The North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
Created a QGIS & Mergin Maps Field Data Collection Workflow for enforcement officers across the region.
Client Background
The North Western Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) is responsible for managing sustainable fisheries and conserving marine life along the coast of North Western England and its inshore waters.
The North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority Case Study
QGIS & Mergin Maps Field Data Collection Workflow for NWIFCA
The Problem
Historically, enforcement officers at NWIFCA have manually collected data in the field using paper notes, which are then transferred to Excel spreadsheets by admin teams for reporting and assessment.
A big no-no due to the likelihood of human error (hey, no one’s perfect!)
The NWIFCA approached Maptastic because they needed me to work alongside their project officer to co-design a workflow that non-technical staff could use in the field and had:
Seamless data capture across the entire district
An intuitive user interface that’s logical and easy to follow
Better form design with advanced QGIS widgets to reduce errors
Replication of existing Excel-based data structure
A future-proof system setup in Mergin Maps with editing and updating processes
The initial framework would need to be built internally, with staff being trained on the QGIS & Mergin Maps workflow system, testing and refining it until it was fit for real-world use by field officers.
But did I manage it?
The Result
Erm… yes, of course I did!
The NWIFCA now has a fully digital, efficient QGIS & Mergin Maps system that eliminates paper-based processes and manual re-entry.
Woo!
It’s turned how the NWIFCA works on its head because it has:
Reduced human error, data loss and admin
Streamlined reporting to internal and external authorities
Integrated seamlessly between field collection and reporting
Clear documentation and resources for future updates
And it’s future-proofed their investment too.
Want to know how I achieved this? Then keep on reading…
What I Did
Working systems don’t appear on day one, so to make sure the project was successful from idea to implementation, here was my process:
1. Review & Assessment
First up, I investigated their existing way of working and produced a detailed report outlining improvements.
This covered:
File structure, naming conventions and backup schedules
Alignment with NWIFCA’s project goals and workflow logic
Recommendations for efficiency and scalability
2. Co-Design & Development
To modernise their paper-based process, a project officer within the Science Team developed a digital workflow in QGIS and Mergin Maps that replicated their existing approach. Although this was a decent fix, it had a significant limitation: it only worked within the limits of the employee's experience.
Working alongside the project officer, I mapped out a timeline for development and testing.
Together, we co-designed new form structures in QGIS, which were then tested in Mergin Maps to make sure they worked properly.
3. Automation & Efficiency
I used QGIS expressions to automatically pre-populate fields, reducing manual data entry. And implemented advanced form widgets to improve usability and minimise data entry errors.
4. Collaboration & Testing
Regular online co-working sessions and cloud-based data sharing enabled continuous collaboration, even when external to NWIFCA’s corporate IT system. And to address any potential issues, I ran four in-person training days at the NWIFCA offices, focusing on troubleshooting and testing the live field trials.
5. Training & Handover
And finally, I created instructional videos and worksheets to embed the new workflow into everyday use, so existing and new staff could learn to use the system confidently.
It’s time to make your GIS workflows better!
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