Field notes
Why mining time studies need an offline-first app
Cell coverage in an open pit is unreliable. Walls block it, equipment moves, and some sites have none at all. A study tool that needs the network to save a tap will lose data at exactly the wrong moment.
What offline-first means
Every tap is written to a database on the phone first. The app never waits for the network to confirm it. A background process sends new records when a connection exists, and retries without duplicating anything if the link drops halfway.
Four things to demand from a field tool
- No lost taps. Recording must work in airplane mode, for a full shift.
- Safe sync. Re-sending the same record twice must not create duplicate cycles.
- Visible state. You should see how many records are pending, failed or synced, so nothing is silently stuck.
- Encrypted storage. A lost or stolen phone should not expose study data. CycleStudy Pro encrypts its local database with SQLCipher.
Fast enough for a stopwatch job
Timing a 28-second cycle leaves no room for a spinner. Large buttons, no confirmation dialogs on the hot path and a hands-free option on the volume keys keep the observer's eyes on the machine.
Share results without desk time
When the shift ends, the report should already exist. Generating a PDF on the phone and sharing it with the app of your choice turns an observation into a decision the same day.
Time your own cycles. CycleStudy Pro records loader and truck cycles offline and does this maths for you. Get the Android app or try the free calculators.