Tom Haley Ecology Ltd
Creating a standardised GIS workflow that streamlined the QFIELD & QGIS workflow templates for an environmental consultancy
Client Background
Tom Haley Ecology Ltd (T.H.E.) are an awesome environmental consultancy that carries out ecological assessments throughout the UK, often working with a network of subcontractors who collect data in the field.
Tom Haley Ecology Ltd
Creating a standardised GIS workflow that streamlined the QFIELD & QGIS workflow templates for an environmental consultancy
The Problem
Brooke Waites, Director & Principal Ecologist at T.H.E., contacted me to explain that their team and subcontractor’s data came in different formats, making it difficult to collate and quality-check. Manual data entry and formatting also ate into valuable time that would be better spent on analysis and project delivery. Their existing GIS setup simply wasn’t scalable and had a lot of issues, including:
Inconsistent data collection and symbology across projects
Different surveyors using different systems and file formats
Lack of integration between QGIS (desktop) and QFIELD (mobile)
Manual creation of reports and maps for each survey
Limited in-house GIS expertise to maintain or expand the system
They needed a single, intelligent QGIS template that captures data, simplifies reporting and eliminates duplication. And it had to be user-friendly, so any member of their team or subcontractor could use it easily.
Bring it on!
The Result
After working with me, Tom Haley Ecology Ltd now has a fully integrated GIS ecosystem that brings immediate operational benefits, including:
Consistent, standardised data collection
Faster project turnaround times thanks to reduced manual data handling
Improved data accuracy and traceability
Professional, branded outputs that enhanced client presentations
The client can manage updates independently, avoiding delays if I’m unavailable. And the system is ready to scale with any future business growth, along with a single, powerful QGIS template that ensures every project runs smoothly.
Pretty cool result, eh?
But how did I achieve this?
What I did
To solve the problems, I followed a 5-step process focused on understanding, design, testing and training:
1. Discovery & Analysis
I began by reviewing their existing workflows, project templates and data collection forms, mapping pain points and manual steps in the reporting process. By speaking with the team, I pinpointed where time was being lost and how automation could add value.
2. Designing the Custom QGIS & QFIELD Template
Next, I designed a unified GIS system that would work for both in-house and subcontractor teams:
Created a custom QGIS project template containing all required data layers, field attributes and symbology
Built standardised drop-down menus and forms to reduce human error
Made sure of full compatibility with QFIELD, allowing surveyors to collect field data offline and sync it seamlessly back into QGIS
To make the template truly efficient and user-friendly, I then:
Added automated expressions to pre-fill or validate key data inputs
Developed custom symbology that reflected habitat types and survey categories clearly
Structured layer grouping and labeling logic to keep the workspace organised and intuitive
This standardises workflows but also creates a scalable, future-proof GIS system that will grow with the business.
3. Automation & Reporting
To speed up output creation, I:
Built report and map templates that generate directly from QGIS
Automated survey tables and schedules
Reduced duplication by enabling data reuse across multiple outputs
Once data is entered into the field, the reporting workflow becomes automated and error-free.
4. Iteration & Testing
Each version was tested through several feedback rounds with the client and subcontractors. I refined field structures, symbology and forms based on real-world use and documented every change to create a clear update trail.
5. Training & Knowledge Transfer
To future-proof the system, I delivered:
Written and video training guides for all workflows
Targeted sessions to fill knowledge gaps
Step-by-step instructions for how to modify the template