  • Adjustments to Protocols

4) Fieldwork: Best Practices

Skills / Techinques

• Communication
  • Standardized Communication Protocols
  • Standardized Language and Naming
  • Closed Loop Communications / Positive Confirmation
  • Point and Call Out
  • Go/No-Go Check / Teamwide Confirmation
  • Scheduled Checkins - Personnel & Equipment
  • Feedback Loops
  • Quantify Status (eg. 1-10)
• Operations
  • Pre-Deployment Functional Test
  • Pre-Deployment Checklist
  • Scheduled Status Checks

Misc Pnuemonics

• Decision Making
  • FORDEC: Facts, Options, Risk / Reward, Decide, Execute, Check Results
  • STAR: Stop, Think, Act, Reassess
  • ABCDE: Assess, Balance Options, Communicate, Decide, Execute
• Personal Equipment
  • FACTS: Food, Aid, Clothes, Tools, Shelter
• Routine Issue Checks
  • PEST: Personal (mental / physical), Equipment (personal / team), Surrounding (environment), Teammates & Time
• Preperation
  • Plan, Prepare, Practice Perform